When you lose a loved one in a tragic accident, the grief and pain leave you devastated. The profound loss can feel even more overwhelming with the knowledge that another person’s recklessness, negligence, or carelessness caused the accident. Coping with the wrongful death of a loved one may lead to panic attacks, depression, inability to sleep, and more. Plus, the emotional, physical and financial strain of losing that person can take its toll on everyone else in the family.
When a family member dies due to another party’s negligence, such as in a motor vehicle accident, a workplace accident, or due to medical malpractice, you have the right to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the at-fault party.
The New Jersey wrongful death lawyers of Reinartz Law Firm are dedicated to advocating for victims and their families and fighting for compensation for them. We have secured many notable settlements for victims and their families.
If you lost a loved one due to another party’s actions, contact us today to speak with a qualified New Jersey wrongful death lawyer for a free legal consultation.
Why Choose Our Wrongful Death Law Firm
After losing a loved one in a wrongful death accident, navigating the legal process may seem harrowing, but a qualified wrongful death attorney will handle the legal process and insurance companies for you.
At Reinartz Law Firm, our Hackensack, New Jersey personal injury lawyers have ample experience representing injured individuals and those who lost loved ones due to someone else’s negligence. We have have recovered millions of dollars in compensation for victims and their families. Regardless of your circumstance, we understand the emotional and financial impact a wrongful death can have on families..
How Much Is My Wrongful Death Claim Worth?
Compensation recovered in a wrongful death lawsuit can vary drastically based on a number of factors such as how the accident occurred or the amount of insurance coverage available. However, several different types of damages are available to a person filing a wrongful death lawsuit in New Jersey.
This may include:
- Medical bills: This includes all medical costs from the time the accident occurred until the time of death, including the ambulance, hospital stay, surgeries, and more.
- Burial and expenses: This may include the cost of a coffin or urn, cremation, or other related expenses.
- Loss of support: This refers to the loss of financial contributions as well as household contributions from your deceased loved one
- Loss of companionship: In addition to the financial loss, surviving family members, including both the surviving children and spouse, may be compensated for the loss of emotional support and love they endure as a result of their loved one’s death
- Emotional pain and suffering: After the loss of a loved one, the surviving family can pursue compensation for the immense pain and suffering that occurs as a result of a tragic death
Definition of Wrongful Death in New Jersey
Each state has laws regarding wrongful death lawsuits. In New Jersey, wrongful death is “caused by a wrongful act, neglect, or default.” In simpler terms, a wrongful death occurs when the victim dies from another party’s actions, including in cases of negligence-based accidents like car accidents, intentional acts including violent crimes, and medical malpractice. If an intoxicated driver, for example, kills a person, the victim’s surviving family can sue the driver for wrongful death.
New Jersey’s wrongful death laws also require a personal representative of the deceased’s estate, sometimes called as the executor, to bring all claims. If the estate lacks a personal representative, the court will name someone to act as the personal representative to file the wrongful death claim. The executor can then file a wrongful death lawsuit for the deceased’s spouse, children, parents, grandparents, or other relatives who depended on the deceased.
Statistics About Wrongful Deaths
- In the United States, CDC data shows that unintentional injuries are the fourth leading cause of death, with over 200,000 deaths attributed to accidental injuries in just one year.
- According to New Jersey State Police, 668 fatal roadway accidents occurred in 2021, resulting in 698 fatalities. Some of the most dangerous roads in New Jersey include I-95 near the Vince Lombardi Service Area, U.S. 30 on the 4.7 miles between Stratford Avenue and Marshall Avenue, and U.S. 1 between Garden Street and Exit 57, according to Money Geek.
- According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 4,764 died in the U.S. in workplace injuries in one year, with 82 fatal work injuries occurring in New Jersey.
- According to the New Jersey Department of Health, 4,800 deaths occurred due to unintentional injuries in the state in one year.
