What are the economic damages that can be claimed in a wrongful death case?

In a wrongful death case in Pennsylvania, economic damages are awarded to compensate for certain losses suffered as a result of the death. In order to be eligible for economic damages, the deceased person must have had an income or financial contributions that their surviving family members or beneficiaries would have received had the deceased not died. Economic damages include the loss of financial support, medical bills, funeral expenses, and other reasonable costs related to the death. In some cases, economic damages can also include lost wages due to the death, such as the loss of retirement benefits or future income. Additionally, if the decedent had contracted out services that must now be done by another person, the survivor can claim reasonable amounts spent on those services. In one form of economic damages, the court may calculate the amount the deceased would have contributed to the survivors over their lifetime. This is known as a “lost future earnings” claim. These types of damages are calculated by looking at the deceased’s age, life expectancy, their current income, and the potential for future earnings. Lastly, economic damages may include the value of the support, companionship, care, and/or services the deceased would have contributed or provided to the survivors had they not died. These types of damages are often most pertinent to young children who rely on their parents for guidance, companionship, and other emotional benefits. In these cases, the court will assess the economic value of those services that the child is now without due to their parent’s death.

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What are the economic damages that can be claimed in a wrongful death case?

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