Philadelphia Wrongful Death Lawyer

Personal Injury Lawyers / Philadelphia Personal Injury Lawyer / Philadelphia Wrongful Death Lawyers

Our Philadelphia Wrongful Death Lawyers Are Here to Help

Losing a loved one in an accident is an unspeakable tragedy. Sadly, fatal accidents are far more common than any of us would like to believe. From vehicle collisions to medical mistakes, a momentary lapse in judgment can become deadly. As the surviving relative of the deceased, it is understandable that you feel devastated, shocked, and even outraged at this loss, and our Philadelphia wrongful death lawyers are ready to assist you.

If you have lost a family member due to someone else's negligence, you may have a claim for a wrongful death case, and your family deserves justice. The individual or company responsible for your loved one's death needs to be held accountable, and Pennsylvania law entitles surviving family members to seek just compensation. While no amount of money can replace what you have lost, a wrongful death suit can hold the negligent party accountable for their actions and help provide future security for you and your family. This is why you need a Philadelphia wrongful death lawyer.

At Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys, we bring decades of experience to representing families in the Philadelphia area. Our wrongful death lawyers have fought for families in cases involving all types of fatal accidents, and we have recovered millions of dollars in compensation for our personal injury clients' losses. We understand your situation, and we want you to know that we are here to help in any way we can. We will aggressively pursue fair compensation on your behalf so that you can focus on what matters most.

“Thank you and your wonderful team for all your hard work on our case. Your compassion, dedication, and professionalism are appreciated more than you know.” – Satisfied Client

What is a Wrongful or Accidental Death?

Wrongful or accidental death occurs when a person's demise is caused by the negligent actions of another individual or entity. The negligent party could be a company, organization, or even a government body. This type of death can occur in various situations, such as:

• Medical malpractice
• Motor vehicle accidents where the other driver was negligent, including but not limited to cars, buses, and motorcycles
• Work-related injuries
• Nursing home negligence
• Violent crimes, like a gunshot wound

Losing a loved one can take an emotional toll on your entire family, and you shouldn't have to deal with insurance companies and legal matters alone. A Philadelphia personal injury lawyer will evaluate your situation, help you understand your options, and outline all of your rights when filing a wrongful death lawsuit in Philadelphia.

Who is Eligible to File a Wrongful Death Claim in Philadelphia?

If you have lost a family member due to someone else's negligence, you may have a wrongful death case or wrongful death lawsuit. The individual or company responsible for your loved one's death needs to be held accountable, and Pennsylvania law entitles surviving family members to seek just compensation.

In Philadelphia, family members of the deceased are able to file a claim for wrongful death. Pennsylvania law classifies a death as wrongful when a person dies due to another's actions that are considered negligent, wrongful, or violent.

No amount of money can replace what you have lost, but wrongful death claims can hold negligent parties accountable for their actions and help provide future security for you and your family. Under Pennsylvania law, you only have two years to file a wrongful death claim. It's important you consider the time it takes to build your case. Don't hesitate to hire a Philadelphia wrongful death attorney to fight on your behalf.

Why Do I Need a Wrongful Death Attorney?

A wrongful death claim can help you and your family obtain the financial compensation you need to cover funeral expenses, medical costs, any loss of income, and more damages you may have suffered with the loss of your loved one. Your Philadelphia wrongful death lawsuit also serves to hold the negligent party responsible for the harm they have caused. This helps get justice for the deceased and ensures other families won't suffer from the same negligence.

Filing a wrongful death lawsuit in Philadelphia can be a complicated process. Like other personal injury claims, you must demonstrate the following conditions when establishing negligence in a wrongful death case:

• The defendant owed the deceased a duty of reasonable care.   
• There was a breach of that duty.
• The deceased suffered damage as a result of the breach.
• The breach in care caused the death of your loved one.

At Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys, our wrongful death lawyers bring more than a decade of experience to their clients. Our team has the resources to launch a full investigation into the wrongful death of the deceased person's accident, including determining reasonable compensation for damages.

Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys Fight to Get Pennsylvania Families Justice

While you are never required to seek legal representation to file a wrongful death lawsuit in Philadelphia, having a wrongful death attorney with experience can make all the difference in preserving your case and bringing your family the justice they deserve. Fortunately, Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys has the experience you need for your claim.

