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    New York Wrongful Death Lawyers

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      New York Wrongful Death Lawyers

      New York Wrongful Death Lawyers

      Have you lost a loved one in an accident or because of someone’s negligence in Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Albany, Queens or New Rochelle, New York?   

      For over 65 years, the New York law firm of Friedman & Ranzenhofer, PC has assisted families that have experienced such tragedies obtain just compensation. When someone dies through the negligent act of another, a New York wrongful death or survivorship claim can result.

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        Were you or a loved one hurt due to the negligence of someone else? Our experienced Buffalo lawyers have been dedicated to serving the Western New York community we know and love. Allow us to help you the same way we’ve been helping our community for decades. We’re here for you.

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        Why Choose Friedman & Ranzenhofer, PC Injury Lawyers?

        Millions recovered for people like you.

        No fee guarantee. We never charge a fee unless there is a recovery for you.

        24/7 Availability

        Thousands of satisfied clients from across New York State.

        Service is our business. You can talk to an attorney anytime on the phone or at a NY location that is convenient for you.

        Fully committed to your personal injury case.

        Recognized in the legal community by judges and peers as tenacious and ethical litigators.

        Free consultation

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        Mr. Ranzenhofer and his attorneys were great! My case was handled quickly and I got a great result – $300,000. I fell at my doctor’s office, so I knew it was a hard case. Mr. Ranzenhofer developed a strategy that got me a great result. I highly recommend Mr. Ranzenhofer and his team of attorneys.

        – Christine Rush

        Reasonable / Professional / Personable … Very nice man to speak to … He helped me feel safe and took away my fear in my legal situation. If or when needed he is ready to jump in and take over. Thank you, Carol

        – Carol Czosnyka

        We were treated in a respectful, professional and helpful manner while preparing our wills, healthcare proxies and power of attorney. Mr. Friedman took as much time as we needed to answer all of our questions and concerns. His staff was friendly and efficient. We highly recommend him.

        – John

        Highly recommended…Sam handled a case for me with a buffalo tow truck Company, we won our case and a judgment. Sam was highly professional knowledgeable and effective. He knows the local laws and how to get successful outcomes!

        – Mark

        I consulted with Justin Friedman in an effort to obtain reimbursement following damage to my personal property. Justin was diligent, tenacious, professional, and clearly dedicated to assisting me, all of which led to a very positive outcome. I was very impressed with his work and I highly recommend his office.

        – Lisa Kilanowski

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        Have you lost a loved one in an accident or because of someone’s negligence in Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Albany, Queens or New Rochelle, New York?   

        For over 65 years, the New York law firm of Friedman & Ranzenhofer, PC has assisted families that have experienced such tragedies obtain just compensation. When someone dies through the negligent act of another, a New York wrongful death or survivorship claim can result.

        Our Experience

        Mike Ranzenhofer has obtained significant results for injury victims. For over 40 years, Mike Ranzenhofer has taken the time to listen to you and fight for the injury justice to which you are entitled to.

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        We are available seven days a week by telephone at (716) 542-5444 or by our contact form. We will personally meet you at your home, the hospital or at one of our thirteen local offices.

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        Our sole purpose in helping accident victims is to maximize your benefits and protect you and your family.

        • Communicate with you in plain language that is easy to understand.
        • Promptly return your telephone calls.
        • Quickly and thoroughly investigate and analyze your case.
        • Have your case personally handled by an attorney.
        • Keep you informed of the progress of your case at all times.
        • Show you the personal care, concern and attention which have been the hallmark of Friedman & Ranzenhofer, P.C. since 1955.
        • Accommodate the needs of you and your family during the handling of your case.
        • Vigorously protect your legal rights.

        Christine Rush via 

        Mr. Ranzenhofer and his attorneys were great! My case was handled quickly and I got a great result – $300,000. I fell at my doctor’s office, so I knew it was a hard case. Mr. Ranzenhofer developed a strategy that got me a great result. I highly recommend Mr. Ranzenhofer and his team of attorneys.

