Wrongful Death Attorney: Why Do We Need One?

The idea of wrongful death is not usually considered until the tragic loss of a loved one. These cases arise when the careless or negligent actions of another individual, company, or entity cause the death of a loved one. Unfortunately, cases of wrongful death are not uncommon in and around the Philadelphia area. A Philadelphia wrongful death case can arise in various ways, including:

What is wrongful death?

Under Pennsylvania law, wrongful death is described as the death of a loved one from another individual’s negligence, violence, or wrongful act. It is also possible that there will be criminal charges filed against the at-fault party in these cases, but this will not affect a civil wrongful death claim. A civil lawsuit for wrongful death in Philadelphia can be filed regardless of whether or not criminal charges or filed and regardless of whether or not a negligent party is found guilty for the death.

Within a wrongful death case, the representative of the deceased individual’s estate may file a lawsuit in order to recover compensation for damages. The executor of a deceased individual that is determined in the possible Last Will and Testament is commonly the personal representative. A family member may also volunteer to be the personal representative or have an appointment of someone by the court if the deceased individual did not establish a Will.

However, if the representative does not file a wrongful death claim with six months of the death, any family or heirs may file the claim. The spouse, children, or parents of the deceased person may then recover damages. When the lawsuit is resolved, they will receive a percentage of the wrongful death damages as if there was no Will.

Why have a wrongful death attorney?

Attorneys that primarily focus on wrongful death cases have a detailed understanding of legal methods with this type of lawsuit. The maintenance of deadlines and filing of legal documents would be appropriately handled by a wrongful death attorney in Philadelphia.

Wrongful death cases are complicated to handle by yourself and take long durations of time. However, wrongful death attorneys will have the experience and knowledge to handle your case and reduce the amount of time for yourself. They also have the understanding to provide the necessary legal support during a stressful lawsuit.

An attorney will properly analyze every aspect of your case and reflect the compensation that can be secured. Your lawyer will have the resources necessary to obtain all evidence and work with expert witnesses to testify on your behalf.

Statute of limitations

Every state places its own statute of limitations on wrongful death cases. In Pennsylvania, the time limitation for wrongful death lawsuits is two years from the date of the deceased individual’s death. If a wrongful death claim is not filed with this period of two years, it will likely not be heard by the court.

Let us assist your Philadelphia wrongful death case

Seek legal assistance today if somebody you care about has lost their life due to the careless or negligent actions of another person. The team at the Dan Doyle Law Group is prepared, with experience and qualifications, to thoroughly investigate every detail of your case to find out what happened in order to secure the compensation you are entitled to. This can include the following:

  • Funeral and burial expenses
  • Pain and Suffering damages
  • Medical expenses of the deceased person
  • Recovery of lost income from the individual who died
  • Loss of companionship damages
  • Loss of consortium damages
  • Possible punitive damages against the negligent party

When you need a Philadelphia wrongful death lawyer, you can contact us for a free consultation of your case by clicking here or by calling 215-987-3730.