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Malpractice Center

Best Wrongful Death Lawyers in Philadelphia, PA (2026)

For this evidence-based 2026 list of Philadelphia wrongful death firms, we weigh published results and practice focus alongside client reviews and experience.

Sources checked

5 lawyers and firms

Philadelphia skyline from the Schuylkill River
Photo: 颐园居, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The short answer

The list's leader is Wapner Newman Attorneys At Law. In practice since 1978, it publishes results involving delayed diagnosis and birth injuries. If you're considering a call, check whether the firm handles deaths involving the care you're concerned about. Who would manage your file, and how would fees work? If medical malpractice concerns you, the Pennsylvania law guide is a starting point; ask a Pennsylvania lawyer which filing rules apply.

At a glance

  1. 1Wapner Newman Attorneys At LawFree consultation4.7 out of 5
  2. 2Eisenberg Winkler Jeck Schwartz Schoenhaus & Sherry, PCFree consultation4.5 out of 5
  3. 3Kline & Specter, PCFree consultation4.3 out of 5
  4. 4Clearfield & AssociatesFree consultation4.3 out of 5
  5. 5Kwartler Manus, LLCFree consultation4.8 out of 5

Best Wrongful Death Lawyers in Philadelphia

  1. Open spot. Feature your firm in PhiladelphiaFor lawyers
  2. 1

    Wapner Newman Attorneys At Law

    4.7226 Google reviewsRated 4.7 out of 5 on Google from 226 reviews

    Best for: Deaths involving delayed diagnosis

    Founded in 1978, Wapner Newman Attorneys At Law has operated for many years with a practice that includes wrongful death as well as medical malpractice. For a brain injury caused by delayed diagnosis, it publishes an $8.4 million result; it also reports $7 million for birth trauma resulting in brain damage. Both recoveries involve injuries.

    CallWebsiteFree case reviewIs this your firm?
    How they were picked

    Stood out in our review for its years of experience and the results it publishes.

    We order firms by how much of their work is medical malpractice, the results they publish, what their clients say, their experience, their standing with the regulator and the recognition they have earned, all from public records and the firms' own sites. How lists are made

  3. Eisenberg Winkler Jeck Schwartz Schoenhaus & Sherry, PC logo2

    Eisenberg Winkler Jeck Schwartz Schoenhaus & Sherry, PC

    4.534 Google reviewsRated 4.5 out of 5 on Google from 34 reviews

    Best for: Hospital care and diagnosis claims

    A $54 million medical malpractice settlement appears among Eisenberg Winkler Jeck Schwartz Schoenhaus & Sherry, PC's published results. For a woman left paralyzed after a hospital delayed an MRI, it reports a $14 million settlement; another result is an $11.2 million verdict for failure to diagnose a brain tumor. Wrongful death is expressly included in the firm's practice.

    CallWebsiteFree case reviewIs this your firm?
    How they were picked

    Stood out in our review for the results it publishes and the recognition it has earned.

    We order firms by how much of their work is medical malpractice, the results they publish, what their clients say, their experience, their standing with the regulator and the recognition they have earned, all from public records and the firms' own sites. How lists are made

  4. 3

    Kline & Specter, PC

    4.3474 Google reviewsRated 4.3 out of 5 on Google from 474 reviews

    Best for: Catastrophic injury and death claims

    Kline & Specter, PC received The Legal Intelligencer's 2018 Litigation Department of the Year award for Medical Malpractice and Product Liability/Mass Torts. Its named attorneys are Tom Kline and Shanin Specter. The firm's site addresses wrongful death, as well as diagnosis errors and birth injuries.

    CallWebsiteFree case reviewIs this your firm?
    How they were picked

    Stood out in our review for how much of its work is medical malpractice and the results it publishes.

    We order firms by how much of their work is medical malpractice, the results they publish, what their clients say, their experience, their standing with the regulator and the recognition they have earned, all from public records and the firms' own sites. How lists are made

  5. Not sure who to call first?

    Tell us what happened. A malpractice lawyer who serves Philadelphia can look at it with you, and it costs nothing.

