Did you lose a family member because of negligence in Garden City, NY?
At Isaacson, Schiowitz & Korson, LLP, we help families in Garden City hold negligent parties accountable after the loss of a loved one.
If you lost a family member because of another party’s negligence, a Garden City, NY wrongful death lawyer can help you pursue accountability and the compensation your family is owed. Isaacson, Schiowitz & Korson, LLP has represented injured New Yorkers and grieving families for decades. Our attorneys handle the investigation, the liability analysis, and the negotiation that a fatal-accident claim requires. These cases are difficult, and they are also time-sensitive. We manage each step of the claim so your family does not have to. Contact our office to arrange a free case review.
Wrongful Death Lawyer Garden City, NY
A Garden City wrongful death attorney represents the family of a person killed by another party’s negligence or wrongful act. The claim seeks to hold the responsible party accountable and to recover the losses the death causes those left behind. It is brought by the personal representative of the decedent’s estate on behalf of the surviving family members. Those family members, known as distributees, are the close relatives who depended on the person for financial support or guidance.
Accidents, which the government classifies as unintentional injuries, were the third-leading cause of death in the United States in 2024, behind only heart disease and cancer, according to CDC data. Nassau County injury data shows that traffic-related injuries alone are a leading cause of injury death among county residents. Garden City sees fatal crashes on its busier roads and parkways, and other fatal incidents occur in its workplaces, medical settings, and public spaces. A Garden City wrongful death lawyer works to connect a preventable death to the negligence behind it.
Types of Wrongful Death Cases We Handle in Garden City
Fatal accidents happen in many ways, and the cause shapes how a wrongful death claim is built. Our attorneys handle claims arising from the incidents below, among others. A Garden City wrongful death lawyer adapts the investigation to the cause of the loss. The cause also affects who can be held responsible and which insurance coverage applies.
- Car accidents. Fatal collisions are among the most common sources of wrongful death claims in Garden City. We examine the crash, the vehicles, and each driver’s conduct to establish liability.
- Truck accidents. The size of a commercial truck makes its collisions especially deadly. We pursue the driver and the trucking company, and we move quickly to preserve logs and other records.
- Motorcycle accidents. Riders killed by negligent drivers leave families facing a sudden loss. We counter the bias riders often meet and pursue the full measure of the claim.
- Pedestrian accidents. A pedestrian struck by a vehicle can suffer fatal injuries. We hold the driver accountable and identify every source of coverage available to the family.
- Uber accidents. A fatal crash involving an Uber vehicle brings rideshare coverage into the claim. We determine which policy applies based on the driver’s status in the app.
- Lyft accidents. Lyft crashes follow the same coverage structure as other rideshare cases. Our attorneys handle claims against the platform and its insurers.
- Train accidents. A collision at a rail crossing or on a platform can cause fatal injuries. These claims involve their own rules and call for prompt investigation.
- Medical malpractice. A death caused by a preventable medical error can support a wrongful death claim. We work with qualified medical professionals to establish the standard of care and how it was breached. Hospitals and providers defend these claims closely, and an early medical review is important.
- Construction accidents. Fatal falls and site incidents often involve several responsible parties. We pursue the contractors and others whose negligence contributed to the death. More than one company may share responsibility for a fatal site failure.
Why Choose Isaacson, Schiowitz & Korson, LLP as my Wrongful Death Lawyer in Garden City, NY?
Experience With High-Stakes Loss Claims
Our founder, Martin Schiowitz, has represented New York families since 1973 and built the firm’s work in serious personal injury and wrongful death litigation. Jeremy Schiowitz has spent more than sixteen years handling complex injury claims through trial and appeal across Long Island and New York City. Both hold Super Lawyers recognition. Such experience is what families should look for in a personal injury lawyer in Garden City, NY.
Results in Serious Injury and Accident Claims
Isaacson, Schiowitz & Korson, LLP has recovered over $200 million for injured clients and their families across New York. Representative results across the kinds of incidents that lead to wrongful death claims include:
- $2,800,000 in a car accident case
- $2,000,000 in a government liability claim
- $1,200,000 in a premises liability case
- $765,000 in a construction accident case
We handle wrongful death claims on a contingency basis, so a fee is owed only when we recover for the family. The family pays nothing up front, and costs come out of the recovery.
Understanding Wrongful Death Cases
Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Wrongful Death Cases
New York law limits wrongful death damages to the pecuniary, or economic, losses the death causes the surviving family under EPTL § 5-4.3. These commonly include lost financial support, the value of lost parental guidance, and funeral and burial expenses. Because these losses are measured in economic terms, the value of a wrongful death claim often depends on the decedent’s earnings, age, and the support that family members received. New York does not currently allow recovery for the family’s grief or emotional suffering in a wrongful death claim, and proposals to change that have not become law.
Liability depends on proving that another party’s negligence caused the death. Proving liability often depends on evidence gathered soon after the incident. That evidence may include the scene, the vehicles or equipment involved, and the accounts of witnesses. New York applies pure comparative negligence to these claims under CPLR § 1411, which reduces a recovery by the decedent’s share of fault rather than barring it. The 2026 amendment that created a stricter rule for motor vehicle injury cases does not extend to wrongful death actions, so the pure comparative rule continues to govern a fatal-accident claim. A Garden City wrongful death attorney documents both the liability and the family’s economic losses so the demand reflects the full value of the claim.
Important Aspects of a Wrongful Death Case
A few features set wrongful death claims apart, and they deserve attention from the first days after a loss.
- The claim must be brought by the personal representative of the decedent’s estate, which sometimes requires opening an estate first.
- A wrongful death action carries a two-year deadline from the date of death under EPTL § 5-4.1, which is shorter than the three-year window for most personal injury claims under CPLR 214.
- Evidence of both liability and the family’s losses is strongest when it is gathered early.
Because a fatal-accident claim depends on evidence that does not remain available indefinitely, prompt action protects the family’s ability to recover. Witness memories fade, and physical evidence at a scene is often cleared within days. A wrongful death lawyer can begin the investigation while the record is still intact.
Wrongful Death Case Timeline
Every wrongful death claim follows its own timeline, though most move through familiar stages. A claim with disputed liability or complex facts takes longer to resolve.
- Appointment of the personal representative and opening of the estate
- Investigation of the cause of death and the responsible parties
- A demand presented to the responsible insurers
- Negotiation, and a lawsuit if the offer is inadequate
- Discovery and, in most cases, resolution through a settlement or trial
Most wrongful death claims proceed as a civil case separate from any criminal case that may arise from the same event. A wrongful death attorney handles the civil claim and keeps the family informed as it moves. Most claims resolve without a trial, though we prepare each one as though it will proceed to court.
What to Bring to Your Wrongful Death Consultation
A few documents help our attorneys evaluate a wrongful death claim at the first meeting. None are required, and we can obtain most records for the family.
- Any accident, police, or incident report
- The death certificate, if it is available
- Documents showing the decedent’s income and financial support
- Medical records connected to the death
The consultation is free and confidential. You will leave with a clear understanding of whether the family has a claim and how we would proceed. There is no obligation to move forward after the meeting.
Reach Out to Isaacson, Schiowitz & Korson, LLP to Schedule a Consultation
If your family lost a loved one to another party’s negligence, our Garden City wrongful death attorneys are ready to review the claim and explain your options. The consultation is free, and you owe no fee unless we recover compensation for the family. You can expect clear guidance and respectful, steady communication. Contact us to learn how our personal injury legal team can help.
