Recently, the New York State Assembly and New York State Senate passed the Grieving Families Act. If the governor signs this bill into law, it will allow families of wrongful death victims to recover damages for grief and anguish.
What’s in the Grieving Families Act?
According to CBS News New York, since the 19th century, New York wrongful death lawsuits have been allowing the families of wrongful death victims to recover damages based on a victim’s income but not grief and anguish. This means that under the current law the amount in damages that can be awarded to the families of wrongful death victims with low incomes (or no incomes) is very small.
Allowing grief and anguish damages to be included as part of wrongful death claims would level the playing field and help families of victims who were children, seniors, or low income adults in a big way. If the Grieving Families Act is signed into law, it would become effective immediately and impact all pending cases.
The Grieving Families Act does more than just allow the families of wrongful death victims to recover damages for grief and anguish. It also extends the statute of limitations for filing wrongful death lawsuits from 2 years to 3 1/2 years.
Schedule a Free Consultation with Our Experienced Wrongful Death Attorneys Today
DeLorenzo, Grasso & Dalmata, LLP has been serving Schenectady and the Capital Region since 1948. Our experienced personal injury attorneys have helped countless clients in the aftermath of deadly accidents, including helping them avoid legal pitfalls as they hold those whose negligence is responsible for the loss of their loved ones accountable.
Throughout the years, we have successfully guided several families of wrongful death victims through the legal process of recovering compensation for their losses, including securing financial assistance for hospital bills, loss of income, and funeral costs.
For more information about DeLorenzo, Grasso & Dalmata, LLP, and the many clients we have helped over the years, review our case results.
To discuss your situation with our experienced wrongful death lawyers, give us a call at (518) 299-0314 or reach out to us online today for a free consultation.