One of the most important jobs of an experienced Philadelphia wrongful death attorney is to calculate the damages a grieving family should receive. The calculation generally seeks to put a dollar value on the loss the family incurs because of a tragic death. Two broad categories of damages figure into this calculation: economic damages—such as medical bills, funeral expenses, and lost wages; and noneconomic damages—such as loss of companionship and pain and suffering due to the untimely death.
Considerations a lawyer will take into account in estimating the damages to seek in a wrongful death case include:
- The deceased’s age and health at the time of the accident.
- The deceased’s income at the time of death.
- The amount or type of special training the deceased underwent in life to obtain the job position he or she held at the time of death.
- Future benefits that the family lost due to the death, such as pension or vacation time.
- The identity of the responsible party and the level of negligence, recklessness, or intention exhibited.
- The amount of pain and suffering the decedent experienced due to the injury that led to his or her death.