Wrongful Death Lawyer in Paramus

Losing someone unexpectedly is one of the most devastating experiences a family can face. If you are searching for a Paramus wrongful death lawyer, you are probably overwhelmed and in need of answers. During such an emotional time, having the right legal support matters. Wrongful death claims are filed on behalf of the deceased’s family member seeking justice and compensation.

As an NJ wrongful death attorney, the experienced Paramus wrongful death attorneys at Brach Eichler Injury Lawyers offer compassionate guidance and experienced representation to help families pursue justice after a fatal accident. Our experienced attorneys can guide you through the legal process, ensuring your rights are protected every step of the way. We are here to listen, answer your questions, and handle the legal process so you do not have to face it alone.

Call (973) 364-8300 or contact us to schedule a confidential, free consultation with a Paramus personal injury lawyer. There are no upfront costs, and we work on a contingency fee basis—meaning you only pay if your case is successful.

What Is a Wrongful Death Lawsuit?

In New Jersey, a wrongful death lawsuit is a legal action that can be filed when a person dies due to a wrongful act, including someone else’s negligent, reckless, or intentional actions. Wrongful death lawsuits are similar to a personal injury lawsuit, but they are brought on behalf of the deceased by a personal representative. A wrongful death claim is a type of personal injury claim that arises when the victim does not survive their injuries. Under New Jersey’s wrongful death laws, the plaintiff can seek compensation for the loss of the deceased, including money for lost income, funeral costs, and other losses related to the death. New Jersey’s comparative negligence law allows families to recover damages in wrongful death lawsuits even if the deceased was partially at fault for the incident.

Wrongful death cases can stem from a variety of incidents, such as:

• Motor vehicle accidents, such as car, truck, and motorcycles
• Medical malpractice
• Dangerous property conditions
• Workplace injuries
• Defective or unsafe products

In Paramus and throughout Bergen County, high-traffic roadways like Route 4 and the Garden State Parkway are frequent sites of serious and sometimes fatal collisions. According to New Jersey State Police crash data, Bergen County reported 40 traffic-related fatalities in 2024, many of which involved preventable negligence.

Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim in Paramus?

In New Jersey, only the personal representative of the deceased person’s estate is allowed to file a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of the deceased person. The claim is filed for the purpose of seeking compensation for the losses suffered by the family. While that individual initiates the claim, any financial recovery is meant to benefit surviving family members who depended on the deceased. This may include:

• A surviving spouse
• Children
• Parents
• Siblings, nieces, or nephews who relied on the deceased for support

What Must Be Proven in a Wrongful Death Case?

To succeed in a wrongful death lawsuit based on negligence, your wrongful death attorney in Paramus must establish four key elements:

• Duty of Care – The defendant owed a legal duty to the deceased to act with reasonable care (for example, a driver must operate their vehicle safely).
• Breach of Duty – The party’s negligence or someone else’s negligence led to a breach of that duty, through negligent, reckless, or wrongful behavior.
• Causation – This failure directly caused a fatal injury or fatal injuries that resulted in the person’s death. The details of how the accident occurred or when an accident occurs are important for building the case.
• Damages – The surviving family members experienced measurable losses as a result.

Proving these elements within the legal system requires more than just a basic claim. Your wrongful death lawyer in Paramus will need to conduct a thorough investigation, gather strong evidence, consult expert witnesses, and apply in-depth knowledge of both personal injury and estate law.

Establishing these elements is necessary to recover damages from the at-fault party.

Additionally, some types of cases don’t require a showing of negligence. In New Jersey, that includes deaths caused by dog bites and by products used as intended that malfunctioned and caused a death.

Recoverable Damages in a Wrongful Death Claim

Families may be eligible to recover compensation and financial compensation for their losses through a wrongful death claim in New Jersey, including:

• Medical expenses related to the final injury or illness, such as medical bills and medical costs
• Funeral and burial costs
• Lost wages, loss of the deceased’s income, benefits, or financial support
• Loss of services the deceased provided at home
• Loss of companionship and guidance

Securing fair and just compensation and maximum compensation is crucial for families facing these hardships. The goal in these cases is to obtain fair compensation to help alleviate the financial burden.

While New Jersey law does not permit the recovery of emotional losses in wrongful death cases, a separate survival action may be possible if the deceased experienced pain and suffering, emotional trauma, personal injuries, or physical injuries before death. An attorney can evaluate whether you may be able to recover damages and recover compensation through both kinds of claims in your situation.

Wrongful Death vs. Survival Action

Wrongful death claims and survival actions are separate but often pursued together in fatal accident cases, and both are similar to a personal injury case or personal injury cases, though they have different legal standards:

• Wrongful Death Claim (N.J.S.A. 2A:31-1 et seq.) – Brought to recover losses suffered by surviving family members, such as income and companionship. These are known as wrongful death lawsuits and arise from situations like neglect, accidents, or criminal acts.
• Survival Action (N.J.S.A. 2A:15-3) – Filed on behalf of the deceased’s estate to seek compensation for pain, suffering, and other losses the person experienced before death, much like a personal injury case would if the victim had survived.

Each claim involves different legal standards and evidence, but pursuing both may be necessary to address the emotional and financial impact of the loss entirely. Our legal team has extensive experience handling wrongful death lawsuits and survival actions, guiding clients through the complexities of these personal injury cases to ensure fair compensation.

