Losing someone to another party’s carelessness leaves a hole no action can fill, but a Hackensack wrongful death lawyer can pursue accountability and the financial support your loved one would have provided.
New Jersey law gives surviving relatives a way to hold the responsible party accountable. These cases follow strict rules that most grieving families don’t encounter until they need to file a claim. The attorneys at Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi, P.C. take on that legal burden so you can focus on your family.
We’ll handle the legal process from start to finish and treat your family with the care this moment demands. Call (201) 585-9111 or reach out through our online form for a free, private consultation.
Why Choose Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi, P.C. for Your Hackensack Wrongful Death Claim
Trusting a firm that treats your loss with both skill and compassion changes how this whole process feels. Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi, P.C. has guided Bergen County families through the aftermath of fatal accidents for five decades, balancing tough litigation with genuine sensitivity.
Fifty Years of Advocacy
Our attorneys bring more than 100 years of combined experience to the hardest cases people ever face. Wrongful death claims often hinge on proving both liability and the full economic value of a life, work that rewards deep courtroom experience. Opposing parties know we have tried these cases and won.
Recoveries for Grieving Families
We have secured meaningful results for families who lost a loved one. A widow and child received $2,600,000 after a dock builder was killed during a pile-driving operation, a family recovered $1,500,000 after a pedestrian died from her injuries.
We also obtained $775,000 for the loss of a car crash victim who died awaiting emergency surgery.
Honored by the Legal Community
Our peers have recognized our work through Super Lawyers, The Best Lawyers in America, and Best Law Firms 2026 by Best Lawyers. We hold an AVVO 10.0 rating and membership in the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. Distinctions like these tell defendants your family is well represented.
A Steady Hand Throughout
You work directly with a lawyer who manages every legal detail and keeps you informed without overwhelming you. We take on the paperwork, the deadlines, and the negotiations. That relief lets your family grieve rather than fight bureaucracy.
Reach us anytime at (201) 585-9111 or through our online form to begin your free consultation.
In my Book Chris gets 10+ stars. An Incredibly Talented Attorney. I cannot begin to express my sincere appreciation for all that Chris DiGirolamo has done for me. He took on a most challenging Title59 Immunity Case, against all odds. He always leveled with me as to the complex nature of the case, but with a positive and professional attitude. He was aided in this case, by a fantastic Paralegal, Marisol Suarez. Marisol made a difficult time much easier with her courtesy, humor, and always being responsive. Chris made you feel at all times that he was fighting for you as he would fight for a member of his family. It would not be a trite statement to say that watching him prepare my case was like watching a Maestro conduct a Philharmonic Orchestra. He always kept you informed as to the latest developments in a case that took 3 1/2 years to settle. Chris was able to achieve a settlement that both of us were happy with especially considering the very complex set of circumstances. Simply put, Chris is an Incredible Attorney who is empathetic yet tough and most important ” A Good Guy.”
I cannot express how grateful and pleased I am to have had Christopher DiGirolamo and his paralegal Christine Carrino represent me in connection with my personal injury action.
What had happened to me was an event that was about to completely change my life.
Initially I was unable to go to the offices of Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi because of my injuries. I had been hit by a motor vehicle while walking in a crosswalk. Christopher came to me. He offered not only expert legal advice but helped significantly with other things like obtaining police reports, how to handle telephone calls, photographing the scene and even advice about warding off “adjusters” who came knocking on my door. Most importantly, Christopher listened. His compassion, knowledge and understanding cannot be overstated.
I, as a lawyer with medical knowledge who needed a lawyer, would consider myself to be somewhat of a challenging client. Christopher took all this in stride and was fearless in offering guidance and advice when I was having difficulty looking at things objectively. Christopher allayed my anxieties and made me feel better each and every time we spoke. He put things in perspective for me while at the same time, not sugar coating the difficult days ahead that were in store for me, both physically and throughout the legal proceedings. Christopher asked me about my preferences and my choices. He was always interested in my ideas and my point of view. Christopher balanced my convictions with his undeniable objectivity and expertise.
Throughout the protracted course of discovery and pre-trial conferences, Christopher went out of his way to communicate with me and keep me informed. When Christopher was in court we engaged in many real time texting sessions. He respected my decisions about strategy and was constant in upholding his integrity. With Christopher’s tenacity and wit, the case was ultimately resolved without trial.
Christopher and the law firm of Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi, P.C. made every effort to accommodate me in whatever way they could. I offer my thanks and gratitude.
Nothing but praise for Maggiano, DiGirolamo, and Lizzi. I have never seen such a fantastic display of teamwork at all levels of the firm. (As an aisde, everyone one who works at the firm was extremely courteous and kind – character traits that one would not typically associate with a law firm. )
Furthermore, the legal results brought about by Mr. Maggiano’s tireless litigation efforts on our behalf were very fair and just. If you ever find yourself in a car accident, be sure to consult Maggiano, DiGirolamo, and Lizzi.
