If you lost a loved one due to another party’s negligence, a wrongful death lawyer in Long Beach could help you recover compensation. Your compensable damages can include your loved one’s funeral expenses and medical bills.
We offer our help on contingency. Getting paid our attorney’s fees is contingent on your case’s success. If we cannot recover your damages, you do not pay us for certain services.
Situations Our Team Handles
We understand that there are many instances in which you could have lost a loved one. Some of our wrongful death practice areas include:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Premises liability incidents
- Medical malpractice cases
- Workplace accidents
Your loved one may have also suffered a traumatic brain injury before their passing. If so, we handle these instances, as well.
How Long You Have to File Your Wrongful Death Case
According to EPT §5-4.1, you generally have two years from the date of your loved one’s passing to file your wrongful death lawsuit. Some exceptions could extend this time frame. However, if you do not act within two years, you could lose the right to pursue compensation.
That means:
- You would have to pay for your losses on your own.
- You would not be able to file your wrongful death lawsuit.
- The at-fault party would not be held accountable for your loved one’s passing.
We encourage you to consider how a Long Beach lawyer on our team can help you recoup your wrongful death losses.
Recoverable Damages in a Wrongful Death Case
Depending on the circumstances of your loved one’s passing, you could be eligible to recover the following losses, per the American Bar Association (ABA):
Your Loved One’s Healthcare Expenses
If your loved one required medical care before they passed away, we can account for the following healthcare expenses in your claim:
- Life support
- Recusation
- Their feeding tube
- Hospitalization
- Surgery
- Medications
- Hospice
Your Loved One’s Funeral
We do not want you to cut corners when it comes time to lay your loved one to rest. You deserve to celebrate their life to the best of their wishes. The following funeral-related expenses are compensable:
- Embalming
- The casket
- Cremation
- The memorial service
- The burial plot
- Their urn or headstone
Lost Wages
If your loved one financially supported their household, we can use information from their employer to determine the value of their lost income.
Loss of Consortium
If you lost your spouse, you could recover compensation for losing their affection, society, and companionship.
These are just some of the damages that you could recover through a wrongful death claim or lawsuit. Your wrongful death lawyer in Long Beach can determine the value of these losses and determine a plan of action to recover them.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Case in New York?
Only a personal representative of the decedent can file a wrongful death case in New York. This is someone who is designated to take care of the decedent’s affairs after they pass away. They could have been named in the decedent’s will or appointed by a court.
A family member can file a wrongful death case, but only if they are the designated personal representative. Our law firm can determine whether you are eligible to take action on behalf of your late loved one.
Commonly Asked Questions in Wrongful Death Cases
If this is your first time taking legal action, you may have many questions about the claims process. When you partner with the Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP, your lawyer serving Long Beach will answer your questions within 24 hours if you cannot reach them right away.
One of our founding partners, Richard Jaffe, gives his clients his personal cell phone number for easy access. As you consider what our firm can do for you, here are some questions that we want to pre-emptively address:
How Long Will It Take to Settle Your Wrongful Death Case?
If the liable insurance carrier accepts your claim and agrees to compensate you fairly, your case could be over in a matter of weeks. This is an ideal outcome.
However, not all insurance companies are so forthcoming. We may have to go back and forth with them for months before we reach an amicable settlement.
What Happens if the Insurance Company Denies Your Claim?
The Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP has more than 100 years of combined legal experience. We are no strangers to litigation.
If we need to file a lawsuit to recoup your losses, then we can:
- Manage your case’s paperwork
- Call on witnesses and consultants to testify on your behalf
- Present the cost of your losses and the cause of your loved one’s passing
- Show evidence
- Handle all communications
While your case moves forward in court, we will continue negotiating with the insurer. If they offer a settlement while your case unravels in court, we could resolve your case through that avenue.
What Should You Avoid While Your Case Progresses?
Certain things you do and say could impact the outcome of your case. It is best to keep the details of your case between yourself and your lawyer.
With that in mind, you should avoid:
- Confronting the at-fault party
- Posting about the case to social media
- Giving the insurance company a recorded statement
- Writing whatever you want about the accident without regard to who might read it
You do not want to allow the other party to discredit certain aspects of your case.
Get Started with a Free Case Review from One of Our Skilled Attorneys
Do you still have questions about working with your wrongful death lawyer? If so, reach out to the Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP today at (516) 358-6900. We can answer your questions and address your concerns as soon as you connect with our team.
For a free legal consultation with a wrongful death lawyer serving Long Beach, call 516-358-6900
The information provided on this website does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials available on this site are for general informational purposes only. Information on this website may not constitute the most up-to-date legal or other information and may not be applicable in your jurisdiction.
