Wrongful Death
Losing a family member is a traumatic and devastating situation, especially when it happens unexpectedly or due to someone else’s negligent actions. The loss of a loved one causes emotional suffering and financial uncertainties due to their death.
In wrongful death matters, the law entitles surviving family members the right to seek compensation for emotional damages, economic damages, and more. By hiring the Lee and Harry Firm, you are protecting your rights and ensuring you are on the best course to securing all possible damages.
No amount of financial compensation can change the devastating event that occurred, but at the Lee and Harry Firm, our experience with wrongful death matters will ensure your case is handled effectively, allowing you to focus on your family and your healing. We will advocate for you and help you every step of the way.
In a wrongful death matter, the law allows for the pursuit of compensation, and recoveries sought after for the following:
- Lost income
- Lost future earnings
- Lost benefits and Social Security
- Medical and funeral costs
- Lost inheritance
- Lost companionship and parental guidance
- Pain and suffering
- General damages
You should be aware that while wrongful death legislation varies from state to state, in most instances, the law allows for damages arising from any injury that causes a person’s death, especially if that injury is the result of negligence, carelessness, or other wrongful act of another party.
Filing a Survival Action Claim
In addition to wrongful death claims, a claim can be made by the decedent’s estate for the injuries sustained before death. In a survival matter, the Estate pursues damages on behalf of the living family members, for the decedent’s pain and suffering and other financial losses suffered before his or her death. Basically, the Estate pursues the deceased person’s injury claim which could have gone forward before death.
Survival claims will recover compensation and then, in accordance with the deceased person’s Will, divide the recovery among the people listed in the will. In some matters, there may not have been a Will for the deceased person. In accordance with the laws of each particular state, the family of the deceased individual divides the recovery amongst themselves.
In bringing forth a survival claim, a negligent party is prevented from avoiding liability for the victim’s death. The types of damages that can be recovered by the Estate include:
- Pain and mental anguish
- Pain, both physical and emotional, that was sustained prior to death following the accident.
- Medical costs
- Any bills associated with hospital stays, medical procedures and care given to the victim before death.
- Funeral expenses
- Burial expenses
The personal injury lawyers for wrongful death at the Law Office of Lee & Harry have extensive experience in all facets of wrongful death claims and serve clients in the states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, New York and Texas.