Wrongful Deaths
Wrongful Deaths
If you have suffered the loss of a loved one due to another person's negligence, then you are no doubt in a state of serious grief. There are many factors that must be considered in a Wrongful Death claim that we will discuss below, but if you feel that your loved one's death was in fact caused by the negligence of another person and that it can be proved in court, then it is very likely that you may be able to be compensated for your suffering and pain. Our team of experienced Lawyers have handled countless Wrongful Death cases in the past with great success, and it is highly possibly that we could do the same for you.There are five main types of damages that you can recover from under Pennsylvania Wrongful Death laws: The first is Direct Expenses, such as the cost of the funeral and medical bills. The second type of damage is Loss of Future Earnings, which takes in mind what the person who died would have earned if they were still alive. The third is Loss of Benefits, which accounts for what the deceased could have received in retirement and pension funds if they had not died. The fourth is Punitive Damages; the amount of punishment that the defendant should receive for their actions that resulted in the person's death. The last type of damages which you can recover from is Loss of Companionship, which takes into account the emotional elements that the deceased would have contributed to the relationship, and the total amount of pain and suffering that has occurred due to the loss of this person.
Now that you know about the types of damages that are taken into consideration in a Wrongful Death case, let's discuss exactly how those damages are calculated. Calculating damages can be a rather complicated process that involves various factors. The first thing that must be considered is the nature of the relationship that the deceased had with the plaintiff(s). The second thing is how dependent the plaintiff was on the deceased. The third consideration is how long the deceased was expected to live if they had not died. The fourth consideration is whether or not there is any comparative fault. The fifth and last consideration that must be calculated is what the anticipated earnings and benefits of the deceased were. As previously stated, calculating damages can be a complicated process, and it is in this process where the skills of an experienced lawyer are needed.
Once damages have been calculated by the jury, it may have to be decided how to distribute the damages. Often times in a Wrongful Death case more than one family member was impacted by the loss of the deceased, so the court must take this in mind and decide what to give to whom. If you feel that you suffered from a Wrongful Death and want to file a claim, do not hesitate to call our experienced Philadelphia wrongful death lawyers for a consultation. The sooner you act, the more likely it is that evidence will be preserved and the more likely it is that you will be compensated for your suffering.