The driver of the boat was your husband’s friend. What the friend planned to do was take your husband out for a pleasant afternoon on the Great Egg Harbor River in New Jersey. The owner and operator of the boat meant to do something enjoyable for your husband, and the last thing on his mind was that he could die.

Despite your grief, you know that the boat operator had no ill intent. However, that doesn’t change what happened – and it also does not change the loss that your family is experiencing. Whether or not your husband’s death was an accident, it is important to pursue a wrongful death claim so that you can recover damages.

Damages can include:

•      Medical bills
•     Funeral costs
•     Lost income
•      Out-of-pocket costs
•     Pain and suffering and other damages

The money that you recover likely won’t come directly from the owner of the boat or the operator, but rather from that person’s insurance company.

It’s likely the first time that you have to consider a wrongful death case. The passing of a loved one is always a difficult and painful experience. As you start figuring out what to do during this difficult time, remember that each state has its own statutes and interpretations of “wrongful death.”

In New Jersey, the wrongful death statute considers death to be wrongful if it is caused by neglect, wrongful actions or the default of another person.

The wrongful death statute in New Jersey allows you to seek monetary damages such as:

• Loss of income – this includes the wages or salary the deceased would have earned and given to you.
• Loss of services – this includes the economic value of the loss of assistance, guidance, training, and services that the deceased would have provided you.
• Funeral and medical expenses that you have incurred.

At Cooper Levenson, we know the death of a loved one is distressing. In such challenging times, we would like to extend our service to you to ease your pain. We are experienced at handling wrongful death cases and can get you through these difficult times even though we know that no amount of money can make up for the loss. We can help you receive the full compensation that you are legally entitled to and give you one less thing to worry about.

Cooper Levenson is a full-service law firm established in 1957. The firm includes 70 attorneys with offices in Atlantic City and Cherry Hill, N.J.; New York, N.Y.; Wilmington, Del.; Fort Lauderdale, Fla, and Las Vegas, Nev. Cooper Levenson personal injury attorneys can be reached at (609) 572-7788.