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The unexpected death of a loved one is tragic and shocking. When a death is caused by another party’s negligent or reckless actions, surviving family members deserve to seek justice.
If your loved one died in a car accident, slip and fall, truck crash, or another incident, you might be able to take legal action against the party who caused their death. At TopDog Law, we know that no amount of money can make up for your loss. However, we also recognize the benefit of seeking justice through a wrongful death case and recovering compensation for your damages.
Call TopDog Law at (844) 456-9275 for a free case review.
It costs absolutely nothing to see if you have a case
James Helm is a wrongful death attorney committed to helping those in need. His own life experiences have given him a capacity for great empathy and an ability to connect with clients like you on a personal level.
You don’t need to take on your wrongful death case alone. The legal process can become complex. While you grieve and spend time with your family, our team will fight for the case outcome your family deserves.
Whether your loved one’s death was caused by a distracted driver or a negligent medical provider, we will seek to hold that party accountable for what they have done to you and your family.
In some wrongful death cases, liability is straightforward. For example, a drunk driver who travels the wrong way on the highway and causes a head-on collision is clearly at fault for the collision. However, determining the liable party is not always easy.
Legal responsibility for damages may fall on a:
This list represents just some of the possibilities. We will investigate your case and determine who we should bring a lawsuit against.
Not every legal dispute involves a trial. The reality is that most personal injury cases are resolved through a settlement. Our team will go back and forth with offers and counteroffers against the financially responsible party. Effective negotiation skills are crucial in a wrongful death case.
We will stand up for you and your loved ones and insist on adequate payment for your damages. We will not let you settle for a lowball offer.
Our team has the skills and resources needed to gather and preserve evidence so it is not lost or destroyed. We need to collect proof of the harm the liable party caused.
The type of evidence you will need to prove your case and recover damages depends on the nature of the fatal accident.
However, evidence that is commonly used in wrongful death cases includes:
If you gathered any evidence on your own, bring it to our team. However, you do not need to tax yourself with evidence collection. We will handle this task for you.
Typically, one of the first steps in a wrongful death case is sending a demand letter to the at-fault party requesting damages. This gives the party an opportunity to meet the demand and pay for damages. Of course, insurance companies and other at-fault parties may not offer payment without a fight.
The next step is a series of settlement negotiations where each party brings their arguments and evidence to the table. Ideally, a settlement that meets all your needs is secured at this point in the wrongful death legal process.
If the defendant in your wrongful death case does not agree to a reasonable settlement, we are prepared to file a lawsuit on your behalf. At TopDog Law, we do not give up quickly and are committed to advocating on your behalf and on behalf of your deceased loved one. If this requires us to advocate for you in court, we will do so tenaciously.
The Pennsylvania wrongful death team at TopDog Law takes personal injury and wrongful death cases on a contingency-fee basis. With this kind of payment structure, you only pay us once your case is settled and we secure compensation for you. There are no upfront costs when you hire TopDog Law.
Additionally, we offer free, no-strings-attached consultations. This provides you with the opportunity to meet with us and find out if we may be a good fit for you and your legal needs.
Wrongful death cases may be brought against negligent drivers, negligent property owners, or any other party who caused the death of your loved one. Through a wrongful death case, you may be able to receive compensation for the financial losses you experienced because of the death.
Some of your recoverable damages could include:
For many families, losing a loved one unexpectedly has acute financial implications. A wrongful death case may compensate for lost income and employment benefits the deceased person would have provided if he or she lived. Money from a wrongful death case can be used to pay for housing, educational costs, and everyday expenses.
Families coping with the tragic loss of a loved one should not have to worry about how they will pay their bills. Compensation for lost income can be a valuable source of financial relief for individuals coping with a sudden death.
Wrongful death damages may include compensation for:
An individual severely injured in an accident may undergo extensive medical treatment prior to their death. Doctors and surgeons may do everything they can to save the individual’s life but are ultimately unsuccessful. When the individual passes away, the surviving family is left with massive medical bills resulting from this treatment.
