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.