Fatal Car Accident Lawyer in Massapequa

For surviving family members, the days after a fatal car crash are filled with grief and unanswered questions. At the same time, you may need to deal with financial pressures such as funeral expenses, along with the weight of moving on without your loved one.

While it won’t make up for your loss, New York law may allow surviving family members to recover compensation when you lose a loved one in a crash. Our fatal car accident lawyers in Massapequa can help you hold the negligent party accountable.

Levine And Wiss has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in awards and settlements for our clients and their families. Learn more about how our Massapequa car accident lawyers can help with your case when you call for a free consultation.

Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim in New York?

New York law limits who can bring a wrongful death lawsuit. The personal representative of the deceased person’s estate files the claim on behalf of the surviving family members. That representative is often named in a will or appointed by the court.

The spouse, children, and parents of the person who died are usually the ones who benefit from a wrongful death claim. Other dependents may qualify as well. How much each person recovers depends on their relationship to the deceased and how much they relied on that person financially.

Getting the legal structure in place early keeps your options open and avoids unnecessary delays. Our Massapequa personal injury lawyers can help you understand the process and take the right steps.

How Our Attorneys May Help

Wrongful death cases involve issues that most families have never dealt with before. Our fatal car accident attorneys in Massapequa can help you avoid those mistakes from the start.

While every case is different, some of the ways we can typically assist our clients include:

• Investigate the accident and identify every party that may share fault for the crash, including drivers, employers, and government agencies
• Calculate the full value of your family’s financial losses, including future income and household contributions
• Handle negotiations with insurance companies so your family is not pressured into a low settlement
• File a lawsuit and take the case to trial if the insurance company refuses to offer fair compensation
• Coordinate with estate attorneys to make sure the legal structure of your claim is set up correctly

Many people worry about the expense of hiring an attorney. We work on contingency fee agreements. You pay nothing up front when we sign on to handle your case, and you only pay our fees once we win. If we don’t win, you don’t pay our fees.

Determining Fault in a Wrongful Death Case

New York follows a comparative fault rule (CPLR § 1411). That means fault can be divided among multiple parties, and your recovery may be reduced if the deceased person was found partially responsible. Our legal team will work to build the strongest possible case for your family.

Our investigators examine the physical evidence, pull traffic signal data, and review the police report. We talk to eyewitnesses directly. For complicated crashes, we bring in accident reconstruction experts to fill in what the evidence cannot answer on its own.

Insurance companies will conduct their own investigation with their own interests in mind. Don’t accept their decision or agree to a settlement without first speaking with our Massapequa fatal car accident lawyers.

What to Do in the Weeks After the Accident

The weeks after a fatal crash are overwhelming, but a few practical steps can protect your family’s legal position. Save documents related to the accident, including police reports, medical records, and correspondence from insurance companies. Do not discard anything.

Avoid posting about the accident or your family’s situation on social media. Insurance companies and defense attorneys routinely monitor public accounts for information they can use to reduce a claim’s value. Even a well-meaning post can be taken out of context.

If an insurance adjuster has already contacted you, you are not required to give a statement before speaking with an attorney. Politely declining until you have legal representation is always the right move.

Get Help From Our Fatal Car Accident Attorneys in Massapequa

Losing a family member in a car accident leaves a hole that nothing can fill. On top of the grief, you will face financial pressure and an insurance process that is not designed to work in your favor.

This may be one of the hardest things you will ever face, but you don’t need to go through it alone. Our fatal car accident attorneys in Massapequa work with families throughout New York and help you understand what to do if you suspect a wrongful death.

Call Levine And Wiss today for a free consultation. Our team has more than 100 years of combined legal experience. We can investigate the crash, identify who was responsible, and fight for the full compensation your family is entitled to under New York law.