Palm Beach County · Wrongful Death Attorney · Hablamos Español
Losing a loved one to someone else’s negligence is devastating. Florida law gives your family the right to hold the responsible party accountable. Attorney Marcos Gonzalez has fought for grieving families throughout Palm Beach County for over 20 years. Free, compassionate consultation 24/7.
When someone dies because of another person’s negligence, recklessness, or intentional wrongdoing, Florida law does not leave the surviving family without recourse. The Florida Wrongful Death Act — Florida Statutes 768.16 through 768.26 — provides a comprehensive legal framework that allows surviving family members to hold responsible parties financially accountable for the full human and economic cost of the loss. This legal right is not a luxury or a technical legal exercise — it is the law’s recognition that a preventable death creates real, lasting, and serious harm to the people left behind.
Wrongful death cases in Palm Beach County arise from many causes. Fatal car accidents on I-95, Southern Boulevard, and US-1. 18-wheeler and commercial truck crashes on the Florida Turnpike and the industrial corridors near Port of Palm Beach. Construction site fatalities at the county’s many active development projects in Westlake, Avenir, and downtown West Palm Beach. Drowning accidents at the residential pools and hotel properties that are so dense throughout this county. Medical malpractice at JFK Medical Center in Atlantis, Bethesda Hospital, Good Samaritan Medical Center, and other healthcare facilities. Pedestrian fatalities on the county’s most dangerous arterials. In every case, the mechanism of loss is different — but the legal right to hold responsible parties accountable is the same.
Florida’s Wrongful Death Act recognizes that a death produces not just grief and trauma but measurable financial harm: the loss of financial support the deceased would have provided, the loss of parental guidance and companionship for children, the loss of the spousal relationship, the mental pain and suffering of every person left behind. These are not abstract legal categories — they are the real consequences that a grieving family lives with every day. Advocates USA builds the full picture of your family’s loss in all its dimensions and fights for compensation that honestly reflects what was taken.
Attorney Marcos Gonzalez handles wrongful death cases with the same aggressive, evidence-driven advocacy he brings to every case — and with additional sensitivity to the profoundly human dimension of representing a family in their most difficult time. He understands that you are not just seeking compensation — you are seeking justice, accountability, and the recognition that your loved one’s life had value. Advocates USA provides both.
Compensation available to victims in Palm Beach County:
Florida’s wrongful death statute of limitations is 2 years from the date of death. Do not wait. A civil wrongful death claim runs independently of any criminal case. Call (877) 872-4878 for a free, compassionate consultation.
Advocates USA has represented grieving families following losses from every cause of negligence. These are the most frequent wrongful death scenarios we handle in Palm Beach County.
Motor vehicle fatalities are the most common basis for wrongful death claims in Palm Beach County. High-speed crashes on I-95, Southern Boulevard, Okeechobee Boulevard, and Military Trail — frequently involving drunk drivers, distracted drivers, or commercial vehicles — take lives throughout the county every year. When the at-fault driver’s negligence caused the death, the family has the right to pursue the full range of wrongful death damages. We act immediately to preserve accident evidence and identify all liable parties including underinsured motorist coverage.
18-wheelers on the Florida Turnpike and commercial trucks on SR-80 through the Glades region cause a disproportionate share of traffic fatalities. Multiple liable parties — the driver, the trucking company, the cargo shipper, and maintenance providers — may all contribute to these crashes. Commercial insurance policies carry high limits, and Advocates USA pursues the full scope of coverage through every liable party.
Palm Beach County’s active construction industry — with major projects throughout Westlake, Avenir, and downtown West Palm Beach — is the site of preventable worker fatalities caused by falls from height, struck-by accidents, electrocutions, and trench collapses. Beyond workers’ comp death benefits, families of construction workers killed on job sites frequently have more valuable third-party wrongful death claims against the general contractor and other parties.
Palm Beach County has one of the highest concentrations of residential and hotel pools in the United States. Drowning deaths — particularly involving children — frequently result from inadequate pool fencing, missing barriers, absent supervision at commercial facilities, and defective drain equipment that creates entrapment. Property owners and pool operators owe a duty to prevent drowning accidents. When that duty is breached and a life is taken, the wrongful death claim is often significant.
Surgical errors, diagnostic failures, medication mistakes, and hospital-acquired infections at JFK Medical Center, Bethesda Hospital, Good Samaritan, and other county facilities can produce patient deaths that constitute medical malpractice. These cases require pre-suit expert review under Florida Statute 766.106 and involve specialized medical liability legal processes. Advocates USA works with experienced medical malpractice experts to evaluate and pursue these claims.
Florida’s first-in-the-nation pedestrian fatality rate takes lives on Palm Beach County’s most dangerous corridors every year. US-1, Okeechobee Boulevard, Blue Heron Boulevard, and Atlantic Avenue are among the roads where pedestrian and cyclist deaths occur regularly from driver negligence. When a driver’s failure to yield, distracted driving, or impaired driving causes a pedestrian or cyclist death, the family’s wrongful death claim includes all Florida Wrongful Death Act damages.
