Buffalo Wrongful Death Lawyer

Why Choose Us?

At Feroleto Law, we understand that choosing the right legal representation after a wrongful death is critical. Your choice of an attorney can significantly impact the outcome of your case and the quality of support you receive during a difficult time. Here are some compelling reasons why you should choose Feroleto Law to handle your wrongful death case:

1. Decades of Experience: Our firm boasts nearly 40 years of successfully handling wrongful death cases throughout Buffalo, Amherst and Western New York. Our attorneys have honed their skills and legal expertise in this complex field of law. You can trust that we have the knowledge and track record to advocate effectively on your behalf.
2. Specialization in Wrongful Death Cases: Wrongful death cases are complex and demand specific expertise. Our attorneys focus on wrongful death law and the intricacies of complex truck accidents and construction site accidents ensuring we can successfully help you navigate these intricate cases.
3. Compassionate and Supportive: We recognize that losing a loved one is an incredibly painful experience. Our team is committed to providing compassionate and empathetic support to you and your family throughout the legal process. We take the time to listen to your concerns, address your questions, and guide you with sensitivity, ensuring that you never feel alone during this trying period.
4. Proven Results: Our firm has a strong record of securing favorable outcomes for our clients in wrongful death cases. We have obtained substantial settlements and verdicts that have helped families cover medical expenses and funeral costs, replace lost income, and find closure. Our commitment to achieving results for our clients is unwavering.
5. Resources and Expertise: We have the necessary resources to conduct thorough investigations, hire expert witnesses, and build a compelling case. We leave no stone unturned in our pursuit of justice, ensuring that all responsible parties are held accountable.
6. Personalized Legal Strategies: Recognizing that every wrongful death case is unique, we approach each with a personalized legal strategy. Your situation is unlike any other, and we tailor our approach to your specific circumstances, ensuring that your case receives the attention and focus it deserves.

Damages Our Buffalo Wrongful Death Attorney May Recover for You

No amount of monetary compensation can make up for the loss of a loved one’s life. But when financial burden comes on top of grief and emotional disruption, it makes a loved one’s death even more unbearable. An unexpected death can result in significant expenses for a decedent’s family and dependents, along with decreased future earnings and loss of contributions for a family and household.

Letting a wrongful death lawyer help you recover compensation is essential. Wrongful death damages often involve both quantifiable economic damages, such as lost future income, and non-quantifiable damages, such as pain and suffering.

Damages that wrongful death lawyers can recover include:

• Funeral and burial expenses
• Medical expenses from before a decedent’s death
• Lost wages and lost future income for supporting a household and dependents
• Compensation for the decedent’s pain and suffering before death
• Loss of inheritance and a reduction in assets that the deceased would have passed along
• The loss of parental support that would have been provided to children.

Determining Negligence in a Wrongful Death Case

A wrongful death case does not have to involve ill will or malicious intent to be successful. Rather, a Buffalo wrongful death attorney must show only that an opposing party was negligent and that this negligence caused the decedent’s death. Negligence can be broken down as:

• A party owed your loved one a duty of care.
• That party breached this duty of care by acting recklessly or negligently.
• The party’s breach of care caused your loved one’s death.

If wrongful death attorneys in Buffalo can prove that negligence directly contributed to the death of your loved one, you may be able to sue.

How We Can Help Your Case

When you are faced with the devastating loss of a loved one due to wrongful death, the legal complexities and emotional burdens can be overwhelming. Here’s how we can specifically assist you with your case:

• Comprehensive Case Evaluation: We begin by thoroughly evaluating your case. We take the time to listen to your story, understand the circumstances surrounding your loved one’s death, and assess the legal merit of your case. This initial step is crucial in determining the best course of action to pursue.
• Identifying Liable Parties: Determining who is responsible for your loved one’s wrongful death can be complex. Our attorneys have the knowledge and resources to identify all potentially liable parties, whether it’s a negligent individual, a company, or a government entity. Holding the right parties accountable is crucial to securing the compensation you deserve.
• Investigating the facts:  Often our investigations reveal facts the other side is trying to hide.  It isn’t only the seconds before the incident that matter, but all of the events for days, months and sometimes even years that leads to the negligent actions.  We investigate every avenue to make sure your loved one’s story is told.
• Pursuing Maximum Compensation: We understand the financial burdens that can arise following a wrongful death. Our legal team will work diligently to recover the maximum compensation available under the law. Our goal is to ensure that you and your family are provided for financially in the aftermath of your loss.
• Negotiation and Settlement: Our skilled negotiators will engage with insurance companies and opposing parties to reach a fair settlement on your behalf. We are known for our tenacity in advocating for our clients’ rights and interests, and we will not settle for less than what you deserve.
• Litigation Advocacy: In cases where a fair settlement cannot be reached through negotiations, our trial-ready attorneys will not hesitate to take your case to court. We have a proven track record of successful litigation and will vigorously represent your interests in front of a judge and jury.

Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim?

A surviving spouse, child, parent, or executor of the deceased estate may be able to file a wrongful death claim.   If the person has passed away without a will, a personal representative can be named.  A personal representative can also be a family member, such as a child, parent, spouse, or sibling. Sometimes, it can be a distant relative or friend if a close family member cannot serve as the personal representative. If a wrongful death case is successful, the personal representative typically holds received compensation in a trust before it’s distributed to a decedent’s heirs and beneficiaries.

