Did you lose a loved one in a Florida collision?

If you are taking care of a loved one who has a terminal illness, you both understand that there is no cure for the disease and that the time you have together is limited. While it is definitely never easy to experience the death of a beloved family member, in situations like this, a family has some time to prepare.

If, on the other hand, your loved one was perfectly healthy when he or she left the house on a particular day and you later learn that a fatal collision occurred that took his or her life, you are struck with sudden, expected bereavement. It is critical that you have a strong support network to help you and other family members cope with this great loss.

Stages of grief when death is unexpected

You likely remember where you were or what you were doing when you received a phone call informing you that your loved one had been in a terrible accident. Your recollection of the moments or days after that might be foggy, however. It is natural to experience signs of shock when you face the sudden loss of a loved one. The following list includes additional information about coping with family member’s sudden death:

• Initial symptoms of sudden death bereavement might include denial of the circumstances, body chills or shaking, nausea, uncontrollable emotions, or confusion.

• You might recall feeling guilty when you learned about the collision that caused your loved one’s death. Many people who have experienced similar circumstances say they felt like they should have been able to do or say something to change the way events unfolded the day their family member died.

• Your condition might be fragile in the days and weeks that follow your loved one’s death, prompting a need for daily living assistance.

• It is possible to experience post-traumatic stress disorder when faced with a sudden death situation involving a member of your family.

Your emotions might be all over the place as you come to terms with the circumstances of your loved one’s unexpected death. Some days will no doubt be easier to navigate than others.

The cause of the collision

If driver negligence caused the crash that resulted in fatal injuries to your loved one, it’s understandable that you might feel struck with intense anger and frustration, knowing that the collision was likely preventable. Distracted drivers, drunk drivers and those who are acting with road rage cause many fatal collisions in Florida.

There’s no replacement for the loss of human life. However, many grieving families are at least able to obtain financial recovery for their losses after filing wrongful death claims against those whose negligence was a causal factor in a loved one’s death.