Queens Wrongful Death Lawyer
A loved one’s loss is devastating, especially when someone else’s negligence has caused it. While no amount of money can bring back your family member, financial reimbursement can help ease your family’s economic burden by covering the cost of medical bills, lost wages, and funeral expenses.
If you lost a loved one from someone else’s negligent or reckless actions, you may be able to hold the at-fault party accountable and recover compensation for your losses by filing a wrongful death lawsuit. At Lever & Ecker, our Queens wrongful death lawyers are highly experienced and have recovered millions of dollars in settlements for grieving families. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.
Key Takeaways
- Families in Queens who have lost a loved one due to negligence may be eligible for financial compensation through a civil lawsuit.
- Wrongful death claims can help recover medical expenses, funeral costs, and potentially punitive damages.
- We offer free consultations. Call our Queens office today at (347) 391-6337.
Table of Contents
- Why Hire Lever & Ecker to Represent Your Loved One After an Unexpected Death?
- What Are Some Common Causes of Wrongful Death in Queens?
- How Is Liability Determined in a Wrongful Death Case?
- Who Can File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Queens?
- What Damages Can You Recover in a Queens Wrongful Death Lawsuit?
- How Long Do Queens Residents Have to File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit?
- How Can Lever & Ecker Help After a Wrongful Death in Queens?
- Contact Lever & Ecker’s Queens Wrongful Death Attorneys Today
Why Hire Lever & Ecker to Represent Your Loved One After an Unexpected Death?
Lever & Ecker, PLLC, has worked for years to recover justice and reimbursement for grieving New York families whose loved ones have died from accidents caused by others. Our Queens personal injury lawyers take a hands-on approach to clients, guiding them through the entire legal process with empathy and skill. We treat every case as the most important thing in our office, and our clients can expect top-tier legal representation with an open line of communication.
At Lever & Ecker, we are not just looking for quick settlements. As a firm, we are motivated by helping people and making a genuine difference in their lives, especially after they have experienced a loved one’s tragic loss. We treat our clients like family, not numbers.
Wrongful Death Cases We’ve Settled
With a 99 percent case success rate, Lever & Ecker has successfully handled countless wrongful death cases in Queens and across New York. We have recovered numerous multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts for clients who lost a family member, including:
What Are Some Common Causes of Wrongful Death in Queens?
Wrongful deaths are all too common in Queens and throughout New York and can be caused by several kinds of accidents, including the following handled by our attorneys:
- Car Accidents
- Truck Accidents
- Motorcycle Accidents
- Pedestrian Accidents
- Medical Malpractice
- Construction Accidents
- Workplace Accidents
- Defective Products
How Is Liability Determined in a Wrongful Death Case?
When determining liability in a wrongful death case, the plaintiff must prove four key elements. They must establish that the defendant owed a duty of care to the deceased, that the defendant breached that duty through a negligent or intentional action, that this action caused the victim’s death, and that the death resulted in tangible financial harm to the victim’s surviving family.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Queens?
Under the Consolidated Laws of New York Chapter 17-B, Section 5-4.1, only the personal representative of a decedent survived by beneficiaries or dependents may take legal action to recover damages for a wrongful death. This personal representative may be the decedent’s spouse, child, parent, or sibling and is typically designated the decedent’s will.
What Damages Can You Recover in a Queens Wrongful Death Lawsuit?
New York law allows the decedent’s family members to recover several types of damages after a wrongful death, including medical, nursing, and funeral expenses, plus interest on damages from the date of the death. Punitive damages also may be available if the at-fault party’s actions were malicious or intentional.
New York is one of just two states nationwide that does not allow families to sue for emotional damages in wrongful death cases. The New York State Assembly and Senate have twice passed the Grieving Families Act, which would allow the families of wrongful death victims to recover compensation for their emotional anguish. However, Governor Kathy Hochul has vetoed the bill both times. The Act also would extend the statute of limitations for wrongful death cases to three and a half years. Governor Hochul may consider the bill again in 2025.
How Long Do Queens Residents Have to File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit?
For most wrongful death lawsuits in Queens, families have two years from their loved one’s death to file suit under New York’s Personal Injury Statute of Limitations. There are some exceptions to this rule. In medical malpractice cases, families have two and a half years to file suit, with some further exceptions for foreign objects left in the body or failure to diagnose an illness.
How Can Lever & Ecker Help After a Wrongful Death in Queens?
Following a loved one’s passing, filing a wrongful death lawsuit and handling the case alone can be extremely overwhelming. With an experienced attorney by your side, much of that weight can be taken off your shoulders, allowing you more time to heal from the loss. At Lever & Ecker, our attorneys can handle the following parts of your lawsuit:
- Gathering and preserving evidence
- Interviewing witnesses
- Consulting with experts
- Determining liability
- Calculating the death’s financial impact on your family
- Handling all conversations with other parties on your behalf
- Negotiating a settlement
- Taking your case to trial if necessary
Contact Lever & Ecker’s Queens Wrongful Death Attorneys Today
With more than 70 years of combined experience, Lever & Ecker’s award-winning New York personal injury lawyers have the skills, knowledge, and compassion to successfully handle your family’s wrongful death claim in Queens. Our approach is simple: We listen to you, guide you, and help you with what needs to be done immediately.
We make home and hospital visits, so if you can’t come to us, we’ll come to you. If your family has lost a loved one from someone else’s negligence, contact Lever & Ecker’s Queens wrongful death attorneys today by calling 347-391-6337.
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