When to Pull the Plug on a Loved One After a Delray Beach Car Accident

In September of 2025, The Palm Beach Post reported that an elderly woman had passed away weeks after a car accident in Delray Beach. She somehow survived for a considerable length of time despite suffering severe injuries, fighting for her life before passing away. She was 83 years old. Such accounts are unfortunately quite common, as medical professionals may strive for weeks or even months to save the lives of car accident victims. What if your family member suffered a similar type of injury? When should you pull the plug?

Review the Estate Planning Documents

The decision of whether to remove your loved one from life support can be difficult. However, you should know that your loved one might have already made this decision for you. If your relative created an estate planning document called an “advance directive,” they may have laid out instructions on what to do in this specific situation. For example, your loved one might have instructed you and their doctors to “pull the plug” after two weeks.

Your loved one might have also designated a healthcare surrogate to make this decision on their behalf. This could be a parent, a spouse, an adult child, or another relative. It might even be you. In this situation, the healthcare surrogate might have the responsibility of making this important decision.

What Happens if I Pull the Plug?

If you remove your loved one from life support, you may be able to file a wrongful death claim. Although this might be challenging to think about, a wrongful death claim could provide the family with considerable financial security during an uncertain future. For example, your claim could cover your funeral expenses in full. It could also pay for the medical expenses your family has incurred thus far, including those related to life-sustaining treatment.

A wrongful death claim can cover lost future wages, and this could be very important if your loved one was a primary wage-earner supporting multiple dependents. Finally, a wrongful death claim can cover non-economic damages, such as grief, loss of consortium, and emotional distress.

What if I Keep Them on Life Support?

If you keep your loved one on life support, you may need to wait longer before filing a lawsuit. However, you could take this step if your loved one established a “power of attorney” before their accident. You might also gain legal guardianship over your incapacitated loved one, which could give you the legal authority to file a claim. Speak with a lawyer to learn more.

Can a Car Accident Lawyer in Delray Beach Help Me?

Only you can determine whether it makes sense to remove your loved one from life support after a car accident. However, a car accident lawyer in Delray Beach may be able to help you make other decisions. Whether you plan to keep your relative alive or pull the plug, your lawyer can guide you through wrongful death lawsuits or personal injury claims. They may also help you complete certain steps before taking action, such as gaining guardianship over your incapacitated loved one. Learn more by contacting Steinberg Law today.

Sources: 

tapinto.net/towns/boca-raton/sections/police-and-fire/articles/elderly-woman-dies-weeks-after-crash-involving-a-west-boca-raton-man

palmbeachpost.com/story/news/local/delray/2025/09/25/delray-beach-woman-dies-injuries-linton-blvd-crash/86335529007/