Did you lose a loved one in an unexpected accident in Carlisle, PA? Your family may be entitled to significant compensation. An experienced Carlisle wrongful death lawyer at Marzzacco Niven & Associates can fight to recover fair compensation for medical bills, funeral costs, and your family’s pain and suffering.
Our lawyers have been helping grieving families recover from their unimaginable losses for decades. We have a proven track record of success you can trust. In fact, we’ve won tens of millions of dollars in compensation over the years.
Our compassionate attorneys can provide the legal advice and guidance you deserve. Call our law offices in Carlisle, Pennsylvania at (717) 995-8732 to schedule a free consultation today.
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How Marzzacco Niven & Associates Can Help With a Wrongful Death Claim in Carlisle, PA
You shouldn’t have to worry about money while grieving the loss of a loved one. In reality, many families have difficulty making ends meet in the months following a tragic loss. You deserve compensation if that loss was caused by someone else’s careless acts.
Hiring an experienced attorney shows that you’re serious about holding the responsible parties accountable. At Marzzacco Niven & Associates, our Carlisle personal injury lawyers have over 120 years of experience between us. We’ve recovered tens of millions of dollars for Pennsylvania families over the years.
Our lawyers have been recognized on the Super Lawyers’ Rising Stars list and by The National Trial Lawyers. We’re ready to invest the time and resources to help your family get justice.
When you hire us, our lawyers will:
- Help you understand all options for recovering compensation
- Oversee an investigation into your loved one’s death
- Hire accident and injury experts who can strengthen your case
- Fight back if the insurance company tries to pin the blame on your loved one
- Do everything possible to negotiate a fair settlement with the insurance companies
Insurance companies know that we don’t back down from a fight. Still, if they refuse to offer an acceptable settlement, our Carlisle personal injury attorneys will fight to protect your rights in court.
Ready to learn more? Contact us for a free initial consultation today.
How Common is Wrongful Death in Carlisle, PA?
Countless families are forced to grieve the untimely loss of family members each year. Sadly, most wrongful death victims lose their lives in preventable accidents.
In the state of Pennsylvania alone, state crash statistics show that 1,129 people were killed in motor vehicle accidents in 2020. Around 150 Pennsylvania workers died in work-related accidents in 2019. Dozens of Pennsylvanians die in preventable slip and fall accidents each year also.
What is a Wrongful Death Lawsuit?
Under Pennsylvania wrongful death laws, wrongful death is defined as a death that is caused by someone’s wrongful, negligent, or unlawful act.
Generally speaking, if the decedent could have filed a personal injury lawsuit after their accident, surviving family members may have a wrongful death claim. These lawsuits are filed in civil court. Survivors can seek compensation for wrongful death, even if the responsible party is also facing criminal charges.
You can also bring a wrongful death lawsuit against someone who didn’t commit a crime or was never charged with a crime.
Only certain individuals can file a wrongful death lawsuit, including:
- A surviving spouse
- Children
- Parents
If none of these individuals exist, the deceased person’s personal representative or executor can take legal action. The proceeds of the lawsuit are then distributed among the decedent’s beneficiaries or heirs.
What is My Carlisle Wrongful Death Case Worth?
This is a difficult question. After all, how do you put a price tag on a life? However, for most families, recovering financial compensation is the only way to get justice. To get the money you deserve, you’ll have to prove how much your case is worth to an insurance company.
The value of your case will be based on your unique situation. Our lawyers will examine all of the evidence and consider the following factors, among others:
- The circumstances of your loved one’s death
- Your loved one’s age and life expectancy
- The identity and ages of surviving family members, including dependent children
- Your loved one’s earning capacity, based on education and work history
- Your family’s emotional suffering and trauma
- The cost of your loved one’s medical treatment and out-of-pocket expenses
Money can’t bring your loved one back, but it can relieve some of your family’s financial burden. To learn more about how we can help, call our law firm in Carlisle for a free case review today.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Victims in a Wrongful Death Case?
By filing a wrongful death claim, surviving family members can recover compensation for both economic losses and their personal, non-economic damages.
Examples of the types of damages that your family may be entitled to receive include:
- Medical expenses incurred from the date of the injury to the date of death
- Loss of financial support, or lost wages and income
- Loss of the victim’s household services
- Loss of consortium or loss of your loved one’s company
- Loss of parental guidance and support
- Funeral expenses and burial costs
- The cost of administering your loved one’s estate
- Emotional distress, depression, and anxiety
- Pain and suffering
- Your loved one’s physical pain and suffering prior to death
In cases involving gross negligence, intentional wrongdoing or criminal acts, the court may also award punitive damages to punish the responsible party.
Can I Recover Damages If My Loved One is Being Blamed for Causing a Fatal Accident in Pennsylvania?
Most often, your damages award will be paid by an insurance company. It’s the insurance company’s job to find ways to pay less than you deserve. Often, that means blaming victims for causing their own death.
Pennsylvania laws limit the amount of money your family can recover if your loved one was partly responsible for their accident and death. Under the state’s modified comparative negligence laws, you won’t lose your right to compensation if the victim was less than 51% “at fault.” If the victim’s share of fault is 51% or more, your family will lose your right to damages entirely.
But, if your loved one was less than 51% liable, your family can recover a portion of your compensation award. For example, if their percentage of fault was 30%, you can take home 70% of your settlement or verdict.
What Causes Most Fatal Accidents in Carlisle, Pennsylvania?
Most wrongful death claims stem from accidents. At Marzzacco Niven & Associates, our Carlisle wrongful death attorneys often represent clients in cases involving:
- Car accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Medical malpractice
- Construction accidents
- Negligent security
- Premises liability
- Motorcycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Truck accidents
- Bus or school bus accidents
- Workplace accidents
- Dog bites and animal attacks
- Defective products
- Poisonings
- Nursing home abuse
- Intentional violence
It can be difficult to discuss the details of your loved one’s death. However, you deserve to know what happened. Pinpointing the cause of the accident is also the only way to hold all responsible parties financially accountable.
Our lawyers serving Carlisle are always available to discuss your case. If your family is grieving after a fatal accident, reach out to our local wrongful death attorneys today to learn more about this practice area.
How Do I Prove Negligence After a Fatal Accident in Pennsylvania?
Wrongful death cases can be based on intentional or criminal acts. However, most of the time they’re based on negligence, or situations where a person died because someone else failed to exercise reasonable caution.
To prove negligence, you must show:
- The at-fault party owed the victim a legal duty of care
- A breach of duty
- The breach of duty directly caused your loved one’s death
- The damages your family suffered after their death
Our lawyers will investigate and gather evidence to prove your case. You can count on us to leave no stone unturned. We’ll interview witnesses, locate video footage, and review all accident reports and medical records.
Don’t let the responsible party escape liability. Give us a quick call today to learn more about your legal options in a free case evaluation.
How Long Do I Have to File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit After a Fatal Accident in Pennsylvania?
You’ll only have two years to take legal action if you’ve lost a loved one. The two-year statute of limitations starts running on the date of death.
There are some exceptions to this rule. For example, the statute of limitations may be paused while a criminal case is pending.
Still, it’s always a good idea to speak with a lawyer sooner rather than later. The sooner we get started, the more likely it is that we’ll find strong evidence to support your case.
Contact a Carlisle Wrongful Death Lawyer for a Free Consultation
Your family deserves justice and financial security. You don’t have to rely on a lawyer directory. Call Marzzacco Niven & Associates for a free consultation today to learn more about how an experienced Carlisle wrongful death lawyer can help you.
At Marzzacco Niven & Associates we also have a great team of Carlisle workers’ compensation lawyers.