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With its proximity to downtown Philadelphia, the community-oriented neighborhood of Bala Cynwyd is an engaging place to visit or live. Despite this, accidents can occur here, resulting in injuries or even death.
The wrongful death of a loved one can leave families facing financial despair, preventing them from moving forward.
Pennsylvania’s wrongful death claims process allows grieving families to hold a negligent individual or entity accountable for their careless actions and seek compensation to cover the emotional and financial consequences of the death.
If you are grappling with the untimely loss of a loved one, you need the guidance and support of a seasoned law firm that handles wrongful death claims. Enter the Bala Cynwyd wrongful death attorneys at TopDog Law Personal Injury Lawyers.
It costs absolutely nothing to see if you have a case
In the past, Bala Cynwyd families suffering the unspeakable difficulties of losing a loved one due to a wrongful death typically had a few local attorneys to choose from. They had to travel long distances to larger cities in the state to find a firm to take their case if it was too complex for the attorneys in the area.
Advances in technology have improved communication, and attorneys can now assist local counsel and provide top-notch services for clients across the country.
TopDog Law is a respected national law firm with a strong record of successfully handling wrongful death claims. Our team of skilled personal injury lawyers has experience in navigating the intricacies of wrongful death cases, fighting for justice for grieving families, and ensuring they receive compensation.
At TopDog Law, our commitment to clients extends beyond the courtroom. We understand that a wrongful death claim is as much an emotional journey as a legal one. We approach each case with compassion, empathy, and an unwavering resolve to secure justice for our clients.
Our proven track record and investment in each case exemplify our dedication to making our clients feel valued and supported throughout the legal process. Obtaining a free case evaluation with a wrongful death lawyer from TopDog Law is simple: just call or send us a message online using our contact form.
Family members have specific entitlements when they lose a loved one due to negligence or intentionally harmful acts, which includes seeking and recovering damages, or compensation.
Understanding these rights can be complex, as they are contingent on various circumstances, including the survivor’s relationship to the deceased, the nature of the wrongful act, and state laws regulating such claims.
Pennsylvania’s wrongful death law allows a personal representative or executor of the deceased’s estate to file a wrongful death claim on behalf of family members and the estate. If a representative does not file a claim within six months of the date of death, family members can file the claim on behalf of all beneficiaries.
There are typically two types of compensation that survivors can recover in a wrongful death claim: economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages refer to specific monetary losses in connection with the death, such as funeral and burial expenses, loss of the deceased’s income, medical expenses prior to death, and the loss of potential inheritances. In some cases, you can seek compensation for the cost of household services the deceased performed that family members must now hire someone to do.
Non-economic damages can include compensation for the pain and suffering the deceased endured prior to death and the mental anguish the survivors suffered following the death. It also covers the loss of companionship, love, and moral support the deceased provided.
A wrongful death claim arises when a person dies due to the legal fault of another individual or entity. The fatality may result from negligent actions, such as careless driving, errors in medical care, hazardous property conditions, workplace accidents, defective products, or even intentional harm, such as assault. The key point to consider here is that if the victim had survived, they would have had the grounds to file a personal injury claim.
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation figures, while traffic fatalities have decreased in recent years, the Commonwealth still sees more than 117,000 reportable traffic accidents a year, resulting in more than 1,200 fatalities. Montgomery County ranks among the top 10 counties in Pennsylvania for the number of fatal traffic accidents, accounting for more than 3 percent of the state’s total.
There are several medical facilities in Bala Cynwyd, with facilities and healthcare providers that provide residents with quality care. When a healthcare provider fails to exercise the standard of care their license requires, deaths can occur, leading to wrongful death claims.
Some medical errors that can cause the death of a patient include prescription errors, misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis, unnecessary surgery or mistakes made during surgery, and failure to provide adequate follow-up care.
Bala Cynwyd has many historical buildings and unique shopping and dining experiences for residents and visitors. But when the owners or managers of these properties fail to use proper care to protect visitors from harm, deaths may occur due to falls, fires, and negligent security.
In Bala Cynwyd, as in the rest of Pennsylvania, a wrongful death claim is possible if someone else’s wrongful act, neglect, unskillfulness, or default caused the death. It’s crucial to understand that the specifics of the law may vary from state to state, and that’s where the experience of TopDog Law can be invaluable.
Wrongful death claims are subject to statutes of limitations. As Investopedia explains, a statute of limitations is a law that determines the maximum amount of time that parties in a legal dispute have to initiate legal proceedings. These time limits can vary depending on the state where the accident occurred, the type of accident, and other circumstances of the case.
In Bala Cynwyd, you typically have two years from the date of the deceased’s death to file a wrongful death claim in court. Failing to file the claim within this time will almost always result in the loss of the ability to use the court process when seeking compensation and the inability to negotiate a fair settlement with the at-fault party’s insurance provider.
Navigating the complexities of wrongful death claims can be a challenging process, especially during a time of grief and loss; therefore, it’s important to understand what constitutes a wrongful death claim and who has the legal standing to file one.
A Bala Cynwyd wrongful death lawyer removes much of the difficulty you may have with the process by handling the legal work, gathering needed evidence, and communicating with the at-fault party’s insurance provider.
When a wrongful death occurs, you typically file a claim against a relevant insurance policy that the at-fault party holds, such as auto liability, workers’ compensation, medical malpractice, property, or business liability. When the insurance provider who services this policy receives the claim, they will assign a claims adjuster to evaluate it and determine whether they think you should receive compensation and, if so, how much the policy will pay.
While this process sounds straightforward enough, it is important to understand that the claims adjuster evaluates the claim through the lens of the insurance company’s obligation and avoids unnecessary payouts. Because of this, claims adjusters can make the process very difficult for families to shoulder on their own, engaging in tactics designed to reduce or eliminate the value of the payout rather than fairly compensate family members for the financial and psychological impacts they incurred due to the loss.
In Pennsylvania, an experienced wrongful death lawyer can provide several services to ease the weight of this complicated process for loved ones or personal representatives of the deceased.
These services include:
If the involved parties cannot reach a fair settlement out of court, our team is ready and willing to take your case to trial, advocating passionately for your rights in the courtroom. At the conclusion of the claim, your lawyer will obtain the proceeds of a negotiated settlement or court award for you and settle any medical liens that healthcare providers or medical insurers placed on the award. Because wrongful death lawyers use a contingency fee-based billing method, you only have to pay for your lawyer’s services if you receive compensation for your claim.
Losing a loved one is a trying experience, and learning that it may have been due to someone’s negligence can amplify your pain and distress. If you believe you have a wrongful death claim, do not jeopardize your chances of seeking justice.
Shouldering the burden of dealing with the legal complexities while grieving is an uphill task, so hire a Bala Cynwyd wrongful death lawyer.
Other actions you can take to protect the value of your claim include:
Most wrongful death claims resolve out of court through a negotiated settlement. This process takes time. Demonstrate patience when an attorney is working to get you compensation.
The legal team at TopDog Law understands how difficult it can be to move forward after the unexpected death of a loved one. We invite those needing legal representation to reach out for a free consultation. This no-obligation meeting will allow us to review the specifics of your case, explain your rights and legal options, and outline how we can best assist you in pursuing your claim.
Our firm is easily accessible to individuals and families in Bala Cynwyd, and we are eager to provide you with the support and representation you need. We encourage you to contact our Bala Cynwyd personal injury lawyers at (484) 330-8728 at your earliest convenience to seek justice for your lost loved one.
111 Presidential Blvd.,
Suite 251,
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
Ph: 484-330-8728
403 Olde House Lane Media, PA 19063
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