         James Houseman via 

        I feel I was treated great. Mr. Ranzenhofer responded quickly with call backs and any questions, there were never any doubts of where my case was and he was always reassuring that being patient was the answer. And it was. I want to thank him and his legal team especially with the office personnel always friendly and also quick responses when messages were left. Highly recommended. Thanks for everything

        anonymous via 

        Michael Ranzenhofer was very professional in dealing with my case. He always responded to calls in a timely manner. He was very thorough in handling my case. I would definitely use him again if I needed legal representation, and I would not hesitate to recommend him to others.

         anonymous via 

        I was hit head on in a car accident and had got injured. I contacted Mike Ranzenhofer and he got started the process of getting money for me for my pain and suffering and future medical bills. Every time I called or came to his office he always took his time to help me. And we eventually won the case. He is an amazing lawyer and person himself and I would fully recommend him to anyone.

        Click here to read more reviews

        • $2 Million Child Car Accident – A child ends up with a brain injury by a head on collision.
        • $300,000 Settlement – A 52-year-old suffered a broken angle when they slipped and fell on ice in a chiropractor’s parking lot.
        • $275,000 Settlement – A 55-year-old suffered an ankle injury when a car collided with a farm vehicle with no lights or reflectors.
        • $250,000 Settlement – A 65-year-old female suffered a wrist injury when a grate covering a second story window fell and struck her in the head and knocker her to the ground.
        • $217,500 Settlement – A 59-year-old Tim Horton’s employee suffered a broken knee cap when they tripped and fell over a “glob” of ashpalt left by a paving contractor.
        • $195,000 Settlement – A 60-year-old suffered a necck injury from a two car collision.
        • In a defective products case, a 58-year-old East Aurora aerospace worker won $185,000 from Great American Insurance Company, which insured a company which designed and manufactured loading ramps. As he wasdriving his tractor up the loading ramps into his pickup truck, the cable securing the ramps broke and he fell from the ramp and injured his lower back (January 2005).
        • $175,000 Settlement – A 75-year-old suffered a fractured right elbow when they tripped and fell on a low-profile planter at a mall.
        • A 53-year-old heavy equipment operator from Akron won a $165,000 settlement from Harleysville Insurance Company for a fractured ankle and torn ankle tendon that he sustained in a two car intersection accident in Clarence (February 2005).
        • $125,000 Settlement – A 76-year-old suffered an ankle injury when they tripped and fell on a broken concrete sidwalk.
        • $100,000 Settlement – A 56-year-old developmentlly disabled man suffered a fractured jaw and pelvis when he was struck by a motor vehicle while legally walking in the street.
        • $100,000 Settlement – A 67-year-old suffered a neck and back injury in a car accident.
        • Defective Automobile – A woman injures her knee on the lift gate of a defective vehicle.
        • Defective Product – A man is seriously injured when a ramp created to put snowmobiles and ATVs in a truck snaps in half.
        • Car Accident Involving Neck Surgery – A man is seriously injured in a car accident and has to go through neck surgery because physical therapy couldn’t solve the issue caused by the accident.
        • Child Cheerleader Injury – A 15-year-old girl is injured from aerial acrobatics because of the lack of safety mats.
        • Child Knee Injury – A young high school is injured when two rough housing boys fall on top of her.
        • Premises Liability – A woman in her 60’s injures her ankle from a slip and fall on a stairwell.
        • The family of a 57-year-old member of the Buffalo Fire Department received $100,000 from the City of Buffalo and Nationwide Insurance Company when he aggravated a lower back injury during an automobile accident (April 2004)
        • $90,000 Settlement – A 75-year-old passenger in a truck suffered a wrist injury when they were struck from behind.
        • $90,000 Settlement – A 5-year-old suffered scarring on their right arm when they were attacked by a dog with propensity for violence.
        • A 47-year-old Genesee County woman won $90,000 from Healthcare Underwriters Mutual for injuries she sustained when a venetian blind fell on her head while working at United Memorial Hospital (April 2004)
        • $85,000 Settlement –  A 45-year-old suffered a knee injury when they were rear-ended in a car collision which pushed their knee into a dashboard.
        • $75,000 Settlement – A 47-year-old suffered a neck and shoulder injury when a car crossesd the center line and struck another car.
        • $75,000 Settlement – A 58-year-old suffered a back and neck injury in a car accident.
        • A 14-year-old Lockport girl received $58,000 from Tops Supermarkets when her hand was sucked under the conveyor belt at the checkout counter. She sustained burns and scarring to the top of her hand (March 2005).
