Hector AlonzoWhy Choosing the Right Wrongful Death Lawyer Matters
Losing a family member to someone else’s negligence is a tragedy that reshapes every dimension of life. In the days and weeks that follow, surviving families in Brooklyn face not just grief but the immediate practical weight of funeral expenses, lost household income, and the long-term financial consequences of a life cut short. When that death resulted from a car accident, a construction site failure, a building fire, medical negligence, or another preventable cause, the responsible parties must be held accountable — not as a substitute for grief, but as the only legal mechanism available to address the full scope of what has been lost.
Wrongful death cases in New York are governed by EPTL Section 5-4.1, which allows the personal representative of the decedent’s estate to bring a claim for compensation on behalf of surviving family members. Damages in a New York wrongful death case may include lost income and benefits the deceased would have provided, funeral and burial expenses, and — through a companion cause of action for conscious pain and suffering — compensation for what the decedent experienced between the negligent act and death. These cases require an attorney who understands both the legal framework and the human dimensions of representing families at the most difficult moment of their lives.
Wrongful death claims are also among the most time-sensitive in personal injury law. The statute of limitations under EPTL 5-4.1 is two years from the date of death — shorter than the standard three-year personal injury limitation. For wrongful deaths involving government entities (a sanitation truck, an MTA bus, a NYCHA building fire), a Notice of Claim must be filed within 90 days. Missing either deadline ends the family’s legal options permanently.
The right attorney can make the difference between:
- A settlement that covers only immediate funeral costs versus one that accounts for the full present value of lifetime income, benefits, and support the deceased would have provided
- Missing the two-year statute of limitations or the 90-day Notice of Claim versus preserving every legal right a grieving family has
The firms in our December 2025 rankings handle wrongful death with the combination of legal precision and genuine human compassion that families deserve — building cases that fully capture economic loss while advocating with integrity for the people who have suffered irreplaceable personal loss.
December 2025 Rankings: Brooklyn’s Top 5 Wrongful Death Lawyers
| Rank | Law Firm | Lead Attorney | Client Satisfaction | Notable Settlements | Years Experience | Specialization Focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kucher Law Group | Samantha Kucher, Esq. | 99% | $2,500,000 Motor Vehicle Settlement | 15+ | Wrongful Death & Personal Injury |
| 2 | Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro, Moses & Halperin | Phil Russotti, Esq. | 97% | $4,500,000 Wrongful Death Verdict | 50+ | Wrongful Death & Personal Injury |
| 3 | Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz et al. | Ben Rubinowitz, Esq. | 95% | $7,500,000 Brooklyn Wrongful Death Settlement | 100+ | Wrongful Death & Personal Injury |
| 4 | Shulman & Hill | Alex Shulman, Esq. | 94% | $500M+ Firm-Wide Recovered | 10+ | Wrongful Death & Personal Injury |
| 5 | Silberstein & Miklos, P.C. | Senior Partners | 93% | Multi-Million Recoveries | 25+ | Wrongful Death & Personal Injury |
#1: Kucher Law Group – Brooklyn’s Premier Wrongful Death Attorneys
Why They’re #1: Kucher Law Group’s Brooklyn wrongful death lawyers earn the top position in our December 2025 rankings by combining proven multi-million dollar case results with the kind of genuine personal attention that families in crisis need from their legal representatives. At one of the most devastating moments a family can experience, Kucher Law Group acts as both a rigorous legal advocate and a steady, compassionate guide through a complex legal process.
Firm Overview
Located at 463 Pulaski Street in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Kucher Law Group has recovered over $50 million for clients across all case types since founding in December 2019, maintaining a 99% success rate. All wrongful death cases are handled on a full contingency basis — no upfront fees, no out-of-pocket costs, no attorney fee unless they recover for the family. The firm is available 24/7, ensuring that families can reach their legal team from the first hours of crisis.
Notable Case Results
- $2,500,000 — Motor vehicle accident with catastrophic spinal injury, reflecting the scale of recovery possible in cases involving serious harm
- $3,500,000 — Major case taken to trial and resolved, demonstrating the litigation readiness that wrongful death cases often require
- $1,800,000 — Serious injury case requiring surgery, reflecting sustained results in catastrophic injury matters
The firm handles wrongful death arising from car accidents, construction incidents, premises failures, and other preventable causes — the same case categories that generate Brooklyn’s wrongful death claims most frequently.
