Harrisburg Wrongful Death Lawyers

Did you recently lose a family member in a fatal accident in Harrisburg, PA? If someone else was responsible, you may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, funeral costs, pain and suffering, and more. An experienced Harrisburg wrongful death lawyer at Marzzacco Niven & Associates can fight to maximize your compensation award. 

Since 2008, our attorneys have taken an aggressive approach to help grieving families get justice in personal injury cases such as Harrisburg motorcycle crashesslip & fall casesworkers’ compensation or social security disability cases in Harrisburg, and more. That approach has helped us recover millions of dollars in compensation for clients when they needed it most.

Money can’t bring your loved one back, but it can make a difference in your family’s future. Call (717) 231-1640 at our law office in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, for a free consultation today to learn more.

How Marzzacco Niven & Associates Can Help After a Fatal Accident in Harrisburg

How Marzzacco Niven & Associates Can Help After a Fatal Accident in Harrisburg

You’ve suffered an unimaginable loss. Launching a legal battle and fighting with insurance companies is the last thing you need. However, protecting your family’s financial security is important–and you don’t have to handle your legal battle alone. Our experienced Harrisburg personal injury lawyers at Marzzacco Niven & Associates can help.

We’ll handle your wrongful death case from start to finish and pursue every cent you deserve for your loss. These claims require skilled lawyers — ours have been recognized as Rising Stars, Super Lawyers, and Best Lawyers in America.

When you hire our law office, you can expect a lawyer who will:

  • Provide sound legal guidance
  • Launch an exhaustive investigation to find out who was responsible for your loved one’s death
  • Consult with leading accident and injury experts in the state of Pennsylvania
  • Demand fair compensation from all parties who caused your loss
  • Negotiate with the insurance companies and defense lawyers on your behalf

Since 2008, we have been representing families in Harrisburg. We know how to handle the insurance companies and fight back when they try to use scare tactics to minimize the value of your case.

Our Harrisburg personal injury attorneys can help you through this challenging time. Call for a free case review today to get started.

How Common Are Deadly Accidents in Harrisburg?

Thousands of people are injured in accidents across the state of Pennsylvania every year. Unfortunately, some of those accidents are fatal.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, motor vehicle accidents killed an average of three people every day during 2020. Overall, 1,129 Pennsylvanians lost their lives in fatal traffic accidents last year.

Over 150 Pennsylvania workers were killed on the job in 2019. Thousands more die because of dangerous premises, medical errors, and fall accidents each year.

What is a Wrongful Death Lawsuit?

How Common Are Deadly Accidents in Harrisburg?

Many accidents are preventable. Under Pennsylvania wrongful death laws, you may have the right to sue for damages if the loss of your loved one was caused by “the wrongful act or neglect or unlawful violence or negligence of another.”

However, only certain family members are eligible to file an action for wrongful death, including:

  • A surviving spouse
  • Children
  • Parents 

Damages are distributed among the decedent’s beneficiaries in accordance with Pennsylvania laws or a will. If no eligible survivors exist, the deceased person’s personal representative may be entitled to sue for damages.

What is My Harrisburg Wrongful Death Case Worth?

The loss of a family member can be both financially and emotionally devastating. Money won’t take the pain away–but it can help you protect your family’s financial stability.

Most surviving family members want to know how much they can recover in a lawsuit. The answer depends on a number of factors, including:

  • Your loved one’s age, general health, and life expectancy prior to the accident
  • Your loved one’s future earning potential
  • The cost of medical treatment 
  • The age and identities of surviving family members

The pain and trauma you’ve endured can also be important factors in calculating the value of your wrongful death claim.

We know it’s difficult to put a dollar value on your loss. That’s where our wrongful death lawyers in Harrisburg can help. We’ll use the full weight of our experience and resources to fight to help you get justice.

What Types of Damages Are Available to Victims of Wrongful Death?

The unexpected loss of a loved one can take a toll on surviving family members. You deserve to be compensated. Our lawyers at Marzzacco Niven & Associates know that you’re grieving. We’ll take the lead and fight to recover the maximum compensation allowed under the law.

