Did you recently lose a loved one in Philadelphia, PA? Was someone else responsible for their death? Contact an experienced Philadelphia wrongful death lawyer for legal advice today. Our team at Zavodnick & Lasky Personal Injury Lawyers can help your family fight to recover compensation for medical expenses, loss of financial support, pain, suffering, trauma, and more.
Our skilled attorneys have over 80 years of combined experience handling cases like brain injuries, car accidents, Philadelphia medical malpractice cases, motorcycle accidents, Philadelphia pedestrian accidents, product liability cases, and many more. We know how to force the insurance companies to take your case seriously. In fact, our approach has already won over $50 million in settlements and verdicts for families like yours.
You can count on our experienced team to do everything possible to help your family during this difficult time. Call our law offices in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at (215) 875-7030 to schedule your free consultation today with a Philadelphia wrongful death attorney.
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How Can Zavodnick & Lasky Personal Injury Lawyers Help With My Family’s Philadelphia Wrongful Death Claim?
When the worst happens, your family can end up reeling from the trauma. The grief can seem unbearable. While it isn’t fair, many families also end up struggling financially after losing a loved one.
While our lawyers can’t change what happened, we can help you get the money your family needs. If someone else was responsible, let our Philadelphia personal injury attorneys stand up to the insurance companies on your behalf.
Our team at Zavodnick & Lasky Personal Injury Lawyers has been recognized by Super Lawyers and The National Trial Lawyers.
We’ve earned a reputation for success and are well-equipped to help your family by:
- Conducting our own investigation to determine what happened
- Collecting and evaluating any available evidence
- Identifying all responsible parties and insurance sources
- Determining how much compensation you really deserve
- Negotiating fiercely for a full settlement
- Fighting to protect you in court if necessary
Insurance companies know when they’re liable. For the support your family needs in Philadelphia, PA, call our Philadelphia wrongful death lawyers today. We’ll review the facts and help you fight for every available dollar.
Pennsylvania Wrongful Death Laws: An Overview
When someone is injured in an accident, they have the right to file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault party. Unfortunately, some injuries are so severe that the victim doesn’t survive. When a personal injury victim dies, their family can seek compensation.
Under Pennsylvania law, a “wrongful death” means any death caused by the “wrongful act or neglect or unlawful violence or negligence of another”. Most wrongful death cases are based on negligence. However, you may also have a valid wrongful death case if your loved one was the victim of a crime.
In Pennsylvania, wrongful death cases can only be brought by certain surviving family members, including:
- A surviving spouse
- The decedent’s children
- The decedent’s parents
However, if none of these family members exist, the decedent’s personal representative can file the lawsuit on behalf of the victim’s estate.
How Common Are Fatal Accidents in Pennsylvania?
Across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, 1,179 fatal motor vehicle accidents were reported in 2022.
Philadelphia County had the highest number of fatal crashes in 2022 (12.1% of all traffic fatalities in Pennsylvania occurred in Philadelphia County). 143 people lost their lives in those accidents. 64 of those killed were pedestrians.
In 2021, 162 Pennsylvania workers were also killed in fatal workplace accidents.
What Is My Philadelphia Wrongful Death Case Worth?
The value of your case will depend on your family’s unique circumstances.
Critical factors to evaluate include:
- Your loved one’s age and life expectancy at the time of death
- The value of your lost financial support, considering prior earnings, work history, education, and other relevant factors
- The types of household duties performed by your loved one
- The identities of surviving dependents, especially a spouse and children
- The fear, pain, and suffering your loved one experienced prior to death
- How the loss has changed your family’s life
- The nature of the at-fault party’s actions
- The financial expenses your family has incurred, including medical expenses, funeral costs, and other out-of-pocket expenses
Money can’t turn the clock back. However, recovering the maximum compensation available is the best way to protect your family’s future. Contact us for a free consultation today to learn more about your case value.
What Damages Can I Recover By Filing an Action for Wrongful Death?
Wrongful death cases are handled in civil court. That’s true whether the case is based on an accident or an intentional criminal act. In fact, it’s possible that the person responsible for your loved one’s death could face both criminal charges and civil liability.
