Car and Truck Accidents That Cause Wrongful Death

Our New York City and White Plains attorneys have handled numerous wrongful death claims involving fatal car crashes. When a sudden and unexpected loss occurs, there are so many questions that loved ones usually have. Our attorneys can help you navigate New York Law and advance your wrongful death lawsuit.

What Can the Family of A Deceased Love One Sure for?

If your spouse or loved one was killed in a motor vehicle accident, because another driver was negligent, then you as the next of kin can sue for the entire financial loss that you sustained as a result of the accident, which includes a percentage of the decedent's future income stream had they lived to their statistical life expectancy. In addition, you can sue for the value of whatever services they would have provided throughout the course of their natural life. Our highly experienced NYC wrongful death lawyers frequently work with economists to have expert calculations prepared to prove the value of the loss to our clients. You can also sue for compensation for your loved one's pre-death pain and suffering. 

What Are the Basic Benefits That New York Law Requires

In addition to the money that you can get from a wrongful death lawsuit, New York also requires that the insurance company for the car that your family member was in provide certain benefits, which are commonly called no-fault death benefits. These benefits include payment for any ambulance, emergency care, and hospital or medical bills for treatment they received before they died.

New York law allows up to $50,000 for other necessary expenses, such as funeral and burial costs. There is also a mandatory $2,000 death benefit. If your family member was a pedestrian that was hit by a car, the insurance company for the car that hit the pedestrian has to provide these payments.

New York law can be unforgiving, and requires that an application for these benefits be filed within 30 days of the accident. To get the benefits that you are entitled to, call our New York City and White Plains lawyers today.

Construction Accident Fatalities

If you lost your loved one in a construction accident in New York, you are entitled to much more than just workers' compensation. New York's labor laws allow people to file a wrongful death claim against the general contractor and site owner for all types of unsafe site conditions and practices, including:

• Unsafe scaffolds
• Unsafe ladders
• Failure to provide harnesses and fall protection
• Unmarked or energized electrical lines
• Unsafe hoisting practices
• Unsafe operation of construction machinery and equipment
• Unsafe material handling
• Hazardous openings that did not have proper railings

You may be entitled to the loss of your loved one's fringe benefits, their pain and suffering, as well as medical and funeral bills.

Our New York City and Westchester construction accident lawyers have decades of experience in representing injured construction workers and the families of people who have died in tragic accidents. We know the construction industry and how to prove that your loved one died because the general contractor cut corners on safety and violated New York Industrial Code Rules and related labor laws.

Wrongful Deaths on New York's Waterways

Our New York City maritime lawyers know the industry and how to prove that the vessel owner, shipping company, or fishing boat's crew is at fault in the case of wrongful death. Fishing boats are notorious for overloading their boats with the catch, which dramatically increases the likelihood that they will capsize or sink. If a commercial vessel sailed into a bad storm or near known hostile pirates, the captain or vessel owner can be liable for wrongful death at sea.

Whether the incident occurred on the Hudson River or East River, on the Long Island Sound, or on the high seas, a lawsuit can be filed in New York if the vessel's home port is New York or the vessel owner or shipping company is based in New York.

The Jones Act also allows the family to sue for pre-death pain and suffering that their loved one endured prior to their demise. If your family member was lost at sea, call our New York lawyers to start your wrongful death claim.

Medical Malpractice And Wrongful Death Cases

A doctor or hospital can be sued for medical malpractice if they departed from accepted standards of care in treating a patient.

One example includes failure to diagnose a condition that requires emergent care such as a heart attack. Failing to properly investigate a patient's symptoms, such as in the case of cancer, is also considered medical malpractice. Another instance is when patients develop infections as a result of a surgical procedure and the doctors fail to administer life-saving measures.

If you lost a family member and suspect you have a wrongful death case, call our New York medical malpractice attorneys today.

Police Brutality:
Death While Incarcerated

Wrongful death in NYPD custody is not an uncommon occurrence. Our New York City wrongful death attorneys have experience in analyzing medical evidence related to police misconduct.

If you suspect that the police or corrections officers were responsible for the death of your loved one, call our office today.

Police Shootings

Both Federal and New York State laws allow the family of someone who was wrongfully shot by the police to sue for damages. The police are only allowed to use deadly force under very limited circumstances. When a suspect is merely trying to escape, it is not reasonable for the officer to use deadly force.

Even if someone is guilty of a crime and running away, that does not justify their being shot by police.

Our New York police shooting lawyers know how to look at the evidence to expose the usual fabricated story. If a family member of yours was shot by the police and was unarmed, call our New York City police shooting lawyers for a free consultation.