When faced with the death of a loved one, grief can be devastating. It is especially tragic when caused by someone’s negligence or intentional action. Along with the heartbreak of an unforeseen death, it can leave a family with extensive financial burdens in the aftermath.
If you have lost a loved one because of the reckless or negligent act of another, you may benefit from bringing a wrongful death claim against that party. At Silver & Silver, our experienced and compassionate Philadelphia wrongful death lawyers are dedicated to getting the help grieving families need after losing a loved one.
What Is the Purpose of a Wrongful Death Claim?
Under Pennsylvania law, a wrongful death is caused by the negligent, reckless, or unlawful act of another. A wrongful death claim allows certain family members to seek compensation for their damages and damages their loved one may have been entitled to have survived. Although a wrongful death claim will never make up for the loss of that person, it can help ease the financial burdens that are left behind.
What Family Members Can Bring a Wrongful Death Claim?
Not every family member is entitled to bring a wrongful death claim. Only the legal beneficiaries of the deceased—the surviving spouse, children, or parents—or the personal representative of the deceased’s estate can file a lawsuit to recover compensation in a wrongful death claim.
How Do Wrongful Death Benefits Help Surviving Family Members?
A wrongful death claim is often paired with what is called a survival action. While a wrongful death claim will focus on compensating surviving family members for their damages, a survival action is designed to compensate the estate for the damages of the deceased individual.
Similar to a personal injury claim, survival actions will seek to recover compensation for the deceased party’s medical expenses, lost wages, emotional distress, and pain and suffering from the time of the incident or accident until the time of their death. A wrongful death claim will seek compensation for the surviving family’s damages, including the costs of a funeral or burial, other out-of-pocket expenses, mental anguish, medical costs, and the loss of their loved one’s love, companionship, income, and services.
There is a two-year statute of limitations to file a wrongful death lawsuit in Pennsylvania. If you have lost a loved one to a wrongful act, an experienced Philadelphia wrongful death lawyer will guide and advise you on the steps that must be taken, records gathered, and timelines met to pursue a wrongful death claim or survival action.
The Financial Burden of a Wrongful Death
Most families don’t recognize the financial impact of a loved one’s death until the funeral expenses and medical bills begin to accumulate. The decedent may have been the sole supporting adult, leaving a family behind to financially fend for themselves. Although a lawsuit will be the last thing on your mind after a loved one’s passing, you should not have to shoulder this alone. Let us help you seek compensation from the at-fault party to ease these financial burdens.
When you have suffered the devastating loss of a family member due to the negligent or intentional act of another, you have enough to worry about. That is why we handle all wrongful death cases on contingency. This means you pay nothing in attorney fees until we recover compensation on your behalf.
Getting the Help of an Experienced Wrongful Death Lawyer in Philadelphia, PA
Our skilled Philadelphia wrongful death lawyers at Silver & Silver have dedicated over 40 years of practice to victims and their families. We are committed to helping families move on from these tragic losses. Contact us at (610) 638-7255 or through our online contact form to schedule a no-cost consultation to discuss your options.
Disclosure:
This website is designed to provide only general information. The information presented on this website is not formal legal advice. You should not rely on any general information from any source for making legal decisions. Each legal matter is unique and requires specific attention from a qualified and experienced attorney. Unless a representation agreement has been signed with the Law Offices of Silver and Silver, we are not your legal representatives.