Content reviewed by:
Alex Shulman
Corporations, doctors, property owners, and negligent drivers can be held liable when someone else’s death is their fault. If you lost a loved one due to someone else’s carelessness or negligence, New York law allows you to sue for medical expenses, funeral costs, lost income, and other losses. A skillful New York City wrongful death lawyer can fight to hold the at-fault party accountable on your behalf.
At Shulman & Hill, we advocate daily for New Yorkers when they need us most, and we’re ready to fight for your family during this challenging time. Our team will work tirelessly to prove negligence and serve as your champion in settlement negotiations and court.
Why Choose Shulman & Hill?
We know you have enough to deal with after a loved one’s untimely death. Allow us to shoulder the burden of seeking compensation on your family’s behalf. When you turn to us, we’ll handle the legal details while you focus on grieving and moving forward.
We have extensive experience helping people who have been hurt due to others’ negligence. This is especially true when representing grieving families. Our client-first approach means we’ll take the time to truly understand who your loved one was and how their death has affected you. We’ll support you through every step of the legal process with compassion and transparency.
We treat our clients like family, and every case is personal. We thrive on taking on the most challenging, complex cases for New Yorkers who need us the most. We have office locations throughout the city, including our Manhattan headquarters.
Our Reputation of Success
The American Academy of Attorneys, the American Institute of Legal Counsel, and Attorney and Practice Magazines have recognized our award-winning attorneys. Partner Alex Shulman has been included in the New York Super Lawyers list since 2007, an honor reserved for only five percent of attorneys in each state. He is also on The National Trial Lawyers Association’s Top 40 Under 40 Trial Lawyers list, based on a highly selective and rigorous vetting process of lawyers nationwide.
We understand how important getting fair compensation is for your family’s financial stability and sense of closure. That’s why we strive to get the best possible results in every case. We’ve helped our clients secure over $700 million in verdicts and settlements. Our groundbreaking case results include $2.5 million for a worker injured on a construction site and $1.6 million for a bus driver who injured both knees and her shoulder after slipping on ice in a parking lot.
When I first walked in everyone was so welcoming. Esther and Omar were amazing to me and got me through my case effortlessly!
– Jaylyn S.
To Michael, Amina, Yvette, and Dariely. From beginning to end you guys have Been AMAZING. Great communication and guidance throughout this process! Kept me up to date and in the know! Quick with responses and I was never confused or lost. Thank you all so much!! I was truly in good hands
– Tyqueza M.
Shoutout to my lawyers Omar and Esther !! They did such a great job with my settlement & the process was great. Lovely people who care and prioritize you first! I recommend this firm to all!
– Darrius V.
What Is Wrongful Death in New York?
New York law defines a wrongful death as occurring through a wrongful act, neglect, or default by the defendant. The law covers incidents in which the decedent could have sued under personal injury law had they survived.
To succeed in a wrongful death claim, your attorney must normally show that the defendant owed a duty of care to your loved one, breached that duty, and that the breach caused death and damages.
Our firm’s accomplished New York City personal injury attorneys have extensive experience collecting evidence and proving the negligence of corporations, doctors, drivers, property owners, and other parties.
Common Causes of Wrongful Death in New York City
There are many scenarios in which someone’s negligence could lead to death. We’re here for your family if your loved one died in any of the following incidents:
- Traffic accidents: We represent families of people killed in car accidents, pedestrian accidents, motorcycle accidents, and truck accidents. Fatal motor vehicle accidents often result from reckless driving behaviors.
- Workplace accidents: We help families of workers who died in construction accidents, building collapses, and other on-the-job accidents. These cases often involve failure to follow New York workplace safety laws. Our attorneys can pursue a workers’ compensation claim and possibly sue a liable third party.
- Premises liability accidents: When property owners fail to keep their premises safe, visitors can suffer fatal injuries. If your loved one died on someone else’s property, we can help your family pursue a claim against the negligent property owner or manager.
- Animal attacks: Dog bites can be fatal. The dog’s owner or handler may be liable for your loved one’s death if they failed to properly control or leash their pet.
These are just a few of the types of wrongful death cases we handle. If your loved one died due to someone else’s actions, you can trust our experienced New York City wrongful death lawyers to determine what caused their death and hold the responsible party accountable.
What You Can Expect From Our Wrongful Death Attorneys in New York City
You must prove your case by a preponderance of the evidence to be successful in a wrongful death claim in New York. Our wrongful death attorney in New York City can help you by:
- Investigating the circumstances of your loved one’s death – This could include accident reconstruction, expert testimony, gathering records from a health care facility you believe neglected your loved one, or the collection of any other evidence that shows the defendant caused the harm that led to death.
- Determining liability – We will also determine the correct party to sue. In some cases, we may identify more than one defendant.
- Calculating damages – Our attorneys will thoroughly investigate the circumstances of your case to determine the full and fair compensation you may be entitled to.
- Filing your initial claim or lawsuit – Your wrongful death case may start with a claim filed with the defendant’s insurer, who may or may not offer a fair settlement. We will negotiate vigorously on your behalf, but it is ultimately up to you to accept an offer. If a fair settlement cannot be achieved, we will fight vigorously on your behalf in court.
Coping with the loss of a loved one is painful. The attorneys at Shulman & Hill will guide you through the legal system with sensitivity and compassion. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.
Why choose Shulman & Hill? It’s because it’s a family here. We’ll take care of you for any legal matter, whether we handle it in-house or work hand-in-hand with another firm. We provide extra assistance to every single client – you have a paralegal assigned to your case. You are not just a number, but part of the Shulman & Hill family.
JJ Hill,
Founding Partner
Who Can Sue for Wrongful Death in New York?
In New York, only the personal representative of the decedent’s estate has legal authority to file a wrongful death lawsuit. The proceeds can then be distributed to surviving family members. The personal representative can be appointed in a will or, in the absence of a will, by a court.
Compensation Available to Surviving Family Members
Our compassionate legal team understands what you and your family are going through, and we want to help. We also understand that no amount of money can make up for the loss of a loved one. However, compensation through a wrongful death lawsuit can provide a measure of justice and accountability.
We can help you secure wrongful death compensation for losses, such as:
- Funeral and burial costs
- Costs of pre-death medical care
- Loss of services
- Loss of inheritance
- Pain and suffering your loved one endured before their death
Many other states allow family members to recover damages for loss of companionship, grief, and other non-economic damages they’ve suffered. Unfortunately, New York is one of just a few states that typically prohibit family members of wrongful death victims from recovering compensation for their own emotional suffering. However, surviving children may have a claim for loss of parental nurture, care and moral, intellectual and physical guidance.
New York’s comparative negligence law may limit your compensation in certain circumstances. If your loved one’s actions contributed partially to the accident that caused their death, your compensation may be reduced by their degree of fault. Our acclaimed Manhattan wrongful death lawyers will work diligently to minimize the amount of fault assigned to your loved one.
What Is the Statute of Limitations for a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in New York?
In most cases, you have two years to file a wrongful death claim in New York. If the wrongful death resulted from medical malpractice, you have two years and six months to file suit.
There are some exceptions to the wrongful death statute of limitations in New York. However, it is best to consult with an attorney before relying on them, just in case they do not apply to your case. Failure to file before the correct deadline nearly always results in your case being dismissed in court.
