Seeking Compensation & Justice for Families After the Unthinkable
When someone’s negligence causes a loved one’s death, grief collides with urgent financial questions: How do we pay the medical bills? What about mortgage payments? The Law Offices of Craig A. Altman stands in solidarity with surviving spouses, children, and parents throughout South Jersey.
Motor‑vehicle crashes remain the leading cause of accidental fatalities statewide, with South Jersey counties accounting for roughly 35 % of annual roadway deaths.*
Workplace incidents, especially in construction and trucking, claimed 22 lives in New Jersey last year.
Medical‑error fatalities exceed 1,000 deaths annually, according to state hospital reports.
*Data compiled from NJDOT Fatality Analysis Reporting System and NJ Department of Health injury surveillance.
Our New Jersey wrongful death attorneys move quickly to identify responsible parties, preserve evidence, and pursue the compensation your family needs to rebuild.
From our Vineland office, we fight for injured South Jersey residents across Camden, Burlington, Gloucester, Cumberland, Atlantic, Cape May, and Salem Counties.
Why Choose Our New Jersey Wrongful Death Attorneys?
Decades of complex wrongful death litigation. From tractor‑trailer collisions to surgical errors, we know how to assemble evidence and value lifetime economic loss.
Comprehensive damages strategy. Economists, vocational experts, and grief counselors quantify lost wages, household services, and the support the family deserves.
Coordination with the Survival Act claims. We pursue both wrongful death damages for surviving family members and Survival Act damages for the estate’s medical expenses and conscious pain.
Contingency‑fee representation. Initial consultations are free; no legal fee is owed unless we obtain a recovery.
New Jersey Wrongful Death Laws That Shape Your Claim
Statute / Rule | Key Takeaways |
|---|---|
New Jersey Wrongful Death Act (N.J.S.A. 2A:31‑1 et seq.) | Allows a personal representative to sue for financial losses suffered by the deceased person’s estate and statutory beneficiaries. |
Survival Act (N.J.S.A. 2A:15‑3) | Estate recovers the decedent’s pre‑death medical expenses and pain and suffering. |
Two‑Year Statute of Limitations (N.J.S.A. 2A:31‑3) | File a wrongful death lawsuit within 2 years of the loved one’s wrongful death (different rules for minors & criminal homicide). |
Distribution of Proceeds (N.J.S.A. 2A:31‑4) | Damages are divided among the surviving spouse, children, surviving parents, or next of kin based on actual dependence. |
No Cap on Damages (Common‑law; N.J.S.A. 2A:15‑5.12) | Economic & non‑economic wrongful‑death damages are uncapped in New Jersey; punitive damages are possible for egregious conduct. |
Common Causes of New Jersey Wrongful Death Cases
Event | Typical Scenario | Responsible Parties |
Truck & Car Accidents | Drunk, distracted, or speeding drivers | At‑fault driver, trucking company, vehicle manufacturer |
Construction Site Accidents | Falls, electrocutions, equipment malfunctions | General contractor, subcontractor, equipment maker |
Medical Malpractice | Misdiagnosis, surgical errors, and birth trauma | Hospitals, physicians, and medical device companies |
Defective Products | Exploding batteries, faulty brakes | Product manufacturers, distributors, and retailers |
Pedestrian & Bicycle Collisions | Unsafe crosswalks, negligent motorists | Driver, municipality (road design), property owner |
Damages Available in Wrongful Death Lawsuits
Economic Losses | Non‑Economic Losses |
Lost wages & benefits the decedent would have provided | Loss of care, guidance, and companionship for surviving family members |
Funeral and burial expenses | Emotional distress of beneficiaries (in separate negligent‑infliction claims) |
Loss of household services including childcare and home maintenance |
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Final medical bills & related expenses (via the Survival Act) |
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Because New Jersey places no cap on compensatory wrongful‑death damages, juries can award amounts reflecting the full financial support the family has lost.
Steps to Protect Your Wrongful Death Case
Request the death certificate and any coroner or autopsy reports as soon as available.
Preserve evidence from the fatal accident such as the vehicle, medical records, defective product, or job‑site photographs.
Appoint or confirm the deceased estate’s personal representative; only they may file the claim.
Avoid direct talks with an insurance company seeking a quick settlement.
Contact a New Jersey wrongful death lawyer promptly to meet filing deadlines and locate all responsible parties.
Wrongful Death Claim FAQs
Who can sue for wrongful death in New Jersey?
The estate’s personal representative files the claim for the benefit of the surviving spouse, children, parents, or other dependents.
How are damages divided in a New Jersey wrongful death claim?
Courts apportion damages according to each beneficiary’s actual financial dependence on the decedent.
How do you prove wrongful death?
You must show that the defendant’s negligence or misconduct caused the deceased person’s fatal injury and that the survivors suffered financial loss.
What fees do wrongful death lawyers charge?
We work on a contingency basis, generally capped at a percentage of the first $750,000 recovered, as per Court Rule 1:21-7.
Get a Free Consultation With a South Jersey Wrongful Death Attorney
If someone else’s negligence claimed your loved one’s life, you have the right to seek accountability and financial compensation. Contact the Law Offices of Craig A. Altman for a free consultation and learn how we pursue justice for grieving families across Camden, Gloucester, Burlington, Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, and Salem Counties.
$20 Million
Wrongful Death in New Jersey
$2 Million
Longshoreman Injury in New Jersey
$1.3 Million
Workplace Injury in New Jersey
$1 Million
Workplace Accident in New Jersey
$825,000
Workplace Injury in New Jersey
$750,000
Individual Harmed by an Exploding Thermos
$550,000
Neck & Back Injuries
$440,000
Workplace Injury in New Jersey
$400,000
Motor Vehicle Accident
$300,000
Minor with a Broken Leg
$300,000
Injuries Resulting From a Trip & Fall
$250,000
Pedestrian Accident
Injured? Tell Us Your Story. We’ll Handle the Rest.
Call To Speak To A Lawyer For A Free Case Evaluation.
Cases We Handle in New Jersey
Injured at work, in an accident, or in a slip-and-fall in New Jersey?
From comparative-fault rules to the Workers’ Compensation Act, the Altman Team knows New Jersey law inside out. Whether your claim arises in Mercer, Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Atlantic, Cumberland, Salem, or Cape May County, we will protect your legal rights and help you get every dollar you deserve.
You owe us nothing unless we recover compensation for you.