  6. Clearfield & Associates logo4

    Clearfield & Associates

    4.3441 Google reviewsRated 4.3 out of 5 on Google from 441 reviews

    Best for: Families prioritizing responsive communication

    Quick responses and direct answers draw repeated praise from Clearfield & Associates clients. About returning calls, one says, “He answers your calls right away and stays on top of your case.” The firm's founding dates to 1984.

    CallWebsiteFree case reviewIs this your firm?
    How they were picked

    Stood out in our review for its years of experience and the recognition it has earned.

    We order firms by how much of their work is medical malpractice, the results they publish, what their clients say, their experience, their standing with the regulator and the recognition they have earned, all from public records and the firms' own sites. How lists are made

  7. Kwartler Manus, LLC logo5

    Kwartler Manus, LLC

    4.8514 Google reviewsRated 4.8 out of 5 on Google from 514 reviews

    Best for: Deaths involving nursing home care

    For nursing home cases, Kwartler Manus, LLC publishes awards of $450,000 in Langhorne and $250,000 in Jenkintown; it also reports $200,000 in Philadelphia. If you suspect neglect contributed to a death in your family, you can ask the firm specifically about the work behind those results. With offices in Philadelphia and Cherry Hill, it lists wrongful death and medical malpractice.

    CallWebsiteFree case reviewIs this your firm?
    How they were picked

    Stood out in our review for what its clients say and how much of its work is medical malpractice.

    We order firms by how much of their work is medical malpractice, the results they publish, what their clients say, their experience, their standing with the regulator and the recognition they have earned, all from public records and the firms' own sites. How lists are made

Where they are in Philadelphia

A few minutes that might help

Questions about your own case?
How a malpractice claim usually moves in Pennsylvania

  1. 1.Something went wrong

    Write down dates and names while they're fresh.

  2. 2.Get your records

    Ask for your full chart and test results.

  3. 3.Free case review

    A lawyer looks at what happened, free.

  4. 4.Medical opinion

    A doctor checks whether the care fell short.

  5. 5.File before the deadline

    Your lawyer starts the claim before the deadline.

  6. 6.Settlement or trial

    Many claims settle. Some go to a judge or jury.

Your deadline: 2 years from when you found outRead the Pennsylvania law guide

Each step in more detail

  1. Discuss the death and dates

    Tell a Pennsylvania lawyer what happened, including when you first learned that something may have gone wrong with the care. Subject to the discovery rule, the stated malpractice deadline is 2 years. Have the lawyer determine the deadline that applies after your loved one's death.

  2. Review the medical record

    By reviewing the chart and related records, you can help identify the care concern. Who will get those records and arrange a medical review? Pennsylvania's certificate requirement calls for an appropriate licensed professional's written statement; that professional must find a reasonable probability that the care fell below the standard.

  3. File the complaint and certificate

    Filing the complaint is what starts the court case. For each defendant in a malpractice claim, a certificate of merit must accompany the complaint or be filed within 60 days. Have the lawyer explain who is named in the complaint and how they'll satisfy the certificate requirement.

  4. Examine the disputed care

    Ask how the lawyer would deal with people disagreeing about what the chart or medical opinions say. The professional reviewing the care for a certificate must address whether it fell below the standard. Ask the lawyer what else would need to be done for your family's claim.

  5. Consider resolution

    Settlements and verdicts appear in these firms' publications. Neither can promise you an outcome. How would the lawyer evaluate a proposed settlement or get ready for trial? Pennsylvania has no cap on compensatory damages; the stated punitive damages limit applies to individual physicians.

Malpractice claims in Philadelphia: the rules that matter

The filing deadline in Pennsylvania
  1. The clock startsWhen you found out, or should have
  2. Time to start a claim2 yearsMiss it and the claim is usually lost.
Limits on damages in Pennsylvania
  • Pain and sufferingNo cap
  • All damages togetherNo overall cap
  • Expert paperworkFile a certificate of merit for each defendant with the complaint or within 60 days, stating an appropriate licensed professional has given a written statement that there is a reasonable probability the care fell below the standard.