In a successful wrongful death case, your family may be entitled to compensation for:
- Medical expenses incurred between the date of injury and the date of death
- Hospital stays and nursing care
- Funeral expenses and burial costs
- Estate administration expenses
- Loss of your loved one’s financial support
- Loss of the value of your loved one’s household services
- Loss of companionship, society, and support (loss of consortium)
- Loss of parental guidance
- The emotional distress, pain, trauma, and grief your family has experienced
In other words, your family can seek compensation for economic damages and non-economic damages. However, if there is no surviving spouse, child, or parent, the personal representative can only seek compensation for medical expenses, hospitalization, nursing care, funeral costs, and estate administration costs.
Can I Recover Punitive Damages?
Most wrongful death cases don’t involve intentional wrongdoing. However, if you can prove that the defendant’s actions were intentional, malicious, or especially shocking, the courts may award punitive damages as punishment.
If the defendant is also charged with a crime, for example, it’s very likely that the court may consider punitive damages as punishment.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Wrongful Death Lawyer in Philadelphia?
Like most personal injury law firms, we work on a contingency fee basis. We only charge attorneys’ fees if we recover compensation for your family. Our fee is a percentage of your settlement or verdict. That way, you won’t have to worry about financial risk when hiring an experienced lawyer to represent your family.
How Can Pennsylvania’s Shared Fault Laws Impact My Family’s Right to Compensation?
Under Pennsylvania’s comparative negligence laws, victims who share some blame for an accident can recover partial compensation if their share of blame is less than 51%.
If the insurance companies can prove your loved one was at least 51% responsible for their own death, your family will lose the right to damages. The compensation will be reduced if their share of fault was less than 51%.
The system is meant to be fair and hold people accountable. Unfortunately, in wrongful death cases, victims can’t defend themselves. It’s up to your lawyer to find evidence to discredit the insurance company’s allegations.
When the insurance company is trying to pin the blame on your lost loved one, count on Zavodnick & Lasky Personal Injury Lawyers for help. We’ll put the full weight of our experience to work defending your loved one.
What Causes Most Wrongful Deaths in Philadelphia?
At Zavodnick & Lasky Personal Injury Lawyers, we have the experience to handle any type of wrongful death claim, including those involving:
- Car accidents, including DUI accidents
- Defective products
- Medical malpractice
- Slip and fall accidents
- Poisonings and drug overdoses
- Motorcycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Truck accidents
- Bus accidents
- Uber or Lyft accidents
- Murder, assault, and other violent acts
- Boating accidents
- Construction accidents
- Workplace accidents
- Dog bites
- Dangerous property conditions (premises liability)
- Nursing home abuse and neglect
Losing a loved one is difficult enough. Knowing the loss could have been prevented only makes matters worse. Our lawyers in Philadelphia are here to fight for you. Call today to schedule your free case review.
What Do I Have to Prove to Recover Damages for Wrongful Death in Philadelphia?
Most families must prove that their loved one died because someone else was negligent.
Negligence means:
- The defendant had a legal duty of care
- They breached their duty
- The breach caused your loved one’s death
- Your family suffered damages
Our lawyers will search for every available piece of evidence when we’re building your case. Even if you aren’t sure who was responsible, we can investigate. Just call to get started today.
How Long Do I Have to File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit After Losing a Loved One in Pennsylvania?
We know that the time after losing a loved one is painful. It’s still important to take legal action sooner rather than later. The statute of limitations in Pennsylvania only gives you two years to file a lawsuit. The two-year period starts on the date of your loved one’s death.
Contact a Philadelphia Wrongful Death Lawyer for a Free Case Review Today
If your family is grieving the loss of a loved one, in Philadelphia, PA, Zavodnick & Lasky Personal Injury Lawyers can help you fight for justice. We have decades of experience under our belt and we’re ready to put them to work for you. Contact an experienced Philadelphia wrongful death lawyer for a free case evaluation today.
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Highly Rated Hospitals in Philadelphia, PA
- Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania – 3400 Spruce St, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- Thomas Jefferson University Hospital – 111 S 11th St, Philadelphia, PA 19107
- Northeastern Hospital – 2301 E Allegheny Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19134
- Pennsylvania Hospital – 800 Spruce St, Philadelphia, PA 19107
- Einstein Medical Center – Elkins Park – 60 Township Line Rd, Elkins Park, PA 19027
*Disclaimer – we do not endorse these companies or profit from having them listed on our website.
Wrongful Death Resources
- Summary of State Wrongful Death and Intestacy Statutes
- Pennsylvania Wrongful Death Claims
- Wrongful Death/Survival Action Request
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