Content Reviewed By:
John Richmond, Co-Founding Member
- September 6, 2024
Losing a loved one because of someone else’s negligent or wrongful conduct is one of the most traumatic experiences a family can experience. Our Buffalo wrongful death lawyers are compassionate and aggressive advocates for grieving families and are committed to holding wrongdoers accountable. You will feel like family as a Richmond Vona client, with results-oriented representation and fully personalized legal guidance. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
- Rely on Richmond Vona to Handle the Legal Process
- What is it Like Working with Richmond Vona? Hear From One of Our Clients
- What Compensation is Available After a Wrongful Death in Buffalo?
- Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim?
- Is There a Time Limit For Filing in Buffalo?
- Ways Richmond Vona Can Assist With Your Case
- Rely on the Compassionate Team at Richmond Vona
- Related Reading
Rely on Richmond Vona to Handle the Legal Process
We treat every client with the dignity they deserve. We keep our caseload small to give you and your family compassionate care and personal attention. You will get a team of three to four dedicated attorneys and paralegals committed to achieving the best result possible. We take time to get to know you and explain everything about your case.
Our Buffalo wrongful death attorneys have over 30 years of combined experience with over $175 million in successful case results. We are changing how people think about personal injury lawyers by thinking outside the box and bringing a fresh approach to our cases. Our dedication and consistent track record have won us numerous recognitions only awarded to the most elite injury lawyers, including:
- AV Preeminent Rating for Ethical Standards and Legal Ability
- Expertise.com’s Best Wrongful Death Attorneys in Buffalo in 2023
- TrustAnalytica’s Top 10 Buffalo Car Accident Lawyers
- Super Lawyers
- National Trial Lawyers’ Top 10 Asbestos Mesothelioma Trial Lawyers
- National Trial Lawyers’ Top 40 Under 40
Founding partner John Richmond was raised in Western New York and knows the legal landscape of Buffalo and Erie County.
What is it Like Working with Richmond Vona? Hear From One of Our Clients
“I recently had the pleasure of working with Richmond Vona LLC after experiencing a personal injury, and I cannot express how grateful I am for exceptional service. From the very first consultation, the team demonstrated genuine care and empathy towards my situation, making me feel supported during a challenging time.
Communication was outstanding throughout the entire process. They kept me informed at every step, promptly answering any questions I had, and ensuring I understood my options. It was clear that they truly value their clients and prioritize building strong, trusting relationships.
The level of professionalism and dedication exhibited by Mike and their team was impressive. They went above and beyond to provide personalized service, demonstrating a deep commitment to achieving the best outcome for my case.
I highly recommend Richmond Vona LLC to anyone seeking a compassionate and effective personal injury attorney. Their expertise, combined with their caring approach, made all the difference for me. Thank you for everything!”
What Compensation is Available After a Wrongful Death in Buffalo?
You may be eligible for compensation through a wrongful death action if your loved one died from someone else’s wrongful act, negligence, or default. The damages available in a wrongful death lawsuit may include the following:
- Loss of financial support
- Loss of inheritance
- Loss of accumulations in estate value
- Loss of services
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Your loved one’s medical expenses
If your loved one died because of someone else’s intentional misconduct, fraud, or extreme negligence, you also may be eligible for punitive damages. You cannot recover damages for non-economic losses such as grief, suffering, and loss of companionship in a New York wrongful death claim. However, you may be able to recover damages for your loved one’s pain and suffering in a survival claim.
Factors Determining Wrongful Death Damages
New York places no limits on how much compensation you can recover in a wrongful death case. The amount you receive varies based on the following:
- Your loved one’s earnings and domestic contributions
- Your loved one’s contributions to the value of the estate
- Your loved one’s life expectancy
- Your life expectancy
- Your relation to the deceased
- The suffering your loved one experienced before death
- Whether your case qualifies for punitive damages
- The skill and experience of your Buffalo wrongful death attorney
We are serious trial lawyers dedicated to helping you get the best result possible. We work with financial analysts, medical experts, accident reconstructionists, and other consultants to maximize your compensation and get justice for your loved one.
