New York City Wrongful Death Lawyer

Wrongful Death in New York Explained

When a preventable accident cuts a life short, the impact can ripple through both the immediate family and the broader community.

Injuries claim nearly 8,000 lives annually in New York, with the effects hitting hardest among those under the age of 40. Beyond these losses, more than 155,000 New Yorkers are hospitalized with severe injuries each year, with some battles ultimately ending in tragedy.

Behind statistics like these are real families that are forever changed by someone else's careless decisions. These cases demand decisive legal action.

Leading Causes of Wrongful Death Cases in New York

Certain patterns emerge when examining wrongful death cases in New York. Understanding the most common causes of these incidents can help families better understand their rights under York's wrongful death statute. They include:

• Motor vehicle accidents
• Workplace accidents
• Medical errors
• Property hazards
• Defective and dangerous products
• Transportation accidents
• Violence
• Exposure to toxic substances and dangerous materials

Each of these scenarios demands a different investigative approach, and there may be multiple parties whose actions contributed to the victim’s death.

What Constitutes a Wrongful Death Claim?

Under New York law, a wrongful death claim arises when someone's negligent, reckless, or intentional actions lead to a fatal accident. The law provides certain pathways for surviving family members to seek justice after a loved one's death.

Damages Available in NYC Wrongful Death Cases

Losing a loved one brings both emotional and financial hardship, which is why New York law recognizes multiple categories of compensation in wrongful death cases. Our attorneys can meticulously document and seek damages for each of the following impacts:

• Immediate financial losses: Medical costs from the accident, emergency care, final medical bills, funeral arrangements costs, burial or cremation expenses.
• Future economic hardship: Loss of primary income, forfeited benefits, lost pension and retirement, lost inheritance value, reduced family savings capacity.
• Lack of family support: Lost value of childcare services, home maintenance, financial guidance, and educational contributions.
• Relationship damage: Loss of parental guidance, family nurturing and mentoring, marital companionship, and general emotional support and care.
• Estate-related losses: Pain and suffering prior to death, personal property damage, unpaid medical bills, estate administration costs, lost business value.

Our team will collaborate with financial analysts, economic experts, and grief counselors to calculate the monetary value of every last one of your losses. While no amount of money can soothe the pain of a loved one's premature death, we’ll strive to secure the financial stability your family needs to move forward.

Time Limits for Filing a Wrongful Death Claim

New York imposes strict deadlines on wrongful death lawsuits. Generally, the personal representative must file within two years of the death date. However, certain circumstances can modify this timeline. Specifically:

• Medical malpractice cases may have shorter deadlines.
• Claims against government entities require notice to be sent within 90 days.
• Murder charges may extend the filing period.
• The discovery of new evidence might affect the standard deadline.

Missing these cut-offs may make recovery impossible, regardless of your case’s merit. Consulting a qualified New York wrongful death lawyer early on will help preserve your family's rights and ensure the proper timing of all legal actions.

How Sakkas, Cahn & Weiss, LLP, Will Fight for Your Family's Rights

Wrongful death claims require a distinct approach that differs from standard injury cases. Our wrongful death attorneys have developed proven strategies to document and substantiate the full impact of our clients’ losses, going far beyond immediate expenses.

We can assist you by:

• Partnering with grief counselors to document the emotional impact on surviving relatives.
• Creating detailed economic models showing lifetime household contributions.
• Putting together compelling digital presentations of family roles and relationships.
• Gathering and preserving evidence of family dynamics and interactions.
• Noting educational and parenting impacts on younger family members.

Our goal is to demonstrate your loved one’s irreplaceable value to your family. Through meticulous documentation and compelling presentation, we can help juries and insurance adjusters understand the true magnitude of your loss.