Get Justice for Your Loved One and Resources for Your Family’s Future With the Help of Our Compassionate Wrongful Death Attorney in Philadelphia, PA
Losing a loved one because someone else acted carelessly or wrongfully is one of the most devastating experiences a family can face. The grief is overwhelming. The questions feel endless. While no amount of money can ever make up for the loss of a spouse, parent, or child, the law does provide a path to accountability and financial support through a wrongful death claim. At Spotlight Justice, we provide the skilled representation of a Philadelphia wrongful death lawyer and caring, compassionate guidance that’s as focused on the human element as on getting results.
At Spotlight Justice, we understand how fragile, painful, and uncertain this time can be. Families all over Pennsylvania turn to us not only for legal guidance but also for empathy, honesty, and a determined advocate who will fight for the truth.
We’re here for your family throughout the challenges that lie ahead, offering dedicated advocacy, strong representation without any upfront fees, and full-service assistance to support your journey seeking justice. Contact us today for a free, private consultation.
What Is a Wrongful Death?
Under Pennsylvania law, a wrongful death occurs when someone’s life is taken because of another party’s negligence, recklessness, or intentional misconduct.
These claims exist to hold the at-fault party financially responsible for the harm they caused, not only to the person who died, but also to the family left behind.
To bring a successful wrongful death claim, it must be shown that:
- The defendant acted negligently or wrongfully.
- That negligence caused the death.
- The surviving family members suffered losses as a result.
Negligence means more than just a mistake. It refers to someone failing to act with reasonable care that could have prevented a tragedy.
Whether a careless driver, negligent doctor, unsafe property owner, or corporation that released a dangerous product into the world, wrongful death claims are designed to hold these parties accountable.
If you need a wrongful death attorney in Philadelphia, PA, who truly understands the emotional and legal complexity of these cases, Spotlight Justice provides the experienced and compassionate representation your family deserves. We’re prepared to stand with your family and pursue justice with care and conviction.
Common Causes of Wrongful Death in Philadelphia and Throughout Pennsylvania
Wrongful deaths can occur in almost any setting, but certain situations frequently lead to legal claims in Pennsylvania. Spotlight Justice handles catastrophic and complex cases involving:
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Car, truck, motorcycle, bicycle, and pedestrian accidents are among the leading causes of wrongful death. When drivers speed, drive distracted, operate under the influence, or break traffic laws and cause motor vehicle accidents as a result, families pay the ultimate price.
Medical Malpractice
When a healthcare provider’s negligence, families can pursue justice through a wrongful death and survival action. Common malpractice-related causes of death include:
- Misdiagnosis
- Delayed treatment
- Surgical error
- Medication error
- Hospital negligence
When medical malpractice leads to a preventable death, we step in to hold negligent providers and facilities accountable.
Dangerous and Negligently Maintained Properties
Property owners must keep their premises safe. Fatal accidents, structural collapses, fires, and other hazards caused by negligent premises maintenance can all give rise to a wrongful death claim.
Defective Products
From dangerous pharmaceuticals to unsafe medical devices to faulty consumer products, corporations can be held responsible when defective products claim a life.
Workplace Accidents
Construction accidents, industrial incidents, equipment failures, toxic exposures, and employer negligence can all cause fatal injuries. In some fatal workplace accident cases, families may pursue third-party wrongful death claims in addition to workers’ compensation death benefits.
Negligent Security
Property owners who fail to provide adequate security, such as lighting, locks, surveillance, or trained personnel, may be liable when violent crime enabled by negligent security leads to fatal harm.
Institutional Negligence
Schools, nursing homes, assisted-living facilities, and other institutions can be held accountable when their failures, lack of supervision, or abuse result in wrongful death.
If you believe someone’s wrongdoing caused your loved one’s death, consulting a Philadelphia wrongful death lawyer as early as possible can help protect your rights and preserve critical evidence.
Compensation Available in Pennsylvania Wrongful Death Claims
Pennsylvania law allows eligible family members to recover compensation for both economic and emotional losses. Wrongful death damages can include:
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Medical expenses related to the final injury
- Loss of financial support and future income
- Loss of services, guidance, and household contributions
- Loss of companionship, comfort, and protection
- Emotional suffering and mental anguish of surviving family members
These damages reflect the profound impact a life has on those left behind, not just financially but also emotionally and personally.
How Survival Actions Fit Into the Wrongful Death Claims in Philadelphia and Across PA
In addition to a wrongful death claim, Pennsylvania also recognizes survival actions. This claim is essentially the personal injury case the victim could have pursued had they survived.
A survival action allows recovery for:
- The pain and suffering the person experienced before death
- Lost earnings from the time of injury until death
- Other damages the deceased would have been entitled to pursue
While a wrongful death claim compensates surviving family members, a survival action compensates the deceased’s estate. Both claims are often filed together to ensure complete justice.