Beyond construction, workplace fatalities occur in Palm Beach County’s agricultural sector in the Glades, in warehousing and distribution operations along the I-95 corridor, in maritime operations at Port of Palm Beach, and in restaurant and hospitality settings. Workers’ compensation death benefits provide a basic starting point, but third-party wrongful death claims against contractors, property owners, and equipment manufacturers often provide far greater recovery for surviving families.
Drunk driving deaths in Palm Beach County — including crashes on Clematis Street and Atlantic Avenue’s post-entertainment corridors, on late-night residential roads, and in hotel and resort areas throughout the county — create wrongful death claims that include the possibility of punitive damages. We also investigate potential dram shop liability against bars and restaurants that over-served the driver, adding additional recovery sources for the family.
When a defective product causes a fatal accident — a vehicle with a defective airbag, brakes, or steering system; a defective piece of construction equipment; or a defective consumer product — the manufacturer faces strict product liability alongside any negligent user. These product liability wrongful death claims run concurrently with other claims and are pursued with full expert investigation.
Beyond hotel and residential pools, Palm Beach County’s extensive canal and waterway system — maintained in part by local drainage districts — creates drowning risk for children and adults throughout the county. Property owners adjacent to canals have fencing obligations. Boat operators have navigation safety obligations. Drowning deaths in Palm Beach County’s many bodies of water are evaluated for every potential source of premises and maritime liability.
Florida has strict nursing home and assisted living standards. When nursing home neglect, inadequate supervision, medication errors, fall injuries, or bedsores contribute to the death of a resident at a Palm Beach County facility, families have both wrongful death and elder abuse claims available. Advocates USA handles nursing home wrongful death cases with complete understanding of the regulatory and civil liability framework that applies.
Deaths occurring at Palm Beach County schools, summer programs, sports events, and youth recreation facilities are among the most heartbreaking wrongful death claims we handle. When inadequate supervision, unsafe premises, defective equipment, or negligent instruction contributes to a child’s death, Advocates USA pursues every responsible party — school districts, private institutions, coaches, and equipment manufacturers — with complete determination.
What Florida law says about your claim
Florida’s Wrongful Death Act designates who may file (the personal representative of the estate), who the survivors are (spouse, children, parents, and in some cases other dependents), and what categories of damages each class of survivor may recover. The Act imposes no cap on compensatory damages in most wrongful death cases.
The estate recovers medical and funeral expenses and the deceased’s net lost earnings from injury to death. Surviving spouses recover lost financial support, lost companionship and protection, and mental pain and suffering. Minor children recover for loss of parental companionship, instruction, guidance, and mental pain and suffering. These are cumulative — every survivor’s claim is pursued simultaneously.
Florida Statutes 95.11(4)(d). Do not wait. Call Advocates USA immediately.
A wrongful death civil lawsuit does not wait for a criminal case to conclude. The civil and criminal proceedings are independent. A criminal conviction is not required for civil recovery — and a criminal acquittal does not bar civil liability. We pursue civil wrongful death claims without any dependency on the criminal justice system’s timeline.
Wrongful death evidence — accident scenes, surveillance footage, medical records, maintenance logs — requires immediate preservation. An attorney can act on your family’s behalf while you focus on each other.
A personal representative must be appointed through probate to file the wrongful death lawsuit. Advocates USA assists with this process to ensure it is handled efficiently without unnecessary delay.
We work with economists, life care planners, and financial experts to quantify every element of your family’s loss — lost financial support, lost companionship, children’s loss of guidance, and every survivor’s mental pain and suffering.
Every responsible party is identified and pursued simultaneously — at-fault drivers, trucking companies, property owners, employers, product manufacturers, and any others whose negligence contributed to the death.
We do not accept the first offer. We fight for the full value of your family’s claim through negotiation and, when necessary, through trial.
Insurance communications, evidence preservation, expert coordination, and legal proceedings — we manage everything. Your family should be focused on healing, not legal process.
Accident scene evidence, surveillance footage, medical records, and maintenance logs are preserved by legal demand within 24 hours of being retained.
Economists calculate the present value of lifetime lost earnings and financial support. Life care planners document future care costs if applicable. Every survivor’s claim is valued individually.
Accident reconstruction, medical experts, economists, and life care planners are retained and prepared from the beginning of every case.
Every potentially responsible party is identified and investigated — including secondary defendants like dram shop establishments, equipment manufacturers, and employers.
We work with the probate process to establish the personal representative efficiently and ensure the lawsuit is properly filed on behalf of all survivors.
Insurance companies pay more for wrongful death cases when they know the family’s attorney will take the case to trial. We are always ready.
Attorney Marcos Gonzalez worked inside major insurance companies before representing injured people. He knows every tactic they use to deny and minimize claims — and applies that insider knowledge against them every single day.
The highest peer-awarded rating in the legal profession for legal ability and ethical standards. Recognized by judges and fellow attorneys across Florida — not purchased through advertising.
