There are certain circumstances under which a sibling may be entitled to file a wrongful death claim. However, this right varies from state to state and may come with limitations, such as having to wait for a set period before bringing an action, which can complicate matters.
If you have lost a sibling in an accident or other cause and have questions about your rights, talk to an experienced wrongful death lawyer to best understand your options.
Seeking Damages
Damages in a wrongful death claim are typically intended to benefit dependents or people who rely on the victim for financial support. As such, damages often include projected future earnings, lost retirement or 401k benefits, and projected contributions to things such as tuition. In addition, damages in these claims may include compensation for emotional struggles, loss of companionship, and forced changes to lifestyle.
Most often, the plaintiffs in a wrongful death claim are spouses or surviving children. These are the people most directly impacted by the untimely loss of a loved one. However, other people may also be entitled to damages in these cases. Talking to an attorney helps navigate the complexities of these cases and is essential for understanding your right to take legal action.
Our Experience With Wrongful Death Claims
Kline & Specter, PC has a long history of helping families secure significant verdicts and settlements following the wrongful death of a loved one. Some of our larger cases include:
- $153 million for the parents of a boy killed in an accident caused by a defective parking brake
- $109 million for the family of a woman killed by a downed electric line in her yard
- $46.5 million for the families of two women killed by a disgruntled Kraft Foods employee
- $40.5 million for families and surviving victims of flood and fire at an apartment complex
- $36.4 million for the family of an oil refinery worker killed in an explosion
- $33.1 million for the family of a woman whose delayed breast cancer diagnosis resulted in her death
These cases involve many legal issues, including premises liability, product liability, acts of violence, workplace accidents, and medical malpractice. Our team of more than 50 attorneys, five of whom are medical doctors – the most of any firm in the nation – have decades of experience handling fatal and non-fatal personal injury claims.
Kline & Specter provides free case evaluations. We have offices in Pennsylvania, Delaware, New York, and New Jersey. We work with firms in other states as applicable.
