New Jersey Wrongful Death Attorneys
Proudly serving all of New Jersey
Get Legal Help After Losing a Loved One in a Fatal Accident
Losing a loved one in a preventable accident is one of the most difficult experiences a person can endure. Not only do you have to deal with the unfathomable grief that naturally follows such a tragic incident, but you may also be subjected to financial hardship. In the face of such injustice, you may be asking yourself:
- How did this happen?
- Who was responsible?
- How will I get through this?
- Where will I get the money to pay medical and funeral bills?
Wrongful Death Verdicts and Settlements
- $875,000 Settlement – The estate of pedestrian struck and killed by automobile
- $500,000 Settlement – Fatal pedestrian accident
Please note that each case is unique. To learn more about what your case may be worth, please schedule a free consultation with us today. Click here for more verdicts and settlements.
Helping Families After a Fatal Accident in NJ
Please contact the New Jersey personal injury attorneys at Lependorf & Silverstein, P.C., to discuss your potential claim. Do not take on more than you can handle during this vulnerable time. Instead, let our excellent legal staff handle your affairs so you can attend to your family and mourn your loved one’s passing in peace. For a free consultation, call us today at (609) 240-0040.
Helping Families After a Fatal Accident
The compassionate Princeton accident attorneys at Lependorf & Silverstein, P.C. can help your family recover compensation after the wrongful death of your loved one.
Q: WHY SHOULD I CONSIDER FILING A WRONGFUL DEATH LAWSUIT?
A: If you lost a family member due to the wrongdoing of a person, corporation, government agency, or any other entity, that person’s death is legally termed a “wrongful death.” Under New Jersey law, the party or parties found to be partially or entirely at fault for the death owe the surviving family members monetary compensation. Your wrongful death claim can also give you an opportunity to exact justice in the form of financial compensation for less tangible losses such as companionship.
Q: WHO CAN SUE FOR WRONGFUL DEATH IN NEW JERSEY?
A: According to the New Jersey Wrongful Death Act and Survival Statute, surviving family members of the deceased may be able to sue for wrongful death. These family members who can file a wrongful death claim include the following:
- Spouses
- Children
- Siblings
- Parents
If the deceased had no surviving family members, his or her estate may be able to pursue a wrongful death claim.
Q: HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO FILE A WRONGFUL DEATH LAWSUIT?
A: Each state has its own statute of limitations, which is the span of time you have to file your lawsuit. Once that time has elapsed, you are usually unable to sue, even if the facts support a case for a wrongful death claim. In New Jersey, the statute of limitations for filing a wrongful death lawsuit is typically two years from the date of the occurrence or accident that claimed your loved one’s life. However, the specifics of your particular case may affect this limitation, so you should speak to a New Jersey accident attorney immediately to avoid running out of time.
Q: WHAT DAMAGES CAN I SEEK IN A WRONGFUL DEATH LAWSUIT?
A: You may seek compensation or reimbursement for any of the following that apply to your situation:
- Loss of future income
- Loss of future services
- Medical expenses
- Funeral costs
- Loss of consortium
- Pain and suffering of the deceased after injury that caused death
- Punitive damages if death was caused by criminal negligence
Q: WHAT IS MY NJ WRONGFUL DEATH CLAIM WORTH?
A: It’s impossible to answer this question without investigating the details of your wrongful death claim. Any attorney who guarantees or names an amount immediately is making up that number. There are many factors that go into determining the value of your wrongful death claim. This includes:
- If the victim was an income earner
- If the victim supported family members
- The cost of the victim’s medical treatments before death
- The victim’s pain and suffering
- The responsible party’s level of negligence
Common Causes of Wrongful Deaths
Wrongful deaths can happen in a number of different ways. While each situation is unique and tragic for friends and loved ones, certain causes are more common than others. These include:
- Car accidents: These claim thousands of lives a year. The impact from a vehicle can do serious harm to anyone outside of it, while passengers in a car can strike the interior, be thrown from the vehicle, or suffer brain and spine injuries from the force of the impact.
- Motorcycle accidents: While motorcycles are statistically involved in fewer accidents than cars, their fatality rate is much higher. Since motorcycle riders do not have the protection of a vehicle around them, any collision can prove deadly.
- Truck accidents: While the driver and passenger in a large commercial truck may have protection, the size and weight of the truck makes it lethal to others outside. Accidents involving trucks and motorcycles, pedestrians, or bicyclists are often deadly.
- Workplace accidents: Construction workers have the highest risk of serious injury and death while on the job, though workers in refineries and similar industries are also at risk. Even “safe” workplaces have the potential for dangerous accidents, such as a slip-and-fall that proves fatal.
- Criminal acts: A fatality that occurs during the commission of a crime, either as the goal of that crime or as an unintentional result of it, can be considered a wrongful death. As such, a civil claim against the perpetrator can be filed in addition to any criminal charges against him or her.
Seeking Justice After a Wrongful Death in New Jersey
No matter how black and white a case may seem, it is still necessary to prove the other party’s legal responsibility, or liability, which may take a significant amount of time. All of the proper evidence must be gathered and presented in an efficient manner. For example, witness testimony, medical records, and accident reconstruction reports will take time to acquire and organize. However, with an experienced New Jersey wrongful death lawyer working on your case, you and your family can focus on healing while your best interests are protected.
Every Case Matters
At Lependorf & Silverstein, P.C. we’ve seen firsthand how the lives of our clients can improve after a strongly built case brings them justice. As Princeton wrongful death lawyers, we put our legal experience and resources to use in every case so that negligent parties are held responsible for the life that they took.
Call (609) 240-0040 and learn about the benefits of hiring an experienced wrongful death lawyer today. We can help you understand the legalities surrounding your specific situation and can begin working on your case right away. Take the first step and contact our firm.
Additional Information
The firm’s principals, Gabriel R. Lependorf and David E. Silverstein, have each been representing injured victims in the State of New Jersey for over thirty years.
Call Our Office At (609) 240-0040 Today for Help
