Nothing fully prepares you for the death of a loved one. The loss can be more difficult when your loved one's fatality was caused by negligence, which is why you need guidance from a well-versed wrongful death attorney.
If you believe that someone may be liable for the death of your loved one, please contact the Philadelphia wrongful death lawyers at Kline & Specter, PC online or call our offices directly at 800-243-1100 to schedule a free case consultation. Our accomplished legal team includes more than 50 attorneys, five of whom also are respected physicians.
Your Wrongful Death Lawsuit
Your Wrongful Death LawsuitRegardless of whether criminal charges have been filed against the people whom you believe to be at fault for your loved one's death, a wrongful death claim can provide another "common law" option so that your family can receive financial compensation for your loss.
At Kline & Specter, our attorneys thoroughly research and gather evidence related to your case to ensure the best possible outcome. We know from experience that wrongful death lawsuits touch on various areas of the law including:
- Personal injury
- Medical malpractice
- Birth injuries
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Premises liability
- Product liability
But each wrongful death case is unique, so it helps to have lawyers on your side with the breadth of experience and expertise of those at Kline & Specter.
What Is Wrongful Death?
A wrongful death is defined as death as a result of an unlawful act of another person. These acts can involve both accidents, such as car wrecks, and intentional harm, such as assault or battery, death in the course of another crime, manslaughter, or murder.
A wrongful death claim is made against a person who can potentially be held liable for the often unwarranted death of a person. This claim is typically brought to civil action by close relatives and family suffering the unexpected loss of a loved one. In these cases, survivors will be compensated for the pain and loss they experience as a result of their loved one’s death.
Who Determines Wrongful Death?
Courts in each state can determine wrongful death. However, the statutes for each wrongful death case may vary depending on the state in which the death occurred. Most courts will consider family, close relatives, and surviving members of the wrongful death victim when determining if a claim for wrongful death can be made.
Compensation for wrongful death claims is often made not only to bring about justice but also to provide financial support and compensation for widows, orphans, and close relatives or family members suffering from the unexpected death of a loved one.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Wrongful Death?
Most wrongful deaths can be a result of accidental injury. The most common causes in wrongful death claims involve the following:
- Car accidents
- Semi-Truck accidents
- Medical malpractice
- Workplace accidents
- Defective products resulting in death from injury
- Pedestrian Accidents
- Aviation Accidents
Most wrongful death cases from car accidents involve impaired, distracted, drunk, or aggressive drivers.
What Is the Difference Between Wrongful Death and Negligence?
The wrongful death claim allows legal liability to take place, resulting in compensation for survivors and loved ones who have suffered a loss. Under the wrongful death claim, negligence is a form of liability and is the most common.
Negligence is the failure to act or behave with reasonable care. Negligence occurs when someone’s negligent behavior results in injuries to another person. At times when these injuries lead to death, a wrongful death claim caused by negligence can be made.
What Is Wrongful Death in a Civil Case?
A wrongful death lawsuit will seek out compensation for survivors who have suffered through the emotional pain, trauma, and financial burden of an unexpected death due to the actions or behaviors of another. These compensations may cover funeral expenses, medical bills, and other damages that have cost money. In some cases, this lawsuit can also seek out compensation for grief and the loss of companionship for a loved one, at times covering the cost of grief counseling or even therapy.
Nationally Recognized Attorneys With A Proven Track Record
Kline & Specter is one of the country's preeminent law firms. Since its founding in 1995, our attorneys have been recognized with such honors as "Best Attorneys In Pennsylvania" by Super Lawyers magazine, as well as listed among "The Best Lawyers in America."
We count several wrongful death lawsuits among our noteworthy list of verdicts and settlements. Here are just five of the wrongful death cases successfully litigated by our attorneys:
Wrongful Death Case Study No. 1: $109 million -- A record-setting verdict for the family of a woman killed by a fallen power line. The case later settled for $105 million. (Goretzka)
Wrongful Death Case Study No. 2: $46.5 million -- Verdict against a security firm for the families of two women gunned down by a fired employee at the Kraft Foods plant. (Brown/Wilson)
Wrongful Death Case Study No. 3: $40.5 million – Kline & Specter attorneys secured this settlement on behalf of the victims of an apartment complex explosion in Montgomery County Pennsylvania. (Village Green)
Wrongful Death Case Study No. 4: $36.4 million – This settlement, the largest ever for a single-victim employee fatality, was reached on behalf of the family of an oil refinery worker in Delaware who died on the job. (The Davis/Motiva Case)
Wrongful Death Case Study No. 5: $29.6 million – Our lawyers secured this settlement after a pier collapse in Philadelphia killed three women and left several more people injured. (Pier 34)
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Free Consultation
If you believe that a person, group or company is liable in the death of your loved one, please contact the Philadelphia-based wrongful death lawyers at Kline & Specter online or call our offices directly at 800-243-1100 to schedule a free case consultation. We represent clients in Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey and throughout the U.S.