Wrongful Death Attorney in Parkland, FL
Parkland is a community built around family — quiet neighborhoods, excellent schools, and a deep sense of collective identity among the residents who choose to call it home. Losing a family member to someone else’s negligence tears through that fabric in ways that are impossible to fully describe. A fatal car accident on Loxahatchee Road, a truck crash near University Drive, a drowning at a poorly maintained property, or a medical error at a local facility can take a loved one without warning. No legal action can restore what was lost. But a wrongful death claim can hold the responsible party accountable, ease the financial pressure your family now faces, and honor the life of the person you lost.
At HLM Injury Lawyers, attorney Eric A. Hernandez approaches wrongful death cases with the seriousness and sensitivity they demand. A former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida and former law clerk to Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Charles T. Wells, Eric has more than 25 years of trial experience pursuing justice for families throughout South Florida. He is bilingual in English and Spanish and recognized as a Super Lawyer and Florida Trend Legal Elite. If your family lost a loved one due to negligence in Parkland, call (305) 842-2100 for a compassionate, confidential consultation.
Common Causes of Wrongful Death in Parkland
- Fatal car accidents: Distracted driving, speeding, and failure to yield on Parkland’s primary corridors — Loxahatchee Road, University Drive, and Holmberg Road — claim lives. When another driver’s negligence causes a fatal crash, that driver and potentially their employer may be held liable.
- Commercial truck collisions: Tractor-trailers traveling to and from I-95 and the Sawgrass Expressway pass near Parkland’s residential corridors. The mass and speed of a commercial truck make fatal outcomes far more likely in any serious collision.
- Premises liability deaths: Fatal drownings in inadequately fenced pools, falls from unsafe balconies or stairways, or fires resulting from code violations on a Parkland property can all give rise to wrongful death claims against the property owner.
- Medical malpractice: Errors during surgery, misdiagnosis of a treatable condition, or failure to act on diagnostic results can cause preventable deaths. Florida medical malpractice wrongful death claims require specific legal procedures, and Eric has the background to pursue them effectively.
- Negligent security: When a violent crime occurs on a property that failed to provide adequate security — inadequate lighting, broken locks, no security presence — the property owner can be held responsible for resulting deaths.
- Workplace accidents: Fatal injuries caused by unsafe working conditions, defective equipment, or employer negligence may support a wrongful death action separate from or in addition to workers’ compensation.
Injuries Common in Wrongful Death Cases
- Catastrophic trauma: Fatal accidents typically involve blunt force trauma, penetrating injuries, or damage to vital organs. The medical record of your loved one’s final hours is critical to establishing the full severity and cause of death.
- Loss of final medical expenses: Families are frequently left with hospital bills from emergency treatment, surgery, and intensive care incurred before their loved one passed. These costs are recoverable.
- Funeral and burial expenses: The immediate financial burden of a funeral is recoverable in a Florida wrongful death claim.
- Loss of future income: If your loved one contributed financially to the household, the family is entitled to recover the projected value of those future earnings over their expected lifetime.
- Loss of companionship and guidance: Surviving spouses, children, and parents may recover damages for the loss of the relationship — the companionship, guidance, and support that can never be replaced.
- Emotional pain and suffering: Survivors’ grief and mental anguish are recognized damages under Florida’s Wrongful Death Act. They are real, they are significant, and they are fully compensable.
Florida Law and Your Parkland Wrongful Death Claim
Florida’s Wrongful Death Act authorizes certain surviving family members — spouses, children, parents, and in some cases other dependents — to pursue compensation following a death caused by negligence or a wrongful act. The personal representative of the deceased’s estate typically files the claim on behalf of all survivors.
Recoverable damages under the Florida Wrongful Death Act include medical and funeral expenses, lost net income and support, lost services, and the survivors’ own mental pain and suffering.
Under Florida’s 2023 tort reform law, HB 837, the statute of limitations for a wrongful death negligence claim is two years from the date of death. This deadline is strictly enforced — acting promptly with an experienced attorney ensures your family’s rights are protected and critical evidence is preserved.
Why Hire Eric Hernandez
- Compassionate and experienced: Eric understands that a wrongful death case is not only a legal matter — it is the most difficult experience a family can go through. He handles every case with the care and respect your family deserves.
- Federal prosecution background: Building a wrongful death case requires the same methodical, evidence-driven approach Eric used as a former Assistant U.S. Attorney. He knows how to construct liability arguments that withstand aggressive defense opposition.
- Trial-ready for high-stakes cases: Wrongful death cases can involve insurance companies and corporate defendants with substantial legal resources. Eric’s 25-plus years of trial experience in South Florida courts means he is never intimidated into accepting an inadequate settlement.
- Bilingual support: Parkland’s diverse community includes many Spanish-speaking families. Eric provides full legal representation in both English and Spanish, ensuring no family member is left without a voice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can file a wrongful death claim in Florida? The personal representative of the deceased’s estate files the claim on behalf of survivors. Eligible survivors who may recover damages include the surviving spouse, children, parents, and, in some cases, other blood relatives or adoptive siblings who were dependent on the deceased.
What is the deadline to file a wrongful death claim in Parkland? Florida’s 2023 tort reform law, HB 837, sets a two-year statute of limitations for wrongful death negligence claims, running from the date of your loved one’s death. Missing this deadline eliminates your family’s right to recover.
Can my family recover if the at-fault party also died in the accident? Yes. In most cases, a wrongful death claim is filed against the at-fault party’s estate and their insurance carrier. The death of the person responsible does not extinguish your family’s right to compensation.
How are wrongful death damages divided among family members? Florida law specifies how damages are allocated among surviving family members. The personal representative and the attorney work together to ensure that each eligible survivor receives fair compensation based on their relationship to the deceased and their individual losses.
Contact HLM Injury Lawyers — Free Consultation
Your family deserves justice, financial security, and the time to grieve without the added burden of unpaid bills and uncertainty. Contact HLM Injury Lawyers at (305) 842-2100 for a compassionate consultation at no cost to you. Eric Hernandez represents grieving families throughout Parkland, Coral Springs, Coconut Creek, Margate, Tamarac, Pompano Beach, Deerfield Beach, and all of Broward County.