There’s no amount of money that can compensate you for the loss of a loved one. When their death was preventable and their life was taken as a result of another’s negligence, it can make it even more difficult to accept and process.
Unfortunately, there are costs that come after a person dies. No one is ever prepared for these costs and it can cause financial difficulty, especially when your loved one was the main earner in the family. A wrongful death claim can provide you with a damages payment to help you financially while you take time to grieve.
Philadelphia’s wrongful death laws
The law in PA allows for immediate family members such as the spouse, children or parents of the deceased to recover damages following the death of their loved one. The death must be as a result of the wrongful act, negligence or unlawful violence of another.
The type of damages available to surviving family
- Economic damages – these costs are those which were accrued as a direct result of a person’s injuries and death. These damages may cover such expenses and hospital fees, paying for the funeral and the administrative costs that occur due to the death of your loved one. These costs are often easily calculable.
- What damages are you entitled to with a wrongful death claim? – these damages are not easy to quantify and it will never be possible to attribute a value to the pain that comes with losing someone you love. The law, however, does allow you to make a claim for damages to account for your pain and suffering following your loss. It takes into account the emotional distress you’ve experienced and the loss of love, loss of companionship and the emotional pain of a tragic loss.
If you have been affected by the wrongful death of a loved one due to the negligent or wrongful act of another, finding out about your rights to make a claim can help give you the financial space you need to grieve.