Philadelphia Wrongful Death Lawyer
Losing a family member is one of the most emotionally traumatic events a person can suffer. Many people grieve for months and struggle to find a way to return to normal. What many don’t know is that they might have the right to bring a lawsuit for their loss.
Fatal accidents present unique legal problems, especially for family members. If you lost a loved one in a crash or other incident, you could have legal rights to compensation. Monaco Law PC is an established law firm which has brought many wrongful death cases on behalf of grieving family members.
We cannot emphasize enough the importance of seasoned legal help. A Philadelphia wrongful death lawyer can begin collecting evidence and negotiate a settlement. There are strict deadlines to meet to bring a wrongful death case, and delay can be costly. Contact our firm today for a free consultation.
What Are Wrongful Death Claims?
The purpose of a wrongful death action is to hold the person who caused your loved one’s death responsible. If liable for the death, the defendant must pay compensation to family members, including a surviving spouse, child, or parent.
These damages try to make up for losses flowing from the death and can include money for:
- Services the deceased family member would have provided, such as cooking, cleaning, childcare, or transportation.
- Financial support the deceased would have offered. For example, your husband would have contributed to the family budget to pay for housing, food, clothing, and education. If you are a parent, then your child might also have provided some financial support to you.
- The loss of the deceased family member’s companionship, guidance, and love.
If you lost your spouse, you could also seek compensation for the loss of affection, comfort, companionship, and sexual intimacy. Some of the losses are easier to gauge than others.
Of course, money is a poor remedy for a loved one’s death. We realize our clients would do anything to have their loved one back. Sadly, that’s not possible, so ordering a defendant to pay money is the next best thing.
Wrongful death claims are separate from survival actions in Philadelphia. A survival action is filed by the estate’s personal representative. This action seeks compensation for things like the pain and suffering your loved one endured, as well as any medical expenses they incurred before death. Money obtained in a survival action gets distributed to those who would inherit under the will.
To bring a wrongful death lawsuit, you have two years from the date of the death to file. If you go over the deadline, a judge can prevent you from filing.
Compassionate Legal Services When You Need Them Most from a Philadelphia Wrongful Death Lawyer
At Monaco Law, we understand the depths of grief. People grieve in their own way, and some are not ready to consider legal issues right away.
Nevertheless, you only have so much time to protect your rights. One benefit of hiring our Philadelphia wrongful death lawyer is that our firm lets you focus on your family during this time. We will jump in and do all the legal legwork, including gathering evidence to show the death was wrongful.
