Auto Accidents and Fatalities By Zucker & Regev, P.C. on February 27, 2015

A rescuer at the scene of a fatal auto accidentLet’s face it - driving in New York City is not exactly for the faint of heart. Our streets are congested with traffic and filled with aggressive drivers, many of whom flagrantly disregard the rules of the road to get to where they’re going. The roadways of our beloved borough are extremely dangerous, putting even the safest of our drivers at high risk of auto accidents. Tragically, too many of these auto accidents result in serious injury or even death.

At Gary A. Zucker & Associates, P.C. in Brooklyn, auto accidents and fatalities form the basis of many of the personal injury claims we have successfully handled on behalf of grieving families during their time of greatest need. If you have lost a beloved member of your family due to the negligent or deliberately wrongful actions of another driver, we would be privileged to provide you with the experienced and aggressive legal counsel you need to obtain the full measure of compensation to which you are entitled.

Fatal Traffic Accidents in New York City

In 2013, there were more than 70,000 auto accidents in New York City according to the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. Of these accidents, 281 were fatal, with 294 people killed altogether:

  • 84 of the people killed were drivers
  • 18 of the people killed were passengers
  • 183 of the people killed were pedestrians
  • Nine of the people killed were bicyclists

The most common cause of these fatal auto accidents was drivers operating their vehicles at an unsafe speed.

What is a wrongful death lawsuit?

A wrongful death lawsuit is a type of personal injury lawsuit that is filed by the personal representative of the deceased person’s estate. In the state of New York, only the personal representative of the estate may file a wrongful death lawsuit. A family member must be named the personal representative in order to be eligible to file a wrongful death claim.

However, the personal representative is empowered to file a wrongful death claim seeking damages on behalf of the family members of the deceased victim. Therefore, even if the personal representative of your loved one is not a relative of your family, you may still enlist his or her services to file the wrongful death lawsuit, and the court will regard him or her as though he or she holds the damages in trust to be distributed to the members of your family.

What damages are typically awarded in a wrongful death claim?

While there are no guarantees in any wrongful death lawsuit, typical damages include compensation for:

  • Funeral expenses
  • Medical costs
  • Lost wages
  • Future lost wages and benefits
  • Lost consortium
  • Lost support
  • Pain and suffering
  • Mental anguish
  • Lost inheritance
  • Lost guidance and parental nurturing to surviving children

Learn More about Auto Accidents and Fatalities

If you have lost a loved one in an auto accident caused by someone else’s negligent or deliberately wrongful actions and you would like to arrange for an evaluation of your case, please contact Gary A. Zucker & Associates, P.C. today.

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Zucker & Regev

Zucker & Regev, P.C. Personal Injury & Medical Malpractice Lawyers

At the Law Firm of Zucker & Regev in Brooklyn, NY, we represent victims of negligence, medical malpractice, wrongful death, and other personal injury cases with dozens of verdicts worth over $1 million. Our attorneys are affiliated with:

  • The American Bar Association
  • The New York State Bar Association
  • The Brooklyn Bar Association
  • The American Trial Lawyers Association
  • The New York State Trial Lawyers Association

If you are the victim of a personal injury or medical malpractice case, we want to help you. Schedule a consultation today by contacting us online or calling (718) 624-1211.

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