Hazleton Wrongful Death Lawyer

Our Hazleton wrongful death lawyer at Munley Law knows there nothing is more devastating than the loss of a loved one. If that loss resulted from another person’s negligence or carelessness, the pain may be even greater. In addition to the immense grief you are feeling, you will likely also face sudden financial distress. Funeral costs, medical bills, loss of income, and more. While no amount of money can replace your loved one, a fair settlement can alleviate the burden of these costs and give you peace of mind.

Our compassionate and experienced personal injury attorneys in Hazleton have helped thousands of families like yours and we’re here to help. Chat live, fill out our email form, or call today for a free consultation with a Hazleton wrongful death lawyer at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys. There is no charge for our services unless we win your case. Para asistencia inmediata en Espanol, Favor de llamarnos al numero 570-983-3844.

How Filing A Hazleton Wrongful Death Lawsuit Can Help

In personal injury claims that do not involve a fatality, the victim may choose to seek financial compensation and justice for themselves by filing a lawsuit. They can advocate for themselves and seek justice for their suffering. But, of course, if the victim of an accident loses their life, they have no means to advocate on their behalf.

In cases like this, the surviving family members of the victim may choose to file a wrongful death claim with the insurance company. While, of course, nothing can undo the family’s pain, wrongful death claims can be a tool to hold the negligent party accountable. What’s more, in addition to the emotional distress a death puts a family through, it can also cause an enormous financial burden.

Things like funeral and medical expenses can be overwhelming, particularly if the family has lost a main source of income. Filing a wrongful death lawsuit means that the family can at least rest assured that their financial burden has been eased, taking just one small weight off their shoulders.

Wrongful death claims are intended to compensate the decedent’s family for what they’ve lost. Another type of claim has a slightly different purpose and is utilized to recoup the deceased’s estate for the losses it has incurred. This type of claim typically applies in situations where the victim was injured but survived and then succumbed to their injuries later on.

If you’re unsure whether you have the right to file a wrongful death claim or what type of claim you should file, don’t hesitate to contact a Hazleton wrongful death attorney at Munley Law for a free consultation.

Who can file a wrongful death lawsuit in Hazleton?

What was called an “accident” may have been preventable harm caused by negligence or reckless behavior. If negligence results in the death of your loved one, the at-fault party should be held accountable. As a surviving spouse, child, dependent, or parent of the deceased, you may have the right to file a wrongful death claim. A Hazleton wrongful death attorney at our firm will review the details of your situation at no charge and help you determine what to do next.

Compensation Available in a Hazleton Wrongful Death Lawsuit

A wrongful death lawsuit is a type of personal injury lawsuit, and a key goal of most personal injury cases is to recover damages. In wrongful death cases, damages are essentially all the losses, both financial and otherwise, that the eligible surviving family members have suffered as a result of the death. These damages fall into three distinct categories:

Economic Damages: Economic damages are measurable losses and expenses. Perhaps the deceased party required a great deal of medical care after the accident and before their death, resulting in the family being left with a stack of bills for medical expenses. Perhaps the deceased party was the family’s main provider; without them, the family is struggling financially. Funeral costs and related funeral expenses can also be shockingly steep. These losses- medical expenses, lost wages, funeral costs- have a clear, non-negotiable value.

Non-Economic Damages: Non-economic damages are not measurable in the way economic damages are. They account for more abstract but still entirely devastating losses, such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of companionship, and more. A wrongful death lawyer assesses all these losses and assigns a dollar value, even for things that don’t have a clear monetary worth.

Punitive Damages: In most wrongful death lawsuits, the claimants seek the damages listed above. However, in some cases, this third type of damage comes into play. While economic and non-economic damages are intended to recoup the family for their losses, punitive damages are intended to punish the defendant and dissuade them and others from exhibiting the same negligent behavior. These damages are only awarded in particularly reckless or negligent wrongful death claims.

