What is the Average Wrongful Death Settlement in New Jersey?
The average settlement award in a New Jersey wrongful death lawsuit is difficult to quantify because many of those settlements are confidential or unreported. Further, every wrongful death settlement amount is based on the unique facts and circumstances of the case. Wrongful death settlements and jury awards have been obtained in amounts ranging from tens of thousands to millions of dollars, though it is important to keep in mind that past legal results are not guarantees for future outcomes.
The wrongful death lawyers at the Harrell Law Firm in Wall Township understand how the accidental death of a beloved family member can cause serious upheavals in a family’s day-to-day existence, both emotionally and financially. We appreciate that the affection and support that an accident victim provided can never be replaced. However, by pursuing the largest available wrongful death settlement on your behalf, we strive to obtain justice for your loved one and help your family to move forward at this incredibly difficult time.
Calculating a Wrongful Death Settlement in New Jersey
A New Jersey wrongful death settlement will reimburse surviving family members for the losses they suffer as a result of the untimely demise of their loved one. To calculate those losses, a New Jersey wrongful death attorney will analyze and add up:
- Medical expenses that the family paid following the incident that caused the death
- Cost of a funeral and internment
- Reimbursement of lost future financial support
- The value of household services, companionship, advice, and guidance
Certain wrongful death expenses that are reimbursed through a settlement will be evidenced by invoices, such as medical and funeral bills. Other expenses, such as future financial support, can only be estimated.
A highly skilled and experienced New Jersey personal injury lawyer is best able to make those estimates and verify that surviving family members are not shortchanged in any settlements offered by negligent parties and their liability insurance carriers.
Steps to Take After a Wrongful Death in New Jersey
The family members of a victim who dies as a result of someone else’s negligence or intentional misconduct should not hesitate to contact a wrongful death attorney as soon as possible after that death.
The New Jersey statute of limitations typically gives surviving family members two years from the date of death to file a wrongful death lawsuit, but this deadline may be affected by the State’s “discovery rule”, which comes into play when the deceased victim knew or should have known the cause or origin of his or her fatal accident or illness prior to the date of death.
Consider, for example, where an accident victim suffers an injury due to a faulty product and does not file a personal injury lawsuit, but subsequently dies as a result of that injury. Because the incident that caused a death could have been discovered before the date on which the victim died, the time limit for filing a wrongful death lawsuit might begin at an earlier date.
When you enlist the help of a wrongful death attorney as soon as possible after your loved one’s death, you ensure that you can take all necessary steps to avoid missing a crucial filing date deadline.
How a Wrongful Death Lawyer in New Jersey Can Help
Insurance companies have incentives to settle wrongful death cases quickly and for amounts that are far less than surviving family members deserve. Once family members sign a settlement agreement and accept funds, they lose all opportunities to recover additional damages that they may be entitled to receive.
A wrongful death lawyer will manage all communications and negotiations with insurance companies and push for the maximum compensation that accounts for all losses and expenses that are deserved by the victim’s family.
Contact the Harrell Law Firm in Wall Township
The personal injury lawyers at Harrell Injury Law have extensive experience in filing wrongful death lawsuits and recovering maximum compensation for aggrieved family members of victims who died as a result of someone else’s negligence or willful misconduct. We offer no-fee consultations and confidential assessments of your case.
