Long Island Wrongful Death Lawyers Serving Suffolk & Nassau Counties

Experienced Wrongful Death Lawyers Serving Nassau & Suffolk Counties for Over 20 Years

Personal injury cases always deal with loss. When a victim suffers an injury because of someone else’s negligence, they deserve compensation. The losses from an accident can be emotional, physical, or financial. Sadly, some injuries are fatal. No loss is comparable to the loss of life. When a family is dealing with the grief of losing a loved one, they are often overwhelmed. Many grieving families also face mounting end-of-life expenses.

If someone you love has been fatally injured in Suffolk or Nassau counties, contact the Matera Law Firm. Our accomplished Long Island wrongful death lawyers will fight hard for your family. When someone’s negligence leads to the loss of life, the victim’s family should be compensated for their loss. Legal representation from an accomplished attorney can help your family to secure the financial recovery that you deserve.

Understanding Wrongful Death Cases

In many respects, a wrongful death case is like other kinds of personal injury claims. The difference is that the injury in question was fatal. Because of this, the person seeking damages is usually one of the victim’s loved ones. Like other personal injury claims, a wrongful death case involves negligence. When someone’s negligent or careless actions cause the death of another person, the family can make a wrongful death claim. Some common scenarios resulting in wrongful deaths include:

• Traffic collisions that involve reckless driving
• Intentional acts of assault that result in death
• Medical malpractice by a healthcare provider
• A faulty product that results in the death of a consumer
• Fatal falling accidents caused by hazardous conditions

No matter what the circumstances of the death may be, the victim’s family deserves compensation. Under New York state law, the family of a wrongful death victim can seek damages from the at-fault party or their insurance provider. Specifically, they can seek damages that the victim would have been entitled to if they had survived. The Long Island wrongful death lawyers at the Matera Law Firm have years of experience in helping families to recover the money that they are due.

How Is Compensation Determined in a Wrongful Death Case?

To win a wrongful death lawsuit, an attorney must build a compelling case on behalf of the victim’s family. Long Island wrongful death lawyers must prove several elements, according to New York state law. An attorney must prove:

Death

The attorney must show that a death occurred.

Cause

The lawyer must prove that the death was the result of the wrongful, negligent, or reckless actions of the defendant.

Compensation

The attorney needs to prove that the defendant would owe the victim compensation if the decedent had survived.

Related Damages

The claimant’s lawyer must prove that the victim was survived by one or more persons. They must also show that the victim’s loved ones are owed compensation. Some wrongful death cases involve more than one liable party. For instance, a wrongful death resulting from medical malpractice may involve a negligent physician. But this type of case might also implicate the hospital or institution that employs the doctor. If you have lost a loved one because of someone’s negligence, do not wait.

New York state law places a two-year statute of limitations on most wrongful death claims. In some cases, there are exceptions to this time limit. An accomplished attorney can help you to discover any exceptions in your case. The accomplished Long Island wrongful death lawyers at the Matera Law Firm will work tirelessly for your family. We have plenty of experience fighting and winning for families who have experienced a wrongful death.

What Types of Compensation Are Available in Wrongful Death Cases?

Very few types of tort cases involve more loss than wrongful death cases. This is not only true because of the emotional trauma of losing a loved one. Wrongful death cases often result in more financial costs than other personal injury claims. Accomplished Long Island wrongful death lawyers will examine the facts of a case to make sure that they can pursue every possible type of recovery. Some of the damages in a wrongful death case are economic. These damages involve a specific monetary loss.

Examples of economic damages in a wrongful death case include:

Medical Bills

Oftentimes, the decedent is admitted to a hospital or other care facility before they pass away. The bills and expenses from medical care can be overwhelming for the victim’s family. Skilled wrongful death lawyers will fight to secure coverage for these costs.

Funeral Expenses

Most funerals cost thousands of dollars. Many families do not have the funds to cover the costs of a funeral. This is especially true when the person’s death was unexpected.

Property Damages

In certain cases, a wrongful death claim may involve property damage. For instance, suppose that the decedent was killed as the result of an injury from a car accident. These damages can be reclaimed in a wrongful death case. In fact, New York state averages more than 1,000 fatal car accidents each year.

Lost Income and Wages

When a family member has died, their occupational income is also lost. In some wrongful death cases, the decedent’s family can be compensated for the victim’s lost earning potential. Not every type of damage involves money. Some of the most difficult losses for the family of a wrongful death victim are non-monetary.

The damages that do not involve a specific monetary amount are called “non-economic” damages. Loss of companionship is one type of non-economic damage. No amount of money can truly compensate for the loss of a loved one. However, the family of a victim deserves financial recovery for the difficulty they face. This type of recovery is intended to compensate for the loss of:

• Love
• Comfort
• Assistance
• Protection
• Guidance
• Care
• Affection
• Companionship

In a wrongful death case, the family of the decedent can seek damages for both economic and non-economic losses. Be sure to contact Long Island wrongful death lawyers if your family has lost a loved one in Nassau or Suffolk Counties.

How Can Our Personal Injury Attorneys Help You?

In any type of tort case, securing legal representation is crucial. A wrongful death attorney will fight hard on behalf of your family. At Matera Law Firm, we have nearly three decades of combined experience fighting for the families of wrongful death victims. A qualified legal representative can help to establish the value of your wrongful death claim. The Long Island wrongful death lawyers at the Matera Law Firm will pursue every possible type of damages that apply to your individual case.

We will examine the facts to determine who holds legal liability. Wrongful death cases can involve more than one at-fault party. Our attorneys can help you to navigate the process of seeking recovery from anyone who is responsible. Most families have very little experience with the legal processes involved in a wrongful death claim.

The lawyers at the Matera Law Firm can help you to navigate the paperwork and deadlines to secure the compensation that you are owed. Lastly, an accomplished attorney will take an aggressive stance in negotiations. Oftentimes, wrongful death cases require negotiations with insurance providers. Skilled legal professionals have the experience to effectively fight for your best interests.

Contact The Matera Law Firm For A Free Consultation

At Matera Law Firm, our trusted wrongful death lawyers boast over 25 years of combined experience. We do not charge any fees unless we win your personal injury case. When you need legal representation in Nassau or Suffolk Counties, contact the very best. Contact the Matera Law Firm today for a free consultation to discuss the facts of your case.