Fort Lauderdale Wrongful Death Lawyer
Compassionate Counsel. Relentless Advocacy.
Losing someone you love to another person's negligence is a devastating tragedy that no family should have to bear alone. Shiner Law Group handles the legal burden so your family can focus on healing — while holding the responsible party fully accountable for the life they took.
You focus entirely on your family and your grief. We handle every investigation, insurance negotiation, court filing, and legal deadline — at no cost unless we win.
Florida law gives families only two years to file a wrongful death claim. Evidence disappears and witnesses' recollections fade. Early action leads to stronger cases.
Your consultation is completely free, private, and carries no obligation. There is no pressure. We are here to answer your questions and explain your family's legal options.
2-Year Statute of Limitations
Florida law gives families exactly two years from the date of death to file a wrongful death lawsuit. Miss this deadline and the right to compensation is permanently lost — regardless of how clear the negligence was.
Evidence Is Lost Without Action
Surveillance footage is deleted, accident scenes are cleared, witnesses move on, and physical evidence disappears. The earlier an attorney begins investigating, the stronger your family's case becomes.
Insurance Companies Begin Immediately
The responsible party's insurers begin protecting their interests the moment a death occurs. Your family deserves the same level of urgency and advocacy on your side.
We Know This Is the Hardest Call You'll Ever Make
Our attorneys understand that reaching out about a loved one's wrongful death takes courage. This short video explains how Shiner Law Group helps Fort Lauderdale families through every step of the process — so you know exactly what to expect.
- How Florida's Wrongful Death Act protects your family's rights
- Who can file a wrongful death claim in Florida
- What compensation your family may be entitled to recover
- How we handle everything so you can focus on your family
Understanding Your Family's Rights Under Florida Law
Florida's Wrongful Death Act (Florida Statutes §§ 768.16–768.26) gives surviving family members the right to seek financial compensation when a loved one dies as a result of another person's or entity's negligence, wrongful act, breach of contract, or intentional misconduct. The law recognizes that surviving families suffer real, measurable losses that deserve compensation — financial, emotional, and personal.
Under Florida law, only the personal representative of the deceased's estate may file the wrongful death lawsuit — on behalf of both the estate and all eligible survivors. If your loved one left a will naming a personal representative, that person files the claim. If there is no will, a court will appoint a personal representative. This is an important procedural step that our attorneys assist families with from the start.
The damages available in a wrongful death case are significantly broader and often larger than what is available in a standard personal injury case — because they account for what the entire family has lost over their remaining lifetimes, not just what one person suffered. For a spouse or young children who depended on the decedent, these losses can span decades.
Note on civil vs. criminal: A wrongful death lawsuit is entirely separate from any criminal case. You can pursue a civil wrongful death claim whether or not the responsible party faces criminal charges — and even if they were acquitted. The burden of proof in civil court is significantly lower than in criminal court.
Eligible Survivors Under Florida Statute § 768.18
Damages available in a Florida wrongful death case vary by the survivor's relationship to the deceased. Each eligible party can recover different types of compensation.
Surviving Spouse
- Loss of companionship and protection
- Mental pain and suffering
- Lost support and services (past & future)
- Funeral and burial expenses paid
Minor Children
- Lost parental companionship
- Lost instruction and guidance
- Mental pain and suffering
- Lost support and services
Parents
- Mental pain & suffering (minor child)
- Mental pain & suffering (adult child, if no other survivors)
- Lost support and services
The Estate
- Lost earnings from injury to death
- Medical expenses incurred
- Funeral and burial costs
- Lost net accumulations (future earnings)
When Another's Negligence Ends a Life Prematurely
Wrongful death can arise from many types of negligence and misconduct. Shiner Law Group represents Fort Lauderdale families in all of the following case types.
Car & Motorcycle Accidents
Broward County recorded 210 traffic deaths in 2025. Distracted driving, DUI, speeding, and reckless behavior cause most of these preventable fatalities — each one leaving a family forever changed.
Truck & Commercial Vehicle Accidents
An 80,000-pound semi-truck colliding with a passenger vehicle is rarely survivable. Florida recorded 262 semi-truck fatalities in 2024. Trucking companies carry high-limit insurance — and we pursue all of it for your family.
Medical Malpractice
When a doctor, nurse, hospital, or healthcare provider's negligence — a missed diagnosis, surgical error, medication mistake, or failure to treat — results in a patient's death, their family deserves accountability.
Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect
Residents of Fort Lauderdale nursing homes and assisted living facilities are among the most vulnerable. Neglect, malnutrition, medication errors, bedsores, and physical abuse at care facilities can be wrongful death claims.
Premises Liability
Fatal falls, drowning in inadequately secured pools, fires caused by building code violations — when a property owner's negligence results in death, the surviving family can pursue a wrongful death claim against them.
Defective Products
When a product — a vehicle, medical device, medication, or consumer good — is defectively designed or manufactured and that defect kills someone, the manufacturer can be held liable for wrongful death under product liability law.
Workplace Accidents
While workers' compensation covers most workplace injuries, fatal workplace accidents can also support wrongful death claims when third-party negligence — a contractor, equipment manufacturer, or property owner — contributed to the death.
Drowning & Boating Accidents
Fort Lauderdale's waterways and boating culture create drowning risk. Fatal drowning accidents caused by inadequate pool fencing, negligent supervision, or boating operator negligence can each support wrongful death claims.
DUI & Drunk Driving Fatalities
When a drunk or impaired driver kills someone, the surviving family may pursue a wrongful death claim for compensatory damages — and punitive damages may also be available in cases of gross negligence or willful conduct.
