Needless and terribly painful – these words are not enough to describe wrongful deaths. More often than not, victims are left to pick up the pieces on their own and make sense of what happened. Losing a loved one because of another’s negligent or erratic conduct can affect many levels of life. It is also a situation that allows for a civil lawsuit.

When these tragedies happen here in our beautiful part of Florida, an experienced Ocala FL wrongful death attorney can help. For 30 years Pam Olsen has legally represented families to thoroughly secure wrongful death compensation. Money won’t make everything whole again, but healing from a position of financial stability is better. Contact Pam Olsen, Esq. today for free consultation at (352) 671-9777. Or if you prefer, you can complete this simple contact form and she will be in touch right away.

Benefits of Choosing Pam Olsen

The following are some of the benefits of choosing Pam to on this journey;

Proper Investigation of Your case

As part of any wrongful death claim, it’s crucial that evidence can be presented that can demonstrate someone else caused your loved one’s death through negligence or unlawful actions. Pam Olsen and her team possess all of the resources and expertise required for comprehensive investigations; their investigators gather key documents, interview witnesses and work closely with experts in developing strong cases against negligent parties.

Valuing Claims with Accuracy

Calculating the value of a wrongful death claim requires calculating both economic and non-economic damages, making the task complicated without legal assistance. Pam Olsen is an Ocala FL wrongful death attorney with years of experience assessing claim values to ensure you receive fair compensation for losses such as medical bills, lost wages, future earning potential potential and emotional pain and suffering. She takes into consideration every factor when making her assessment – medical costs, lost wages, potential future earning capacity, potential emotional pain.

Negotiation Skills

Most wrongful death claims are resolved out-of-court through negotiations with insurance companies, who tend to attempt to minimize payouts as part of an effort to reduce expenses for grieving families. It is for this reason you need an experienced Ocala FL wrongful death attorney. Pam Olsen has extensive negotiation skills that enable her to communicate efficiently and successfully negotiate fair settlements that reflect the true worth of each claim.

Court Representation

If an equitable resolution cannot be found through negotiations, trial may become inevitable. When this occurs, having someone like Pam Olsen by your side who possesses extensive courtroom experience can ensure your rights are upheld while also effectively representing your case before both judge and jury is of critical importance to its success.

Contact Pam Olsen, Esq. today for free consultation at (352) 671-9777.

How Pam Olsen Can Help?

Free Initial Consultation

Pam Olsen offers a free initial consultation to discuss your case. At this meeting, she will listen carefully as you share your tale and assess its merits before providing an overview of the legal processes involved with filing suit against someone or some entity. It’s an opportunity for both of you to meet each other as you will both get to know one another better while making your choice about who should represent you legally.

Compiling Evidence

Once you decide to proceed with legal action, Pam Olsen and her team will begin gathering evidence and building your case. They’ll obtain medical records, accident reports, witness statements and any other relevant documentation needed for preparation. Furthermore, they’ll work closely with experts such as medical providers in order to bolster your position and strengthen it accordingly.

Filing Your Claim 

Pam Olsen will handle the legal paperwork necessary for filing your claim efficiently and within its deadlines, keeping you updated as developments unfold and leading you through every stage of legal processes. Reach out now to speak to an Ocala FL wrongful death attorney.

Settlement Negotiations

At every point during this process, Pam Olsen will negotiate on your behalf with those responsible and their insurance carriers in an effort to reach a fair settlement that adequately compensates you for your losses. She can advise whether to accept an initial settlement offer or proceed further through trial proceedings as necessary.

Trial Representation

Should your case go to trial, Pam Olsen can act as your legal advocate in court. She can present your arguments effectively while cross-examining witnesses and advocating on your behalf; her years of courtroom experience increase your odds for success at the table.

Contact Pam Olsen, Esq. today for free consultation at (352) 671-9777.

What Determines Wrongful Death

This is simply when someone’s actions or failure to act causes another person to die. One way to think of it is, “Would the deceased person still be living if the other person had acted differently?”

Some Examples of Wrongful Death Situations

Wrongful death cases have a range of causes including:

• Car Accidents
• Golf Cart Accidents
• Unsafe Products
• Medical Malpractice
• Nursing Home Abuse or Negligence
• Premises Liability
• Truck Accidents
• Motorcycle Accidents
• Gunshot Wounds

Who Can Be Compensated For A Wrongful Death

According to state law, any blood relative or biological sibling who is “partly or completely reliant on the recipient for protection or services” can sue for damages in a Florida wrongful death case. Speak to an Ocala FL wrongful death attorney to determine this.

