When someone suffers an unexpected death, it’s the loved ones left behind who suffer the brunt of the loss. Oftentimes, a wrongful death results in thousands of dollars in medical expenses and significant emotional trauma for those left behind. No one should have to scramble to get their basic needs paid for while mourning the death of a tragic, sudden loss. That’s why it’s important to seek compensation through a wrongful death lawsuit, especially if your loved one died due to someone else’s negligence. New York wrongful death lawyers are ready to fight for you and your loved one’s justice. Call Bailey, Johnson & Peck at 518-456-0082 to schedule a free consultation.
Wrongful death is basically an unexpected death that occurs due to a tragic accident caused by someone else’s negligence. A surviving family member has the right to file a wrongful death case on behalf of the deceased person in order to recover financial compensation for their loved one’s death. Many people think of a wrongful death suit as the same as a personal injury suit. The main difference is that the victim did not survive their injuries.
A wide variety of accidents can result in wrongful death. Listed below are the most common types of wrongful death cases that our legal team handles on a regular basis.
Doctors, nurses, and surgeons are human just like the rest of us. That means they are bound to make mistakes. Occasionally, these mistakes may be severe enough to cause accidental death. For example, maybe a doctor misdiagnosed their patient and therefore gave them the wrong medication and performed the wrong surgery on them. Medical negligence situations like this could easily result in a personal injury or wrongful death.
Tragically, wrongful death occurs in the average American workplace as well. The most dangerous types of jobs that cause thousands of injuries and deaths every year are:
Basically, positions that require employees to work on tall structures and handle heavy machinery, sharp objects, or weapons are prone to fatal accidents.
Modern technology has come a long way. Even though all cars and trucks have extensive, life-saving safety features, thousands of Americans still die behind the wheel every day. According to a 2022 report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), almost 43,000 Americans died in a car accident or truck accident in 2021. The NHTSA claims that this is the most motor vehicle deaths that have occurred in a single year since 2005.
Unfortunately, many fatal car accidents are caused by someone else’s negligence or carelessness. Common examples of negligent acts on the roads that can lead to wrongful death include drunk driving, texting and driving, failing to stop at a red light, tailgating, falling asleep at the wheel, etc.
Pedestrian accidents are also common causes of wrongful death. This type of fatal accident occurs when a pedestrian gets hit by a car, bus, truck, etc. while walking down the street. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), approximately 6,500 Americans died from walking down the street in 2020.
When you think of defective products, think of the types of mass recalls that you may see on the news. Recalls of various products happen all the time in order to protect Americans from the potential dangers of defective products. Unfortunately, thousands of Americans still suffer injuries, illnesses, and wrongful death from faulty products all the time.
The most common types of defective products on the market are:
Premises liability issues – such as dog attacks, slip and falls, amusement park accidents, swimming pool accidents, etc. – can also lead to a wrongful death suit. Basically, premises liability suits arise when a person suffers an injury or death on someone else’s property. Sometimes, these injuries or deaths are caused by the property owner’s negligence. Premises liability-related injuries can be incredibly deadly, especially when the victim suffers severe nervous system damage.
The people who can file a wrongful death action on behalf of their deceased loved one are generally the ones who suffer the most hardship from the death. Wrongful death attorneys call these family members the “real parties in interest,” which can vary across the nation. Common examples of real parties in interest who can file wrongful death lawsuits include:
Basically, anyone who commits a wrongful act that leads to the death of another person can be held liable in a wrongful death claim. Potentially liable parties include:
A wrongful death claim can be incredibly complex because it’s sometimes difficult to reconstruct the fatal accident and determine the at-fault party. In some wrongful death claims, an investigation reveals that the deceased person also shared a percentage of fault in their death.
That’s why it’s important to hire a New York wrongful death lawyer from Bailey, Johnson & Peck. We hire the best accident reconstructionists and medical experts in the Albany area to help us conduct a thorough investigation of your loved one’s fatal accident. When you hire us, you can rest assured that we will seek significant compensation on behalf of your family and deceased loved one.
Similar to many personal injury cases, wrongful death claims are often based on the legal theory of negligence. The best way to prove that wrongful death occurred is to prove the four elements of negligence listed below.
When you file a wrongful death claim on behalf of your loved one, you could win the following damages.
Because every single wrongful death lawsuit is different, every single wrongful death settlement is different. Generally, the value of a wrongful death case is dependent on the number of damages the surviving family members suffer. So if a loved one’s death results in considerable financial difficulties for the family, their case will likely be worth more. But most wrongful death settlements range from $500,000 to $1 million. A New York wrongful death attorney at Bailey, Johnson & Peck can help you determine how much your wrongful death claim is worth.
In New York, a surviving spouse or other family member has two years from the date of their loved one’s death to file a wrongful death lawsuit. With these types of cases, it’s best to act fast so that the evidence remains fresh during the investigation and litigation. Make sure to pursue legal counsel from our experienced wrongful death attorneys as soon as possible.
Our attorneys have extensive experience in personal injury law, including car accidents, slip-and-fall accidents, catastrophic injuries and wrongful death. If you have questions about insurance coverage and how to get the financial compensation you need, contact us today to see how we can help.
We have represented many clients on both sides of personal injury and insurance disputes. Let us use our depth of knowledge and experience to help you and your family get the medical care and financial compensation you need and deserve.
