Should I Start a GoFundMe Page After a Fatal Tampa Workplace Accident?

If you have lost a loved one to a fatal workplace accident, you might be wondering how to raise funds for unpaid medical bills, funeral expenses, and other costs. These expenses can be extremely burdensome, especially at a time when you might feel paralyzed by grief. For example, the National Funeral Directors Association states that the average funeral in the United States now costs over $8,000. Should you start a GoFundMe page to cover these costs? Or is a workers’ compensation claim in Tampa more effective?

The Pros and Cons of GoFundMe

 GoFundMe and other crowdfunding options can be extremely successful under the right circumstances. If you can get exposure and media attention, the entire community may rally to your cause – providing you with plenty of funding for funeral costs, unpaid medical bills, and other costs related to the fatal accident.

That being said, it is difficult to describe GoFundMe as “reliable.” If you do not succeed in getting your story out, you might only receive donations from a handful of people. Because of this, it doesn’t really make sense to rely entirely on GoFundMe to cover the cost of a fatal workplace accident.

Be Careful When Describing How You’ll Use GoFundMe Funds 

You should know that when you create a GoFundMe page, you must follow certain rules and restrictions. For example, you must describe how you’re going to use the funds before accepting any donations. After a fatal workplace accident, you might want to set up a GoFundMe page to cover funeral costs. However, you must remain true to these promises after you receive the money. If you spend the money on something else, you could face various penalties. You might even be accused of fraud, which is a criminal offense.

This could be an issue if you create a GoFundMe page and file a workers’ compensation claim at the same time. There is nothing inherently illegal about this, and many families choose to pursue compensation from multiple sources. However, “death benefits” under workers’ comp may cover a significant portion (or 100%) of your deceased loved one’s funeral costs and unpaid medical bills. Workers’ comp also provides a lump-sum payment for the loss of income your family will incur after losing an earner.

It might be a good idea to state that your GoFundMe page will raise funds for the loss of income your family will incur after losing your loved one. Although death benefits provide considerable compensation in this regard, it likely won’t cover a lifetime of lost income – especially when you factor in inflation.

Can a Tampa Workers’ Comp Lawyer Help After a Fatal Accident? 

A Tampa workers’ compensation lawyer may be able to help families who have lost loved ones after fatal workplace accidents. Although GoFundMe and other crowdfunding options may be effective, a workers’ comp claim is something you should not overlook. Death Benefits provide reliable compensation, and they should cover the cost of a proper funeral. To learn more, consider speaking with The Franco Law Firm today.

Sources: 

nfda.org/news/statistics

gofundme.com/en-ca/c/terms