Wrongful Death Lawyer Nassau County

Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. represents families who have lost a loved one due to another party’s negligence or wrongful conduct in Nassau County, New York, including deaths resulting from vehicle collisions, premises hazards, nursing home neglect, and other incidents. A wrongful death action in New York is brought on behalf of the decedent’s distributees by the personal representative of the estate, and it is a distinct legal claim from any personal injury claim the decedent may have had before death. Founded in 1997, the firm is led by Mr. Sris, a former prosecutor admitted to practice in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, and New York. The firm does not offer free consultations; a family member may request a scheduled consultation by calling (888) 437-7747. The firm’s intake line is staffed 24/7 for families trying to understand their options during a difficult time.

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Understanding Wrongful Death Claims in Nassau County, New York

Under N.Y. E.P.T.L. § 5-4.1, a wrongful death action must generally be commenced within two years after the date of the decedent’s death, not the date of the underlying incident, and it must be brought by a duly appointed personal representative on behalf of the decedent’s distributees. Damages in a New York wrongful death action are limited by N.Y. E.P.T.L. § 5-4.3 to fair and just compensation for the pecuniary, meaning financial, injuries resulting from the death, along with reasonable medical and funeral expenses and statutory interest from the date of death; grief, anguish, and loss of companionship are not recoverable elements under the statute as it currently stands. A proposed expansion of recoverable damages to include grief and emotional loss, known as the Grieving Families Act, passed the New York legislature but was vetoed by the Governor in December 2025, so the pecuniary-loss standard remains current law.

Separately from the wrongful death claim, the decedent’s own pre-death injury claim, including for conscious pain and suffering, may survive under N.Y. E.P.T.L. § 11-3.2 and be pursued by the estate. Where the death resulted from a motor vehicle collision, N.Y. Veh. & Traf. Law § 388 can impose liability on a vehicle’s owner, and New York’s comparative fault statute, N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 1411, governs how any fault is allocated among responsible parties. If a Nassau County municipality, town, village, or school district may be responsible, General Municipal Law §§ 50-e and 50-i require a notice of claim, with the ninety-day period running from the appointment of an estate representative rather than the date of death, and suit generally required within two years after the death. Nassau County wrongful death litigation is typically filed in Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501, (516) 493-3400, in the 10th Judicial District.

How Mr. Sris and the Firm’s Of Counsel Attorneys Approach Wrongful Death Cases

Mr. Sris and the firm’s Of Counsel attorneys work with the appointed personal representative to evaluate the circumstances of the death, identify the pecuniary losses suffered by distributees, and coordinate the separate survival claim where applicable. The firm does not guarantee any particular outcome in any wrongful death matter, and results depend on the specific facts involved.

Practical Steps in the Early Stages of a Wrongful Death Matter

Before a wrongful death action can be filed, a personal representative must generally be appointed for the decedent’s estate, typically through the Surrogate’s Court, which can take some time depending on whether the decedent had a will and how the estate is administered. Gathering records related to the incident itself, including police or incident reports, medical records from any treatment the decedent received, and documentation of funeral and burial expenses, is often useful during this period. Identifying the decedent’s distributees, meaning those entitled to inherit under New York law, is also a necessary part of a wrongful death action, since the claim is brought for their pecuniary benefit. Because the two-year period under N.Y. E.P.T.L. § 5-4.1 runs regardless of how quickly a personal representative is appointed, beginning this process promptly after a loved one’s death is generally advisable.

About Mr. Sris and the Firm’s Of Counsel Attorneys

Mr. Sris, Owner and Founder of Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C., is a former prosecutor who founded the firm in 1997. He is admitted to practice law in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, and New York. Mr. Sris attended George Mason University, where he developed a background in accounting and information systems that he applies to the pecuniary-loss and financial analysis involved in wrongful death cases handled by the firm.

The firm’s Of Counsel attorneys work alongside Mr. Sris on wrongful death matters brought by families in Nassau County, including case intake, investigation, and client communication. Mr. Sris and the firm’s Of Counsel attorneys do not guarantee any particular outcome in any matter; results depend on the specific facts involved and results may vary. The firm’s intake line is staffed 24/7 at (888) 437-7747. The firm’s principal office is located at 4008 Williamsburg Court, Fairfax, VA 22032, by appointment, and the firm does not maintain a physical location in Nassau County.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can bring a wrongful death claim in New York?

A duly appointed personal representative of the decedent’s estate brings the claim on behalf of the decedent’s distributees, under N.Y. E.P.T.L. § 5-4.1.

How long do we have to file a wrongful death claim in Nassau County?

Generally two years after the date of death under N.Y. E.P.T.L. § 5-4.1. If a government entity may be responsible, a separate, much shorter notice-of-claim deadline also applies.

Can we recover for our grief and emotional loss?

No, not under current New York law. Damages are limited to pecuniary, or financial, losses plus medical and funeral expenses under N.Y. E.P.T.L. § 5-4.3; a proposed law that would have allowed recovery for grief was vetoed in December 2025.

What is the difference between a wrongful death claim and a survival claim?

A wrongful death claim compensates distributees for pecuniary losses caused by the death. A survival claim, under N.Y. E.P.T.L. § 11-3.2, is the decedent’s own pre-death injury claim, including conscious pain and suffering, pursued by the estate.

Does it matter if a government entity may be responsible for the death?

Yes. Claims against certain municipal defendants require a notice of claim under General Municipal Law §§ 50-e and 50-i, with the notice period running from the appointment of an estate representative rather than the date of death.

Does Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. offer a free consultation?

No. The firm does not offer free consultations. A family member may request a scheduled consultation by calling (888) 437-7747, and the firm’s intake line is staffed 24/7.

Does the firm have an office in Nassau County?

No. The firm does not maintain a physical location in Nassau County. The firm’s principal office is at 4008 Williamsburg Court, Fairfax, VA 22032, by appointment.

This page provides general information and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Case results depend on a variety of factors unique to each case. Results may vary.

Attorney Advertising. Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C., principal office: 4008 Williamsburg Court, Fairfax, VA 22032. By appointment. Call (888) 437-7747 to schedule.

Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

For the full picture beyond Nassau County, our page on wrongful death cases in New York covers the process end to end.