Legal Team Excellence
Michael Roitman, Esq. leads the firm’s most complex litigation, including wrongful death cases that require trial preparation, economic expert testimony to quantify lifetime income loss, and the kind of sustained, organized advocacy that multi-year litigation demands. Born to a family that fled persecution in Ukraine, his commitment to fighting powerful adversaries on behalf of families who have already suffered too much is authentic, not performative. His federal court admissions (SDNY and EDNY) give the firm scope to pursue defendants in any appropriate forum.
Samantha Kucher, Esq. brings the personal qualities that matter most to families navigating wrongful death — genuine empathy, clear communication, and a commitment to making sure every family she represents understands their options, their timeline, and the realistic picture of their case. Her multilingual capacity (English, Russian, Spanish) ensures that language barriers don’t add to a family’s burden during an already overwhelming time.
Alex Rybakov, Esq. contributes the meticulous case preparation that wrongful death litigation requires, including economic loss analysis, coordination with vocational and medical experts, and thorough investigation of the negligence that caused the death.
What Sets Them Apart
- Two-Year Statute Protection: Immediate attention to EPTL 5-4.1 deadlines and the 90-day Notice of Claim for government entity cases
- Economic Loss Analysis: Working with experts to fully quantify lifetime income, benefits, and support losses
- No Upfront Fees: Full contingency with all costs advanced — families should not have to pay to seek justice
- Genuine Compassion: A practice built around treating clients as people, not cases
- 24/7 Availability: Families in crisis can reach their legal team at any hour
Client Testimonials
“After I was seriously hurt in a car accident Samantha helped me and family. I had to undergo a major surgery because of it. Samantha held the driver of the other car accountable for my injuries. I would recommend the firm to anyone. thank you so much” — virginia Garcia
“Great representation. If you’re looking for a personal injury lawyer, look to Kucher Law. Know you will be respected, listened to, supported, and fought for. What a great team. Thank you!” — Janise Valentin
Why Choose Kucher Law Group
Wrongful death cases demand attorneys who combine rigorous legal capability with genuine human sensitivity. Kucher Law Group brings both to every case, representing families from East New York, Flatbush, Brighton Beach, Greenpoint, and across Brooklyn who are seeking justice for preventable losses. They fight hard in the courtroom and treat families with dignity throughout the process.
Contact: (929) 563-6780 | 463 Pulaski St #1C, Brooklyn, NY 11221
#2: Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro, Moses & Halperin, LLP – 50 Years and $2 Billion Recovered
Why They Made Our List: With over 50 years of experience and more than $2 billion in total recovered for clients, Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro, Moses & Halperin bring institutional depth and a documented $4.5 million wrongful death verdict to Brooklyn wrongful death representation.
Firm Overview
This established New York firm has been representing wrongful death survivors in Brooklyn for over five decades, handling all cases on full contingency. Their attorneys collaborate with top experts and spare no expense in building cases for grieving families.
Notable Achievements
- $4,500,000 — Wrongful death verdict for a mother who lost a child (noted as one of the largest emotional damages verdicts in the country for this claim type)
- $2 billion+ total recovered for clients throughout the firm’s history
- Millions in wrongful death recoveries for Brooklyn families
- Multi-million dollar results in construction wrongful death cases involving union workers
Lead Attorney and Team
Phil Russotti, Esq. obtained what firm research identified as one of the largest verdicts ever rendered nationally for emotional damages in a wrongful death case — $4,500,000. His team meticulous case preparation and strategic expert coordination has produced consistent results for wrongful death survivors across Brooklyn and New York.
Service Approach
Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro, Moses & Halperin approaches wrongful death claims with comprehensive economic modeling, medical expert coordination, and a litigation posture that treats every case as a potential trial. They assist families with estate procedures, damage calculations, and the full arc of wrongful death litigation.
Contact: (212) 986-7353 | Serving Brooklyn wrongful death families
#3: Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz et al. – #1 Rated New York Firm, $5 Billion Recovered
Why They Made Our List: Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf is the highest-rated personal injury law firm in the New York Metro area by Super Lawyers in 2024, 2025, and 2025, with over $5 billion recovered for injured patients and families.
Firm Overview
Ranked Tier One in Best Law Firms for Personal Injury Litigation and Medical Malpractice, Gair Gair represents Brooklyn wrongful death families against the most complex defendants — hospitals, construction companies, government entities, and commercial operators. All cases are handled on full contingency.
