Free Consultation 716-222-2222
Choose The 2’s
Choose The 2’s
If you lost a family member in a fatal accident in Buffalo, New York, call O’Brien & Ford Buffalo Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers, and discover how our experienced Buffalo wrongful death lawyers can help you take action and demand justice from who’s responsible for your devastating loss. Call us at (716) 222-2222.
O’Brien & Ford Buffalo Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers is a passionate advocate for accident victims and grieving families in Buffalo and throughout Western New York. Our personal injury attorney in Buffalo, NY has successfully pressed insurance companies and at-fault parties to pay clients tens of millions of dollars in monetary awards.
Level the playing field and benefit from our 84+ years of experience and contact our law office in Buffalo, NY. Your first consultation is free.
The death of a loved one is never easy. The fact that their death could have been avoided can make a tough situation even more difficult. And while money may not bring them back to you, it can make a huge difference in your life as you begin to move forward.
Take this time to grieve your loss and remember your loved one. Let our Buffalo personal injury lawyers fight to get your family the justice it deserves.
At O’Brien & Ford Buffalo Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers, we’re recognized as Western New York Legal Elite and Top 50 Upstate New York Super Lawyers for a reason. Our commitment to our client and determined to litigation are unmatched. We don’t just work to win cases for the people we represent. We do our best to make a difference in their lives for years to come.
When you ask for our help with your wrongful death claim, we will:
We know you’re hurting. Let us help you fight for justice. Our wrongful death attorneys in Buffalo work on a contingency fee basis. We only get paid if we obtain compensation for your wrongful death case.
Contact us today to set up a time for a free case evaluation. Members of our team are always available to answer your call.
When a person is injured in an accident in New York, they’ll typically have the right to seek compensation for any damages they’ve suffered. This right doesn’t disappear when a person dies from injuries they sustained in an accident. Instead, the right to pursue damages shifts to a different party.
Under New York state law, a victim’s estate can bring a legal claim if the victim’s death is caused by the “wrongful act, neglect, or default” of another person.” If the victim would have been able to sue, so can their estate if they don’t survive.
If you’re a surviving family member, you may not have the right to bring a wrongful death action yourself. New York requires the personal representative of your family member’s estate to file the claim. This is either a person named in the victim’s will or a party appointed by the court. Typically, it’s a spouse, close personal friend, or a personal injury attorney.
While you might not be able to bring the claim yourself, you may be able to benefit from damages that are recovered. Damages are to be distributed as directed in the victim’s will or by New York probate law if the victim died intestate.
If the victim died:
If there is no surviving spouse, child, or parent, the victim’s siblings and/or other close relatives can potentially get the monetary award.
Almost any accident or act of violence has the potential to be fatal under the right circumstances, including:
You’ll want a trustworthy, experienced legal advocate by your side as you fight to obtain compensation for your loved one’s wrongful death. Choose O’Brien & Ford Buffalo Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers, and our award-winning team will do everything in its power to help you make the most of this incredibly difficult situation.
Several factors will impact the potential value of your wrongful death claim.
In New York, you can recover both current and future losses. Since these types of damages are subject to interpretation, it’s important to have skilled experts and specialists weigh in on what your losses are likely worth.
The best way to know what your wrongful death case might be worth is by speaking with a trusted personal injury attorney near you in Buffalo. Call O’Brien & Ford Buffalo Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers to discuss the details of your case today.
New York allows the recovery of both economic and non-economic damages in wrongful death cases. Economic damages are designed to help families cope with the financial impact of their loved one’s death, while non-economic awards are intended to compensate for the harder-to-value trauma they experience in the wake of their loss.
However, since wrongful death lawsuits are intended to compensate the victim’s family, the types of damages that can be awarded are more limited in scope than other types of personal injury cases.
Recoverable damages can include:
In some situations, punitive damages can also be awarded in a Buffalo wrongful death lawsuit. New York permits punitive damages when there is convincing evidence of intentional misconduct or a conscious disregard for a victim’s safety.
New York’s pure comparative negligence statute applies to most personal injury cases, including matters of wrongful death.
If your family member’s negligence contributed to their death, it will impact your ability to obtain compensation through a wrongful death claim.
Damages will be reduced proportionately to the victim’s liability. If your loved one is deemed to be 10 percent at fault for their fatal Buffalo car accident, your wrongful death recovery will be reduced by 10 percent.