        • $55,000 Settlement – A 29-year-old suffered a hip injury when they slipped and fell at a store with a wet and slippery entrance.
        • $50,000 Settlement –  A 52-year-old suffered broken hip when they tripped over a “gap” in the front door threshold which the landlord failed to repair after numerous requests.
        • $50,000 Settlement – A 55-year-old suffered a broken knee when they slopped and fell on a slippery store floor.
        • A 32-year-old Genesee County factory worker accepted $50,000 from Allstate Insurance Company for back injuries he sustained in a two-car motor vehicle accident when the other driver turned in front of him.
        • $45,000 Settlement – A 63-year-old suffered an injured hand when they were struck by a vehicle when lawfully crossing the street.
        • $45,000 Settlement – A 54-year-old suffered multiple disc herniations when an SUV struck their rented vehicle that ran a red light while being chased by Buffalo police.
        • $40,000 Settlement – A 51-year-old suffered a neck and back injury in a rear-end motor vehicle collision.
        • $40,000 Settlement – A 76-year-old suffered a broken hip when they fell on a slick Metro Rail platform.
        • A 52-year-old school administrator was awarded $200,000 against State Farm Insurance Company by a three-member arbitration panel for serious leg and elbow injuries he sustained. He was crossing Oak Street in Buffalo, as a pedestrian, when he was struck by a car driven by an 80-year-old Depew man. After the split panel (2 to 1) awarded $200,000, they found the school administrator 80 percent responsible for the accident, which reduced the award to $40,000 (May, 2005).
        • A 58-year-old Orleans County woman won $40,000 after she slipped on ice and broke her leg in a local supermarket parking lot (March 2004)
        • $30,500 Settlement – A 68-year-old suffered a broken ankle when their foot slipped into a hole in a front yard while taking their grandchildren trick or treating.
        • A 48-year-old factory worker received $29,500 from New York Central Mutual Insurance Company for knee injuries she sustained in a two-car accident on High Street in Buffalo, New York. The settlement was reached during jury selection in Supreme Court (June, 2005).
        • A 29-year-old Genesee County nursery school teacher received $25,000 from State Farm Insurance Company for aknee injury she sustained in a two-car accident (April, 2005).
        • $27,000 Settlement – An 8-year-old pedestrian suffered scar on their back when attacked by a dog.
        • A 48-year-old Alden homemaker accepted $25,000 from a local hospital for a broken ankle she sustained when she stepped on broken concrete which was covered with snow (March 2005).
        • A 33-year-old Batavia woman accepts $25,000 from Utica National Insurance Company when she tripped over a broken concrete curb at her daughter’s school and broke her wrist (January 2004).
        • A Genesee County jury returned a $25,000 verdict against State Farm Insurance Company in favor of a 23-year-old nursing assistant from Bergen who injured her back in a two car accident on the New York State Thruway. State Farm, prior to trial, had offered only $3,000 to settle the case (February 2005).
        • A 75-year-old Lancaster woman accepts $20,000 from Federated Insurance Company for a knee injury she sustained when she tripped over torn up flooring at a local supermarket (March 2004).
        • A 50-year-old West Seneca man received $18,000 from the City of Buffalo for a finger injury sustained when his finger became lodged between a loose bleacher plank and a metal post (February 2004).
        • A 63-year-old West Seneca volleyball official obtained $12,000 from Network Adjusters when he injured his knee when a volleyball stand, upon which he was officiating, collapsed (December 2003).
        • An 11-year-old Buffalo boy accepted $15,000 from Travelers Insurance Company when bitten on the arm by a neighbor’s dog (February 2004).
        • In a premises liability case against Flying J Travel Plaza in Pembroke, New York, a 50-year-old North Carolina truck driver won $199,139.67 from the truck stop. As she was walking toward the truck stop restaurant, the sidewalk was blocked by a snow bank, forcing her to proceed along an icy and snow covered foot path, which lead her to an icy grate where she fell and fractured her knee. Her award was reduced by 40 percent after the court balanced the relative culpability of the parties (April, 2005).
        • One Beacon Insurance Company was ordered to pay $25,500 to a 56-year-old Amherst woman for neck and back injuries she sustained in a two-car collision on Main Street in Williamsville.
        • A 66-year-old Cheektowaga man received $18,000 from Nationwide Insurance Company for a rib injury that he sustained in a two-car accident in Canada (April, 2005).
        • An 84-year-old West Seneca woman accepted $15,000 from New York Central Mutual Insurance Company after she injured her wrist when she was T-boned by another motorist on Sheridan Drive in Amherst.
        • A 19-year-old Buffalo pedestrian won $10,000 from Erie Insurance Company when she sustained cuts and bruises to her knees and hands after she was struck by a car.

