Prison Wrongful Death

Florida Prison Wrongful Death Attorneys

Prison deaths are an unfortunate reality of federal and state facilities across the country. During 2020-2021, 539 inmates died across Florida, as per the Florida Department of Corrections.

When a death occurs due to the negligence of another party, it is possible to seek damages with the help of our Florida prison wrongful death lawyers.

Types of Deaths in Prison

Two types of deaths occur in prison, distinguished by the cause of death. An inmate who dies in prison may die of natural or unnatural causes. Most prison deaths are determined to have occurred due to natural causes.

In 2020-2021, for instance, 474 out of 539 prison fatalities were classified as natural. Natural death is when an inmate dies due to old age or a medical condition.

Unnatural death is when a prisoner dies due to suicide, negligence, or deliberate violence perpetrated by a fellow inmate or a correctional officer.

Liability for Prison Deaths

It is important to identify who is liable for an inmate’s death. When a prison facility declares death as natural, it essentially seeks to avoid any responsibility for it. In the case of unnatural deaths, there is almost always someone responsible. In both types of deaths, one or more parties can be liable.

The prison administration or correctional officers are typically liable for deaths caused by homicide or accident. This is simply because they are responsible for the well-being and safety of the inmates, as guaranteed under the Eighth Amendment.

Even when a prisoner dies due to medical malpractice or violence by another inmate, the prison authorities may share liability. When a death occurs due to medical-related negligence, you may also be able to seek wrongful death damages from the healthcare provider.

Damages for a Florida Prison Wrongful Death

You can seek a wide range of damages for the death of a loved one in a Florida prison.

The damages available for such a claim can include:

Funeral expenses: You can recover the full amount of expenses associated with the funeral service of the deceased victim.
Future lost earnings: If you can show that you were a financial dependent of the deceased, you can also recoup damages to cover the financial compensation you would have received had the victim lived.
Punitive damages: These damages are awarded when you can show that the negligent party acted recklessly or with an exceptional disregard for human life. These damages serve as a financial punishment for the liable entity.
Attorney fees: It is also possible to seek to cover the legal costs of litigating the wrongful death case.
Non-economic damages: Also known as pain and suffering damages, these are meant to help you get compensation for your intangible and emotional losses.

Reach Out to Our Florida Prison Wrongful Death Lawyers

If you have a loved one who died in a Florida prison due to the negligence of the correctional officers, fellow inmates, healthcare providers, or another entity, we want to help you.

At Fischer Redavid PLLC, we understand what a tragedy it is to lose a loved one in such circumstances. If we’re able to take on your case, our lawyers will work with you to hold the liable party accountable and recover maximum compensation.