In many cases, the family of the deceased will be in shock and not think about the steps to take following the death of a loved one. However, there are things that should be done to ensure the integrity of the claim. This includes:

• Preserving any evidence
• Keeping a record of medical care and expenses
• Saving any written or recorded communications with the at-fault parties (for example, if the party leaves a voicemail, sends a letter, etc.)
• Securing witness testimony, if possible

In many cases, the at-fault party will try to remove or hide any evidence that shows the fault they have, which is why you need an experienced wrongful death attorney to fight for you in the settlement phase or in the courtroom.

How Can a Philadelphia Wrongful Death Lawyer Help with Your Case?

As a personal injury and wrongful death law firm that has served Pennsylvania residents since 1959, we have successfully handled thousands of wrongful death cases involving all types of traumatic accidents. We also routinely represent clients who have been injured and lost loved ones due to medical mistakes, defective medical devices, and other dangerous products.

If a family member has suffered an untimely death as a result of any of the following, we encourage you to speak with a wrongful death attorney from our law firm about your legal rights. We have the experience and will rely on it to work

A Philadelphia Wrongful Death Attorney Can Aid You With Automobile Accidents

Fatal auto accidents have been on the rise for several years. Highways and interstates near Philadelphia are busy with truck and car traffic on a daily basis. Studies estimate that for every 100,000 Philadelphia residents, six will die in a fatal car accident, making the City of Brotherly Love one of the most deadly cities for traffic accidents.

If your loved one was fatally injured in any type of motor vehicle accident caused by the negligence of another person or entity, you may be able to seek compensation as a family member in an auto accident wrongful death claim. We have decades of experience with car crash cases and are among the top truck accident lawyers in the United States. Speak with a Philadelphia car accident lawyer at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys to learn about your rights.

Every year in the United States, almost 41,000 people are killed in auto accidents of all kinds. Auto accidents involving cars, motorcycles, buses, and trucks are among the leading causes of preventable death in the United States, including in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Unfortunately, many auto accidents are caused by other people's negligence and carelessness. Some common factors in these accidents include:

• Distracted driving
• Excessive speeding
• Driving under the influence of alcohol
• Reckless driving
• Poor attention
• Drowsy driving
• Unsafe workplace environment

If you have lost a family member for any of these reasons, hire a highly-skilled Philadelphia, PA, wrongful death lawyer to help you get compensation and the justice you deserve.

A Philadelphia Wrongful Death Lawyer Can Assist After Medical Malpractice

Healthcare professionals in Philadelphia and throughout Pennsylvania are depended on to provide good care when we are ill or injured. However, errors in administering care can prove fatal for patients. Medical errors and negligence that can lead to death include mistakes in medication, anesthesia, surgery, diagnostic measures, and other medical negligence. If a healthcare provider was negligent in providing care and it resulted in the loss of your family member, you may have a wrongful death case.

Pennsylvania Wrongful Death Attorneys Can Help Following Workplace Accidents

If your loved one has been fatally injured on the job as a result of negligence, you may be entitled to seek damages. At Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys, we begin our wrongful death claims by determining fault. Of the many work industries, construction is one of the most dangerous. Many workers are killed each year in accidents involving falls, being struck by objects, electrocution, dangerous toxins or chemicals, or getting caught or pinned in or by a dangerous piece of machinery. Another dangerous industry is manufacturing. Many workplace construction and manufacturing accidents could have been prevented if the proper safety precautions were followed.

Wrongful Death Lawyers Can Guide You Through Your Claim for Defective Products

If a product is unsafe or defective, it can quickly turn deadly. This can include products from all sorts of fields, like auto parts, medical devices and tools, heavy machinery, and even medications. In this circumstance, if your family member is now deceased due to a product malfunction, a few parties could be at fault. The product manufacturer, wholesaler, or retailer may be held responsible for any harm caused by their product. The product liability and wrongful death attorneys at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys will thoroughly investigate your situation to help build a strong and successful case.

Types of Damages in a Wrongful Death Claim

If you are successful in winning your wrongful death lawsuit claim, then the negligent party will owe damages to the deceased person's estate (or surviving family members). The deceased person's family or estate may be eligible to seek compensation for things like:

• Funeral expenses, including burial
• Hospital and medical bills and expenses
• Estate planning
• Lost wages and benefits from the deceased person
• Loss of comfort and companionship
• Your family member's lost income
• Loss of household services
• Mental anguish and suffering
• If applicable, any lost benefits such as health insurance, Social Security, and pension plans

Most benefits under Pennsylvania law are reserved for surviving family members of the deceased person who are seeking damages. This includes a spouse, children, and parents. However, if no direct relatives exist, the executor of the estate or other representative can still seek compensation to recover funeral or burial expenses, as well as medical expenses.

