Calculating Damages

Calculating Damages — Our Firm Can Help You Get the Compensation You Deserve

The damages in a wrongful death case are meant to compensate for losses resulting from the death of a family member. Damages generally can be categorized into one of two groups. On the one hand, you have damages that can be objectively measured by specific, clearly determined costs. On the other hand, you have subjective damages that call for the experienced legal advocacy of a wrongful death case attorney.

"Objective" damages may be calculated by costs such as:

• Medical bills
• Funeral or other expenses related to laying the deceased to rest
• Loss of benefits, such as employer-provided health insurance, that must now be paid out-of-pocket
• Loss of income, depending on the age and household status of the deceased

"Subjective" damages are based on other, less specific determinations, such as:

• Pain and suffering endured by the deceased
• Emotional trauma of the survivor's family members

You may recover damages to the extent a jury finds it fair and just in relation to the injury resulting from your loved one's death, according to Pennsylvania law.

Factors Used in Calculating Damages

Calculating damages is complex. Some factors used in the process include:

• How dependent the plaintiff was on the decedent (the person who died)
• The anticipated lifespan of the decedent
• The anticipated earnings and other benefits of the decedent
• The nature of the relationship between the plaintiff and the decedent
• The presence of any comparative fault

Contact a Wrongful Death Lawyer with Our Firm

At Metzger Wickersham, serving Harrisburg, Shippensburg, Lancaster, York, and Wilkes-Barre and communities throughout Pennsylvania, a wrongful death lawyer can fight for your rights. Contact us. Our firm may be able to assist you or your loved one in your case. Call 1-800-WIN-WIN-1 (1-800-946-9461) today.

Remember, your initial consultation is free, and you don't pay us unless you win.