Wrongful Death

A wrongful death claim is a lawsuit brought by the family members of an individual who was killed or died as a result of someone else’s actions.

Wrongful Death
01

Is This You?

Does This Sound Like You?

  • A family member died during or after an encounter with police
  • A loved one died in a jail, prison or police station
  • You were never given a clear account of how your loved one died
02

What Is a Wrongful Death Claim?

When a Loved One Dies at the Hands of Another

A grieving man supported by friends

Dealing with the loss of your loved ones can be one of the hardest times of your life. If your loved one’s death was caused by someone else’s negligence or wrongdoing, you deserve justice. You have the right to file a wrongful death lawsuit and receive the closure and financial compensation to which you and your family are entitled.

A personal representative of the deceased person can bring a wrongful death action.

Wrongful death is one of the civil rights claims Joel Silberman brings when a death follows police misconduct, often together with an excessive force claim.

03

What You Can Recover

What Can Be Claimed?

You can file a wrongful death lawsuit to get:

  1. Lost Benefits

    Lost benefits, such as insurance, from the death.

  2. Lost Inheritance

    Loss of inheritance from an untimely death.

  3. Expenses

    Expenses associated with the death, such as medical and funeral bills.

  4. Pain and Suffering

    Pain, suffering or mental anguish suffered by the survivor of the decedent.

  5. Lost Support

    Financial difficulties without the support of the deceased.

04

Why It Takes Work

Proving Liability in a Wrongful Death Case

To prove liability in a wrongful death case means showing the jury who is responsible for the person’s unnatural and untimely death. Since the person is already deceased, it can be quite a challenging task to show what caused the untimely death, and that the death would not have occurred in the absence of such cause(s).

At The Law Offices of Joel Silberman, LLC, we understand that wrongful death can be overwhelming for the families and that’s why we provide the best possible service of handling your case with compassion. We have both the experience and resources needed to litigate even the most complex wrongful death lawsuits.

Two people shaking hands over case documents
05

Do Not Wait

Deadlines

  • New Jersey’s Wrongful Death Act generally requires the lawsuit to be filed within two years of the death.
  • Claims against a town, county or state agency also need a written notice of claim, generally within 90 days.
  • An Attorney General investigation of the death does not pause these deadlines. See the Police Accountability Tracker.

Speak With Joel Silberman

Has a Loved One Died at the Hands of Another?

If a loved one has perished at the hands of another, please call The Law Offices of Joel Silberman, LLC at 201-420-1913 or email us at joel@joelsilbermanlaw.com for a free consultation.