        First, it’s very important to make sure you’ve documented exactly what happened with your accident or injury. The date, the time, the names and addresses of those involved, as well as details of what happened are critical components that you’ll need as you try to work through the problems you’re having. If you’ve been in a car accident, we already have a checklist you can use. You can see the checklist at our Car Accident Checklist page.

        Secondly, you really should contact an Injury Attorney in Buffalo as soon as possible….because the other party’s Insurance Company is probably already working behind the scenes…and preparing to defend its client.

        Contacting an accident attorney is really very simple – and for your case, it’s a Free Consultation. I’ll provide the accident and injury help you need by spending time reviewing the facts with you to be able to tell you what possible remedies you have and make suggestions on how to proceed.

        When you lose someone you love because of an accident caused by a negligent person, It can create unspoken grief that you have to suffer through. We are so terribly sorry that you are experiencing this and that you’ve lost someone that you deeply love because of someone else’s negligence. Please know that you are entitled to justice. You and the surviving family members of your loved one who has passed deserve justice. Our New York wrongful death lawyers fight for you to be fully and fairly compensated as a result of the loss of your loved one. We fight for your rights so that you can focus on yourself and your family during this very difficult time. Call our office as soon as you possibly can and we will set up a free first consultation for you to go over the details of your case and get legal guidance from our lawyers. Justice is waiting for you, so call today.

        What is Wrongful Death?

        It is not always blatantly obvious that your loved one died of negligence. Some cases require investigation to confirm that they indeed are going to be a wrongful death case. We understand that you might have questions about whether or not your particular loss would be considered wrongful death. If you were thinking about bringing a claim, the easiest way to be sure you have a legal stake in this matter is to get in contact with our New York wrongful death lawyers.

        Wrongful death cases boil down to whether or not the loss of your loved one could’ve been prevented had someone acted differently. Take a slip and fall claim that resulted in someone passing away as an example. If the property owner had taken the necessary precautions to keep their visitors safe, it could have prevented the victim from slipping and falling and breaking their neck. That property owner would be negligent in the claim for wrongful death if their inaction caused someone else’s harm.

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        Another example would be medical malpractice wrongful death. If a doctor dismissed the symptoms of, for example, a woman coming into the emergency room with shoulder pain and chest pain and that woman went home and had a heart attack and died because the doctor dismissed her symptoms, that doctor could be negligent and liable in that wrongful death claim.

