When a loved one is a victim of negligence, they may lose their life. Whether this was a car accident, a medical error, a slip and fall incident, or a different situation where a negligent person cost your loved one their life, you and your family can seek justice. While it can be extremely difficult to deal with legal matters when you’re trying to mourn for you loss, there are people you can turn to for help. A Norristown wrongful death lawyer from Shrager, Sachs, & Blanco will stand up for you and your loved one.
The attorneys at our firm have years of experience helping families get justice for their loved ones. We’ll examine what happened to your loved one and will fight for your family to recover fair compensation. This can be an emotional process, but holding the negligent party accountable for their actions and having compensation can provide some peace of mind.
What Are Pennsylvania’s Wrongful Death Laws?
According to Pennsylvania law, a death action can be brought forward when negligence has caused death. Those who came forward can seek to recover the damages from the death of their loved one.
If you’re seeking to file a claim, a wrongful death lawyer will help you with the process. We’ll be able to tell you who is eligible to come forward. In Pennsylvania, the following parties can be beneficiaries:
- Spouse
- Children
- Parents
Your lawyer will be able to explain how the recovered damages would be distributed among the beneficiaries. In the instance that the deceased does not have a spouse, children, or living parents, the action can be brought forward by a personal representative of the deceased.
Another part of taking legal action that you need to know is the statute of limitations. This refers to the time limit you have to file for compensation. If you try to seek damages after the statute of limitations has passed, you will likely no longer be eligible to take legal action.
Your attorney will go over how much time you have to come forward. Pennsylvania’s wrongful death statute of limitations is two years. While this may seem like a long time, this window can go by quickly. Getting started on your case earlier could also mean preserving evidence, whether it’s from the scene or there are eyewitness accounts.
How Can a Wrongful Death Attorney Help Your Family?
A lawyer will defend your loved one and protect your rights to recovering the damages from the accident. Without a lawyer looking out for your best interests, the other party will likely act in their own interests and not offer you the compensation you truly deserve. When you have representation at your side, you’ll have someone who has handled these types of cases before and will know what constitutes fair compensation.
Your Norristown wrongful death lawyer will fight for you to recover the following special damages:
- Hospital, Nursing, and Medical Expenses
- Funeral and Burial Costs
- Administrative Expenses
There are other components of the damages you can receive. If you depended on your loved one for financial stability, the loss of their income can put you in a difficult situation. You may wonder how you’re going to continue to may rent, mortgage, utilities, and put food on the table. We’ll look into what your loved one would have earned had they been able to continue to work. Our attorneys will seek loss of earnings to be covered.
Another aspect of your compensation is the noneconomic side of the loss. Losing a loved one is a tragic experience. It can be even more difficult to handle when the death was unexpected and it could have been prevented if the other party hadn’t acted negligently. This grief can be apparent in the loss of guidance, companionship, and consortium.
If your loved one was injured and experienced pain and suffering, your lawyer can also include this in the compensation.
If the other party is disputing your claim or not offering the compensation you deserve, your attorney won’t be intimidated. If your case needs to go to court, we’ll help you fight for your loved one in a courtroom.
There are differences to handling a case inside and outside of court. While there are advantages and disadvantages to both, we’ll go over your options so you know what to expect. When it comes to taking a case to court, some may feel cautious to go this route because it becomes a matter of public record. You may not want the details about you and your family’s private matter published.
However, if you’re not able to settle the matter outside of court, taking this step gives you a chance to fight for full and fair compensation. We’ll build a strong case for you.
Shrager, Sachs, & Blanco Is Here to Help You
When you’re coming forward with a wrongful death action, you may feel conflicting feelings about seeking compensation. However, it’s important to keep in mind that this is the personal injury action your loved one would have taken had they survived the accident. You and your family have the right to file a claim so you can show the negligent party the full extent of their actions and so you can give your loved one a voice.
The consequences of losing a loved one can feel overwhelming. Medical costs, funeral costs, and the cost of daily living can add up to an amount where you may not know how you’re going to cover them. This is why it’s so important to take legal action. You can receive compensation to take care of these costs so you’re not under heavy financial burden.
Contact Shrager, Sachs, & Blanco for a free case evaluation today so we can begin to help you and your family during this difficult time. We understand that this process can be painful and a successful outcome will not take away the loss you’ve suffered, but it can give you and your family the necessary security so you can grieve for your loved one.