Examples of the types of damages you may recover in a wrongful death lawsuit include:

  • Medical, hospital, and nursing expenses incurred between the date of your loved one’s accident and the date of death
  • Funeral expenses and burial costs
  • Estate administration expenses after the victim’s death
  • Financial contributions the victim would have made had they survived 
  • Compensation for the loss of the victim’s services, support, and company
  • Compensation for emotional and psychological pain and suffering

If the person responsible for your loved one’s accident acted with malice or gross negligence, punitive damages may also be available.

The personal representative may also be entitled to file a survival action. A survival action isn’t filed on behalf of any specific beneficiaries. Instead, it’s filed by the representative to recover compensation that victims would have been entitled to claim had they survived their injuries.

Can I Recover Damages If My Loved One is Being Blamed for a Fatal Accident in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania follows a modified comparative negligence rule and imposes a 51% bar to recovering damages. If your loved one shares some of the blame for the accident, your damages award can be reduced in proportion to their percentage of fault.

However, if that percentage of fault is over 50%, you’ll lose your right to seek compensation entirely. Insurance companies try to use this rule to their advantage. An experienced lawyer can help you fight back and minimize your loved one’s share of fault.

What Causes Most Wrongful Deaths in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania?

The death of your loved one may be classified as “wrongful” if it was caused by another person’s negligent or intentional act.

Some of the most common causes of wrongful death in Harrisburg include:

If you’ve recently lost a loved one, you may be entitled to significant compensation. Our Harrisburg wrongful death attorneys at Marzzacco Niven & Associates would be proud to stand up for your legal rights. When you’re ready to learn more, call our law firm for a free case evaluation.

How Do I Prove Negligence After a Fatal Accident in Pennsylvania? 

How Do I Prove Negligence After a Fatal Accident in Pennsylvania? 

Fatal accidents often happen suddenly. You might not know exactly what happened. Still, you’ll be required to prove that the responsible party caused your loved one’s death.

In most cases, this means proving negligence. You’ll have to prove that:

  • The at-fault party owed your loved one a legal duty of care
  • The defendant’s careless, reckless, or intentional acts breached that duty
  • The breach caused your loved one’s death
  • You suffered damages

There are many ways to establish these elements. Although it can be difficult to launch a detailed investigation while you’re grieving, it’s often necessary to recover damages. Our lawyers at Marzzacco Niven & Associates have years of experience helping clients like you. Let us take care of the heavy lifting.

We’ll locate the evidence you need, including:

  • Police and accident reports
  • Toxicology reports
  • Witness testimony
  • Video surveillance footage
  • Medical records and testimony from medical experts

We can even bring in experts in accident reconstruction to evaluate the accident scene. If you need help fighting for fair compensation, you can trust our lawyers to go the extra mile. Just give us a quick call today to get the legal advice you deserve.

How Long Do I Have to File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Pennsylvania?

How Long Do I Have to File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Pennsylvania?

The statute of limitations in Pennsylvania for wrongful death claims is two years. The two-year period starts running on the date of the accident or the date of your loved one’s death, whichever is later.

We know that things are difficult right now. However, if you wait too long to take legal action, you’ll risk losing your right to seek compensation. 

You don’t have to handle your case alone. Our attorneys can manage the details of your wrongful death claim–all you have to do is call to get started.

Contact a Harrisburg Wrongful Death Lawyer for a Free Consultation

Contact Harrisburg Wrongful Death Lawyers for a Free Consultation

After a loved one’s death, every day can seem like a struggle. Fighting for fair compensation may be one of the most important things you can do for your family. At Marzzacco Niven & Associates, we’ll do everything in our power to help. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with an experienced Harrisburg wrongful death lawyer you can count on.


Visit Our Personal Injury Law Office in Harrisburg, PA

Marzzacco Niven & Associates
945 E Park Dr Suite 103, Harrisburg, PA 17111
(717) 231-1640

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