Hollywood Fatal Car Accidents

Experienced Wrongful Death Attorneys Assisting Hollywood Families

Even in a carefully planned city like Hollywood, not every variable can be taken into account. Accidents happen here, just as they do in other cities across the country. A family outing to the beach or a night out on the town in one of Hollywood’s many entertainment venues may turn tragic if others on the road are careless or reckless. The Hollywood fatal car accident lawyers at Cohn & Smith have handled many cases in which a beloved family member lost their life due to another person’s negligence. We know that, while nothing can ever replace a cherished spouse, child, or parent after a fatal accident, fair compensation for a loved one’s death may be of great assistance in helping those left behind get back on their feet financially.

One of the most important things to know about a traffic accident fatality in Florida is that a family has a much shorter time period to pursue a possible wrongful death lawsuit than would a victim who suffered non-fatal injuries in the same crash. Because of this, it is imperative that the family of a crash victim seek legal counsel as soon as possible after the accident. It takes a significant amount of time to investigate the cause of the crash, identify possible witnesses, obtain evidence such as vehicle data recorder information, and consult an accident reconstruction expert if needed. Our fatal car accident attorneys can help Hollywood families with each step of this process.

Florida’s Wrongful Death Law Protects Accident Victims’ Families

When an accident happens because another driver was careless, the deceased victim’s family may assert a negligence claim against the responsible individual. Proving negligence is a four-step process that requires the plaintiff to establish the legal duty that the defendant owed the deceased victim, the manner in which the duty was breached, the damages to the victim’s estate and their surviving family members, and a link of causation between the defendant’s breach of duty and the damages claimed by the plaintiff in the wrongful death case. A key issue here is foreseeability, which is the idea that the accident would have been reasonably expected to happen because the defendant was careless. Each of the elements must be proven by a preponderance of the evidence, meaning that the plaintiff’s version of the facts must be more convincing than the defendant’s version.

The damages available to a plaintiff in a wrongful death lawsuit arising from a fatal car accident in South Florida depend upon the victim’s marital and family situation, their occupation, their age and general health, and other factors. Funeral and burial costs, medical expenses, the family members’ loss of consortium with the deceased victim, and lost net earnings to the estate are some possible elements of damages for the jury to consider. If the victim also acted carelessly in causing the accident, the damages may be reduced, but a compensation award proportionate to the defendant’s fault still likely would be available.

Hire a Knowledgeable Fatal Car Accident Lawyer in the Hollywood Area

Moving forward after a loved one’s death in a motor vehicle accident is often tremendously difficult. At the law firm of Cohn & Smith, we approach each case with compassion and professionalism. Our years of experience in representing families who have lost loved ones have taught our car crash lawyers that each person holds a special place in their family’s heart. Life is precious and should not be wasted by a driver’s poor decision to send a text message while driving on the highway or get behind the wheel after having too many drinks with friends. If you would like to talk to us about the details of your loved one’s fatal accident, call our Hollywood fatal car accident attorneys today at 954-431-8100 or contact us online. We offer a free consultation, and most cases are handled on a contingency fee contract, so you do not need to wait until you can pay a legal fee upfront to begin your case.