Over half a billion dollars won for injury victims across South Florida. Individual verdicts up to $4 million. These are results real clients received — not marketing promises.
Our entire team is fully bilingual. We serve Palm Beach County’s large Spanish-speaking community with complete, dedicated legal representation in their language — from first call through final settlement.
Accidents don’t follow a schedule. Neither do we. Call any hour — we answer and we act immediately to protect your evidence and your case.
Zero upfront cost, zero hourly fees, zero payment unless we win. Our fee is a percentage of what we recover for you. If we don’t win — you owe us absolutely nothing.
Our Results
A sample of results for clients across Palm Beach County and South Florida. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
Advocates USA represents injury victims in every city throughout Palm Beach County
Advocates USA handles all personal injury cases throughout Palm Beach County
Palm Beach County, Florida
Under Florida’s Wrongful Death Act (Florida Statutes 768.16–768.26), the personal representative of the deceased’s estate files the lawsuit on behalf of all surviving family members. The personal representative is typically named in the will or appointed by the probate court. Surviving spouses, children, and parents are the primary beneficiaries. Surviving spouses recover lost financial support and companionship. Minor children recover for loss of parental companionship, instruction, and guidance — often a significant component of the total claim. Adult children may recover in some circumstances depending on dependency.
2 years from the date of death under Florida Statutes 95.11(4)(d). This deadline is absolute — missing it permanently eliminates the family’s right to any compensation. Call Advocates USA at (877) 872-4878 immediately. Do not wait for a criminal case to resolve before pursuing the civil wrongful death claim — they are entirely separate proceedings that run independently.
The estate recovers medical and funeral expenses, and the deceased’s net lost earnings from the time of injury to death. Surviving spouses recover lost financial support, lost companionship, and protection. Minor children recover for loss of parental companionship, instruction, guidance, and their mental pain and suffering. Adult children and parents may recover mental pain and suffering in specific circumstances. The total value of a wrongful death claim reflects the full human and financial impact of the loss.
A criminal case is brought by the state to punish the wrongdoer and requires proof beyond a reasonable doubt. A wrongful death civil lawsuit is brought by the family to recover financial compensation and uses the lower preponderance of evidence standard. A criminal conviction is not required for a successful civil wrongful death claim — in fact, a civil claim can proceed even if criminal charges are never filed or result in acquittal. O.J. Simpson’s wrongful death civil liability despite criminal acquittal is the most famous example of this principle.
Yes. Florida’s modified comparative fault rules apply to wrongful death claims. The family’s recovery is reduced by the decedent’s percentage of fault, but is not eliminated unless the decedent was more than 50% responsible. Advocates USA carefully analyzes fault attribution to maximize the family’s recovery.
DUI-related wrongful deaths are among the most devastating and most legally actionable cases we handle. Beyond the driver’s full liability, we investigate whether any alcohol-serving establishment (bar, restaurant, or private party host) over-served the driver — creating potential dram shop liability under Florida Statute 768.125. Punitive damages are also available against drivers who cause death while operating under the influence. These additional claims and damages significantly increase total recovery.
Yes. Medical malpractice wrongful death claims are available when a healthcare provider’s negligence caused a patient’s death at JFK Medical Center, Bethesda Hospital, Good Samaritan Medical Center, or any other facility. These claims require pre-suit investigation and a medical expert affidavit under Florida Statute 766.106, and the statute of limitations is generally 2 years from discovery of the malpractice. Contact Advocates USA immediately if medical negligence was a factor in your loved one’s death.
Construction site fatalities often involve both a workers’ compensation death benefit claim and a far more valuable third-party wrongful death claim against the general contractor or other responsible parties. The workers’ compensation system provides burial expenses and limited survivor benefits — but a third-party wrongful death lawsuit can recover the full scope of the family’s damages including the deceased’s lifetime earnings, the surviving spouse’s loss of companionship, and children’s loss of parental guidance. Call Advocates USA to pursue both tracks simultaneously.
Complex wrongful death cases typically take 1–3 years depending on liability disputes, damage complexity, and whether trial becomes necessary. Cases with clear liability and cooperative insurers can sometimes resolve in under a year. Advocates USA pursues efficient resolution while never compromising on the full value of your family’s claim.
We evaluate every potential source of recovery — the at-fault party’s personal assets, any umbrella policies, uninsured motorist coverage, dram shop liability, employer liability, and any other applicable insurance. In cases involving commercial vehicles, government entities, or business premises, additional insurance layers are almost always available. Call us — we find every avenue.
Yes — Hablamos Español. We serve grieving Spanish-speaking families throughout Palm Beach County with complete legal representation in their language, from the very first call through the final resolution of their family’s claim.
The 2-year deadline moves fast. Call Advocates USA for a compassionate, free consultation — 24/7 in English and Spanish.
Call (877) 872-4878 — Free, 24/7
Hablamos Español · Greenacres, FL · Serving All of Palm Beach County