Pennsylvania Wrongful Death Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How Long Do I Have to File a Wrongful Death Claim in Pennsylvania?

In Pennsylvania, in the vast majority of cases, the statute of limitations for wrongful death claims is two years from the date of death. If your loved one recently passed away, speaking with a wrongful death attorney now will help you secure just compensation as quickly as possible. If you are concerned that the statute of limitations may have expired, you should speak with an attorney to find out if you still have grounds to file a claim for wrongful death lawsuits.

What Types of Losses Can I Recover Through a Claim From Wrongful Death Lawsuits?

If you lost a spouse, parent, child, or grandchild as a result of someone else's negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for:

• Medical bills and funeral costs
• Pain and suffering
• Lost earnings and benefits
• Loss of care and companionship
• Loss of support, services, and security

In some cases, punitive damages will also be available. Make sure to contact our Philadelphia wrongful death lawyer. They will be able to tell you if you have a wrongful death lawsuit.

For Accidental Deaths, Are Damages Limited to a Certain Amount?

Unlike some other states, Pennsylvania has no limit on the amount of actual damages that can be awarded in such cases. This means that the amount awarded will depend on the specific circumstances surrounding the case, such as the extent of the financial and emotional loss suffered by the family members as a result of the death.

What is My Wrongful Death Case Worth?

Unfortunately, no lawyer can tell you on a first consultation what the value of your wrongful death lawsuit is worth. This is because it will depend on the specific facts of the case, the number of losses incurred by the family, and overall expenses. This is one of many reasons why having a wrongful death attorney by your side can be critical to your claim's success.

What Do I Need to Prove in a Wrongful Death Lawsuit?

In order to prove the wrongful death of a loved one, you will essentially be serving as a stand-in for the deceased, bringing forth a case against the negligent party. So this means that if your loved one died as a result of a workplace injury, you will need to prove that the conditions or event at work led to severe injuries and the resulting death.

If the deceased was killed in a Philadelphia car accident, you will need to prove that the negligence of the other driver resulted in your loved one's death.

Knowing what needs to be proven in court, as well as how to do it, is complicated. A Pennsylvania wrongful death lawyer at Munley Law will work tirelessly to ensure a positive outcome for you.

How Do You Establish Negligence in a Wrongful Death Claim?

In a wrongful death case, just like any other personal injury claim, it is crucial to establish negligence. This means showing the following conditions:

• The defendant had a legal obligation to act responsibly and cautiously towards the deceased, owing them a duty of reasonable care.
• Despite this legal obligation, the defendant acted negligently or recklessly, breaching their duty of care.
• As a result of this breach of duty, the deceased suffered an accidental injury.
• It must be proven that the breach in care directly caused the death of your loved one. In other words, without the injury caused by the breach, the accidental death would not have occurred.

Establishing these facts can help you build a strong case for wrongful death and hold the responsible party accountable. Our expert Philly wrongful death attorneys have experience proving negligence and constructing strong cases.

The Insurance Company Has Already Offered a Settlement. Should I Accept?

No, not without first speaking with experienced wrongful death attorneys. Unfortunately, the insurance company may be trying to take advantage of your sensitive situation. In most cases, when an insurance company offers a quick settlement, the offer is for far less than the amount that is actually owed. Our Philadelphia wrongful death attorney can help you understand the full value of your claim so that you can make an informed decision.

Speak with a Wrongful Death Lawyer at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys

The lawyers at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys have been helping wrongful death victims and their families for decades in Philadelphia and across Pennsylvania. We have the experience and resources to ensure you get the justice you deserve if a family member has passed due to someone's negligence. From medical malpractice to auto accidents, wrongful deaths are life-altering incidents for any family to endure. Let an experienced Munley Law wrongful death attorney ensure you get the compensation you deserve to keep your family afloat during this tragic time.

If you would like more information about pursuing a wrongful death claim, please contact us to schedule a free consultation with one of our experienced attorneys. To request an appointment in Philadelphia, call us or get in touch online today. There is no fee for our services unless we win your case.

Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys

1617 John F Kennedy Blvd
Suite 1690,
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 515-7747