You don’t have to go through a wrongful death alone. We are here for you.
The death of a loved one is a profoundly difficult, painful and life-changing event. If the loss of a loved one is due not to natural causes, but to the negligent act of another person or entity, the pain and suffering of the surviving family members can be immense.
In New Jersey, the negligent, wrongful and/or intentional act of someone that results in the death of another person is the basis for a lawsuit. Such a lawsuit consists of a survival action, which provides for recovery for the deceased person’s injuries up to his or her death, and a wrongful death action, which permits the heirs of the deceased person to recover for losses associated with the late person’s demise.
There are several examples of economic losses associated with death that are straightforward and are readily quantifiable, including hospital expenses, funeral expenses and lost earnings (both prior to death and prospective earning capacity lost due to the victim’s death). Examples of economic losses that are more complex include those associated with the loss of care, advice, guidance and support, loss of companionship, and loss of the value of household chores resulting from the death of a loved one.
Unfortunately, in most cases, mental anguish for the loss of loved one is not recoverable. However, there are circumstances where the negligent actions of a person or entity may be construed as the negligent infliction of emotional distress upon a bystander who witnessed the death of an intimate family member and suffered severe emotional distress as a result.
As the death of a loved one can be an overwhelming experience, if there are any potential legal issues involved it is prudent to seek experienced legal counsel as soon as possible. In South Jersey and metropolitan Philadelphia, the wrongful death attorneys at Petrillo & Goldberg Law can be of great assistance to you with your legal needs in such unfortunate situations.
