The unexpected passing of a close loved one is a painful experience for many reasons. Naturally, losing a loved one comes with a considerable amount of emotional pain and loss which may never truly go away. It may also present long-term financial struggles for surviving family members.

If your loved one was the main provider for you and your family, losing their income may dramatically change your life. The roles within your family unit may also change, particularly if the deceased had young children.

Nothing can make up for the sudden passing of someone close to you. However, if their death may have been avoided had someone else not been negligent, you may be able to recover compensation to help alleviate some of the financial stress caused by their passing. Review your case with a wrongful death lawyer at Stark & Stark to learn more about your options. We offer free, no-obligation legal consultations.

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The Basics of New Jersey’s Wrongful Death Act

Under New Jersey’s Wrongful Death Act, the heirs and dependents of a person who died as a result of another party’s negligence may be eligible for compensation. This may include the deceased’s spouse, children, parents, siblings, and other close relatives.

The manner in which compensation may be divided among surviving loved ones depends on what their relationship to the deceased was. If you are not sure whether you have the right to seek compensation after a loved one’s passing, review your case with one of our wrongful death attorneys in the Edison area. They can help determine if you may be eligible to file a lawsuit and answer any questions you may have about the process for pursuing compensation.

Examples of Wrongful Death

Wrongful death occurs when someone dies because of another party’s reckless or careless actions. An example would be someone dying in a car accident caused by a drunk driver.

Other common examples of wrongful death include the following:

• Medical malpractice, including surgical errors or delayed diagnosis, which resulted in the death of a patient
• Someone dying as a result of nursing home negligence or abuse
• A death resulting from an avoidable workplace accident
• Someone dying in an accident on another’s property due to a hazard (including absent fire alarms or a broken elevator) that was not properly addressed

If you are unsure whether your loved one’s passing qualifies as a wrongful death, our personal injury lawyers in the Edison, New Jersey area can review the details to see if you may have a valid case.

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Possible Compensation After an Edison, NJ Wrongful Death Case

New Jersey’s wrongful death laws are designed to provide compensation for the economic damages loved ones might incur as a result of an avoidable death. They include the following:

• Loss of income: Surviving family members may seek compensation for the loss of wages their loved one may have earned had they not passed away. Our wrongful death and personal injury law firm near Edison, New Jersey can help estimate how much money your loved one may have earned over the course of their lifetime.
• Funeral and memorial expenses: You may qualify to recover the money spent on burial, cremation, funeral, and memorials dedicated to the decedent.
• Medical expenses: The incident that robbed your loved one of their life may not have killed them right away. They may have needed medical care before eventually passing. These medical bills can also be accounted for when determining what would constitute an appropriate settlement.
• Loss of services: Loss of services refers to the household roles a deceased loved one may have played. For example, if a loved one watched over the children during the day, after their death a babysitter may be required to fill that gap. This loss may be compensated in a wrongful death lawsuit.
• Loss of parental guidance: If the decedent left behind young children, the family will likely lose a lifetime of nurturing, care, and love that the deceased parent would have provided.

Every case is unique and the impact of an individual’s death on the survivors may be felt differently in each family. As such, our New Jersey wrongful death attorneys cannot guarantee that you will recover a specific amount of money, however, they will evaluate every detail of your case and the effects of your loved one’s death on your family now and well into the future. This information will be used to help reach a fair cash settlement offer on your behalf.

The Role of a New Jersey Wrongful Death Law Firm

A wrongful death lawyer in the Edison area can help you in numerous ways after experiencing a tragic loss. They include the following:

Investigating

It is often necessary to conduct an investigation to prove wrongful death has occurred. Stark & Stark is prepared to do so. Our investigation can help identify any and all potentially liable parties as well as supporting evidence that shows how your loved one was fatally injured.

Filing a Wrongful Death Lawsuit

The process of building a case and filing a wrongful death lawsuit can be tedious and time-consuming. While you focus on your family’s healing, Stark & Stark will handle these tasks.

Negotiating

It is often the case that the insurer of the negligent party responsible for your loved one’s death will try to offer a low settlement that does not fully compensate you for the lifetime loss your family will experience.

This is one of the top reasons to hire an attorney. We have the experience necessary to negotiate for a fair cash settlement on your behalf.

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Why Choose Stark & Stark?

For nearly a century, the experts at Stark & Stark have been providing a range of legal services to people throughout New Jersey. We have remained a fixture in the area due to the manner in which we consistently deliver results for our clients. To learn more about what we can do for you, call us today at 800-535-3425 or contact us online to schedule your free legal consultation.