A Florida jury has awarded nearly $500 million to the family of a woman fatally shot during an argument in a car in 2011.
The family of the 20-year-old Jacksonville woman filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the man who shot her and two other men who helped dump her body.
The man who shot her was sentenced to 45 years for second-degree murder in 2017. The other men pleaded guilty to accessory charges.
On Tuesday, a Duval County jury awarded the family over $495 million for emotional distress and punitive damages.
Deciding whether to file a wrongful death lawsuit after losing a loved one is a personal matter. While no one else can make this decision for you and your family, our experienced Florida Wrongful Death Attorneys at Whittel & Melton can provide you with useful information about the benefits of filing a lawsuit so that you can make the best decision.
There are two main reasons people choose to file wrongful death suits:
- Hold the person responsible for the death accountable for their actions. A wrongful death lawsuit holds the at-fault party legally accountable for a wrongful death.
- Obtain and protect your financial recovery. The only way to recover monetary compensation after the wrongful death of a loved one is to file a wrongful death claim. This can provide you with money that you need to pay any outstanding medical bills and funeral costs caused by the other person’s negligence. It can provide you with compensation for the lost income your family has suffered, and will continue to suffer, and it can also compensate your family for other damages such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, and mental anguish.
If you are interested in finding out more about a wrongful death case and how it works, please call us today at 866-608-5529 or contact us online for a free consultation. We can help you understand if choosing to file suit is the right choice for you.