FL personal injury trial lawyer, John Holcomb talks about the damages that may be awarded in a wrongful death case. He explains that in Florida, wrongful death cases are governed by a specific statute, and even with familiarity, careful review is required to determine who is entitled to recover and what types of damages may apply. For example, if a surviving spouse loses their partner, they may recover compensation for pain and suffering due to the profound emotional impact. They are also entitled to “loss of net accumulations,” which represents the savings the deceased would likely have accumulated over their expected lifetime.

He notes that loss of support is another important factor, particularly when the deceased was the primary breadwinner, as it accounts for the financial contributions they provided. In contrast, if the deceased was a stay-at-home parent, the surviving spouse may recover compensation for the economic value of the household and domestic roles that must now be replaced, in addition to damages for pain and suffering.