What Is a Wrongful Death Claim Under New Jersey Law?
A wrongful death claim arises when someone dies because of another party’s negligent or wrongful act. Governed by New Jersey’s Wrongful Death Act, a claim compensates surviving family members for losses caused by the death. It is separate from any criminal case and follows its own rules of proof.
Wrongful death claims can arise from many types of fatal incidents, including:
- Car Accidents: Negligent drivers can cause fatal car crashes in Hackensack through speeding, distraction, impairment, or failure to yield.
- Truck Collisions: Driver fatigue, unsafe loading, poor maintenance, and trucking-company negligence can contribute to commercial truck fatalities.
- Pedestrian and Bicycle Accidents: Drivers who ignore crosswalks, traffic signals, or vulnerable road users can cause fatal pedestrian and bicycle collisions.
- Dangerous Property Conditions: Property owners may face a claim when an unsafe staircase, a fall hazard, inadequate security, or another dangerous condition causes a death.
- Workplace and Construction Accidents: A third party may be liable when defective equipment, an outside contractor, or an unsafe property condition causes a worker’s death.
- Catastrophic Injuries: Some claims begin as serious injury cases and later become wrongful death actions when catastrophic injuries that result in death prove fatal.
One feature catches many families off guard: New Jersey generally limits wrongful death damages to pecuniary losses under N.J.S.A. 2A:31-5. That means the claim focuses on the financial value of what the deceased provided rather than compensating relatives for their emotional pain or grief.
Since the statute focuses on financial support, proving value takes careful documentation. Your Hackensack wrongful death lawyer calculates lost income, employment benefits, household services, and the guidance or assistance your loved one would have provided.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Case in Bergen County?
Only the deceased person’s legal representative may file a wrongful death case in Bergen County. This may be the executor named in a will or a representative appointed by the court when there is no will. The representative brings the claim for the eligible family members, not for personal benefit.
New Jersey law determines which family members can receive compensation and how the recovery is divided:
- Spouse and Children: A surviving spouse and the deceased person’s children may be entitled to compensation for their financial losses.
- Parents: Surviving parents may qualify when the deceased person didn’t leave a spouse or children.
- Other Family Members: Siblings, grandchildren, or other relatives may qualify depending on the family situation and New Jersey inheritance law.
Financial dependence can affect how compensation is divided among eligible family members. Your Hackensack wrongful death attorney handles the court appointment and identifies the people who may receive compensation so the claim can move forward.
What Compensation Is Available in a Hackensack Wrongful Death Claim?
Surviving family members can recover the measurable financial losses caused by their loved one’s death. Since New Jersey limits wrongful death damages to pecuniary losses, the claim focuses on the support, services, and benefits the deceased would likely have provided.
Recoverable damages can include:
- Lost Financial Support: The wages, salary, bonuses, commissions, and other income the deceased would have contributed to the household.
- Lost Employment Benefits: The value of health insurance, retirement contributions, pensions, and other work-related benefits the family lost.
- Lost Household Services: The cost of replacing cooking, cleaning, home maintenance, transportation, and other work the deceased performed.
- Lost Childcare: The value of the daily care, supervision, transportation, and support the deceased provided to children.
- Lost Guidance and Advice: The measurable value of the education, training, counsel, and practical guidance a parent or spouse would have continued to provide.
- Medical Expenses: Reasonable medical and hospital costs related to the final injury or illness.
- Funeral and Burial Expenses: Reasonable costs associated with the funeral, burial, or cremation.
Calculating these losses requires more than adding up past paychecks. We examine the deceased’s age, health, earnings history, expected career path, benefits, family role, and life expectancy.
In many cases, economists and other experts can help show the full value of the financial support and services the family lost.
How Long Do You Have To File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in New Jersey?
New Jersey generally gives families two years from the date of death to file a wrongful death lawsuit. Miss that deadline, and the court will almost certainly bar the claim no matter how strong it is. Acting quickly protects every option your family may have.
Some cases carry far shorter deadlines that surprise families. A death caused by a public entity, such as a government vehicle or a dangerous public road, requires a formal notice within 90 days under New Jersey’s Tort Claims Act.
How Does a Survivorship Action Work Alongside a Wrongful Death Claim?
