We all know that losing a loved one is painful. When the unexpected loss of a loved one is due to the negligence of another, it can be even more difficult. A wrongful death can be the result of an accidental injury, such as:
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Workplace accidents
- Construction site accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Medical malpractice
Patrick and his staff have successfully handled numerous wrongful death claims in a variety of factual circumstances.
It is extremely difficult to put a monetary value on an individual’s life. The purpose of filing a wrongful death claim is to compensate surviving family members for damages such as the loss of emotional or financial support.
A wrongful death claim is brought by a family member who can prove that the death of their loved one caused them to suffer financial losses. The family member brings the lawsuit as a representative of the survivors of the decedent, asserting that the negligent party was responsible for the decedent’s death. The lawsuit will seek monetary damages from the responsible party for the actual financial losses the survivors have suffered, and will suffer in the future, as a result of the decedent’s death. Financial loss includes not only the actual monies the decedent would have earned and contributed for the benefit of the survivors, but also the reasonable value of the services, assistance, care, training, guidance, advice, counsel and companionship the survivors would have received from the decedent had he/she lived.
In some cases, before the decedent died, he or she may have suffered physical and/or psychological pain due to someone else’s negligence. The New Jersey Survivor Act allows a legal claim for that pain and suffering. N.J.S.A. 2A:15-3.
If you or someone you know has lost a loved one due to another’s negligence, you may be able to bring a claim on the decedent’s behalf and recover damages for that pain and trauma.
Contact the Firm today for a free consultation.