Types of Wrongful Death Accidents
Wrongful death can occur in many different ways and due to a range of different situations. Regardless of the type of wrongful death claim, the executor of the state of a deceased individual may file a wrongful death suit for monetary damages. Common wrongful death accidents include:
Work-Related Wrongful Death
Thousands of fatal workplace injuries occur in the United States each year. Faulty machines or equipment, dangerous working conditions, workplace violence, or careless coworkers can cause fatal occupational injuries. While most work-related deaths go through workers’ compensation insurance, deaths caused by a third party, like a negligent tool or equipment manufacturer, may warrant a separate wrongful death lawsuit.
Slip and falls
While not every fall is fatal or even severe, certain populations are more at risk for fatal injuries due to a fall, especially senior citizens. Seniors who slip and fall often break or dislocate bones due to age-related frailties. When a slip and fall accident turns fatal, the estate can hold property owners responsible if they failed to keep their property safe and free of hazards or they forget to warn others of hazards.
Medical Malpractice
When we need medical care, we trust that our doctors, nurses, surgeons, and other healthcare workers to diagnose and treat us. When a healthcare worker causes a patient’s death, it can traumatize the surviving family members. Medical malpractice can lead to death through failure to diagnose or misdiagnosis of an illness or disease, surgical errors including surgeries on the wrong part of the body, failure to provide sufficient aftercare, medication errors, and more.
Because wrongful death lawsuits involving medical malpractice entail meeting complex requirements, you will need a wrongful death lawyer to determine if your case qualifies.
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Motor vehicle accidents involving cars, trucks, and motorcycles are among the most common wrongful death claims. Preventable fatal accidents can include drunk driving or driving under the influence of drugs, distracted driving, speeding, failure to obey traffic signals, and more.
Insurance Company Defenses in a Wrongful Death Lawsuit
One of the most common ways insurance companies will deny a wrongful death claim is to show that the deceased contributed to their own death. Insurance companies will also dispute causation by attempting to disprove a direct link between the defendant’s actions and the death.
A qualified wrongful death lawyer is well-versed in the different tactics used by insurance companies to dispute liability. The wrongful death attorneys of Reinartz Law Firm will gather all necessary evidence surrounding the fatal accident as well as consult witnesses and experts to gather testimony that further proves the defendant’s liability, and we will fight for adequate compensation for the surviving family.
How Can a Wrongful Death Lawyer Help Me
If you lost a loved one due to another person’s negligence or carelessness, don’t accept a low offer from the insurance company. A skilled New Jersey personal injury lawyer with extensive experience handling wrongful death claims can help you hold the at-fault party accountable and financially responsible for the damages your family incurred.
A New Jersey wrongful death lawyer will fight for ample compensation for the medical bills, funeral costs, loss of income, and pain and suffering that you have endured because of your loved one’s death.
What to do After the Wrongful Death of a Loved One
After losing a loved one due to a fatal injury, you may not know where to turn or what steps to take. When mourning a deceased loved one who died a wrongful death, call us before burial or cremation so we can investigate first. Save any medical records or other documents surrounding the wrongful death case. Then, contact a New Jersey wrongful death attorney who will guide you through the legal process and advocate on your family’s behalf.
Contact a Wrongful Death Law Firm Today
At Reinartz Law Firm, our wrongful death attorneys are committed to helping grieving families and achieving justice for them.
If you lost a loved one due to another person’s actions, contact us today at (201) 778-4878 for a free legal consultation. Our Hackensack, New Jersey office is conveniently located in just across the street from the Bergen County Justice Center.
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Areas We Serve
We serve the entire Bergen County area including:
Hackensack
Teaneck
Fort Lee
Fair Lawn
Garfield
Englewood
Bergenfield
Paramus
Mahwah
Ridgewood
Lodi
Cliffside Park
Lyndhurst
Palisades Park
Elmwood Park
Rutherford
"Richard guided me in my suit and made me feel confident in my decisions during my entire case. He made recommendations that I otherwise, would not have known about."