Scranton Wrongful Death Lawyer

The death of a loved one is always highly distressing, but it can be even more so if the death occurred as a result of someone else’s negligence. If you are struggling with the aftermath of a death that was someone else’s fault, relying on a Scranton wrongful death lawyer for help gives you the chance to get compensation for your suffering.

At Rieders, Travis, Dohrmann, Mowrey, Humphrey & Waters, we put our years of experience to work on your behalf by gathering evidence and fighting for your rights. Our Scranton wrongful death attorneys can guide you through every step of the process.

Why Choose Us?

Relying on Our Team’s Experience and Track Record

Our firm has been offering services since the 1800s, making it one of the most trusted in Pennsylvania. With decades of experience, our Scranton wrongful death lawyers know how to tackle each unique claim. From gathering evidence to taking your case to court, we will work tirelessly on your behalf so that you have the best chance of obtaining fair compensation after the death of a loved one.

If your loved one died because of someone else’s negligence, our team can help. Call (570) 323-8711 to speak with a wrongful death attorney familiar with Scranton, PA.

Wrongful Death Claims: Understanding What They Are and Who Can File One in Scranton, PA

Wrongful death is a term that describes someone losing their life as a result of another party’s actions, like:

• Negligence
• Violence
• Neglect
• Wrongful acts.

The purpose of wrongful death claims is to hold the other party responsible for the harm they caused. Although the compensation you can receive will not bring your loved one back, you can get help for covering funeral expenses and more.

Not everyone can file a wrongful death claim in Pennsylvania, though. Although spouses, parents, or children of the victim can benefit from a claim, they cannot file it themselves. Only the personal representative of the estate can actually file the claim on their behalf. The representative is either the executor named in the will or a court-appointed estate administrator. If the victim does not have any living relatives at the time of their death, a personal representative of the estate can still file on behalf of any of the people who will inherit the estate.

There is an exception to this rule. If the executor does not file within six months of the victim’s death, the beneficiaries or heirs can file the claim.

Damages a Pennsylvania Wrongful Death Lawyer Can Help You Claim

Getting Help with Financial and Emotional Losses

After the wrongful death of a loved one, you can ask for compensatory and punitive damages. Compensatory damages include economic and non-economic damages.

Economic damages are those that compensate you for tangible financial losses you sustained because of your loved one’s wrongful death. They can cover funeral expenses, medical expenses if your loved one died while receiving care for injuries, and even lost wages if you missed work because your loved one was fatally injured.

Non-economic damages involve compensating you for the emotional distress and suffering you have experienced. You can also claim loss of consortium, which can help compensate you for the loss of support and companionship the death caused.

Punitive damages are not compensatory but are intended to punish the liable party. They can be awarded if the defendant acted in a malicious or egregious manner.

Wrongful Death Claim FAQs

After the loss of a loved one, you may have the right to get compensation for your suffering. Our wrongful death lawyers offer answers to some common questions.

Do I need a Pennsylvania wrongful death attorney?

If someone else caused the death of a loved one and you are a representative of the estate or a close relative, you need to contact a lawyer as soon as possible. You never want to go through this type of claim without experienced attorneys by your side. They can help gather the necessary evidence, including reaching out to expert witnesses for their testimonies. If it is impossible to come to a settlement, your lawyer can also take your case to court.

How long do I have to file a claim in Scranton, PA?

You generally have two years from the day of your loved one’s death to file a wrongful death claim in Pennsylvania. Keep in mind that this is not necessarily the same date as when your loved one suffered the injury that led to their death.

Who can file a wrongful death claim in Pennsylvania?

The only people who can do the actual filing of the claim are the representatives of the estate, which could be the executor of the will or a court-appointed representative. Those who can benefit from the claim, however, are parents, children, and spouses. If the victim has no close relatives, the estate receives the damages.

What will it cost to file the wrongful death claim?

By contacting our wrongful death lawyers familiar with Scranton, PA, you do not have to worry about fees for filing these claims. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you do not have to pay anything unless we obtain compensation for your claim.

Our team of lawyers can answer any other questions you have when considering filing a wrongful death claim.

Trust a Scranton Wrongful Death Lawyer

You should not have to deal with the complexities of a wrongful death on your own. By contacting us at Rieders, Travis, Dohrmann, Mowrey, Humphrey & Waters, you can receive the guidance you need during this difficult time.

Call us at (570) 323-8711 to schedule a free telephone consultation with Scranton wrongful death lawyers.

Attorney Cliff Rieders

Cliff Rieders is a Nationally Board Certified Trial Lawyer practicing personal injury law. A large part of his practice involves multi-district litigation, including cases related to pharmaceuticals, vitamin supplements and medical devices. He is admitted in several state and federal courts, as well as the Supreme Court of the United States. Rieders is the past regional president of the Federal Bar Association and is a life member of the distinguished American Law Institute, which promulgates proposed rules adopted by many state courts. He is a past president of the Pennsylvania Association for Justice, formerly Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association. As a founder of the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority, he served on the Board for 15 years.

Not only has Rieders held many highly esteemed, leadership positions, he authored legislation related to the Patient Safety Authority and the Mcare Act, which governs medical and hospital liability actions in Pennsylvania. He authored texts upon which both practitioners and judges rely, including Pennsylvania Malpractice Laws and Forms, and Financial Responsibility Law Issues in Pennsylvania, the latter governing auto and truck collisions in Pennsylvania. In addition, he wrote several books on the practice of law in Pennsylvania regarding wrongful death and survivor actions, insurance bad faith, legal malpractice claims and worker rights, among others. Rieders also serves as a resource to practitioners as a regular speaker for Celesq, an arm of the world’s largest legal publisher, Thomson Reuters West Publishing.

As recognition of his wide range of contribution to his profession and of his dedication to protecting the rights of his clients, he received numerous awards, among them the George F. Douglas Amicus Curiae Award, the Milton D. Rosenberg Award, the B’nai B’rith Justice Award, and awards of recognition from the Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers. [ Attorney Bio ]