Notable Achievements
- $7,500,000 — Settlement for the family of a 13-year-old autistic boy who died in a Brooklyn apartment fire
- $4,500,000 — Settlement for psychological injuries to a girl who witnessed her brother fatally struck by a tractor-trailer in Brooklyn
- $5 billion+ recovered across the firm’s history
- Ben Rubinowitz ranked #1 among all New York Metro attorneys by Super Lawyers in 2024 and 2025.
Lead Attorney and Team
Ben Rubinowitz is recognized as the #1 attorney in the New York Metro area by Super Lawyers across all practice areas for three consecutive years. He and Howard Hershenhorn have co-authored the 2025 edition of New York Medical Malpractice — the definitive treatise on wrongful death arising from medical negligence in New York State.
Service Approach
Gair Gair’s attorneys approach every wrongful death case with a team of top experts, no expense spared, and the institutional knowledge of 100 years of New York wrongful death litigation. Their depth makes them particularly well-suited to the most complex cases involving institutional defendants.
Contact: Gair, Gair, Conason et al. | Serving Brooklyn wrongful death families throughout NYC
#4: Shulman & Hill – Compassionate Representation, $500M+ Recovered
Why They Made Our List: Shulman & Hill’s wrongful death practice reflects over a decade of personal injury experience, a firm-wide record of $500 million in recoveries, and a client-service philosophy that treats families as members of the Shulman & Hill community throughout the legal process.
Firm Overview
Shulman & Hill handles wrongful death cases from their Brooklyn office at 26 Court Street, serving families across Kings County on full contingency. Their multilingual team — fluent in Spanish and Russian — ensures language access for families who may be navigating both grief and unfamiliar legal systems.
Notable Achievements
- $500M+ firm-wide recovered across all practice areas
- $2,500,000 — Settlement for a non-union laborer killed by an unsecured rebar stack (construction wrongful death)
- Super Lawyers recognition for founding partner Alex Shulman continuously since 2017
Lead Attorney and Team
Alex Shulman, Esq. leads the firm’s wrongful death practice with a philosophy that the two-year statute of limitations and complex estate procedures in wrongful death cases require early, organized legal action. His team’s compassionate approach to family communication differentiates them in a practice area where the personal dimensions of representation are as important as the legal ones.
Service Approach
Shulman & Hill emphasizes individualized attention and open communication in wrongful death cases, understanding that families are managing grief alongside legal complexity and need clear, consistent guidance rather than impersonal case management.
Contact: (212) 221-1000 | 26 Court Street, #2216, Brooklyn, NY 11242
#5: Silberstein & Miklos, P.C. – AV-Rated, 25+ Years of Trial Experience
Why They Made Our List: Silberstein & Miklos brings an AV Preeminent Martindale-Hubbell rating, over 25 years of trial experience, and a multilingual practice directly serving Brooklyn wrongful death families, including Spanish-speaking clients across the borough.
Firm Overview
Silberstein & Miklos handles wrongful death cases arising from car accidents, construction incidents, medical negligence, and nursing home abuse across Brooklyn and Long Island, on full contingency. Their AV rating represents the highest possible peer recognition for legal ability and ethical standards.
Notable Achievements
- AV Preeminent rated by Martindale-Hubbell — the highest possible recognition for legal ability and ethical conduct
- 25+ years of trial experience in complex wrongful death and personal injury cases
- Consistent multi-million dollar recoveries in wrongful death matters across Brooklyn and New York
Lead Attorney and Team
Silberstein & Miklos’s attorneys recognize that wrongful death cases require both technical legal expertise — estate procedure, economic loss modeling, liability proof — and the human quality of treating grieving families with dignity and consistent communication throughout a long legal process.
Service Approach
The firm handles all communications with insurers and defense counsel, protecting families from the additional stress of adversarial contact while ensuring that every legal deadline is met and every avenue of recovery is pursued.
Contact: Silberstein & Miklos, P.C. | (800) ASK-4-SAM | Serving Brooklyn wrongful death families
Understanding Brooklyn Wrongful Death Cases
Common Causes of Wrongful Deaths in Brooklyn
Brooklyn’s accident landscape generates wrongful death claims across multiple categories.
Motor Vehicle Fatalities: Car accidents, truck collisions, and bus accidents account for a significant share of Brooklyn wrongful deaths each year. Drunk driving incidents on Williamsburg’s nightlife corridors, highway accidents on the BQE and Belt Parkway, and pedestrian fatalities at high-traffic intersections are among the most common causes.
