There is no greater loss than the death of a loved one. Every state in the country has enacted a Wrongful Death Act to protect victims who die from the negligence of others. The Wrongful Death Act sets forth the type of damages that a loved one can recover in the event of death caused by another’s fault. Unfortunately, all states view damages recoverable from death differently. Some states allow more and some less.

If you believe that you may have a wrongful death case, please contact us immediately. You should insist on an autopsy if there is any dispute as to the cause of death, especially in medical malpractice cases. If the hospital refuses, you have the right to order a private autopsy.

The damages that are typically recoverable in the event of death are conscious pain and suffering, future lost wages to any living dependents, medical bills incurred prior to death, funeral benefits, and the loss of guidance, advice and companionship for the surviving heirs. Only a few states allow the survivors to recover mental anguish caused by the loss of a loved one.

Both Andy Rossetti and Lou DeVoto have handled many wrongful death cases in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Please call us for a free consultation to discuss your case. In the meantime, if you would like to learn more about New Jersey’s Wrongful Death Act please go to our question and answer section or read Andy Rossetti’s article on wrongful death in New Jersey.

To learn more, click here to read the Wrongful Death FAQs

RECENT VERDICTS and SETTLEMENTS in WRONGFUL DEATH CASES

• $7.1 Million settlement for the wife and children of a man who was tragically killed when a tractor trailer driver crashed into the family car on the NJ Turnpike. Andy Rossetti represented the family. – One of the Top 20 Personal Injury Awards of the Year in New Jersey.
• $2,225,000 settlement paid by the City of Camden for deaths of three children who died as a result of a negligent police search after the children went missing. Andy Rossetti represented one of the families.

• $2.3 Million Jury Verdict by a Camden County Judge to a 29-year-old Sewell, New Jersey mother and her 5-year-old daughter for damages arising from the death of their husband/father. The wife was only 24 years old and pregnant with the couple’s first child when her husband was killed in a car crash. Another driver disregarded a stop sign and a red flashing light and collided into his van at 50 mph. Lou DeVoto represented the mom and her young daughter.  One of the Top Settlements of the year in New Jersey. 

• $1.85 Million settlement against the City of Camden for the family of a murder victim after the City negligently misplaced a 911 call and failed to respond to a violent crime in progress. Andy Rossetti represented the family.

• $1.5 Million medical malpractice settlement for the widow, of a 43 year old man, who died after being negligently treated by a doctor and nurse at a South Jersey hospital in January 1999. Lou DeVoto uncovered grave medication errors made by a nurse and pulmonologist at a South Jersey hospital which caused the death of the man.

• $— Confidential Medical Malpractice settlement against Hospital of University of Pennsylvania for wrongful discharge and death of patient leading to infection and death.  Lou DeVoto represented the family.

• $850,000 product liability settlement after Mediation for wrongful death caused by the combination of unstable furniture and a front heavy television.  Andy Rossetti handled the case that uncovered widespread industry knowledge of the problem.

• $950,000 medical malpractice settlement for our client who died from the failure of a rehabilitation hospital to position a feeding tube correctly resulting in a massive infection, sepsis and eventual organ failure.  The defendant’s denied liability claiming that the patient was compromised before the feeding tube mishap claiming that the incident was not the cause of the death.  Lou DeVoto represented the family.

• $900,000 settlement for the wrongful death of 75 year old women who was injured and died of a head injury after she tripped over negligently located parking bumpers in a South Jersey shopping center.  Lou DeVoto represented the family.