Wrongful Death Lawyers in the Bronx Help Families Get Justice

New York law firm pursues compensation for the loss of your loved one

Every day in New York City, people are gravely injured in accidents of all kinds. When a crash, a fall or a construction injury is fatal, the victim’s family has a right to seek justice. At the law firm of James Newman, P.C., we help families in the Bronx hold negligent people or companies responsible for the accidents that caused the death of their loved one. Our attorneys have represented New York families in wrongful death cases for more than 35 years, to recover damages for losses that may seem incalculable but deserve justice.

Establishing wrongful death under the law

When someone is injured because of another person’s actions or negligence, that person is entitled to bring a personal injury lawsuit. When a victim dies from his injuries, the right to sue passes to the victim’s estate in the form of a wrongful death claim. In a wrongful death suit, our attorneys help families prove that the defendant owed your loved one a duty of care, that the responsible party breached this duty, and that this breach was the cause of your loved one’s fatal injuries.

How does a wrongful death claim work?

When a family in the Bronx suffers the preventable loss of a loved one, they have two years to file a wrongful death claim. This claim must be filed by the personal representative of the estate. The representative may be a family member, but he or she must be appointed by a court. While the law allows only this representative to bring a claim, any damages that are awarded will be split among family members.

Damages recoverable in claims for wrongful death

Our attorneys work to maximize your family’s recovery and to hold the negligent party or parties accountable for the loss of your loved one. We pursue damages for:

• Medical costs. If negligence is proven, your family is entitled to any reasonable medical costs incurred between the time of the accident and the time of your loved one’s death.
• Funeral expenses. In many cases, it is possible to recover reasonable funeral and burial expenses.
• Lost wages. A jury can award compensation for any wages lost in the time between the victim’s injury and death as well as any wages that the deceased would have been expected to earn and contribute to his family in the future.
• Conscious pain and suffering. If your loved one suffered pain before passing away, we work to get him or her justice. Courts may award damages for pain and suffering if it can be proved that the victim consciously experienced pain.

It is important to understand that you cannot recover for your own anguish in a wrongful death lawsuit. While damages are sometimes awarded for the value of a lost parent’s guidance and care, family members are not allowed to receive compensation for their own sadness and pain. Our Bronx personal injury attorneys seek to maximize damage awards in all wrongful death cases.

Trust our compassionate New York attorneys to help your family get justice

Losing a loved one due to a preventable accident is tragic and unfair. At the law firm of James Newman, P.C., our experienced attorneys work hard to get families the justice they deserve through wrongful death claims. To schedule a free consultation with a caring and motivated attorney, call our Bronx office at 718-823-3122 or contact us online.