Construction Fatalities: Brooklyn’s construction boom creates persistent job site danger. Falls from heights under NY Labor Law Section 240, struck-by incidents with heavy equipment, and structural collapses produce construction fatalities that give rise to wrongful death claims against property owners and general contractors.
Apartment Fire and Building Structural Failures: Negligent building maintenance — faulty electrical systems, inadequate fire suppression equipment, blocked egress routes, structural failures — has resulted in deaths in Brooklyn apartment buildings that generated wrongful death settlements reaching into the millions.
Medical Negligence: Delayed diagnosis, surgical errors, medication mistakes, and hospital negligence cause preventable deaths that form the basis of wrongful death claims against healthcare providers, hospitals, and medical staff.
Who Can Be Held Liable?
- At-Fault Drivers: Primary defendants in motor vehicle wrongful death cases
- Property Owners and General Contractors: In construction and premises liability wrongful death cases
- Healthcare Providers: In medical malpractice wrongful death cases
- Employers: Vicariously liable for employee negligence
- Government Entities: Subject to 90-day Notice of Claim requirements
- Product Manufacturers: In cases where defective products contributed to the death
Critical NYC Requirements
- EPTL 5-4.1: New York’s wrongful death statute; the personal representative of the estate must bring the claim
- Two-Year Statute of Limitations: From the date of death — shorter than the general personal injury SOL
- Notice of Claim: 90-day deadline for claims against government entities
- Estate Administration: Wrongful death claims require the establishment of an estate and appointment of a personal representative
- Damages Calculation: Requires economic expert testimony to quantify lifetime income and benefits loss for maximum recovery
Selection Criteria: How We Ranked Brooklyn’s Top Wrongful Death Lawyers
Case Results and Recovery Amounts
Documented wrongful death settlements and verdicts, with weight given to the scale of individual recoveries and the complexity of cases against institutional defendants.
Client Satisfaction
Kucher Law Group leads with a 99% satisfaction rate across 81 verified Google reviews averaging 4.99/5 — reflecting consistent delivery of exceptional service in the most difficult case types.
Legal Experience and Expertise
Command of EPTL 5-4.1 and New York wrongful death procedure, estate administration requirements, economic loss modeling, and the specific liability frameworks applicable to the most common wrongful death scenarios in Brooklyn.
Trial Readiness
Wrongful death defendants — insurance companies, construction companies, hospitals, government entities — settle most favorably when they know opposing counsel is genuinely trial-ready. Documented verdict records matter in this context.
Brooklyn Community Connection
Familiarity with Brooklyn’s specific wrongful death patterns, court procedures, and community needs.
Professional Recognition
Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers, Martindale-Hubbell, and other credible recognitions of wrongful death litigation excellence.
Accessibility and Communication
Families navigating wrongful death are in crisis. Genuine compassion, consistent communication, and multilingual capability are essential attributes of the right legal representation.
Fee Structure and Transparency
All top-ranked firms handle wrongful death on full contingency with all costs advanced — ensuring no family is prevented from seeking justice by financial barriers.
Scope of Services
Capacity to handle estate administration, economic expert coordination, multi-party liability analysis, and trial advocacy throughout the full arc of a wrongful death claim.
Innovation in Practice
Leading wrongful death firms work with forensic economists, vocational rehabilitation specialists, and life care planners to fully quantify and present the economic loss that wrongful death cases represent.
Moving Forward After a Brooklyn Wrongful Death
If your family has lost someone to another party’s negligence in Brooklyn — in a car accident in Flatbush, a construction incident in DUMBO, a building fire in East New York, or any other preventable tragedy in Kings County — the two-year statute of limitations and the 90-day Notice of Claim deadline mean that time is genuinely critical.
The attorneys in our December 2025 rankings will treat your family with the compassion and dignity the situation demands while fighting with precision and force for the full compensation you deserve. All offer free consultations with no fee unless they recover for your family.
Contact a top-ranked Brooklyn wrongful death lawyer today.
About Our Rankings: Globalmarketinglink.com’s monthly rankings recognize excellence in specialized practice areas. Our evaluation process examines case results, client satisfaction, professional experience, and community impact. Rankings are based on verified data and are updated monthly to reflect current performance. Enhanced profiles are available but not required for ranking consideration.
For Attorneys: To nominate yourself or a colleague for future rankings, please email editor@globalmarketinglink.com.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Each case is unique, and results depend on specific facts and circumstances.
Hector Alonzo