        Another example of what a wrongful death claim looks like is an auto accident. If someone was texting and driving and blew through a red light and T-boned another car, killing the other driver, they would be liable for that person’s death and the surviving family members of the victim could bring a claim against them.

        Again, the one way you’re going to know for sure whether or not there is a claim that you could bring is to speak to our New York wrongful death lawyers. They have the experience and the knowledge to know whether or not what you and your family have gone through has left you entitled to seek damages.

        The way the claim works is that you bring it against the liable party; that liable party is represented by their insurance company, which is physically and financially responsible for you and your family’s justice through compensation. Your New York wrongful death lawyers are going to fight for your rights to full and fair justice.

        What Types of Cases Involve NY Wrongful Death and Survivorship Claims?

        A NY wrongful death case can arise from any type of personal injury case, including: car accidents, pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents, bus accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, garbage truck accident, airplane accidents, nursing home neglect, Uber accidents, dog bites, carbon monoxide poisoning, slip and fall accidents, medical malpractice, construction accidents, workplace accidents, boat accidents, defective productsdrunk driving accidents, farm accidents, distracted driver accidents, and RV tire failure accidents.

        What Types of Lawsuits are Used to Recover Damages for a Person’s Death in New York?

        There are two types of lawsuits:

        • The NY survivorship claim belongs to the estate for the decedent’s pain and suffering prior to death.
        • The NY wrongful death claim compensates those statutory distributees who have suffered pecuniary loss as a result of the decedent’s death.

        Therefore, there may be more than one plaintiff in a death case as well as separate statutes of limitations for each cause of action.

        New York Survivorship Claims

        A NY Survivorship Claim is brought by the decedent’s estate for pre-death pain and suffering.

        Yes, unlike a NY Wrongful Death claim, a NY Survivorship Claim is distributed according to the decedent’s Will. If the  dies without a Will, the SC is distributed according to intestacy law.

        The statute of limitations for a NY Survivorship Claim  is three years from the date of the accident or one year from the date of death, whichever is longer.

        A NY Survivorship Claim  for pre-death pain and suffering requires evidence that the decedent experienced “cognitive awareness,” which is defined as consciousness after the occurrence. McDougald v. Garber, 73 N.Y.2d 246 (N.Y. 1989). Consciousness may be evinced where decedent screams, moans in pain, or otherwise visibly suffers.

        Evidence of conscious pain and suffering may also be inferred where a medical expert testifies that the decedent sustained injuries that did not cause instantaneous death or loss of consciousness, but did likely cause pain. Vargas v. Crown Container Co., Inc., 65 N.Y.S.3d 567 (2d Dept. 2016). However, a survivorship claim will be dismissed if there is testimony that the decedent appeared unconscious immediately following an accident, coupled with corroborating paramedic reports and a coroner’s conclusion that death was instantaneous. McKenna v. Reale, 29 N.Y.S.3d 596 (3d Dept. 2016).

        The courts also recognize “pre-impact terror” as a sub-category of conscious pain and suffering. Pre-impact terror requires evidence that a decedent was aware of his own impending death. For example, in In re 91st Street Crane Collapse Litigation, 62 N.Y.S.3d 11 (1st Dept. 2017) where a crane collapsed off of a high-rise, evidence strongly supported a finding of pre-impact terror for the crane operator who was trapped inside the crane when it fell. Witnesses in adjacent apartment buildings described the look of “sheer panic and fear” on the crane operator’s face as the crane struck other buildings on its way to the ground. There was also sufficient evidence of pre-impact terror for the worker upon whom the crane fell, as he sustained defensive injuries to his forearm and had warned coworkers to run as the crane was falling down.

