The thought of losing a loved one to a workplace accident is unfathomable. Unfortunately, accidents do happen and sometimes they result in death. It is important to know your rights if you find yourself in the unthinkable situation of having to file a death claim.
The Workers’ Compensation Law in New York provides lost wages to family members to replace income lost due to the death of a spouse or parent. The law also provides reimbursement for funeral expenses. You may be eligible to receive such benefits if you are a widow/widower, a minor child, a parent, or a relative who was dependent upon the deceased.
Due to the nature of work-related deaths and the significant amount of money benefits that can result, these cases are often denied by the insurance company. This means that the case must be litigated before a decision can be made. Even if your case is won at the trial level, death claims are often challenged on appeal.
For these reasons it is important to speak with an experienced Workers’ Compensation lawyer as soon as possible if a loved one has died due to a workplace accident or occupational exposure. Work-related death claims involve a heightened level of investigation that can include gathering witness statements, hiring an investigator, issuing subpoenas, visiting the accident site, reviewing years of medical records, and hiring independent medical consultants, all depending on the facts and circumstances. At MCV Law, we have been handling work-related death claims for over 40 years and have the knowledge, resources, and compassion to be successful for you and your family when tragedy strikes.
Nothing will bring back the loss of your loved one, and you should not have to worry about how you will support your family financially with the loss of income. MCV Law can help get you through such a difficult time so you can focus on celebrating and remembering the life of your loved one.