New Jersey Wrongful Death Attorneys
New Jersey Wrongful Death FAQ
What is a wrongful death?
A wrongful death is a legal term that stands for a legal claim of wrongdoing that is made against another person, entity or government office or agency. The term means that the claimant believes that the defendant caused or played a significant role in the circumstances leading up to the preventable death. In New Jersey wrongful death cases are usually handled by personal injury attorneys on behalf of surviving members of the family of the deceased.
Wrongful death claims can be made against hospitals, doctors, carmakers, manufacturers of defective products or food, property owners and anyone who has personal or business behavior contributed to the death.
What specific rights does my family have in New Jersey?
New Jersey has very strict and specific laws surrounding wrongful death cases under the state’s Wrongful Death Act and Survival Statute. Under these laws families and dependants are protected if any one of them suffers from a preventable death at the hands of another.
Surviving family members are entitled to financial settlements which can help pay for medical expenses, loss of income (especially if the head of the household was the deceased), pain and suffering, funeral expenses, monetary values of parenting and household duties and many more. Some other damages, such as emotional distress, cannot be recovered under this specific New Jersey law but can often be recovered for under a different legal action.
When should I contact an attorney?
Any surviving family member or dependant is encouraged to contact a New Jersey fatal accident lawyer at our firm without delay. We offer free, no-obligation consultations on all wrongful death cases and can start helping you as soon as you call or contact us at our office in Princeton.
It is important to begin the process as early as possible as New Jersey has very strict time limits for filing a wrongful death claim.
An effective attorney can also help you communicate with all other parties involved in your case. We will represent you only and have only your interests in mind when dealing with all companies, insurance providers, law enforcement officials, the media and anyone involved in the case. We have a full legal team including several experts and private investigators who can thoroughly investigate your case.
How much does it cost to hire a New Jersey wrongful death attorney?
Lependorf & Silverstein offer free consultations on any potential New Jersey wrongful death case. If you hire our firm to represent you we will work your case on a contingent fee basis only. Contingent fees are a preset amount of a successfully settled case. These fees are only due after the settlement has been agreed on and paid to the victim’s family. If we are unable to settle your case for our client the client does not pay us these contingent fees.
There are never any hidden costs and we can start working on your case as soon as you contact us.
What if I have already hired an attorney and I am unhappy with them?
Contact our office in Princeton immediately for a free consultation. In many cases where clients are unhappy with their legal service they can hire a new law firm at no additional cost to them. The new lawyers will then split the contingent fee with the old lawyers and the client’s percentage will not be affected.
Who can file a wrongful death case in New Jersey?
Laws surrounding wrongful death are so complex in New Jersey that it is important to contact an experienced law firm who understands all aspects of your case. In most cases, New Jersey wrongful death lawsuits are filed by surviving spouses or children. In other cases different people may file suits as well. Contact Lependorf & Silverstein at our office in Princeton and we will let you know.
