Wrongful Death Lawyer in Tampa

Florida law decides who is permitted to recover after a wrongful death, and the answer surprises many grieving families. Not every relative who loved the person can bring a claim, and the ones who can are defined by statute rather than by closeness. A wrongful death case in Tampa begins with that threshold question of who the law recognizes as a survivor, because it shapes everything that follows.

At Jeeves Law Group, P.A., our Tampa wrongful death attorneys help families understand where they stand under the law, and relatives across Hillsborough County can learn how our firm handles these cases with the care they require.

Who the Law Allows to Recover

Florida’s Wrongful Death Act sets out who counts as a survivor and what each may recover. Under Florida Statute § 768.21, recoverable losses depend on the survivor’s relationship to the person who died. A surviving spouse may recover for loss of companionship and mental pain and suffering. Minor children may recover for lost parental companionship and guidance, and all children may recover in certain circumstances. Parents may recover for the loss of a child. The statute draws these lines carefully, and whether a particular family member has a claim, and for what, is a legal determination our attorneys make at the outset of every case.

How a Wrongful Death Claim Is Actually Filed

A wrongful death action in Florida cannot be filed by survivors individually. It is brought by the personal representative of the deceased person’s estate, who pursues the claim on behalf of both the estate and all eligible survivors. If the person left a will naming a representative, that individual usually serves; if not, the court appoints one, a process that runs through the probate division of the Hillsborough County Circuit Court.

This structure means the family often has an estate matter and an injury claim proceeding together. Our attorneys coordinate both so the case moves forward correctly rather than stalling on a procedural gap.

What Survivors and the Estate Can Recover

Florida separates the losses the survivors suffer from the losses the estate suffers, and both may be part of the case. Survivors can recover for their own losses: companionship, guidance, protection, and mental pain and suffering, along with any support the deceased provided. The estate can recover losses such as lost earnings the person would have accumulated, medical and funeral expenses paid on the person’s behalf, and the net value the estate lost. Sorting which damages belong to whom is part of building the claim properly, and it affects how any recovery is ultimately distributed among the family.

The Deadline and Why Evidence Still Matters

Florida generally requires a wrongful death claim to be filed within two years of the death. As with any serious injury case, the evidence that proves fault, including crash records, medical documentation, and witness accounts, is most reliable when gathered early, even during a period when a family is in no state to think about litigation. There is no pressure to act before you are ready, but the sooner the facts are preserved, the more securely the claim rests on them later. Our attorneys can begin that quiet work while the family focuses on what matters most.

When your family is ready to understand what the law provides, our Tampa office is here to answer your questions carefully and without pressure. You can reach us at (727) 894-2929 or through our contact page whenever the time is right.