Brooklyn Wrongful Death Lawyer
Nothing is more difficult than losing a family member to someone else’s recklessness. Get the settlement your family needs to secure its future with help from a Brooklyn wrongful death lawyer.
Accidents occur in the United States every day, and many of them have heartbreaking consequences for victims as well as their friends and family. Although many accident victims go on to enjoy a full or partial recovery, in some cases, accidents can be fatal. If someone else is directly responsible for what happened in a case like this, then a wrongful death has occurred.
Any accident or injury that is fatal and that can be tied directly to another person’s actions can be defined as a wrongful death. Although financial reparations can never truly bring back a loved one who has passed away, a Brooklyn wrongful death lawyer from Greenstein & Milbauer, LLP can help you seek compensation that could allow you and your family to maintain the life you’ve built as much as possible.
Understanding Wrongful Death
Wrongful deaths occur for multiple reasons, the most common of which are accidents such as car crashes. However, a wrongful death can occur in many other scenarios, including the following:
- Intentional murder
- Medical malpractice
- Manslaughter
- Truck and motorcycle accidents
- Workplace and construction accidents
For example, if a driver is drinking and driving and kills another driver via an auto wreck, this may be considered a wrongful death because the negligent driver chose to drink and drive. Likewise, if a nurse gives the wrong medication to a patient in the hospital and causes a fatal reaction, the nurse or the hospital may be judged to be at fault.
Wrongful death cases are extremely complex and can be challenging to receive an adequate settlement for. Because these types of cases often involve filing a lawsuit against another person, business, or government agency, it’s crucial that you have an experienced Brooklyn wrongful death lawyer on your side to help.
Wrongful Death Vs. Manslaughter or Murder
Although wrongful death, manslaughter, and capital murder all describe the death of an individual as a direct result of another party’s action or inaction, the three labels are not synonymous. Both manslaughter and capital murder are terms of criminal law, while wrongful death is a term of civil tort law.
Whether or not the courts successfully charge or fine an individual for manslaughter or murder does not necessarily predict whether your wrongful death case will succeed—although your Brooklyn wrongful death lawyer can certainly present any successful convictions as evidence of intent or fault. The bottom line is that no matter how simple the case may seem to be, wrongful death matters can be complicated, especially if you attempt to manage your case alone.
Who Can Sue for Wrongful Death in New York?
According to New York state law, only specific people related to the victim can sue for wrongful death. Unlike other states that allow family members, siblings, and spouses to sue for wrongful death, it’s a bit different in New York.
In general, you must be the personal representative of the deceased’s estate, and not just related to the decedent. In a way, the state assumes that this individual will also act as the family’s representative and seek damages on behalf of the heirs and family members.
New York Wrongful Death Compensation
Seeking compensation for a wrongful death is different from seeking compensation for losses in other types of accidents. In wrongful death cases, you have to prove that there is a loss as a direct result of the person’s death.
Some of the types of compensation you can seek in your wrongful death case include the following:
- Funeral expenses
- Medical expenses related to the decedent’s illness or final injury
- Wages or benefits lost because of the death
- Pain and suffering
There are also many other types of damages you might be able to seek. Your Brooklyn wrongful death lawyer will work closely with you to ensure that all damages your case could be eligible for are included in your final settlement.
Work with a Brooklyn Wrongful Death Lawyer
Wrongful death cases are some of the most difficult cases to pursue simply because you also have to deal with losing someone you loved. Because we understand that this is a difficult time for you and your family, the attorneys at Greenstein & Milbauer, LLP are ready to help you get justice on your loved one’s behalf while you focus on dealing with your grief.
If you have lost someone because of another person’s negligence, you and your family members could be entitled to compensation. Call our office immediately at 1-800-VICTIM2 (842-8462) or complete the form below to get started by arranging a time to meet with a Brooklyn wrongful death lawyer for a free, no-obligation consultation.