        Conscious pain awards vary widely depending on the circumstances of each case:

        • An award of $1,250,000 was reduced to $400,000 where evidence established that, while the decedent was able to feel pain following a collision, she was able to do so for at most 11 to 20 minutes and that she was minimally conscious during that time. Vatalaro v. County of Suffolk, 81 N.Y.S.3d 441 (2d Dept. 2018).
        • On the other hand, the Second Department affirmed an award of $3,750,000 for a decedent who remained conscious while hospitalized for three and a half days prior to death. Hyung Kee Lee v. New York Hosp. Queens, 987 N.Y.S.2d 436 (2d Dept. 2014).

        The  Appellate Division tends to sustain much higher verdicts for pre-impact terror and conscious pain and suffering when a defendant’s actions are grossly negligent, the injuries are particularly gruesome, or when the decedent is a child. The  value of a NY Survivorship Claim  for conscious pain and suffering prior to death depends on evidence regarding the interval between accident and death, the degree of consciousness, and the duration of suffering. The decedent’s own culpable conduct is also considered when apportioning damages.

        New York Wrongful Death

        NY Wrongful Death claim is designed to compensate a decedent’s survivors for economic losses. The essential elements of a Wrongful Death claim are:

        • Death caused by the wrongful conduct of defendant. The burden of proving the defendant’s wrongful conduct is not as high as in cases where an injured plaintiff can himself describe the event. See Noseworthy v. City of New York, 298 N.Y. 76, 80, 80 N.E.2d 744.
        • Survival by distributees who have suffered pecuniary loss by reason of the death. Unlike  a Survivorship claim, only distributees as defined by EPTL 4-1.1 can share in the proceeds of a wrongful death action. Wrongful death damages are designed to compensate distributees solely for their pecuniary injuries resulting from the death of the decedent and, therefore, are not considered part of the decedent’s estate.
        • Appointment of an executor or administrator of the decedent’s estate.

        The statute of limitations for a Wrongful Death claim is two years, measured from the date of death, subject to certain exceptions. See Estates, Powers, and Trusts Law (EPTL) § 5-4.1.

        When you go through a case like this, obviously you have to be able to identify who you are bringing your claim against. It is your New York wrongful death lawyer’s job to identify the liable party in the incident. They need to be able to prove that this person was responsible for the death of your loved one and how they acted differently your loved one might’ve been alive today. They also need to then, in a timely manner, bring the claim against this liable party.

        With wrongful death, if someone is acting negligently and your lawyers are able to prove this, then that person is likely going to be the liable party in your loved one’s passing. You deserve this kind of closure. We understand that no amount of compensation brings back your loved one or tempers the grief that you and your family are experiencing but when people are guilty of negligence you deserve that justice. You deserve to tell them what they did was wrong and they won’t get away with it.

        Understand that this is not a criminal case and you are not going to be putting anyone in jail unless there was an intent to kill. But a wrongful death claim is a civil case and the deaths are accidental. Therefore, justice is going to be compensatory instead of criminal.

        When you consider how lawsuits like this happen, there is typically one person who represents the family and brings the claim. They are called the plaintiff. This person is going to work closely with the New York wrongful death lawyers to settle the claim fairly. Please understand that they are not going to be the only ones who get compensation. They just represent themselves, the family, and the loved one who has passed.

        Most of the time with wrongful death, the plaintiff is going to be the spouse of the victim. If that victim wasn’t married, the adult children would be the plaintiff. If the children are minors and/or they were unmarried, then the parents of the victim would be the plaintiff.

        Please understand that every wrongful death claim is different just like every person’s life is different. Not every person is going to have the nuclear family to be the plaintiff. Having New York wrongful death lawyers look over your case is going to be the surest way to identify the plaintiff in your loved one’s wrongful death claim. We will be able to discuss this in detail during your free initial consultation.

