Philadelphia Wrongful Death Lawyer
Wrongful death claims can be difficult to prove. As defined by law, wrongful death occurs when an individual has died due to the wrongful or negligent acts of another individual. However, wrongful death does not include murder or manslaughter cases.
The circumstances surrounding wrongful death cases can vary widely, and proving someone else’s negligence can be difficult.
For this reason, it is important that family members who want to file a wrongful death lawsuit seek the advice of an experienced personal injury lawyer. Contact a Philadelphia wrongful death lawyer to begin your claim.
Common Unjust Loss of Life Cases
Anytime someone dies unexpectedly, and it was due to someone else’s negligence or wrong-doing, it may be considered a wrongful death. Most wrongful deaths fall into one of four case types:
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Medical malpractice
- Product liability
- Workplace accidents
How Common Wrongful Death Cases Occur
Car accidents are at the top of the list when it comes to wrongful death. They can be caused by speeding, reckless driving, distracted driving, road defects, or drunk driving. They can also include motorcycle accidents, boat accidents, and truck accidents.
When doctors and nurses are negligent, lives are at stake. When errors such as misdiagnosis, birth injuries, surgical errors and more occur, medical malpractice may be to blame and may even cause wrongful death.
Product Liability Cases
When products are defective, they can pose a great amount of risk to consumers. Dangerous childcare products and toys can cause the wrongful death of a child, and errors made with pharmaceutical drugs can also be devastating to families. Product liability can also occur in vehicles, causing car accidents which result in wrongful death.
Negligence Offenses
If workers are not given the proper training or equipment, accidents resulting in wrongful death can occur. In these instances, employers have a duty to keep their employees safe at all times, and failing to provide a safe environment can be seen as negligence.
Anytime someone is a victim of another person’s negligence, and it resulted in the untimely death of the victim, surviving members should contact a wrongful death lawyer in Philadelphia to review their case.
Compensation Possibilities for Survivors
Philadelphia has been notoriously stringent in providing compensation to family members that have lost someone due to a wrongful death.
Recent cases have started to shed light on the pain and suffering family members feel after the loss of a loved one, causing some Philadelphia courts to be more lenient when awarding damages.
In order to receive the maximum amount of compensation that may be available for a wrongful death, surviving family members should contact a Philadelphia wrongful death lawyer.
What is Tutelage and How May Impact a Case?
In Philadelphia, children of the deceased may file for support damages as well as tutelage (guidance) damages.
Support damages include compensation for the financial loss the child will suffer after losing a parent. Support damages can have an actual financial value placed on them and include costs of:
- Food
- Clothing
- Medical care
- Education
- Gifts
- Recreation
- Shelter
- Entertainment
Tutelage, or guidance, damages cannot have a financial value placed on them but include compensation for the loss of the guidance, advice, support, and education the parent would provide over the child’s lifetime.
Spouses and parents of the deceased can also file for tutelage damages, but often have a difficult time obtaining compensation for financial support.
Talking to a Philadelphia Wrongful Death Attorney
If you have lost a loved one, and you believe it was a wrongful death due to the negligence of someone else, contact an experienced Philadelphia wrongful death lawyer right away. You may be entitled to compensation that can help you recover from the loss.