How a Paramus Wrongful Death Lawyer Helps

Grieving the loss of a loved one is hard enough without the added stress of legal proceedings. That’s why having experienced legal representation in wrongful death and personal injury claims is crucial. As a trusted New Jersey wrongful death lawyer serving Paramus, NJ, Brach Eichler Injury Lawyers is dedicated to helping families pursue compensation and recover compensation for their losses after a personal injury accident or fatal incident involving serious injuries. Our legal team is committed to securing maximum compensation for our clients. We handle the legal work so you can focus on healing. Our team supports clients by:

• Collecting police reports, surveillance footage, and witness statements
• Working with accident reconstruction specialists and medical experts
• Calculating the full extent of your financial and emotional losses
• Negotiating with the insurance company on your behalf and countering their tactics to deny or reduce claims
• Preparing for trial if a fair settlement is not offered

We handle personal injury claims and wrongful death cases, guiding clients through the process of seeking compensation and ensuring their rights are protected. Acting quickly is essential. Evidence can be lost, and New Jersey’s statute of limitations generally gives you only two years from the date of death to file a wrongful death lawsuit. Early legal action helps preserve your rights and strengthens your case.

Wrongful Death Cases Involving Motor Vehicle Collisions

Paramus roads like Route 17 and Midland Avenue have been the sites of fatal crashes involving commercial vehicles, drunk drivers, distracted motorists, and car accidents. When an accident occurs on these busy roads, fatal injuries often result, especially in cases involving a motor vehicle accident. When we’re called in to work on these cases, Brach Eichler Injury Lawyers quickly secures evidence, identifies liable parties, and builds strong claims. Our attorneys understand the complexities of fatal traffic cases, including those arising from car accidents, and how insurers try to limit payouts. We represent families in car, truck, motorcycle, and pedestrian death claims with the focus and legal experience these cases demand.

Workplace Accidents and Fatalities

When a death occurs on the job, surviving family members may have legal options beyond workers’ compensation, including the potential to receive workers compensation benefits under New Jersey’s strict regulations. A third-party lawsuit may be possible if another company, property owner, or equipment manufacturer played a role through negligence or the use of a defective product. Property owners, in particular, may be liable if their failure to maintain safe premises contributed to the accident.

Paramus has a busy workforce, particularly in retail, warehousing, and construction. Fatal workplace accidents can happen at job sites, distribution hubs, or during delivery routes. At Brach Eichler Injury Lawyers, we take a comprehensive approach to these cases—investigating every angle and identifying all liable parties. Our goal is to seek justice and full compensation for the families affected by these preventable workplace tragedies.

Medical Negligence and Fatal Outcomes

If a doctor’s mistake causes someone’s death, the family might have a wrongful death case. This could involve a misdiagnosis, surgical error, medication issue, or birth injury. These claims are tough and need solid medical records, thorough documentation of medical treatment, expert input, and a deep understanding of healthcare standards. Recovering damages in these cases often includes compensation for medical costs incurred as a result of the negligence. Brach Eichler Injury Lawyers knows how to handle these complicated cases and fight for the families affected.

Local Legal Resources for Families in Paramus

As families grieve and pursue justice, local support services can offer additional help alongside legal guidance. Consider turning to these Paramus-area resources:

• Bergen County Surrogate’s Court – Handles probate, estate matters, and related filings
• The Compassionate Friends – Provides peer-led grief support groups for families coping with loss in nearby cities
• NJ Crime Victims’ Law Center – Offers free legal services in certain qualifying cases

Having access to both emotional and legal support can ease some of the burdens families face after an unexpected death and help them feel less alone in the process. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Losing a loved one unexpectedly is one of the most painful experiences a family can endure. Along with grief, families are often left with confusion and uncertainty, especially when it comes to understanding their legal rights and options for seeking compensation. Below are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about New Jersey wrongful death claims, personal injury claims, and how our wrongful death attorneys in Paramus—with extensive experience and Supreme Court recognition—can help you recover damages, recover compensation, and secure the maximum compensation and financial compensation you deserve through a personal injury claim.

What types of damages can I pursue in a wrongful death case in Paramus?

In addition to funeral and medical expenses, wrongful death claims may cover the value of lost services, such as childcare, home maintenance, or elder care. Families can also recover damages for lost wages, medical bills, and medical costs resulting from the incident. Compensation for the loss of future benefits, such as pensions or health insurance, is also available. Courts may consider the deceased’s age, income, and life expectancy when calculating long-term losses to ensure fair and just compensation. While punitive damages aren’t allowed, separate survival actions may help families obtain financial compensation and recover damages for pain and suffering before death.

How can a wrongful death lawyer in Paramus help me prove negligence in my case?

A skilled wrongful death lawyer goes beyond gathering basic evidence. They issue spoliation letters, work with financial and medical experts, and uncover hidden liability—whether from a third-party contractor, property owner, or product manufacturer. Proving negligence is essential in these cases, as it must be shown that the defendant owed a duty of care to the victim and that the at-fault party breached this duty through the party’s negligence or someone else’s negligence. Their strategic approach helps build a stronger case and maximize your family’s recovery. Additionally, under New Jersey law, comparative negligence may affect the outcome, as damages can be adjusted if the victim is found partially at fault.

Who is eligible to file a wrongful death claim in Paramus?

Though the estate’s personal representative or administrator files the claim, it is done on behalf of the deceased person by a family member seeking compensation for their loss. Compensation goes to the surviving family based on their level of dependence. Spouses and children often take priority, but parents or other dependents may also qualify. In some cases, especially without a will, the court decides how to divide the award.

These answers provide a starting point. For guidance specific to your situation, contact our team today for a confidential consultation.

Talk to a Paramus Wrongful Death Lawyer Today

No amount of money can undo what happened. But holding the responsible party accountable can provide financial relief and a sense of justice. Brach Eichler Injury Lawyers‘s experienced legal team is here to guide your family through every step of the legal process.

Schedule a free consultation with our NJ wrongful death attorney team today. Our law firm works on a contingency fee basis, so you pay nothing unless we win your case. For a private case evaluation, call (973) 364-8300, or complete our online form.

Let us help you find answers with our skills and experience. Let us fight for your family.