What Damages Can Your Family Recover?
Florida Statute § 768.21 outlines the full range of damages available in a wrongful death case. They are divided into damages for survivors and damages for the estate — and they can be pursued simultaneously.
The value of a wrongful death case is determined by the circumstances: the age of the deceased, their income and earning potential over their remaining lifetime, the number and ages of surviving dependents, and the nature of the relationship between survivors and the decedent. A young parent of minor children taken in their prime represents decades of lost support, guidance, and companionship — losses that demand full accountability.
Lost Income & Earnings
All wages, benefits, and earning capacity the decedent would have provided over their remaining working years
Loss of Companionship
Spouse's loss of the decedent's companionship, protection, and presence in daily life
Loss of Parental Guidance
Minor children's loss of instruction, guidance, nurturing, and a parent's presence through childhood and beyond
Mental Pain & Suffering
Grief, anguish, emotional distress, and the psychological impact of the loss on each surviving family member
Medical & Funeral Expenses
All medical bills incurred from the date of injury to death, plus funeral and burial expenses paid by survivors
Punitive Damages
In cases of extreme negligence, DUI, or intentional misconduct — designed to punish the defendant and deter others
Two Separate Claims That Can Run Together
Wrongful Death Claim
Filed by the estate's personal representative on behalf of surviving family members. Compensates survivors for their own losses — grief, loss of financial support, loss of companionship, loss of parental guidance, and mental pain and suffering from the moment of death forward.
Survivorship Claim
If your loved one survived for any period of time after the incident before passing, a survivorship claim may be filed on their behalf — recovering the pain and suffering, medical bills, and lost income they personally experienced from the time of injury until their death.
Why This Distinction Matters
Pursuing both claims simultaneously — where applicable — significantly increases the total compensation available to your family. Many families are unaware that a survivorship claim exists alongside the wrongful death claim. Shiner Law Group evaluates both from the outset of every case.
Probate Note: Filing a wrongful death lawsuit in Florida requires opening an estate in probate court and appointing a personal representative. Our attorneys assist families through this process as part of our representation — at no additional cost to you.
What to Expect When You Call Shiner Law Group
From your first free call to the resolution of your case, we manage every aspect of the legal process so your family can focus on what matters most.
Free, Confidential Consultation — No Obligation
Your first call or meeting carries zero obligation. We listen to what happened, explain your family's legal rights under Florida's Wrongful Death Act, and answer every question honestly. We can meet at our Fort Lauderdale office, at your home, or virtually — whatever is most comfortable for your family.
We Begin Preserving Evidence Immediately
From the moment we take your case, we act urgently. We send legal preservation letters, secure surveillance footage, obtain accident reports and medical records, identify witnesses, and retain expert consultants — before critical evidence disappears.
We Handle the Probate & Legal Process
If an estate needs to be opened, we assist. If a personal representative needs to be appointed, we guide that process. We manage all filings, all deadlines, and all communications with insurance companies and defense attorneys — so you never have to.
We Build the Strongest Possible Case
Our team consults accident reconstruction experts, medical specialists, economists, and other professionals to build the most complete and compelling picture of what your family lost — and what it will cost over the coming decades.
We Negotiate — and Go to Trial If Needed
We negotiate aggressively with insurance companies for a fair settlement. If they refuse to honor what your family deserves, we take the case to trial. Our willingness to go to court gives your family maximum leverage at every stage.
Compassion and Strength in Equal Measure
Fort Lauderdale families who have lost loved ones to negligence trust Shiner Law Group to fight for justice with both heart and legal firepower.
Compassionate Client Service
We understand that you are grieving. We treat every family with the sensitivity and respect that this moment demands — and we keep you informed every step of the way, in plain language.
Millions Recovered for Families
We have successfully represented Fort Lauderdale families in wrongful death cases for over 15 years — recovering millions of dollars from insurance companies and responsible parties.
See Our ResultsNo Win, No Fee — Always
Families who have lost a loved one should never have to worry about legal fees on top of everything else. You owe us nothing unless we win compensation for your family.
Ready for Trial
We negotiate hard and are fully prepared to go to trial when necessary. Insurance companies know we mean it — and that reputation delivers better results for every family we represent.
Other Fort Lauderdale Cases We Handle
Our Fort Lauderdale personal injury attorneys handle all types of serious injury and death cases throughout Broward County.
We Come to You
We understand that coming to a law office may be the last thing you feel capable of right now. Shiner Law Group offers in-home consultations throughout Broward County — at no cost to your family. We can also meet virtually or by phone.
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309
Questions Families Ask About Wrongful Death Claims in Florida
We know you have questions. Here are the ones families ask most often — answered in plain language.
Request a Free, Private Case Consultation
There is no pressure and no obligation. We are here to answer your questions and help your family understand what comes next.
Tell Us What Happened
Share as little or as much as you are comfortable with. Everything is completely confidential.
We Review Your Case
Our Fort Lauderdale wrongful death attorneys evaluate your family's legal options and explain them clearly.
We Go to Work for You
If you choose to proceed, we take on every legal burden so your family can focus on healing.
Free Fort Lauderdale Wrongful Death Consultation
Completely confidential · No obligation · Available 24/7
Your Family Deserves Justice.
We Are Ready to Help You Pursue It.
Shiner Law Group compassionately represents families who have lost loved ones throughout Fort Lauderdale and Broward County. Your consultation is free, private, and carries no obligation — please reach out when you are ready.