If your loved one died as a result of someone’s negligence, a wrongful death claim can help ensure that you don’t suffer financially on top of experiencing emotional hardship.

What Should I Expect After Contacting Your Wrongful Death Lawyer?

By calling our Buffalo wrongful death attorney, you’ll have the chance to discuss your case and let a qualified attorney hear your story. From there, our attorney can help to determine whether you have a strong wrongful death case, allowing you to recover damages. Our legal team can work with you and explain the wrongful death claims process and what you might expect regarding compensation.

Wrongful death lawyers know how to identify the crucial evidence needed to show that someone else’s negligence or recklessness caused a fatal accident leading to your loved one’s death. While they provide expert legal assistance, the Buffalo wrongful death attorneys at Feroleto Law take the time to care about you, not just the outcome of your case.

Our wrongful death lawyers can assist you and your case by:

• Providing legal guidance on the best steps toward securing compensation while helping you understand what to expect next and how much your case could be worth.
• Building a case by reviewing evidence surrounding your loved one’s death and looking at the current and future expenses that result from losing a loved one. Gathering information and evidence could involve reviewing documents and police reports from an accident, obtaining medical records, and speaking with expert witnesses who can provide crucial information.
• Handling negotiations with insurance companies. Even when companies and individuals are found to be at fault for a wrongful death, insurance companies may not offer fair compensation for the wrongful death. An experienced Buffalo wrongful death lawyer can negotiate with insurance companies to help ensure a fair settlement that covers the range of damages owed after a loved one’s wrongful death.

Compensation Our Buffalo Wrongful Death Attorney Can Help You Recover

The compensation our Buffalo wrongful death lawyer can help you recover will vary from case to case. Every wrongful death is a tragedy. While it would seem that being in despair is reason enough for compensation after a fatal accident, a wrongful death lawyer will have to take a close look at your case to determine its potential compensation value.

Available compensation will depend on the deceased medical expenses, decedent’s income while alive and whether the deceased supported dependents, among other factors. Additionally, non-economic damages may be awarded to compensate for non-quantifiable losses, such as the decedent’s lost ability to provide parental care and guidance.

Our experienced wrongful death attorneys in Buffalo can review your wrongful death case to determine its value and how much compensation you and your family might recover.

Advice From Our Wrongful Death Attorneys in Buffalo

Losing a family member is a deeply emotional and overwhelming experience. If you suspect their death resulted from someone else’s negligence, here are essential steps for a successful wrongful death claim:

• Seek emotional support through counseling or support groups. Connecting with others who’ve gone through similar situations can aid in healing during the often lengthy legal process.
• Act swiftly due to the New York State statute of limitations, which allows two years to file a wrongful death claim. However, shorter deadlines can apply in certain cases. Contact Feroleto Law as soon as you’re emotionally ready, to ensure ample time for your case.
• Gather evidence related to the wrongful death, such as medical records, coroner reports, and witness information. This evidence is crucial for determining the viability of a wrongful death lawsuit.
• Be patient, as resolving such cases can take time. The defendant’s lawyers may resist large settlements, especially with significant entities involved. Negotiations and trial may be necessary, with case duration varying from weeks to months.

Throughout the process, our wrongful death attorneys in Buffalo will keep you informed of developments and details as your case progresses.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need an attorney for a wrongful death case?

It is highly advisable to seek the assistance of an experienced wrongful death attorney. These cases can be legally complex, involving extensive investigations, negotiation with insurance companies, and, if necessary, litigation. A skilled attorney can ensure that your rights are protected, build a strong case on your behalf, and maximize your chances of obtaining fair compensation.

What if the responsible party is uninsured?

If the negligent party lacks insurance coverage, your attorney can explore alternative avenues for compensation. This may include seeking compensation from your own insurance policies, such as uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, or pursuing claims against other potentially liable parties, such as manufacturers of defective products.

What are the limits to punitive damages in New York?

You may also be eligible for additional punitive damages after receiving full compensation for your loved one’s loss. Pursuing punitive damages can significantly boost your claim’s value. In New York, there is no limit on punitive damages.  The amount you can receive depends on the specifics of the case, including the defendant’s conduct, its impact, and your losses.

Contact Our Wrongful Death Lawyers at Feroleto Law

Count on Our Experience. Trust in Our Knowledge. Rely on Our Skill.

Dealing with the loss of a loved one is incredibly tough.  While nothing can bring them back, you shouldn’t face financial hardships due to their death. Contact your Buffalo lawyers at Feroleto Law if you suspect wrongful death. We believe you shouldn’t bear financial burdens because of a loved one’s passing.

Our legal team will protect your rights and hold the responsible party accountable. With nearly 40 years of experience, we understand your pain and are committed to seeking justice and closure. Contact us at 716-854-0700 to schedule your free consultation.

Attorney John Feroleto

Attorney John Feroleto understands the value of hard work. He is known in the community and by his peers for his willingness to work and go the extra mile. Other lawyers often ask John to handle their trial matters to maximize clients’ recovery. Trial lawyers know who the best trial lawyers are. He was also named Trial Attorney of the Year in 2012 by the Western New York Affiliate of New York State Trial Lawyers Association. [ Attorney Bio ]