Read the Pennsylvania law guideWork out your own deadline

Local hospitals

Star ratings from CMS Care Compare. Look up a hospital

Filing deadline for most malpractice claims in Pennsylvania
2 years
Source
Hospitals near Philadelphia with a CMS star rating
6
Source

What a malpractice lawyer costs in Philadelphia

  1. The first callOften free. Ask before you book.
  2. A written agreementThe share the lawyer takes, set out before work starts.
  3. If you recover moneyThe agreed share and the case costs come out of it.
  4. If the claim failsNo legal fee on a contingency agreement. Ask about costs.
Nine listed firms say they work on contingency: if there's a recovery, the lawyer takes a share, but a failed claim means you don't owe a lawyer's fee. All offer a consultation for free. Expenses are separate. Ask what you'd pay for records and medical opinions, including any court fees that might apply. Could you owe costs the firm paid in advance even if it recovers nothing for you? Don't assume a free consultation means all the later expenses are covered. Get the fee terms in writing before signing, including the lawyer's share of a recovery and whether you'd have to repay expenses the firm paid.

All ten firms on this list say you can speak with them at a free consultation. Nine also say they'll work on contingency.

What to bring to your first call

  • Records of medical care already in your possession, with delivery notes if relevant
  • When treatment occurred and the date of death, along with when you learned care may have failed
  • Names of the clinicians involved, plus the hospitals and nursing homes where care occurred
  • What happened, written as a brief timeline
  • Bills for medical care, plus other expense records you want the lawyer to look over
  • Messages or letters the hospital, care facility or insurer has sent you
  • Any photos that seem related to your care concern
  • Questions you have about records that are missing or explanations you haven't yet received

Questions to ask a lawyer

  1. 1What wrongful death claims have you handled involving medical care like this?
  2. 2Who is the attorney you'd put in charge of our file?
  3. 3Before deciding whether to take the claim, what records would you need?
  4. 4To obtain a certificate of merit, how would you arrange the required professional review?
  5. 5When would our family need to file this claim?
  6. 6How do you calculate your contingency fee, including any expenses we'd owe?
  7. 7How would we reach the person responsible for giving us updates?
  8. 8What comparable results can you share and explain to us?

Choosing a Philadelphia lawyer after a death

What care are you worried may have gone wrong? If you're concerned about a missed diagnosis, you won't ask the same questions as someone facing a death after delivery or suspected nursing home neglect. Several of the Philadelphia firms listed here discuss those kinds of cases. You still need to ask who would handle your family's file, whatever the practice-area label says. Has that attorney worked on claims like yours?

Give the results a closer look. For Wapner Newman Attorneys At Law, the published recoveries involve delayed diagnosis and birth injuries; Kwartler Manus, LLC reports nursing home awards. Those firms don't identify the results as wrongful death outcomes. Roundup litigation accounts for Kline & Specter, PC's published verdicts. Ask each firm to explain what its experience has to do with the care and death you want reviewed.

Use the consultation to test the fit

  • Ask who will review the medical chart, including who you'll speak with after the firm finishes intake. Don't decide without the handling attorney's name.
  • Tell the firm where you think care went wrong. Ask whether the firm has handled deaths involving that problem and what it can tell you about those cases.
  • Ask how you'll stay in touch. Reviews praising some firms for clear updates don't tell the whole story; you'll also find complaints that calls weren't answered.
  • Before the firm can take the claim, what medical records does it need and what must a licensed professional review?

Every firm listed says you can consult it for free. You can ask questions without paying for the consultation, but don't take that conversation to mean the firm has accepted your case. Nine also say they work on contingency. Ask for the written fee agreement before you agree, especially what you'd owe for expenses if the firm recovers nothing.

A malpractice complaint must include a certificate of merit for each defendant. You must file that certificate with the complaint or within 60 days, using an appropriate licensed professional's written statement about the care as its basis. Who will the lawyer arrange to review it? If the patient was a child, don't calculate the deadline yourself; ask the lawyer which rules apply specifically to claims involving children.

Be careful if someone promises you an outcome or wants your signature without first answering the questions you've asked. A large recovery in another case doesn't tell you what your family will recover. Don't sign while you're still unclear about who would handle your matter or how costs work because the firm hasn't explained them. This is general information, not advice about your case.

