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Tampa wrongful death lawyers help families seek accountability when a loved one dies because someone else acted carelessly. At Mickey Keenan, P.A., our team helps Florida families after fatal car accidents, truck crashes, motorcycle wrecks, pedestrian accidents, unsafe property incidents, boating accidents, and other preventable events.
A wrongful death case is not only about what happened in the final moment. It is also about who depended on that person, what the loss means for the family, and how the insurance company may try to narrow the claim. These cases need privacy, patience, and careful proof.
Mickey Keenan spent part of his career as a lawyer for insurance companies. Today, he uses that inside knowledge to help families prepare for the way insurers defend serious claims. At Mickey Keenan, P.A., “Your fight is our fight” reflects how we treat cases that carry this kind of weight. Our work is shaped by commitment, loyalty, integrity, and a willingness to fight.
Call Mickey Keenan, P.A., at (813) 871-1300 for a free consultation. There are no upfront fees, and our team answers calls 24/7.
What Is a Wrongful Death Case in Florida?
A wrongful death case in Florida is a civil claim brought when a person dies because of another party’s wrongful act, negligence, default, or breach of contract or warranty. The Florida Wrongful Death Act is a group of statutes that governs these cases.
Negligence means someone failed to use reasonable care and caused harm. In a fatal accident, that may involve a careless driver, unsafe property owner, commercial vehicle company, boat operator, or another responsible party.
These claims are separate from any criminal case. A criminal case focuses on punishment. A wrongful death claim focuses on the family’s civil recovery and the losses tied to the death.
How Is Wrongful Death Different From a Personal Injury Case?
A wrongful death case is different because the injured person is no longer here to bring the claim. Florida law allows the case to move forward for the benefit of certain surviving family members and the estate.
That change affects how the case is handled. The proof may include accident evidence, financial records, family relationships, funeral costs, and the support or services the person provided.
The claim must tell the full story with care.
Why Does the Insurance Company Still Matter?
The insurance company still matters because many wrongful death cases are defended by insurers. A fatal crash or unsafe property claim may involve auto insurance, commercial coverage, premises insurance, rideshare coverage, or boating coverage.
An adjuster may ask for statements, request records, or make early contact while the family is still grieving. Mickey Keenan’s insurance-side background helps our team prepare for those tactics.
Before signing forms or giving a recorded statement, call Mickey Keenan, P.A. for guidance.
Who Can Bring a Wrongful Death Claim in Florida?
A Florida wrongful death lawsuit is brought by the personal representative of the person who died. Florida Statutes section 768.20 says the personal representative brings the action for the benefit of the survivors and the estate.
A personal representative is the person appointed to act for the estate. That person may be named in a will or appointed through the probate court. The personal representative does not keep the claim for themselves. They bring it for the people Florida law allows to recover.
Who Counts as a Survivor?
A survivor is a family member who may be included in the wrongful death claim under Florida law. Florida Statutes section 768.18 defines survivors to include the spouse, children, parents, and certain dependent blood relatives or adoptive siblings.
The details matter. A spouse, minor child, adult child, parent, or dependent relative may have different rights depending on the facts.
Our team can help explain how the family structure may affect the case.
What If the Family Is Not Sure Who Should Call First?
Any close family member can call to ask questions. The first conversation does not have to solve every legal issue.
Families often contact us before a personal representative has been appointed. That is common. Our team can explain what may need to happen next and what information may be useful.
Start with what you know. We can help you sort through the rest.
What Compensation May Be Available in a Florida Wrongful Death Case?
Compensation in a Florida wrongful death case may include losses suffered by survivors and the estate. Florida Statutes section 768.21 explains the damages that may be available in these cases.
Those losses may include support and services, medical or funeral expenses, loss of companionship, mental pain and suffering for certain survivors, and estate-related losses. The exact claim depends on the person who died, the family relationship, the cause of death, and the evidence.
No lawyer can promise a result. A wrongful death claim must be built from records, facts, and Florida law.
What Are Support and Services?
Support and services are the financial help and practical care the person provided. That may include income, household help, childcare, transportation, care for a spouse or parent, and other family support.
These losses are personal to the family. They cannot be measured by a bill alone.
Our team works to understand what the person did for the family, not just what appears in a wage record.
What Does the Estate Recover?
The estate may recover certain losses tied to the person who died, depending on the facts. This may include some medical or funeral expenses and other estate damages allowed by Florida law.
The estate is not the same as the survivors. The estate is the legal entity that handles the person’s remaining affairs.
That distinction can matter during settlement, probate, and court approval.
What Is a Common Insurance Tactic in Fatal Accident Claims?
A common insurance tactic is to narrow the case to the final incident and ignore the person’s life. The adjuster may focus on a crash report, a short statement, or one disputed fact.
A Tampa example may involve a fatal pedestrian crash near a busy road such as Dale Mabry Highway or Hillsborough Avenue. The driver may say the person “came out of nowhere.” The insurer may repeat that line before reviewing lighting, speed, sight lines, nearby cameras, and witness accounts.
Our team looks beyond the shortcut version. We test the insurer’s story against the evidence.
Why Choose Mickey Keenan, P.A. for a Tampa Wrongful Death Case?
