Losing a loved one is always hard, but when someone’s life is cut short due to another person’s negligence, it can be particularly devastating. The unexpected loss of a loved one can change your life in an instant.
In addition to losing that person’s love and companionship, you may also lose their financial support and the security they provided to your family. No amount of money can make the tragic loss of a loved one okay, but it can help to ease the financial burden. If your loved one died due to circumstances caused by another person or business, you may be eligible to hold them financially accountable by filing a wrongful death lawsuit.
Contact Stark & Stark’s compassionate team of Bucks County wrongful death lawyers for a free case review to learn more.
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What is a Wrongful Death Lawsuit?
When someone endures fatal injuries due to someone else’s negligence or carelessness, it may be considered a wrongful death. Wrongful deaths are usually caused by some sort of preventable accident. Examples include a distracted driver causing a fatal car accident or a construction worker experiencing a fatal injury due to improper safety regulations on a job site.
The Pennsylvania Wrongful Death Act allows the surviving family of the victim to seek justice on behalf of their lost loved one. A wrongful death lawsuit can help you recover monetary losses like medical bills, loss of income, loss of support, and other potential damages. Our Bucks County wrongful death lawyers will help protect your rights and fight to make sure your family receives justice on behalf of your lost loved one.
Elements of a Bucks County Wrongful Death Lawsuit
Wrongful death is the result of another party’s recklessness or negligence. Negligence refers to an individual’s failure to behave how a reasonable person or business would under similar circumstances.
To establish a wrongful death lawsuit, a wrongful death attorney must prove that the other person had a duty of care to your loved one, their actions breached that duty of care, and that their wrongful actions caused the death of your family member.
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Some Common Ways Wrongful Deaths Occur
Car Accidents: According to data by the United States Department of Transportation, 36,560 people died in 2018 due to injuries sustained in automobile accidents. Many fatal accidents include speeding, drunk drivers, and otherwise careless driving.
Workplace Accidents: Data from the Bureau of Labor shows that in 2019, over 5,000 Americans died in work-related accidents. Fatal work injuries most commonly occur in hazardous fields like construction and transportation.
Medical Malpractice: Medical professionals have a clear duty of care, and fatal medical mistakes happen more often than you may assume. According to a study by John Hopkins, medical malpractice is the third leading cause of death in America, following heart disease and cancer.
Premises Liability: Property owners are legally responsible for any hazardous or unsafe conditions on their property, from an unsecured pool to security issues. If a property owner’s negligence or carelessness resulted in a fatality, you may be able to file a lawsuit.
Possible Compensation for a Bucks County Wrongful Death Lawsuit
Each state differs in determining who can recover compensation following a wrongful death and the types of damages they may pursue. In Pennsylvania, typically the deceased’s spouse, children, and/or parents may recover compensation following a wrongful death.
A wrongful death lawsuit may result in compensation for the following losses:
- Existing medical bills
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Administrative expenses that occurred as a result of the victim’s death
- Loss of financial support
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How Much is My Wrongful Death Case Worth?
Wrongful death settlements differ according to the facts of each case. When determining compensation for a wrongful death, the following factors are taken into consideration:
- Medical expenses leading up to the person’s death
- Burial expenses
- Future income the person may have provided had they lived
- Future household services the individual may have provided
- The age and health of the victim
- Needs of the individual’s surviving dependents
- The cause of the death
It is extremely difficult to put a number to the pain and suffering a family endures after the tragic loss of a loved one. When faced with a devastating tragedy like the unexpected loss of a loved one, you need knowledgeable counsel on your side to guide you through the legal process and protect your rights.
Why Hire a Bucks County Wrongful Death Lawyer?
When dealing with a wrongful death lawsuit, you need an attorney who thoroughly understands the complexities of wrongful death law and has experience handling wrongful death cases. Our Stark & Stark wrongful death attorneys have the experience and legal expertise to successfully defend your rights and obtain justice on behalf of your lost loved one.
After the tragic loss of a loved one, the last thing you need to worry about is bills piling up. Our wrongful death law firm will evaluate all of your relevant losses—including medical bills, funeral costs, pain and suffering, and other damages—prior to negotiating for compensation that covers the full extent of your past and future losses. Stark & Stark will help guide your family through each step of the legal process during an immensely difficult time.
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Our Bucks County Wrongful Death Lawyers Help Families Like Yours
Our team of Bucks County Stark & Stark wrongful death lawyers has years of experience in aggressive negotiations with defendant parties and their insurance companies, including mediating and going to trial when it is the best solution. While the facts and subsequent results of each case differ, our team of personal injury lawyers is committed to obtaining justice on behalf of your lost loved one and delivering the best possible outcome.
We have helped many clients in the Bucks County area navigate similar tragedies. Our wrongful death attorneys have won multi-million-dollar settlements on behalf of the families of victims involved in tragic fatal accidents, including a $4.65 million settlement for a family who lost a loved one in a tractor-trailer crash.
Contact a Bucks County Wrongful Death Attorney
If you lost a loved one due to another person’s negligent, careless, or reckless actions, you need experienced legal representation that is also sensitive to the difficult time you are going through. Stark & Stark’s compassionate Buck County wrongful death lawyers will fight to obtain the justice your lost loved one deserves. Contact us today for a free case review.