A survivorship action and a wrongful death claim can arise from the same fatal incident, but they cover different losses. The wrongful death claim compensates eligible family members, while the survivorship action preserves the personal injury claim your loved one could have brought.
| Wrongful Death Claim | Survivorship Action | |
| Who Files? | The estate’s representative | The estate’s representative |
| Who Receives the Money? | Eligible surviving family members | The estate |
| What Does It Cover? | Losses caused by the death | Harm suffered before death |
| Common Damages | Lost income, benefits, services, care, and guidance | Pain and suffering, medical bills, and lost wages before death |
| Family Grief Covered? | No | No |
| General Deadline | Two years from the death | Depends on the deadline for the underlying injury claim |
A survivorship action can matter when the deceased remained conscious or received treatment before passing away. Medical records, witness accounts, and other evidence can show what your loved one experienced between the injury and death.
Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi, P.C. pursues both claims when available and keeps the damages separate so each recoverable loss is properly documented.
The Advantages of Working With a Hackensack Wrongful Death Lawyer
A Hackensack wrongful death lawyer manages the legal process from the first investigation through settlement or trial. Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi, P.C. helps establish the estate, confirms who has authority to file, and begins gathering the evidence needed to prove how the death occurred and who is responsible.
Our investigation can involve police reports, medical records, photographs, surveillance footage, witness statements, vehicle data, employment records, and expert analysis.
We also look beyond the person directly involved to determine whether an employer, property owner, trucking company, manufacturer, or another party shares liability.
Calculating Your Wrongful Death Claim
Proving damages requires a separate financial investigation. Your Hackensack wrongful death lawyer collects tax returns, wage records, benefit information, and evidence of the household services, childcare, advice, and support your loved one would have continued to provide.
We often use our network of economists and other experts to place a practical value on those long-term losses.
Protecting Your Rights
Your Hackensack wrongful death attorney handles communications with insurers and defense attorneys and negotiates for a resolution that reflects the family’s documented losses. If the responsible parties refuse to offer a fair settlement, we can file a lawsuit and prepare the case for trial in the Bergen County Justice Center.
Throughout the process, we keep your family informed, coordinate the wrongful death claim with any related estate or survival matters, and protect the filing deadlines that apply.
Verdicts and Settlements
$3,350,000 - Post-Collision Fire
In 2000, a young woman suffered severe burn injuries when the car she was riding in ignited in flames following a rear end impact caused by a drunk driver.
$750,000 - Injury Aggravation
The crash caused a self-employed bagel store owner to suffer an aggravation of low back injury, resulting in surgery, urinary incontinence, and post traumatic stress disorder.
$101,000,000 - Parking Garage Collapse
Verdict went to 20 injured workers and the families of four workers who were killed in the collapse of a parking garage at the Tropicana Casino Resort in 2003. The case involved multiple defendants, including Tropicana and a number of construction contractors. The parking garage collapsed while it was under construction because rebar was not properly installed, leaving the floors disconnected from the walls. As part of…
FAQ for Hackensack Wrongful Death Lawyer
What Is the Difference Between a Wrongful Death and a Survivorship Action?
A wrongful death claim compensates surviving family members for the financial support they lost, while a survivorship action recovers what the deceased personally suffered before death. The two can be filed together by the estate.
Each claim covers separate damages, so pursuing both allows the estate and family to seek each available type of compensation.
Why Can't We Get Compensation for Our Grief in a Hackensack Wrongful Death Case?
New Jersey’s Wrongful Death Act limits recovery to pecuniary, or financial, losses rather than emotional pain. This means the law compensates for lost support and services instead of grief itself. A survivorship action can, however, recover the physical pain your loved one endured before passing.
Who Actually Receives the Money in a Hackensack Wrongful Death Settlement?
The eligible surviving family members receive the recovery, distributed according to the financial loss each person suffered. A spouse, children, and other relatives may qualify under New Jersey law, depending on the family situation. The court oversees how the funds are divided among beneficiaries.
Do We Need To Open an Estate Before Filing a Wrongful Death Claim in New Jersey?
Someone must be appointed as the estate’s personal representative before a wrongful death claim can move forward. This person files the lawsuit on behalf of the survivors. We guide families through the Surrogate’s Court appointment so the case is not delayed.
What if Our Loved One Was Partly Responsible for Their Fatal Accident?
A recovery is still possible even if your loved one shared some blame, because New Jersey applies comparative negligence. As long as the deceased was 50% or less responsible, the claim survives with the award reduced by their share of fault.
We work to keep that percentage as low as the evidence allows.
Let Us Carry the Legal Burden
Your family deserves time to grieve without a legal battle stealing it away. Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi, P.C. will investigate what happened, protect your right to recover, and pursue the full measure of your loss with the care your family deserves.
Call (201) 585-9111 now or complete our online contact form for a free consultation. You can find our local team at Court Plaza South, 201 Main St., Suite 206, Hackensack, NJ 07601.
Hackensack Office
Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi, P.C.
Court Plaza South
21 Main St., Suite 203
Hackensack, NJ 07601
Phone: (201) 585-9111
