My child was killed by a drunk driver. Do I have a Florida wrongful death claim?

A: If you have lost a child as a result of the actions of a drunk driver, you have suffered a devastating loss. Psychologists tell us that the unexpected death of a child goes to the emotional core of any parent and may affect that parent for the rest of his or her life.

If your child was under the age of 25 and not married and without children, then you, as parents, have a claim against the drunk driver.

Florida's Wrongful Death Act provides that you may recover for mental pain and suffering from the date of the injury, medical and/or funeral expenses due to the child's injury or death and possibly the loss of support and services.

In addition, the other articles on this site relating to drunk drivers and punitive damages should be consulted. Punitive damages are those damages intended not simply to compensate the survivors of a deceased child but also to punish the drunk driver. Punitive damages also serve a purpose as a example to the community at large that such behavior will not be tolerated and will be punished both criminally and civilly when it occurs.