The Personal Injury Accident Lawyers in Miami at the Perazzo Law Firm understand that when someone dies in a Florida crash, the wrongful death claim is brought by the estate’s personal representative, not by relatives suing separately, under Fla. Stat. § 768.20. The Perazzo Law Firm has learned, according to Stars and Stripes, that a Pensacola crash claimed the lives of three sailors.
What was reported
According to Stars and Stripes, three sailors were killed early Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, in a car crash in Pensacola.
Stars and Stripes reports that all three were at the beginning of their Navy careers, were from Michigan, Massachusetts and California, and were assigned to the Naval Air Technical Training Center or the Naval Aviation Schools Command at NAS Pensacola. As Stars and Stripes relays it, Pensacola Police said the crash happened around 1:35 a.m. at M Street and Cervantes.
WEAR reports that a Pensacola police officer said responders found the vehicle engulfed in flames on arrival. According to Stars and Stripes, Pensacola Police lead the investigation, NCIS is participating, and the Navy released no additional details.
Those reports do not say what caused the crash, and early coverage is not a basis for assuming fault.
Families with questions about a Florida wrongful death claim can call 888-PERAZZO for a free consultation.
Who brings the claim under Florida law
Under Fla. Stat. § 768.19, a wrongful death action is available when a death is caused by “the wrongful act, negligence, default, or breach of contract or warranty of any person.” Whether any of that applies to this crash is a question the investigation has not answered.
If a claim does exist, § 768.20 says the action “shall be brought by the decedent’s personal representative,” who recovers for the benefit of the decedent’s survivors and estate. Each family does not file its own suit. A car accident that kills three people can involve three estates and three personal representatives.
The statute does not mention where the survivors live. The crash happened in Pensacola, but which state’s law governs a particular claim depends on the facts.
Can parents recover?
It depends on the facts, including the decedent’s age and who else survives. The reports cited above do not give the sailors’ ages.
- Under § 768.18, “minor children” means “children under 25 years of age, notwithstanding the age of majority.”
- Under § 768.21(4), “each parent of a deceased minor child may also recover for mental pain and suffering from the date of injury.”
- For an adult child, § 768.21(4) allows that recovery only “if there are no other survivors.”
Parents of a decedent 25 or older, then, are in a different position than parents of a decedent under 25. A spouse or children of the decedent would also change the picture.
The two-year deadline
Florida sets a two-year limit for “an action for wrongful death” in Fla. Stat. § 95.11(5)(e). When that period starts, and whether any exception applies, depends on the facts.
FAQ
Who files a Florida wrongful death claim?
The decedent’s personal representative, under § 768.20, for the benefit of the survivors and the estate.
How long is the filing deadline?
Two years for “an action for wrongful death,” per § 95.11(5)(e), with the start date and any exceptions depending on the facts.
If your family is facing a loss like this, call 888-PERAZZO or contact the firm online to talk through your questions in a free consultation.
Miami Accident Attorney Advertising. The Perazzo Law Firm, North Miami Beach, Florida. This post is general information, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.