Huntington Fatal Car Accident Lawyer

Filing a fatal car accident civil suit allows you to take legal action on behalf of a loved one. In the wake of a devastating accident, this right can let you take back control over part of your life. It also allows you to pursue justice for a loved one’s untimely passing.

There may be some limitations to your right to legal action, however. For more information, you can discuss your circumstances with a fatal accident lawyer in Huntington, NY. Morelli Law Firm can put you in touch with a representative who can uphold your best interests while moving your case forward.

When to File a Fatal Car Accident Case

There are circumstances under which you can file a fatal car accident claim on a loved one’s behalf. First, you must fulfill the requirements set forth by This statute states that you may only take legal action in a fatal car accident case if you are a parent, child, spouse, or personal executor of the deceased.

Secondly, you must submit your claim within New York’s personal injury statute of limitations, or New York Consolidated Law § 4-1.1. This statute limits your actionable time to two years. Fortunately, our Huntington, NY, fatal accident attorneys can work within this timespan while still giving you the space you need to grieve. We can review your case to determine if exceptions to  this timeframe apply.

How to Classify a Fatal Accident Case

It’s easy to draw a line between fatal car accident claims and wrongful death claims. Wrongful deaths make up a larger category of accidents than fatal car accidents, however. Fatal accidents are more immediate than wrongful deaths, making them a subset of the wrongful death category.

That said, there may be other factors that impact how a legal professional may classify your case. You can ask questions about the classification of your accident and its losses during an initial case consultation.

The Benefits of Filing a Fatal Car Accident Case

Taking legal action after the loss of a loved one may feel like an unnecessary emotional strain. There are benefits, however, to bringing a Huntington fatal accident attorney onto your case. For example, you can:

Let an Attorney Manage Your Investigation

Grief is often an all-encompassing feeling. Even as you take steps to comfort friends and family members, you need to take time for yourself. Our attorneys understand that you need space to grieve, even when you’re forced to contend with a fatal car accident claim’s deadline.

That’s why we do our best to explore your legal options on our own time. We can work with you to better understand your circumstances. After that, though, we can contact witnesses, gather evidence, and build your complaint. You can be as involved in this process as you wish to be, and we can address your grief with compassion as well as drive.

Prevent Bills From Adding to Your Grief

Losing a loved one can be expensive. Funerals, medical bills, and property damage all add up over time. The last thing you want to deal with on top of your grief is these expenses. When you file a civil complaint, though, you can prevent these bills from overwhelming you. If we can hold another party accountable for your losses, they can take on those expenses for you.

Control Your Interactions With a Liable Party

Communicating with the party that’s allegedly responsible for your loved one’s fatal car accident may not be an emotionally healthy thing for you to do. Fortunately, our attorneys are skilled mediators. We can step in and prevent legal communications from failing to serve your complaint’s purpose.

This mediation also allows us to prevent any intimidation attempts or insufficient settlement offers that a liable party may employ.

You Can Take Simultaneous Civil and Criminal Action After a Loved One’s Passing

Filing a civil claim doesn’t prevent you from taking criminal action after a fatal car accident. Instead, you can pursue two forms of legal action simultaneously. It’s in your best interest to reach out to a criminal prosecutor, though, if you want to press criminal charges against an offending party.

The good news is that pursuing a criminal lawsuit can benefit your civil suit, should you file both at the same time. Courts consider a criminal conviction to serve as proof of negligence in civil court. This means that criminal car accident lawsuits can make it easier for you to secure compensation for your losses.

Requesting Compensation in a Fatal Accident Case

Unfortunately, the untimely passing of a loved one is likely to come with unexpected bills. If you don’t have the means to contend with those abrupt expenses, don’t worry. That’s one of the benefits of a fatal car accident claim. These claims allow you to request compensation from the party responsible for your loved one’s passing.

More specifically, you can request economic and non-economic damages related to the losses you faced in a fatal car accident. This means that a liable party may be expected to cover your medical bills, property damage, funeral expenses, and emotional distress. 

We can elaborate on the full extent of your losses–and subsequently the value of your desired compensation.

Settlement Offers May Undervalue Your Loss

Fatal car accident settlement offers fill the role of compensation. You may receive a settlement offer if a liable party recognizes their role in your losses. However, these offers–particularly when offered by an individual without an attorney–can undervalue your losses.

That’s why it’s best to work with us to determine the value of your case before you accept a settlement offer. Our attorneys can negotiate a more comprehensive fatal car accident settlement.

Fatal Car Accident Attorneys Advocate For You

Losing a loved one can leave you with complicated emotions on top of your financial strain. Let our team take your grief and turn it into action. You can work with a fatal accident attorney in Huntington, NY, to stand up against negligent parties. Morelli Law Firm can bring your fatal car accident case before a judge and fight for your right to legal justice.

To learn more about the fatal car accident compensation to which you may be entitled, you can contact our office online or over the phone. We make it easy for you to request a case evaluation in the wake of a loved one’s untimely passing.