On Tuesday, August 28, just before 6 a.m., students from Homestead High School were involved in a fatal crash. The accident occurred Near SW 112th Ave and SW 248th St, near the Florida Turnpike. The Miami-Dade Police have confirmed that a Scion was driving south on 112th Ave when the driver veered right onto the dirt shoulder. The driver over corrected and then veered into oncoming traffic. The Scion crashed into an SUV and a Honda Odyssey, which were both headed north on 112th Ave. The driver and passenger in the Scion, both students of Homestead High School, were ejected from the vehicle. Shandel Mio, 15, was pronounced dead at the scene. He was a freshman at Homestead High School, and he had recently moved to Florida from Peru. The other student was airlifted to Kendall Regional Medical Center. The other vehicle’s occupants were taken to Jackson South Community Hospital with less severe injuries. If you lost a loved one or were seriously injured in a car accident in Miami-Dade, contact Gerson & Schwartz P.A. at (305) 371-6000. We can help.
Pursuing Compensation After a Deadly Crash
After losing a loved one, such as a spouse, parent, or child, in a collision, it is hard to think about money. However, it is an ever-present issue. Following such a loss, your family can be left with many bills, emotional and psychological harm. If your loved one was transported to a hospital after a crash, you may be billed for the ambulance ride and the emergency room visit. Even with health insurance, these can be significant bills.
In addition to medical bills related to the crash, you face the cost of a funeral and burial for your loved one. The average funeral in the U.S. costs more than $7,000, and this figure does not involve all the expenses your family may incur, such as providing food and beverages for visitors to a memorial service.
The loss of your relative could require your family to pay thousands or tens of thousands of dollars in bills. This is why it is important to speak with one of our wrongful death lawyers for Homestead and Miami-Dade County. We understand that you may not want to sue anyone. You may be uncomfortable with turning the death of your loved one into a lawsuit. However, you should closely consider pursuing compensation through an insurance claim. The driver of the at-fault vehicle should be covered by an auto insurance policy, which may provide you with some sort of financial recovery.
Going Through With a Wrongful Death Claim
In pursuit of compensation through an insurance claim, or in an attempt to hold the at fault driver responsible for their actions, your family may decide to go ahead with a wrongful death claim. Under Florida’s Wrongful Death Act, the personal representative of your loved one’s estate is the only person allowed to file this lawsuit.
In many circumstances, a family member is the personal representative of the decedent’s estate. For instance, following the death of a minor, a parent would often be the personal representative. The personal representative, whether or not they are a relative, files suit on behalf of you and other surviving family members.
You should have an experienced attorney to guide and represent your family during a wrongful death suit. By working with a Homestead wrongful death lawyer, you have someone who understands how to prove the other party’s liability and your right to a financial recovery. You have a skilled and knowledgeable professional who will fight for your family to receive the maximum amount of compensation possible, which can help you pay the remaining medical, funeral, and burial expenses.
Your attorney will also fight for you to receive compensation for your emotional grief and the loss of your loved one’s society, care, and companionship. This will never make up for losing a family member, but it can help your family moved forward.
If you lost your child or other close relative in a car accident in Miami do not hesitate to speak with an attorney. You can contact Gerson & Schwartz P.A. at (877) 475-2905 to schedule a free consultation. There is no fee or expectations in talking with us. We want to listen to your story and explain how we can help.