How Are Wrongful Death Claims Made

Initial Steps

Most legal claims in Florida must be made within 4 years of the incident. Wrongful death suits have a shorter statute of limitations. They must be started within 2 years from the time the person died. 

In Florida such a claim must be made by the executor of the deceased person’s estate. If there was no executor specified in a will, the state will assign a surviving family member to be the personal representative. That person must initiate the claim.

Most successful wrongful death claims involve legal representation. It’s best for the executor or assigned representative to connect with an Ocala fl wrongful death attorney directly after the wrongful death happens.

The process officially begins when the attorney and the representative have their first meeting together.

Researching And Gathering Evidence

The most valuable evidence in a wrongful death claim is cause of death. So this next part of the process involves:

• Examining medical records
• Interviewing medical providers
• Gathering statements from those with credible insight as to cause of death
• If applicable, taking photos of the accident scene and talking with witnesses

How Long Does A Wrongful Death Case Last

As with many legal questions, the answer is – it depends on the details of the case. Sometimes coming to the conclusion that the defendant is liable for the person’s death requires a lot of digging. Other times the evidence is clear and the case is over quickly. The length of many cases ends up being several years.

For clarity, a case is considered complete when a verdict is reached. The court then approves the settlement amount and all compensation funds are paid to the estate beneficiaries. 

What Kinds Of Damages Can Be Claimed

Here are the kinds of damages often claimed in Ocala wrongful death suits:

• Lost wages
• Lost benefits
• Lost expected investment accumulation
• Loss of companionship
• Loss of guidance
• Loss of protection
• Mental and emotional anguish

Factors Determining The Financial Loss

Some of these factors are simple to assess, others require further calculation. They include:

• Income
• Consortium
• Parental responsibilities
• Level of family involvement 
• Age when the person died
• Marriage status
• Whether or not the person had children
• Number of children
• All the people the person supported while alive

The key to receiving the maximum compensation is having an experienced Ocala fl wrongful death attorney who cares enough to thoroughly discover all of these values.

Ocala FL wrongful death attorney-Pam Olsen carefully calculates the proper amount of  damages that should be claimed. She takes into consideration the person’s age, how educated they were, the kind of work they did, how much they were earning each year and their upward career trajectory. Contact Pam Olsen, Esq. today for free consultation at (352) 671-9777.

How To Calculate The Loss of Consortium

In everyday language, consortium means companionship. The value depends on:

• How long the person had been married
• Number of children
• Children’s ages (damages awarded can be higher with younger children)
• Elderly parents depending on the deceased person
• Percentage of contribution – if the deceased was the only money earner in the home, the amount awarded can be higher

All of these aspects need to be fully understood and explained to the court so the correct amount of damages are claimed. This is why working with an experienced Ocala FL wrongful death attorney like Pam Olsen is so important.

Do Wrongful Death Cases Always Go To Trial

Not necessarily. These cases can be settled out of court. Sometimes the evidence clearly shows the other person was at fault. Insurance companies don’t want the additional court costs when there is no chance for a win. 

When the dispute is less clear, these cases usually go to trial. It’s common to receive a minimal settlement offer from the insurance company, but the value awarded from a judge and jury is much higher.

Wrongful Death in Criminal Cases

So far we’ve been talking about accidents or negligence. When there was malice or premeditation the defendant first faces criminal proceedings. 

If the court finds the defendant guilty, he or she can no longer plead innocence if sued in a civil lawsuit. Speak to an Ocala FL wrongful death attorney to understand this better.

Why Choose Pam Olsen

As you will see from the first meeting, Pam is a dedicated Ocala FL wrongful death attorney that cares about her clients. That caring is demonstrated not only in her communication with you but in her professionalism and results. She follows a streamlined set of protocols that increase the chances of winning your wrongful death case.

There are cases where claims are not awarded to the family of the victim due to a lack of confidence and assertiveness. Pam Olsen, takes on the burden of your wrongful death case and fights on your behalf. 

If you’ve lost a loved one from someone else’s actions, now is the right time to seek help from an Ocala FL wrongful death attorney. Contact Pam Olsen, Esq. today for free consultation at (352) 671-9777. Or if you prefer, you can complete this simple contact form and she will be in touch right away.