        Most injury and wrongful death lawyers will tell you that damages for a wrongful death claim are difficult to put a value on because most of the damages you are suffering are what we consider non-economic damages. Non-economic damages can include your loved one’s pain and suffering they went through before they passed. It can also include the mental anguish that you have to endure because of the loss of a loved one. Money does not replace a relationship that you have lost with someone you love, but this is the justice that is available for you to seek. We will fight to get full justice; in some cases, bringing a claim like this can prevent someone else from having to go through this at the hands of the liable party.

        NY Wrongful Death claim damages are limited to “fair and just” compensation for the pecuniary injuries resulting from decedent’s death, including:

        • Your love one’s pain and suffering before passing
        • Loss of support, voluntary assistance, and possible inheritance
        • The cost of treatment and care they incurred before passing
        • Costs of funeral and burial
        • The potential earnings your loved one would have received had they lived a full life not cut short by this incident
        • Loss of services such as cooking, cleaning, and driving

        No, Loss of consortium claims are not recoverable under the statute. A surviving spouse can recover for loss of consortium for the period prior to the decedent’s death, but this is a derivative action of the decedent’s claim for conscious pain and suffering. See Liff v. Schildkrout, 427 N.Y.S.2d 746, (1980). No damages are awardable for the grief or suffering of the distributee or the lost companionship, comfort or assistance the decedent would have provided. See Bumpurs v. New York City Housing Authority, 527 N.Y.S.2d 217 (1st Dept. 1988).

        The pecuniary value of parental guidance and support has been recognized by the  Courts. See Tilley v. Hudson Railroad Co., 24 N.Y. 471 (1862). These losses are highly fact-specific, =and each individual scenario will be subject to scrutiny. For example, in Gardner v. State, 24 N.Y.S.3d 805 (4th Dept. 2015), the court declined to disturb an award of $875,000 for the decedent’s children for past and future loss of parental guidance, despite the fact that both children were teenagers at the time of death.

        By contrast, in Estevez v. Tam, 49 N.Y.S.3d 167 (2d Dept. 2017), the Second Department upheld a jury verdict awarding zero damages for the loss of parental guidance where the decedent was 65, divorced, retired, living by himself, and provided no financial support to his three adult sons.

        In order to establish a right to a wrongful death recovery, the plaintiff need only show that he had a reasonable expectation of support from the decedent. The calculation of the precise amount of damages is then a question for the jury.

        In determining what is “fair and just” compensation for the pecuniary injuries resulting from wrongful death, the jury may consider a number of factors: the age, health and life expectancy of decedent at the time of injury; decedent’s work habits and present position; decedent’s future earning capacity and potential for career advancement; and the number, age and life expectancy of decedent’s distributees.

        In Vargas v. Crown Container Co., Inc., awards of $650,000 for past pecuniary loss and $350,000 for future pecuniary loss were considered reasonable compensation for the one-year-old son of a 22-year-old garbage collector who worked two jobs at the time of his death.

        A distributee must provide evidence of the value of the lost services. In Merola v. Catholic Medical Center of Brooklyn and Queens, 808 N.Y.S.2d 395 (2d Dept. 2005) the Court reduced an award for the value of household chores performed by a decedent wife from $250,000 to $50,000 because the plaintiff husband failed to provide expert testimony as to the value of the lost services. However, in Vasquez v. County of Nassau, 938 N.Y.S.2d 109 (2d Dept. 2012), the Second Department upheld an award of $1.8 million for future loss of household services in an action where the distributee was a disabled, minor child and the plaintiff presented expert testimony that established the decedent’s financial support and her child’s special, lifetime needs.

        Call Our New York Wrongful Death Lawyers Today for a Free Consultation

        When someone you love is lost in an accident because of another one’s negligence, it can create an indescribable grief. We want to help you get the justice that you and your family deserve. Our New York wrongful death lawyers stand by victims and surviving family members of wrongful death cases to fight for the fullest in fairest justice possible. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to our office to set up your first legal consultation. We will go over the details of your case and give you guidance on what steps you should take next. Call us today.

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        Let our experience work for you.
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