Coral Gables Wrongful Death Lawyer

Nothing prepares a family for a sudden loss. In the days after, you may be dealing with grief, funeral arrangements and phone calls from insurance companies all at once. When a death was caused by a careless driver, an unsafe property or another person's negligence, Florida law gives the family a way to hold that person accountable. As a Coral Gables wrongful death lawyer, Tomas Robirosa helps families understand their rights and handles the legal work with care and patience, in Spanish or English, so you can focus on each other.

Where Fatal Accidents Happen in Coral Gables

• US 1 (South Dixie Highway) One of the city's main corridors, past the University of Miami campus and the University Metrorail station, where high traffic and frequent turns can lead to serious crashes.
• LeJeune Road (SR 953) A main north-south road from US 1 through the city toward Miami International Airport, carrying both local and airport traffic.
• Bird Road and Coral Way Two of the main east-west routes through the city, connecting Coral Gables with Miami and with the Palmetto Expressway area to the west.
• Downtown crosswalks Miracle Mile and Ponce de Leon Boulevard draw people on foot to shops, restaurants and the city trolley, which puts pedestrians close to moving traffic.
• Unsafe properties Falls from balconies or stairs, drownings and assaults on property with inadequate security can also give rise to a wrongful death claim.

Whatever the cause, the question is the same: whether someone failed to act with reasonable care and that failure took your loved one's life.

Florida Wrongful Death Laws That Affect Your Claim

Under Florida's Wrongful Death Act, the claim is brought by the personal representative of the estate. That is the person named in the will or appointed by the court. The personal representative brings the case on behalf of the survivors, such as the spouse, children, parents and others who depended on the person, and on behalf of the estate itself.

Depending on the family's situation, survivors may be able to recover for lost support and services, loss of companionship and guidance, and their grief, while the estate may recover medical and funeral expenses it paid and certain lost earnings. Which family members can recover which losses depends on the facts, so it is important to review your family's situation with a lawyer.

Florida's comparative negligence rule can also apply, and the insurer may try to blame the person who died. A careful investigation helps protect your loved one's memory and your family's claim.

What Families Can Do After a Loss in Coral Gables

1. Take care of your family first. There is no need to make legal decisions in the first hours. Lean on the people around you.
2. Ask for the police report. If the death happened in a crash inside city limits, the Coral Gables Police Department generally investigates. Write down the report number.
3. Keep important papers. Save medical bills, funeral receipts, pay stubs, tax returns and any letters from insurance companies.
4. Do not give statements to insurers. An insurance adjuster may call and ask questions or offer a quick payment. You do not have to answer or sign anything before getting advice.
5. Save photos and contacts. Keep any photos of the scene, names of witnesses and messages that may help explain what happened.
6. Talk to a lawyer about the estate. A lawyer can explain who should serve as personal representative and how to open the estate so the claim can move forward.

Damages and Support for Families in Coral Gables

A wrongful death claim cannot undo a loss, but it can ease the financial pressure on a family and hold the responsible party accountable. Depending on the circumstances and the insurance available, a claim may cover lost financial support, the value of services the person provided at home, loss of companionship and guidance, the family's grief, and medical and funeral expenses.

Learn more on our wrongful death practice page, or return to our Coral Gables personal injury page for the other cases we handle in the city.

A Bilingual Wrongful Death Lawyer in Coral Gables

Tomas Robirosa serves Coral Gables and all of Miami-Dade County. He gathers the police and investigation reports, works to preserve video and other evidence, identifies every insurance policy that may apply, and handles communication with the insurers so your family does not have to. He explains each step directly, in Spanish or English, at a pace that respects what your family is going through.

The consultation is free, and we work on a contingency basis: no fee unless we recover. Call (305) 600-0529.

Frequently Asked Questions