Questions people ask

Which Philadelphia firm leads this list?
The ranking's leader is Wapner Newman Attorneys At Law. The firm began in 1978 and lists wrongful death among its practice areas; it publishes substantial medical malpractice recoveries for delayed diagnosis and birth injuries. The firm doesn't label those recoveries as wrongful death results. Has the attorney assigned to you handled deaths involving the specific care your family is concerned about?
How soon should we speak with a lawyer after a death involving medical care?
Contact a Pennsylvania lawyer soon so you can check the filing date. Pennsylvania states a 2 years medical malpractice deadline, but under the discovery rule the clock depends on when you knew, or reasonably should have known, of the injury and its cause. Ask a lawyer to check which rules apply after your loved one's death. You can't calculate your family's deadline just by reading this general explanation.
Is the first consultation free?
All ten firms on this list say you can consult them for free. When you talk, describe the care concern and find out whether the firm handles deaths like your loved one's. Who would manage your file is worth asking, too. Don't assume the free consultation means the firm will take your case or that there won't be later expenses; ask about both before you sign an agreement.
Do we pay a lawyer if the claim fails?
Nine listed firms say they work on contingency: the lawyer receives a share of a recovery and no lawyer's fee if the claim fails. Kwartler Manus, LLC's contingency arrangement isn't specified. What about the expenses? If the firm recovers nothing, would you still owe money for records or medical review? What court fees would each firm expect you to pay?
What does a medical malpractice claim need before filing?
Pennsylvania requires you to supply a certificate of merit for each defendant. You must file it with the complaint or within 60 days, stating that an appropriate licensed professional gave a written statement finding a reasonable probability that the care fell below the standard. Which records will that professional need? What else must a claim involving your loved one's death address? Have the lawyer explain.
How long will a wrongful death case take?
For these firms, there's no supported estimate of case length. Because their published results include both settlements and jury verdicts, they reflect different ways cases can end. Before filing, what needs to happen, and what might cause delays? Ask the handling lawyer. Although the 2-year filing rule and the certificate's 60-day requirement set deadlines, neither tells you how long a case will last.
Are the filing rules different when the patient was a child?
Under Pennsylvania's stated malpractice rule, a child must sue within 7 years of the malpractice or before the twentieth birthday, using whichever date comes later. For claims arising from a child's death, that rule doesn't necessarily supply every deadline. Which claims might your family have, and what filing rules apply to each? Ask a Pennsylvania lawyer.
What should we do first if a loved one died after suspected malpractice?
Write down when treatment occurred and when you learned that care may have failed. Gather hospital messages along with the records you already have. When you contact a Pennsylvania lawyer about the deadline and review process, also ask who is allowed to bring a claim after the death. Your family's circumstances matter to that question; general malpractice rules don't answer it.
Does Pennsylvania limit damages in a medical malpractice case?
Under Pennsylvania's stated rule, compensatory damages have no caps; these damages are intended to compensate for loss. Only punitive damages against individual physicians are limited. You can't determine your family's claim value from that rule. Which damages may apply after the death, and how does the rule affect the particular defendants? A Pennsylvania lawyer can explain.
Can hospital star ratings show whether malpractice caused a death?
For six hospitals near Philadelphia, the CMS Care Compare directory provides star ratings. What happened in your loved one's chart isn't described by a rating. To meet Pennsylvania's certificate requirement for a malpractice claim, you need a licensed professional's written assessment of the care instead. Rather than relying on the hospital's overall rating, have a lawyer review the treatment your loved one received.

Sources

  1. Pennsylvania Medical Malpractice Laws and Statutory Rules, AllLaw (Nolo)
  2. Yanakos v. UPMC (Pa. 2019), Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
  3. State Enactments of Selected Medical Liability Reforms (as of 8/27/2026), Medical Professional Liability Association
  4. Contributory Negligence/Comparative Fault Laws in All 50 States (updated 6/10/2026), Matthiesen, Wickert & Lehrer, S.C.
  5. Hospital General Information, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
  6. Malpractice Center methodology, Malpractice Center

Nearby cities

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