When a family member dies as a result of another party’s negligence the first step the family of the loved one should take is to speak to a wrongful death attorney.

An attorney with knowledge and experience with personal injury cases and specifically wrongful death claims can help a loved one get the compensation they are entitled to. The only issue is making certain that the case is handled in a timely manner due to New York statute of limitations on when a wrongful death lawsuit can be filed.

A good wrongful death attorney will inform the family member of their rights as well as their legal options. Every case is different and there may be complex contributing factors that affect how much compensation at loved one may be able to obtain.

The main damages of a wrongful death case may cover:

• Funeral and burial expenses
• Medical bills of the deceased
• Loss of the loved one’s income
• Loss of companionship, love, parenting or care
• The deceased’s pre-death pain and suffering
• Loss of inheritance

Who can file a wrongful death claim?

Typically the representative of the estate files the claim, but a spouse, a parent, and sometime a child, depending on the state, can also file a claim.