How Much Does It Cost To Hire an Attorney?
It costs nothing to let our knowledgeable and supportive Buffalo personal injury lawyers handle your wrongful death claim. We will provide skilled representation without any upfront costs. If we recover compensation for you, we will collect a percentage as our fee. If we don’t win, you pay nothing.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim?
New York’s wrongful death laws require a personal representative to file a wrongful death claim on the family’s behalf. This is usually the executor of the estate. If there is no executor or the executor refuses to bring the claim, the family can petition the court to appoint a representative to bring the wrongful death lawsuit.
The personal representative must distribute the damages to the survivors according to each survivor’s loss, as determined by the court. The following family members might be eligible to receive wrongful death damages:
- Spouse
- Children
- Grandchildren
- Parents
- Grandparents
If the person who died left behind a spouse and children, all of the wrongful death damages will generally be awarded to them. Parents are eligible for wrongful death compensation if the deceased had no surviving children. Grandparents and grandchildren may be eligible if there are no other survivors.
Is There a Time Limit For Filing in Buffalo?
The New York personal injury statute of limitations imposes a general time limit of two years for wrongful death cases. This deadline ensures your attorney has time to gather evidence, build your case, and file your Buffalo wrongful death lawsuit on time. While legal action may be the last thing on your mind when you are coping with a loved one’s loss, it is important to involve a reputable wrongful death lawyer as soon as possible.
Your attorney will need evidence to prove how your loved one’s injuries occurred and who is responsible. The most important evidence may not be available for long. The sooner your attorney has access, the stronger your case. At Richmond Vona, we handle everything so you can focus on your family without worrying about your legal claim.
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Words cannot describe how grateful my wife and I are of John Richmond. His friendliness, knowledge, loyalty and professionalism are of the highest level. Being this was the first time we’ve had to obtain legal assistance, John made this process very easy for my wife and I. We both would highly recommend Richmond Vona.
What a phenomenal experience to come from a terrifying accident. From day 1 Richmond/Vona provided me with nothing but comfort and professionalism. Communication is paramount in my needs and they performed that with nothing short of exceptional. Mr. Richmond made me feel like this was the only case he was working on. Thank you to all of your staff for looking out for my best interests and taking a stressful situation and making it so very easy for me and my family.
Ways Richmond Vona Can Assist With Your Case
Our experienced wrongful death attorneys can provide moral support and sound legal representation no matter what type of accident caused your loved one’s death. Co-founding partner Keith Vona is a former police officer, giving him unique insight when gathering evidence in motor vehicle accidents. Both of our founding partners have extensive experience handling wrongful death claims involving mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis. Our attorneys have handled nearly every type of accident case, including:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Construction accidents
- Asbestos exposure
We will always pair you with a team with the right experience to get the results you deserve.
What We Do
Once we accept your case, we will do the following so you can focus on what matters most:
- Gather evidence
- Work with forensic, medical, and financial experts to build your case
- Coordinate your medical care if needed
- Negotiate your medical bills
- Handle your legal paperwork
- Deal with the insurance company
- Calculate your case value
- File your lawsuit on time
- Negotiate a settlement
- Go to trial for you if necessary
Some of our attorneys are former defense lawyers who are comfortable in the courtroom. When an insurance company knows your attorney is unafraid to go to trial, it gives you an advantage in settlement negotiations.
Insurance companies are famous for pressuring grieving families to accept early lowball offers. We use advanced technology to track negotiations with insurance companies so we can predict their patterns. We have zero tolerance for stall tactics and lowball offers. Our goal is always to recover the highest compensation available as quickly as possible. We refuse to let insurance adjusters waste your time. We won’t hesitate to take them to court and will constantly keep the pressure on them.
Rely on the Compassionate Team at Richmond Vona
With over 30 years of combined experience and over $175 million recovered, you can count on our knowledgeable and passionate Buffalo wrongful death lawyers to help you get justice for your loved one. If someone was taken from you too soon because of someone else’s negligence or wrongdoing, contact us online or call us today at (716) 500-5678 to schedule your free case review.
