If you’re grieving the unexpected death of a family member because of a fatal accident in Scranton, Pennsylvania, don’t hesitate to call Fellerman & Ciarimboli, Law PC for support.
Money won’t turn back time, but it can help you figure out how to move forward without added financial stress. Our Scranton wrongful death lawyers want to help you fight for the financial justice your family deserves.
Now, we’re here to help you and your family make the most of your fight for compensation, too. Contact us at (570) 714-4878 to schedule a free consultation, so call our Scranton, PA, law office today.
How Fellerman & Ciarimboli, Law PC Supports Families After Fatal Accidents in Scranton, PA
Losing a spouse, parent, or child is never easy. When their death is caused by someone else’s carelessness or criminal behavior, it can be even more difficult to cope with. Fortunately, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania gives families the right to demand compensation for the financial costs and trauma they experience. However, insurance companies and at-fault parties work hard to stand between families and the financial awards they deserve.
That’s where our Scranton personal injury lawyers can make a difference. For more than two decades, families have trusted Fellerman & Ciarimboli, Law PC to help them stand up to insurance companies, negligent motorists, property owners, hospitals, and government agencies in the wake of tragedy. Backed by over 100 years of combined legal experience, we’ve helped our clients win $150 million (and counting) in monetary settlements and jury awards.
We’re award-winning Pennsylvania trial lawyers with a reputation for going above and beyond for our clients. Individualized legal representation and a multi-million dollar track record of success are just part of the reason why we’ve been recognized by the National Association of Distinguished Counsel, the National Trial Lawyers, the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Super Lawyers, and the National Board of Trial Advocacy.
Take all the time you need to focus on moving forward and count our top-rated law firm to:
- Explain your family’s rights under Pennsylvania’s wrongful death law
- Investigate your loved one’s death and gather evidence that can be used to build a compelling legal claim on your behalf
- Consult specialists and expert witnesses
- File your wrongful death claim with the insurance company and/or local Lackawanna County court clerk
- Anticipate allegations of contributory negligence and determine the best way to handle them
- Pursue a top-tier settlement agreement
- Bring your family’s wrongful death lawsuit to trial if the defense won’t take responsibility for the costs, trauma, and suffering you’ve endured
We’re committed to making life easier for you, which is part of the reason we work on a contingent basis. There’s no cost to hire our law firm upfront. Instead, we’re only paid if we win compensation for your wrongful death claim.
Contact our law office in Scranton, PA, to learn more. Your initial case review by a Scranton wrongful death attorney is absolutely free.
What is Wrongful Death?
In Pennsylvania, a legal claim for damages can be brought “to recover damages for the death of an individual caused by the wrongful act or neglect or unlawful violence or negligence of another.”
This claim is typically filed by the personal representative of the victim’s estate on behalf of the victim’s surviving:
- Spouse
- Children, and/or
- Parent(s).
If the personal representative doesn’t file the claim within six months of a decedent’s death, a beneficiary is empowered to bring a claim on their family’s behalf on their own.
Through a wrongful death action, the at-fault party is forced to take responsibility for their action and the family is able to recover the compensation they’ll need to offset related financial costs and cope with their gut-wrenching loss.
Common Causes of Wrongful Death in Scranton
Pursuant to Pennsylvania law, a cause of action for wrongful death can exist when a person’s death is caused by negligence, a wrongful act, or criminal violence.
At Fellerman & Ciarimboli, Law PC, our top-rated civil trial attorneys have over 100 years of experience helping families in wrongful death cases involving:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Uber and Lyft accidents
- Bus accidents
- Train accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Dog bites
- Matters of premises liability
- Medical malpractice
- Nursing home abuse
- Product liability
- Construction accidents
- Workplace accidents
- Boating accidents
It’s important to know that you don’t have to deal with the consequences of a family member’s death on your own. Our Pennsylvania wrongful death attorneys in Scranton can offer the support, advice, and legal advocacy you need during this difficult time. Contact us to learn more about your rights. We’re here to take your call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Can I Recover Compensation If My Loved One Is Being Blamed For the Medical Malpractice Incident in Pennsylvania?
Yes. Pennsylvania’s modified comparative negligence statute, which incorporates a 51 percent bar to recovery, applies to most personal injury cases, including those related to a person’s wrongful death.
This means that a victim’s shared fault will be a factor when a family sues for damages.
Under the state’s law, damages can be awarded to the family as long as the victim’s fault is not greater than 50 percent. In these situations, damages are reduced proportionately to the victim’s shared responsibility.
So, if your spouse was killed in a truck accident in Scranton and assigned 10 percent liability for the crash, your wrongful death settlement or jury award will be reduced by 10 percent. However, if your spouse was assigned 60% liability, then you could not recover any compensation.
It’s not unusual for insurance companies and defense attorneys to point fingers and cast blame, especially when the victims themselves aren’t around to challenge these accusations. Our wrongful death attorneys in Scranton, PA, will anticipate allegations of contributory fault and have strategies in place to limit the potential impact they might have on your family’s claim for damages.
What Types of Damages Can Be Awarded in a Scranton Wrongful Death Lawsuit?
Losing a family member can have catastrophic financial and emotional consequences. While some states only allow the recovery of economic losses in wrongful death claims, Pennsylvania has broader rules, allowing for the recovery of non-economic losses, too.
When you win a wrongful death lawsuit in Scranton, PA, you can potentially get compensation for:
- Lost wages, income, and/or benefits the victim would have earned if they’d survived their accident
- Funeral expenses and costs related to the victim’s burial
- Medical bills paid prior to the victim’s death if they survived their injuries for a period of time after they got hurt
- Loss of inheritance
- Loss of services and support provided by the victim before their death, which can include resulting pain and suffering experienced by the family
A related survival action may also seek compensation for the victim’s pain and suffering and other damages the victim experienced in the time between when they were injured and ultimately succumbed to their fatal wounds.
Punitive damages, which are damages to punish the wrongdoer, may be awarded to the family by a Lackawanna County jury if there’s convincing evidence that the defendant’s actions were intentionally harmful or grossly negligent.
Is There a Statute of Limitations For Wrongful Death Lawsuits in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania imposes a two-year statute of limitations on wrongful death lawsuits. The two-year filing window begins on the date of the fatal accident or the victim’s death, whichever is later. If your family member survived their injuries for a little while, the statute of limitations won’t begin to run until the date of their death.
You’ll have to file your legal claim within the applicable timeframe if you want to demand justice for your devastating loss. When the filing deadline passes, you’ll give up the right to take legal action and pursue compensation from those at fault.
Call Our Scranton Wrongful Death Lawyers For a Free Consultation
You shouldn’t have to deal with the costs and consequences of a family member’s death on your own – not when it’s someone else’s fault. You deserve compensation, and Fellerman & Ciarimboli, Law PC wants to help you demand a life-changing monetary award.
Our Scranton wrongful death lawyers can offer over 100 years of combined experience and a depth of knowledge of Pennsylvania personal injury law that can make a genuine difference in your fight for compensation. The case results we’ve achieved over the last 20+ years speak volumes, with more than $150 million in damages recovered for clients like you.
Contact our law office in Scranton to discuss your case with a Scranton wrongful death attorney today. Your first case evaluation is free.