You should choose Mickey Keenan, P.A. because wrongful death claims require serious preparation, insurance knowledge, and a law firm that treats the family with care. These cases are too important for a file-number approach.
Mickey Keenan has more than 20 years of legal experience and previously worked as a lawyer for insurance companies. That background gives our firm a clear view of how insurers evaluate serious injury and fatal accident claims.
Mickey Keenan, P.A. has recovered millions for injury victims and families, is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, and has 314 5-star Google reviews. Mickey Keenan, P.A.’s case results include a $4.9 million wrongful death auto accident settlement and a $2 million commercial vehicle accident settlement.
Past results do not predict future outcomes. They do show that the firm has handled serious claims with real financial stakes.
Will Families Work Directly With an Attorney?
Yes, families at Mickey Keenan, P.A. receive direct attorney access. The firm is built around personal attention, not high-volume case handling.
That matters in a wrongful death case. Families often have questions about insurance, probate, bills, funeral costs, and what happens next.
You should not have to chase your lawyer for answers during one of the hardest times in your life.
How Does Former Insurance Defense Experience Help?
Former insurance defense experience helps because it shows our firm how insurers may defend a fatal claim. Mickey has seen how insurance companies evaluate cases from the inside.
That matters when an insurer points to a disputed report, old medical records, unclear liability, or a statement made too early.
Our team expects those arguments and prepares for them from the start.
What Types of Fatal Accidents Does the Firm Handle?
Mickey Keenan, P.A. handles wrongful death claims tied to the firm’s Florida personal injury practice. That includes fatal motor vehicle crashes, unsafe property incidents, boating accidents, rideshare crashes, pedestrian accidents, motorcycle accidents, bicycle accidents, bus crashes, and commercial vehicle collisions.
Our wrongful death work is focused on the types of injury cases the firm handles. If a matter falls outside our practice, our team can be direct about fit.
Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents
Fatal vehicle cases may involve cars, trucks, motorcycles, pedestrians, bicycles, buses, rideshare vehicles, or commercial drivers. These claims may involve several insurance policies and fast-moving defense teams.
Evidence may include crash reports, vehicle damage, video, witness statements, company records, phone data, and insurance records.
Early legal help may protect proof before it disappears.
Fatal Premises Liability Incidents
Fatal premises liability cases may involve unsafe property conditions, dangerous walkways, falls, negligent security, or other hazards. These claims may depend on who controlled the property and what they knew before the incident.
The property owner or insurer may deny notice. They may say the event was not preventable.
Our team looks for records, prior complaints, video, maintenance history, and witness accounts.
How Long Do Families Have to File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Florida?
Many Florida wrongful death lawsuits must be filed within two years. Florida Statutes section 95.11 places actions for wrongful death under a two-year filing deadline.
Some cases may involve different rules. It is safer to ask early than to wait.
A deadline is not the only timing issue. Video, business records, witness names, vehicle data, and insurance records may disappear much sooner.
What Is a Contingency Fee?
A contingency fee means you pay no upfront attorney fees in a personal injury or wrongful death case. The attorney fee comes from the recovery if compensation is obtained.
This helps families get legal help without paying hourly fees during the case. Mickey Keenan, P.A. explains the fee agreement before representation begins.
If there is no recovery, there is no attorney fee.
Our Tampa Wrongful Death Lawyers Serve Families Across Tampa Bay
Our Tampa wrongful death lawyers serve families across Tampa, Riverview, Largo, The Villages/Oxford, and nearby Florida communities. The Tampa office is located at 324 N Dale Mabry Hwy #101, Tampa, FL 33609.
The firm also serves families in Brandon, Temple Terrace, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Wesley Chapel, Land O’ Lakes, Pinellas County, Hillsborough County, Pasco County, Sumter County, and surrounding areas.
Can You Start With a Phone Call?
Yes, you can start with a phone call. You do not need every document before contacting our firm.
Start with what happened, where it happened, who has contacted the family, and what questions feel most urgent. Our team can help explain what may come next.
Call Mickey Keenan, P.A. at (813) 871-1300 for a free wrongful death consultation.
FAQ for Tampa Wrongful Death Lawyers
Who files a wrongful death lawsuit in Florida?
The personal representative files the wrongful death lawsuit in Florida. Florida Statutes section 768.20 says the personal representative brings the claim for the benefit of the survivors and estate.
Family members can still call a lawyer before that process is complete.
What family members may be part of a Florida wrongful death claim?
Florida law includes the spouse, children, parents, and certain dependent relatives in its definition of survivors. Florida Statutes section 768.18 gives the statutory definition.
The exact rights may depend on the family relationship and the facts of the case.
How long does a wrongful death claim take?
The time depends on the facts, insurance coverage, evidence, and whether the insurer accepts responsibility. Some cases resolve through settlement, while others require litigation.
Our team explains the process as the case develops.
Talk With Tampa Wrongful Death Lawyers Who Know the Insurance Side
A wrongful death claim carries more than legal questions. It carries grief, family pressure, insurance calls, financial stress, and the need for answers.
Mickey Keenan, P.A. brings insurance-side insight, direct attorney access, real case results, and a personal approach rooted in commitment, loyalty, integrity, and a willingness to fight.
Your fight is our fight. Call Mickey Keenan, P.A. at (813) 871-1300 for a free consultation.