No experience can match the trauma of losing a loved one – especially when that death is unexpected, premature and wrongful. In addition to the emotional hardship, the victim’s family may face a loss of income, which can lead to overwhelming debt. Fortunately, an accident attorney may be able to help relieve some of the financial burden via a wrongful death lawsuit, according to the Legal Information Institute.
A New York City personal-injury lawyer from Antin, Ehrlich & Epstein, LLP can evaluate your case and determine if you have valid grounds for a claim. You may be entitled to several types of damages, including funeral expenses, medical costs, lost income and medical bills.
Our lawyers have more than 75 years of combined experience negotiating settlements and litigating personal-injury claims in New York. Call us today at 917-730-7151 to schedule a consultation.
Until then, here are seven types of damages that may be available in wrongful death cases:
- Funeral Expenses
Funerals can be exorbitantly expensive. A successful wrongful death lawsuit may help you recover this loss.
- Medical Expenses
If your loved one required medical attention for the injury that caused his or her death, the bill is likely staggering. You can include health-care expenses in your wrongful death claim.
- Lost Wages
If the deceased was employed before his or her death, then you can claim the income he or she would have earned from the day the injury occurred until the time he or she died. You may also be able to claim for loss of future earning capacity.
- Loss of Consortium
If your loved one was a spouse, sibling, child or parent, the disappearance of their physical presence, emotional support and guidance can have lifelong consequences. Your claim can cover these damages.
- Loss of Inheritance
If you lost one or both parents, then you can claim compensation for any inheritance that they would have left you had they survived. You can also claim these damages on behalf of your kids in certain cases.
- Pain and Suffering
If your loved one suffered tremendously prior to death, both physically and emotionally, then you can claim compensation for the ordeal. However, New York law does not allow you to claim for your own emotional suffering, despite the trauma of your loss.
- Interest
If a court or an insurance company awards you financial compensation, then you may be eligible to add interest of up to 9 percent onto it. Calculating interest begins at the time of your loved one’s death and ends at the date of receiving your settlement or judgment.
If you are suffering the overwhelming grief of losing a loved one, then a personal-injury lawyer can explain the types of damages that may apply to your case. There is no need to compound your sadness with the added stress of financial worry. Call Antin, Ehrlich & Epstein, LLP at 917-730-7151 to discuss your legal options.