New York state law provides a two-year statute of limitations for wrongful death lawsuits.
Families will have two years from the date of a victim’s death to formally seek damages from a liable party.
You’ll lose the ability to demand justice if your wrongful death claim is not filed on time. As there are exceptions to the two-year time limit, it’s best that you reach out to our law firm as soon as you can for help taking legal action.
You’ve experienced an unimaginable loss. You deserve justice, and O’Brien & Ford Buffalo Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers can help you get it.
Our Buffalo wrongful death lawyers have over 84 years of collective experience fighting for families across Western New York. We put pressure on insurance companies and liable parties to make things right. Our results speak volumes, with tens of millions in damages recovered.
Buffalo Personal Injury Lawyer. Choose the 2’s.
With over 80 years of combined experience, the Buffalo personal injury lawyers at O’Brien & Ford, PC are here to fight for the justice you deserve. Call us today at (716) 222-2222 to schedule your free consultation with one of our top-rated attorneys.
Keep in mind as well that you can still file a wrongful death claim in civil court regardless of whether the at-fault party is facing criminal charges. The burden of proof standard is lower in civil cases, which means you can still win compensation even if the opposing party is acquitted in criminal court.
Find out how we can help your family maximize your wrongful death recovery by calling our Buffalo law office today. Your initial case evaluation is free. We proudly serve al throughout Erie County and surrounding areas.
O’Brien & Ford Buffalo Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers
4549 Main St Suite 201 Buffalo, NY 14226
Phone: (716) 222-2222
Opening Hours: From 7:00 am to 7:00 pm
7 days a week
Chris and his staff are top notch professionals that you definitely want in your corner if you are injured and in need of an attorney . 10 years later and I’m still thankful daily that I contacted Chris for his representation. Keep fighting the good fight.
John Ford is the definition of professional, knowledgeable, and compassion. His instincts and attention to detail are second to none. He treats you like a family friend not just a client. I would recommend O’Brien & Ford to anyone who wants results.
Chris Pannozzo handled 2 consecutive cases of mine. He is very knowledgeable and thorough . Chris will not rush to settle a case. He makes sure everything is taken care of correctly, so you obtain the largest settlement.Chris is very down to earth and personable. Chris met with me near my home to sign paperwork and offered to come to my home. He responded to my text message on the weekend. This amazed me. I’ve had lawyers that don’t respond to messages on a weekd...
One of the best decisions I made was choosing O’Brien & Ford to represent me. A person can do no better than to have Chris and Anant and their wonderful staff working with you. From the moment we first talked with Chris at our home, my wife and I knew we needed to look no further for representation. At no point during the process of our case did this excellent firm disappoint nor steer us wrong. We trusted their opinions, guidance and ethics at all times throughout all...
Chris is a tireless advocate for his clients. He always goes above and beyond to ensure the best possible result.
Back in 2017 I was involved a major car accident that left me with back injuries. Afterwards, I went to a couple big name attorneys and they all denied my case for reasons unknown. This left me feeling down and out with amd in an unfortunate situation, but that was until I called O’Brian & Ford. My case was picked up and accepted by the wonderful, Mr. John Ford, and my lawsuit began. He fought for me for almost 3 years without giving up and my case was FINALLY sett...
Attorney Anant Kishore really pulled through for me after I endured a serious neck injury after being t-boned by a drunk driver. After such a traumatic event, Anant and his team compassionately guided me through the legal hoops I needed to jump through to get a very favorable settlement to help pay for my medical bills. I am not from the Buffalo area but was recommended this firm unanimously by my friends snd family in the area. I truly don’t know where I’d be today if i...
Chris O’Brien is a nationally recognized personal injury attorney with over 30 years of experience fighting for accident victims in Western New York. A founding partner at O’Brien & Ford, he has helped recover millions for clients and built a reputation as a top trial lawyer and educator. Chris is a Diplomate of the National College of Advocacy, a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, and was named one of Western New York’s Top Ten Lawyers by Buffalo Business First. He lives in Amherst with his family and their Bernedoodle, Moose.
Years of experience: 33 years
Practice areas: Personal Injury Law, Car Accidents
Location: Buffalo, New York
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Attorney Chris O’Brien, who has more than 33 years of legal experience as a personal injury attorney.
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured, please fill out the form below for your free consultation or call us at (716) 222-2222
716-222-2222