Compensation for medical expenses is a crucial element of a wrongful death case. It is not uncommon for medical bills to reach six or even seven figures after a life-threatening injury. You may be able to recover compensation for all of the medical expenses incurred between your loved one’s fatal accident and their eventual death, including expenses related to:
Funerals can become expensive. For a family who suffered an unexpected death, funeral and burial expenses can represent a massive financial burden. Families may be able to recover compensation for burial costs and funeral costs through a wrongful death action.
When someone passes away, their surviving family may need to hire somebody to watch their children during the day or help with the housekeeping. A successful wrongful death case may allow for the recovery of compensation for lost services.
The greatest loss that a surviving family suffers after an unexpected death is the loss of the individual themselves. Children who lose a parent are left to grow up without that parent’s support, love, and guidance. Spouses are left alone and without their partner’s comfort. These losses may also be compensable in a wrongful death case.
According to Pennsylvania Law, the executor or personal representative of a decedent has the option to file a wrongful death case. If the personal representative does not file a case within six months of the death, this opens the door for other beneficiaries to file a wrongful death action.
In some cases, the decedent will explain who should act as their personal representative in their will. If the decedent did not have a will, as is the case with many wrongful deaths, it can be challenging to determine who their personal representative is. Our team can help your family determine who may file a wrongful death action.
The law in Pennsylvania states that death lawsuits are bound by a two-year statute of limitations. Any wrongful death action must be initiated before two years pass. This limitation often presents a significant obstacle for surviving family members.
When somebody passes away suddenly, surviving families are usually too busy coping with their grief and managing the deceased person’s final affairs to even consider filing a legal action. Unfortunately, waiting too long to file a wrongful death lawsuit may prevent you from recovering compensation at all.
Attorney James Helm and the rest of the staff at TopDog Law understand that grieving families are not in a position to deal with piles of legal paperwork and complex court filings. Our team will handle all of these matters for you so that you can focus on healing from your tragic loss. When you work with TopDog Law, you know that the legal aspects of your case will be taken care of efficiently and professionally.
If you are currently grieving the death of a family member, you may wonder whether your family member’s death is considered a wrongful death under Pennsylvania law. In Pennsylvania, you can bring a wrongful death action when another party’s negligence is the reason your loved one lost their life.
Negligence occurs when:
For example, a driver not paying attention to the road may strike a pedestrian, killing them instantly. The driver in this situation may be considered negligent because all drivers have a duty to drive responsibly and cautiously.
Several circumstances may warrant a wrongful death case. Wrongful death cases may involve a:
When you reach out to our firm for your free consultation, we can explain what you can expect throughout your case. Even if you do not see your case type listed here, we recommend you reach out to us. Our team can explain how we can work with you.
The statue of limitations for wrongful death vary depending on your state’s laws. In many cases, the statute of limitations begins to run once the injury is discovered.
If your loved one passed away in a car accident, slip and fall accident, work accident, or because of a negligent medical provider, contact TopDog Law to learn about your legal options and how we can help. A wrongful death claim may help you recover compensation for financial losses as well as the intangible losses you suffered because of the death.
Call us today to get started. Remember, the initial consultation is completely free and comes with no obligations. We also handle wrongful death cases on a contingency-fee basis, meaning you only pay legal fees when we successfully get you compensation.
Call TopDog Law at (844) 456-9275 for a free case review.
403 Olde House Lane Media, PA 19063
TopDog Law works with a select group of law firms around the country via licensing arrangements. This arrangement allows local law firms to license TopDog’s name and technology. Helm Law Group LLC has an exclusive licensing arrangement to use the TopDog Law name and technology for the state of Pennsylvania. Helm Law Group LLC is a law firm with its headquarters located at 403 Olde House Lane Media, PA 19063. Complete list of licensees available upon request. See more on our disclaimers page
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