New York State’s Grieving Families Act, currently awaiting Governor Hochul’s signature, represents a significant legislative effort aimed at supporting families who have lost loved ones due to wrongful acts or negligence. This act proposes crucial amendments to existing laws, particularly concerning the rights of families to seek justice and closure through legal avenues after a wrongful death. By granting families broader access to legal recourse, the bill aims to alleviate some of the burdens associated with navigating the aftermath of such tragic events.
Pros and Cons of the Grieving Families Act
The proposed Grieving Families Act brings several advantages to affected families. Firstly, it extends the statute of limitations for filing wrongful death lawsuits, allowing families more time to gather evidence and build their cases. This is an important change as often it could take a law enforcement agency about a year to complete an investigation. Additionally, it provides for increased compensation for non-economic damages, recognizing the emotional and psychological toll on survivors. However, critics argue that these changes could potentially burden businesses and insurers with increased litigation costs, which might lead to higher premiums or reduced availability of certain services in the long run. This argument seems to lack merit as a properly investigated case, should in theory reduce the burden of the court with additional litigation and the need for expert witnesses. Striking a balance between justice for families and economic implications remains a key point of contention.
Private Investigators and Wrongful Death Investigations
Private investigators play a pivotal role in supporting families pursuing justice under the Grieving Families Act. These professionals are adept at uncovering crucial evidence, such as witness statements, surveillance footage, and expert testimonies, that can substantiate claims of wrongful death. This information can help determine liability early on in the discovery process and help limit the need to litigate a claim to trial. A private investigator’s expertise in conducting thorough and impartial investigations often complements the efforts of legal teams, providing families with a clearer path to establishing liability and achieving closure. By meticulously piecing together the facts surrounding a wrongful death, investigators contribute significantly to ensuring that justice is served, and negligent parties are held accountable. It also reduces the burden of the litigation process. One of the most relevant investigations we are seeing is the need to do a site investigation to recover video of an incident. With the advent of cheaper technology, video cameras are very prevalent in major cities. Having a trained professional with the knowledge of how to recover these videos can be a real game changer.
In conclusion, Governor Hochul’s endorsement of the Grieving Families Act would mark a crucial step forward in enhancing the rights of grieving families in New York State. While the bill is not without its complexities and potential challenges, its overarching goal of empowering families to seek justice and receive appropriate compensation outweighs the perceived drawbacks. Furthermore, by enlisting the expertise of private investigators, these families can navigate the legal landscape more effectively, thereby reinforcing the integrity and efficacy of the legislative reforms. As such, Governor Hochul’s support for this pivotal legislation is not only warranted but also essential in upholding justice and compassion for all New Yorkers affected by wrongful deaths. Using an investigation firm like Satellite Investigations can help you better represent the families and help ensure they receive the justice they deserve.
Satellite Investigations has been a Partner for justice with the New York State Trial Lawyers association for 15 years. During this time, they have built the reputation as being the premier plaintiff personal injury firm in New York.
Matthew Spaier is the president and owner of Satellite Investigations. He is also the president of the Associated Licensed Detectives on New York State. He was voted Pi-Magazine’s Investigator of the year in 2021 and also is the host PI-Perspectives a weekly podcast about investigations.
