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The unanticipated loss of a loved one is always emotionally devastating. If you relied on the deceased for financial support, the added stress of struggling to make ends meet only adds to your grief.

When your loved one dies as the direct result of someone else’s carelessness or even recklessness, you should not have to bear the financial burden of the loss. The law is set up to make you whole for your loss. Bernard M. Tully Attorney at Law in Pittsburgh, PA, discusses the kind of damages you can recover by filing a successful wrongful death claim with the help of a personal injury lawyer.

3 Kinds of Damages You Can Recover in a Wrongful Death Claim

1. Economic Damages

Economic damages tend to be the easiest to prove in wrongful death cases. These include the actual costs that you incur as the direct result of your loved one’s death, like medical bills, funeral expenses, loss of earnings and benefits, and loss of an inheritance.

2. Non-Economic Damages

wrongful deathCalculating non-economic damages is more complicated than tracking the actual expenses you have incurred following your loved one’s death, but a seasoned attorney can help. Despite the challenges associated with determining and proving non-economic damages, you do not want to leave them out of your settlement negotiations because they tend to amount to more than the economic damages. They include pain and suffering, mental anguish, loss of companionship, loss of consortium, and loss of care, guidance, or protection.

3. Punitive Damages

In Pennsylvania, the courts allow family members to recover punitive damages following the death of a loved one in certain situations. One of the most common situations is when you are suing a bar. Known as a dram shop case, if someone was over served by a bar and then got in their car and killed someone because of this intoxication, the bar is responsible for the wrongful death of the victim, and punishment or punitive damages are available to you in this tragic situation. Punitive damages are not designed to compensate plaintiffs for the damages they incurred but, rather, to punish defendants for egregious recklessness and to deter them from such behavior in the future.

If you want to file a wrongful death claim in western Pennsylvania, contact Bernard M. Tully Attorney at Law. This compassionate wrongful death attorney will help you build a strong case and negotiate a fair settlement on your behalf. You can learn more about his experience resolving wrongful death claims by visiting his website. To schedule an initial consultation, call the law office today at (412) 281-8700. You can also find him on Facebook.

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