Areas Served
If someone else caused your loved one’s death in Pennsylvania, such as by causing a car accident, manufacturing a defective product, or failing to follow work safety rules, you and your family may be able to hold them financially accountable for your loss. With the help of a wrongful death attorney, you can seek compensation for the various ways your loved one’s death has impacted your life.
Contact the law firm of Stine & Associates, P.C., for a free consultation with Attorney Cindy Stine. During your initial consultation, Attorney Stine will explain your options and answer any questions you have about the wrongful death claims process or your Johnstown case in particular.
What Is Wrongful Death?
A wrongful death occurs when another party’s actions cause the death of a person. These actions do not have to be intentional, though intentional actions resulting in death are also subject to wrongful death cases.
Additionally, wrongful death cases can take several forms, including workers’ compensation claims, auto insurance policy claims, homeowner’s insurance claims, and wrongful death lawsuits, depending on the circumstances of the death.
The compensation recovered through a wrongful death case is for the exclusive benefit of the deceased’s surviving family members. An experienced lawyer from a personal injury law firm can help you explore your options and provide an estimate of what your case could be worth.
Common Causes of Wrongful Death in Johnstown, PA
Depending on the cause of your loved one’s death, various parties could be held financially liable. Some of the most common causes of wrongful death in Johnstown are:
- Motor Vehicle Accidents: Car, truck, and motorcycle accidents are among the leading causes of wrongful death throughout the state. When a vehicle accident causes a death, the at-fault driver may be liable, along with other parties, such as vehicle manufacturers and government entities.
- Workplace Accidents: Many workplaces have inherent dangers, such as construction sites, warehouses, and manufacturing plants. If your loved one sustained a fatal injury on the job, you may be able to seek workers’ compensation death benefits.
- Defective Products: Products can have fatal defects in their design, manufacturing, or warning labels. When defective products cause deaths, the manufacturer and seller may be held liable for the resulting harm.
- Dangerous Property Conditions: Property owners in Johnstown are responsible for keeping their properties safe from known or expected hazards. This includes homeowners installing fences around swimming pools to prevent children from drowning and businesses keeping their floors clear of spills.
- Negligent Security: Concerts, sports venues, and apartment buildings may be required to provide a certain level of security for visitors and tenants. Failure to provide adequate security leading to a death could result in liability.
- Criminal Acts: Homicide, physical assaults, and domestic violence resulting in death can lead to wrongful death lawsuits in addition to criminal prosecution.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim in Pennsylvania?
In most cases, the person who will bring a wrongful death claim is the personal representative of the deceased’s estate. However, they bring the case on behalf of the deceased’s spouse, children, parents, surviving family members, and other relatives who can demonstrate they were financially dependent on the deceased.
If a wrongful death lawsuit has not been filed within six months of the death, any person who stands to benefit from the lawsuit may bring it on behalf of themself and the other parties who stand to benefit.
A wrongful death lawyer can help you determine whether you are eligible to receive compensation through a wrongful death lawsuit if you have questions or concerns.
What Compensation Is Available for Victims’ Families?
The compensation available to surviving family members covers the various losses they suffered because of their loved one’s death. These losses are the adverse consequences of your loved one’s death and may include:
- The lost income your loved one provided for your family
- The cost of your loved one’s funeral and burial
- The emotional distress you experience because of your loved one’s death
- The impact your loved one’s early death had on your inheritance
- The cost of paying someone else to perform the household services your loved one did, including childcare, home repairs, and yard work
- The loss of companionship, love, guidance, and other intangible benefits your loved one provided
In addition to the compensation sought through a wrongful death lawsuit, the personal representative of your loved one’s estate may also seek compensation through a survival action. These are lawsuits that survive the death of the person who could have filed them. Their estate can recover the cost of medical care rendered before their death through one of these actions.
PA’s Wrongful Death Statute of Limitations
Under Pennsylvania’s statute of limitations, surviving family members have two years to file lawsuits against the parties responsible for the death of their loved ones. This is a strict deadline, and you must file your lawsuit within it to be eligible to recover compensation.
The best way to make sure your lawsuit is filed on time is to hire a highly qualified wrongful death lawyer to handle your case. While you focus on grieving the loss of your loved one with your family, your attorney will investigate the incident, gather evidence, file your lawsuit, and negotiate with the at-fault party’s insurance company.
Steps To Take Following the Death of a Loved One
Taking the following steps after the death of a loved one can help to strengthen your case and maximize the compensation you could receive:
- Keep track of any medical bills you received for your loved one’s treatment.
- Obtain copies of your loved one’s income statements to prove lost wages.
- Record any expenses you incurred due to your loved one’s death, including for household services.
- Avoid speaking to the at-fault party’s insurance company or taking the first settlement it offers.
- Consult with an experienced wrongful death lawyer and allow them to handle your case on your behalf.
How Our Wrongful Death Lawyer Can Help
When you hire Stine & Associates, P.C., to handle your wrongful death case, Attorney Cindy Stine will assist you by:
- Investigating the incident to identify the responsible parties
- Gathering supporting evidence, including eyewitness statements, accident scene photos, surveillance video, and expert testimony
- Calculating the value of your case based on your loved one’s income and various other factors
- Filing your wrongful death lawsuit within the time limit
- Negotiating with the at-fault party’s insurance company for a fair settlement that covers all of your expenses
- Taking your case to court and seeking the maximum compensation if the insurance company doesn’t make a fair offer
Contact Our Wrongful Death Attorney Serving Johnstown
Attorney Cindy Stine has been representing victims and their families in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, for over 30 years as a solo attorney. She’s committed to giving a voice to the injured, ill, and disabled, and is prepared to represent your family in seeking the compensation you deserve for the loss of your loved one.
If someone else’s actions caused your loved one’s death in Johnstown, contact the law firm of Stine & Associates, P.C., for a free consultation about your case. During your initial consultation, Attorney Stine will review the incident, help you understand your options for seeking compensation, and walk you through the wrongful death claims process.