Common Types of Wrongful Death Accidents in Hazleton, PA

Since 1959, people in Hazleton and all over Pennsylvania have turned to Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys for help after the death of a beloved family member. We have decades of experience handling wrongful death cases stemming from the following types of events:

• Car accident deaths: After a fatal car accident in Hazleton, our wrongful death lawyers in Hazleton will get to work immediately. We will investigate every possible source of recovery to make sure you and your family get everything you deserve.
• Truck accident deaths: Our Luzerne County law firm focuses on commercial truck and tractor trailer accidents. We have helped many families who have lost loved ones in truck accidents. We will investigate the circumstances of the fatal crash and determine if the fault lies with the driver, the transportation company, the truck’s owner, or all of the above.  Hazleton’s many manufacturing and distribution centers bring large truck and tractor trailer traffic to Hazleton area highways, including Interstates 80 and 81, which connect with the Northeast Extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
• Pedestrian and bicycle accident deaths: Collisions between cars and pedestrians or bicyclists in Hazleton are often fatal. In addition to the driver involved, we will also look into other factors that may have contributed to your loved one’s death, including the lighting on the street and whether or not there was a clearly marked crosswalk.
• Motorcycle accident deaths: A motorcyclist may be struck by a car or truck with a driver who was distracted, using a cell phone or texting. The motorcycle may have had a faulty party, such as a defective tire, or perhaps the roadway was designed in a dangerous manner. Whatever the cause, if negligence was involved, you may have a wrongful death claim.
• Defective product deaths: If a death results from a defective or faulty product due to faulty design, a manufacturing error, or inadequate warning, you may have a wrongful death claim. Responsible parties may include the manufacturer, distributor and/or retailer of defective products. Manufacturers have the responsibility to properly educate consumers on the safe use of products. They must also provide adequate warning about the dangers of a product.
• Medical malpractice deaths: Death resulting from an incorrect diagnosis, delayed diagnoses, failure to diagnose, as well as surgical, medication or other medical errors may be cause for legal action. Medical professionals have a standard of care which they must adhere to. A Hazleton medical malpractice lawyer will determine if the healthcare provider violated that standard of care when treating your loved one.
• Workplace accident deaths: When unsafe conditions or negligence in their place of employment results in the death of a loved one, you deserve justice. In an effort to prevent workplace accidents and deaths, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration sets standards that employers must follow to ensure employees are safe and protected. The most common jobs associated with wrongful death include truck driver, construction workers, miners, loggers, metal workers and electricians.
• Premises liability deaths: If someone dies as the result of unsafe conditions on someone else’s property in Hazleton, you should contact a Hazleton wrongful death lawyer. Property owners must keep their property or place of business safe for visitors and customers.  Potentially fatal accidents include slip and falls, poor maintenance, building code violations, dog bites, or insufficient security.
• Negligent caregivers: If nursing home staff or in-home caregivers abuse or neglect their patients, resulting in death, the decedent’s family may file a wrongful death suit.

How Long Do I Have to File a Wrongful Death Claim in Hazleton, PA?

In Pennsylvania, you have two years from the date of death to file a lawsuit. However, it is in your best interest to consult a Hazleton wrongful death lawyer as soon as possible. Critical evidence can become lost or even destroyed with time. The sooner we can get to work, the sooner we can help you get on the road to recovery.

Not sure if you have a case? Hesitant about hiring a lawyer? Call Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys for a free consult with a Hazleton wrongful death lawyer. There is no charge and no obligation, so you risk nothing by meeting with one of our lawyers. We will simply review your case, answer any questions you may have, and help you make an informed decision about what to do next.

No Settlement, No Fee When You Hire A Hazleton Wrongful Death Lawyer at Munley Law

During this incredibly difficult time, we want to ease your burdens, not add to them. For this reason, we do not charge a fee for our services unless we win your case. You pay nothing upfront or out of your own pocket. If and when we succeed in recovering damages for you, we merely take a percentage of the settlement or verdict in order to cover our costs. Our fee will never exceed the amount paid to you and your family.

After the wrongful death of a loved one, you have the right to seek compensation for medical, funeral and burial expenses, payment for past and future income loss, and full compensation for your pain and suffering. Let us handle the legal process. At Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys, our entire staff will work tirelessly to make sure you get what you deserve. We will negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf, and fight for you in court if your case does not settle.

Contact a Hazleton wrongful death lawyer for a free consultation.

Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys

197 N Cedar St.
Hazleton, PA 18201
(570) 536-9498