Legally Reviewed by Frank P. Marsalisi on August 11, 2026

Losing a family member because of someone else’s carelessness is one of the hardest things a Pinellas Park family can go through. Alongside the grief, families are often left facing funeral costs, lost income, and unanswered questions about what happened and why. At Marsalisi Law, we understand that no case can undo that loss, but Florida law does give surviving families a path to hold the responsible party accountable and pursue financial support for what your family has lost.

If your family is grieving the death of a loved one caused by a car accident, a truck crash, medical negligence, a dangerous property, or another party’s negligence in Pinellas Park, the Pinellas Park personal injury lawyer team at Marsalisi Law is available to listen and explain your options. Frank P. Marsalisi has spent more than 18 years representing injured people and grieving families across Pinellas County and the greater Tampa Bay area, and he handles wrongful death cases personally rather than passing your file to a paralegal or case manager.

How Florida Wrongful Death Claims Work

Florida wrongful death claims follow a specific legal framework that determines how much time your family has to act and how a claim may be valued. Understanding this framework early can help your family avoid losing rights you may not realize are on a clock during an already overwhelming time.

Statute of Limitations for Wrongful Death Claims — at a Glance

Under Florida Statute § 95.11, a wrongful death claim generally must be filed within 2 years from the date of death — not the date of the underlying accident or injury. When a loved one is injured and later passes away from those injuries, the wrongful death clock begins running on the date of death, separate from any earlier personal injury deadline.

Missing this filing deadline will, in almost all circumstances, permanently bar your family’s ability to seek compensation, regardless of how strong the underlying case may be. You can review the current statute directly on the Florida Legislature’s official statutes website. Because evidence can be lost and witnesses can become harder to locate as time passes, families are encouraged to speak with an attorney well before this deadline approaches.

Comparative Negligence Can Still Reduce What a Family Recovers

Even in a wrongful death claim, Florida’s comparative negligence law can come into play. If the deceased is found to share some percentage of fault for the underlying accident, a court may reduce the family’s recovery proportionally, and if that share of fault exceeds 50 percent, recovery may be barred entirely. Insurers are often quick to raise comparative fault arguments in these cases, which is one of the reasons it helps to have an attorney reviewing the facts on your family’s behalf early.

Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim in Florida

Under Florida’s Wrongful Death Act, a wrongful death claim is not filed by individual family members directly. Instead, the personal representative of the deceased person’s estate files the lawsuit on behalf of the estate and the qualifying survivors. The personal representative is typically named in the deceased’s will or appointed by the probate court if there is no will.

The survivors on whose behalf the claim is brought generally include the deceased’s spouse, children, and parents, and in some circumstances other relatives who were dependent on the deceased for support. Each survivor’s right to recover, and the types of damages available to them, depends on their specific relationship to the deceased. Because these rules can be complex, it is worth speaking with an attorney early to understand who in your family may be eligible.

Common Causes of Wrongful Death in Pinellas Park

Wrongful death claims in Pinellas Park can arise from a wide range of circumstances. Some of the situations we see most often include the following:

Every case is different, and determining whether a death qualifies as legally “wrongful” under Florida law requires a careful review of the facts. An attorney can help your family understand whether the circumstances of your loss may support a claim.

Damages You May Be Able to Recover

Florida’s Wrongful Death Act allows the personal representative and qualifying survivors to seek several categories of compensation. These categories reflect what Florida law allows a family to pursue — not a guaranteed outcome. Depending on the facts of your case and your relationship to the deceased, an attorney can help identify which categories may apply to your family.

An attorney can review your family’s specific circumstances to help identify which categories may apply to your case.

How Frank P. Marsalisi Approaches Your Family’s Case

Frank P. Marsalisi works on a contingency fee basis, meaning your family pays no upfront legal fees. There is no financial risk in speaking with him, and he is only paid if he recovers compensation on your family’s behalf. Frank understands that no amount of money replaces what your family has lost, and he approaches every wrongful death case with that in mind — investigating what happened, gathering and preserving evidence, handling communications with insurers, and, when necessary, taking a case through litigation, all so your family does not have to face that process alone.

Why Pinellas Park Families Choose Marsalisi Law

Grieving families do not need a law firm that treats their loss like a transaction. Frank P. Marsalisi has spent more than 18 years representing injured people and grieving families across Pinellas County, and he handles every wrongful death case personally, from the first conversation through resolution.

Marsalisi Law is Where Law Gets Personal. Frank is bilingual in English and Spanish, the firm is available to families 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and consultations are always free and confidential. If you have lost a loved one in Pinellas Park and are unsure what to do next, contact us today to talk through your family’s situation.

Frequently Asked Questions About Wrongful Death Claims in Pinellas Park

These are some of the questions Pinellas Park families most often ask after losing a loved one to another party’s negligence.

Marsalisi Law Is Here for Pinellas Park Families After a Wrongful Death

After losing a loved one, your family should not have to navigate the legal process, insurance companies, and probate court on your own. Frank P. Marsalisi has spent more than 18 years standing up for injured people and grieving families across Pinellas County and the greater Tampa Bay area, and his approach is always personal, always direct, and focused on what your family needs during a difficult time.

Frank P. Marsalisi handles every case himself from start to finish. Marsalisi Law is Where Law Gets Personal. To get started, contact us today using our online form, or call us directly.