The death of a loved one can leave family members with a number of difficult and emotionally challenging issues to deal with. Besides the emotional trauma, they must also cope with financial burdens such as funeral expenses, medical bills and lost income. If a death was caused by someone else’s negligence, a wrongful death lawyer can help the family recover damages from the responsible party.
A wrongful death lawsuit is filed by the deceased person’s estate or personal representative. It’s important to hire an experienced attorney, especially when the death was due to someone else’s actions or inaction. A wrongful death claim can be complex, and there are many different elements that must be proved to establish liability.
For example, a physician can be held liable for failing to diagnose and treat cancer that ultimately resulted in the patient’s death. But the physician would not be liable for murder because his or her actions were not criminal. In a civil trial, the burden of proof is lower than in a criminal trial, which is why hiring a wrongful death attorney from a reputable law firm is essential.
Wrongful death lawsuits are filed in civil court, but the procedures differ from conventional personal injury cases. For starters, only certain people are eligible to file a wrongful death lawsuit, such as the victim’s next of kin or putative spouse. A wrongful death lawyer can explain the laws in your area and help you determine whether or not you are eligible to file a claim.
The main goal of a wrongful death lawsuit is to ensure that the survivors of the victim are compensated for their losses. The monetary compensation recovered in these cases is meant to ease the unavoidable financial burdens that occur after a tragic loss. For instance, a wrongful death case could award damages to cover funeral costs and medical expenses. In addition, the victim’s distributees may be able to recover lost income and the loss of companionship.
While no amount of money can replace a loved one, a successful wrongful death claim can provide the victims’ families with financial stability and security in the future. An experienced wrongful death attorney can help the grieving families navigate the legal process and reach a favorable settlement.
The lawyers of Block O’Toole & Murphy have extensive experience handling wrongful death claims and have obtained numerous multimillion-dollar settlements for their clients. If a loved one was killed by someone else’s negligent or reckless actions, call us at (212) 779-8808 for a free consultation. We handle wrongful death claims in New York City and throughout the country. We offer a free, no-obligation consultation and a contingency fee policy. If we don’t win your case, we don’t get paid. So don’t wait to file a wrongful death claim; contact our wrongful death attorneys today.