If you need guidance navigating both claims, a wrongful death attorney in Philadelphia, PA, can help you understand which damages apply and how to maximize your family’s recovery.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim in Pennsylvania?
In Pennsylvania, the personal representative of the deceased’s estate typically files the wrongful death claim. If the representative does not file within six months, any eligible beneficiary may file the claim instead.
Eligible beneficiaries include:
- The spouse
- Children
- Parents
These are the individuals the law recognizes as suffering measurable losses and who can recover damages. If none exist, the estate may recover limited expenses.
A knowledgeable Philadelphia wrongful death lawyer can help ensure that the proper party files the claim and that all family members’ rights are protected.
Choosing the Right Wrongful Death Lawyer for Your Family’s Needs
Selecting the right wrongful death lawyer is one of the most important decisions a family can make after losing a loved one due to negligence. These cases are emotionally complex, legally challenging, and often fiercely contested by insurance companies and corporate defendants. For that reason, families should look for an attorney who offers far more than basic legal representation.
A strong wrongful death lawyer should have extensive experience handling catastrophic injury cases, a proven record of results, and the ability to investigate, build, and litigate complex claims.
But experience alone is not enough. Attorneys practicing in this field also need to understand the emotional weight of losing a family member and to approach each case with empathy, patience, and a genuine desire to help families find answers and closure.
When evaluating potential attorneys, consider whether they maintain a manageable caseload that allows them to personally handle your case rather than delegating it to staff or junior lawyers. Look for someone who communicates clearly, takes time to listen to your story, and is willing to meet you wherever you are in the grieving process.
The right lawyer should make you feel supported, respected, and confident that your loved one’s memory will be honored through the pursuit of justice.
Above all, choose a lawyer who is committed to accountability, transparency, and meaningful advocacy. A wrongful death case is about more than compensation. It’s about uncovering the truth, preventing future harm, and ensuring your family’s voice is heard. The attorney you choose should be a trusted partner who stands beside you at every step, fighting tirelessly for the outcome your loved one deserves.
How Spotlight Justice Can Help Your Family
Wrongful death cases are different from other personal injury matters. They require sensitivity, deep legal experience, and a willingness to take on powerful individuals, corporations, and institutions whose negligence changed your life forever.
At Spotlight Justice, we help families by:
- Conducting a thorough, independent investigation
- Gathering evidence, expert testimony, and records
- Calculating full economic and non-economic losses
- Building a narrative-driven case that tells your loved one’s story
- Holding negligent individuals and corporations accountable
- Pursuing the maximum compensation available under Pennsylvania law
We approach every case with the understanding that behind every legal claim is a life, a family, and a story worthy of being told with dignity.
When you hire us, you get the support of a Philadelphia wrongful death lawyer who understands the emotional depth of your loss and fights tirelessly for justice.
Why Choose Spotlight Justice to Represent Your Family?
Spotlight Justice isn’t a volume-based practice. Instead of taking every case and only being able to provide a limited fraction of our attention, we take only the right cases. This approach allows us to invest our full attention, resources, and commitment into the clients we serve throughout the state.
We recognize that grieving families deserve a wrongful death attorney in Philadelphia, PA, who sees them, listens to them, and fights for them. That is the foundation of our work.
A Firm That Puts People First
With a deliberately low caseload, Spotlight Justice provides individualized attention, deep client relationships, and an attorney who knows your story and your needs.
National-Level Experience for Families in Philadelphia and Across the State
Led by a nationally recognized mass tort and catastrophic injury attorney with a record of high-profile results, including work on billion-dollar litigations and major product liability cases, we have the capabilities and care that families need to face the legal process.
Compassionate, Strategic Advocacy
Dena Young blends emotionally centered counseling with powerful courtroom storytelling to build compelling, narrative-driven wrongful death cases.
Boutique Service with Big-Firm Strength
Clients receive the personal attention of a small firm backed by elite litigation experience, complex scientific-evidence capability, and media-recognized authority on corporate negligence.
Contact a Philadelphia Wrongful Death Lawyer at Spotlight Justice Today for a Free Case Review
If your family is grieving the loss of a loved one due to someone else's carelessness or wrongdoing, you do not have to face this alone. The legal process may feel overwhelming right now, but that’s why we’re here.
Spotlight Justice is ready to listen, guide, and stand beside you every step of the way. Your consultation is always free, and there is no obligation to move forward if you decide that legal action isn’t right for your family. We will help you understand your rights, your options, and the next steps toward securing accountability and justice.
To speak with a compassionate and determined legal advocate, contact Spotlight Justice online or call 267-540-9604 today.