Wrongful Death Lawyer NYC
NYC wrongful death lawyers for families after fatal crashes, construction accidents and medical negligence. New York allows two years — and requires an estate representative. Free review.
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Your enquiry goes to the Pearl Lemon Group team that runs this website, not to a law firm. Sending it does not create an attorney-client relationship, hire a lawyer or stop a legal deadline.
How New York wrongful death claims work
New York wrongful death law is unusually narrow, and families are often shocked by it. The claim belongs to the deceased person's estate, must be brought by a court-appointed personal representative, and is limited primarily to pecuniary loss — the financial support, services and parental guidance the family lost. New York does not currently allow recovery for the family's grief in a wrongful death claim, which is why the accompanying survival action for the deceased's own pre-death pain and suffering matters so much.
What can be recovered
- Lost financial support and benefits over the working life expectancy.
- Loss of household services and, for children, parental nurture and guidance.
- Medical expenses from the final injury and funeral and burial costs.
- The deceased's conscious pain and suffering before death, through a survival action.
- Interest from the date of death on the wrongful death portion.
First steps for the family
- Petition Surrogate's Court for letters appointing a personal representative — nothing can be filed without this.
- Preserve evidence: the vehicle, the equipment, the site, and any footage.
- Request the police or OSHA investigation file and the autopsy report.
- Serve a notice of claim within 90 days if a city entity, bus or public hospital is involved.
- Do not speak to the defendant's insurer or sign releases before taking advice.
Common case types
Fatal vehicle and truck crashes, pedestrian deaths, construction falls under Labor Law 240, medical negligence, nursing home neglect, fires and negligent security.
Frequently asked questions
Answers to common questions about this topic.
Send an enquiry
To ask about your situation, use the free enquiry form on this page or book a call. Personal Injury NYC is not a law firm, and an enquiry does not create an attorney-client relationship. Many New York injury attorneys work on a contingency fee, but the percentage and case costs vary, so ask for the terms in writing before you sign.
Sources and editorial review
Last reviewed: . Written and checked by the Personal Injury NYC editorial team against the official New York sources listed. This page has not been reviewed by an attorney. Time limits vary by claim — many personal injury lawsuits must be started within three years (CPLR 214), claims against a city or other public body can require a notice of claim in as little as 90 days, and medical malpractice and wrongful death have different limits. Check the official sources below and confirm your deadline with a New York-licensed attorney.
- NY Courts — Statute of limitations timetable
- NY Courts — What is a statute of limitations?
- NY Senate — CPLR 214 (three-year actions)
- NY Department of Financial Services — Auto insurance resource center
Personal Injury NYC is a legal-information and case-enquiry website operated by Pearl Lemon Group. It is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice or representation. Information on this page is general and is not legal advice. About this website · How enquiries are handled
Related pages
Wrongful Death by borough
Send an enquiry about your injury
Tell the Personal Injury NYC team what happened and how to reach you. Your enquiry goes to the Pearl Lemon Group team that runs this website, not to a law firm. Sending it does not create an attorney-client relationship, hire a lawyer or stop a legal deadline.