Pennsylvania Wrongful Death Attorney
When negligence takes a life, Pennsylvania law gives surviving family members the right to recover for what was lost. We pursue these cases with the seriousness they deserve.
What sets Pennsylvania wrongful death cases apart
Pennsylvania has two parallel statutes — the Wrongful Death Act (42 Pa. C.S. § 8301) compensates the family, and the Survival Act (42 Pa. C.S. § 8302) compensates the estate. Both must be pleaded correctly to recover everything the law allows.
Recoverable damages include the loss of the decedent's earnings, the loss of services and companionship, funeral and burial expenses, and the pain the decedent endured before death.
Punitive damages are available where the at-fault party's conduct was outrageous, reckless, or grossly negligent.
Wrongful death claims arise in truck crashes, motor vehicle collisions, motorcycle crashes, construction accidents, medical errors, and nursing-home neglect.
These cases require a personal, patient approach — we work around the family's grief, not against it.
How we build your wrongful death case
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Early conversation with the family to understand who the decedent was, who depends on them, and what evidence already exists.
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Independent investigation: scene reconstruction, witness statements, employment and earnings records, and (when relevant) medical and autopsy review.
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Probate coordination so a personal representative is properly appointed to bring the Survival Act claim.
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Damages model built with economists and life-care planners to capture lifetime financial loss.
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Settlement negotiation or trial — we prepare every wrongful death case as if it will be tried.
What you may be entitled to recover
Pennsylvania law allows victims of wrongful deaths to recover both economic and non-economic damages. The categories below apply to most Pennsylvania cases — the specific value of your claim depends on the facts.
- Loss of the decedent's earnings and earning capacity over the remainder of their working life
- Loss of household services, guidance, and companionship
- Funeral, burial, and estate administration expenses
- Conscious pain and suffering experienced by the decedent before death (Survival Act)
- Medical expenses incurred between the injury and death
- Punitive damages in cases of outrageous or reckless conduct
Talk to Sean Quinlan about your wrongful death case.
No Fee Unless We Win. Call now or request a free case review and Sean Quinlan will personally evaluate your case.