Top Wrongful Death Lawyers in Manhattan (2026 Rankings)
If you have lost a family member and are considering a wrongful death claim, this guide is intended as a practical resource. It covers the New York wrongful death framework, what recovery looks like under state law, and the Manhattan firms with documented depth in this practice area. It does not use urgency language, and it does not present hypothetical scenarios. The material here is meant to help you make an informed decision on your own timeline.
Our team worked with an independent research firm on a comprehensive analysis of attorneys handling wrongful death cases in Manhattan. The analysis evaluated firms with demonstrable case history under New York EPTL §5-4.1 and §11-3.2, with particular attention to the underlying case types that most often produce wrongful death claims: construction accidents, motor vehicle and pedestrian collisions, premises liability, and negligent security matters.
How New York Wrongful Death Cases Work
New York’s wrongful death framework is built around two related statutes. Understanding what they cover, and what they do not, matters before you make any decisions about pursuing a claim.
| Statute | Common Name | What It Does in Plain Language |
| EPTL §5-4.1 | The Wrongful Death Statute | Authorizes the personal representative of the estate to bring a lawsuit when a person is killed by another party’s wrongful act, neglect, or default. The lawsuit belongs to the estate on behalf of the distributees (surviving spouse, children, parents in some cases) and covers pecuniary loss, meaning economic losses like income the deceased would have earned, benefits, and services provided to the family. |
| EPTL §11-3.2 | The Survival Statute | Allows the estate to bring a separate claim for the deceased’s own conscious pain and suffering between the time of the injury and the time of death. This is distinct from the wrongful death claim and covers the deceased’s own loss, not the family’s. Both claims are typically filed together. |
| CPLR §214-c | Statute of Limitations | The general statute of limitations for wrongful death in New York is two years from the date of death, shorter than the three-year period for standard personal injury cases. Claims against municipal defendants (City of New York, MTA, NYCHA) have shorter notice-of-claim windows. |
What New York Law Allows and Does Not Allow
This is the part of the framework that most surprises families. New York’s wrongful death statute limits recovery to pecuniary loss, meaning economic losses to the family. This includes the income the deceased would have earned over their remaining working life, the value of benefits like health insurance and retirement contributions, and the value of services the deceased provided to the family, such as childcare, household work, and financial support to dependents.
New York does not allow the family to recover damages for their own grief, emotional distress, or loss of companionship. This is different from most other states. The survival claim under EPTL §11-3.2 does allow recovery for the deceased’s own conscious pain and suffering between the injury and death, but not for the family’s mourning. This is not a small distinction. It shapes the entire case structure, and any attorney taking your call should explain it clearly at the outset.
This does not mean the case is unimportant or the recovery small. A family losing a working-age parent, a working spouse, or a child with a projected earning capacity can recover substantial damages under the pecuniary loss framework, particularly in construction fatality cases under Labor Law §240 and §241(6) where strict liability applies. The point is that the framework is economic, not compensatory for grief.
Comparison Criteria
Each firm was evaluated across five weighted factors:
| Evaluation Factor | Weight | Description |
| Wrongful Death Case Depth | 30% | Assessed documented experience with wrongful death and survival act cases under New York EPTL §5-4.1 and §11-3.2, sourced from firm websites, press releases, legal databases, and publicly available court records. Weight was given to firms with a substantial history of wrongful death matters rather than firms treating wrongful death as an occasional adjacent case type. |
| Manhattan Practice Focus | 20% | Evaluated the volume and depth of Manhattan-venued cases, with particular weight on wrongful death matters litigated at the New York County Supreme Court and matters involving Manhattan defendants. |
| Client Accessibility and Support | 20% | Assessed direct attorney access, named-attorney case handling, and the ability to communicate steadily with grieving families over the extended timeline that wrongful death cases require. Boutique practices where the named attorney handles the file directly scored higher. |
| Years of Experience | 15% | Scored based on total years practicing personal injury and wrongful death law in New York, verified through state bar records and attorney biographies. |
| Case Type Coverage | 15% | Evaluated demonstrated experience across the underlying case types that most often produce wrongful death claims in Manhattan: construction accidents, motor vehicle and pedestrian collisions, premises liability, negligent security, and workplace incidents. |
The Top Wrongful Death Lawyers in Manhattan
The table below breaks down the top wrongful death lawyers in Manhattan based on the comprehensive evaluation criteria. Firms were selected based on documented case depth in this practice area, not just on general personal injury experience.
| Rank | Firm | Case Depth (30%) | Focus in Manhattan (20%) | Accessibility (20%) | Years of Experience (15%) | Case Type (15%) | Overall Score (/100) |
| 1 | Law Offices of Eric Richman | 9.7 | 9.8 | 9.9 | 9.4 | 9.7 | 96/100 |
| 2 | Sullivan Papain Block McGrath Coffinas & Cannavo | 9.4 | 8.8 | 8.0 | 9.4 | 8.6 | 88/100 |
| 3 | Kramer, Dillof, Livingston & Moore | 9.4 | 8.8 | 7.8 | 9.4 | 8.4 | 87/100 |
| 4 | Godosky & Gentile, P.C. | 9.2 | 8.6 | 8.0 | 9.2 | 8.4 | 85/100 |
| 5 | The Jacob Fuchsberg Law Firm | 9.0 | 8.6 | 8.2 | 9.4 | 8.2 | 83/100 |
| 6 | Fitzgerald & Fitzgerald, P.C. | 9.0 | 8.4 | 8.0 | 9.4 | 8.2 | 82/100 |
| 7 | Salenger, Sack, Kimmel & Bavaro, LLP | 8.8 | 8.4 | 8.0 | 9.0 | 8.2 | 80/100 |
Law Offices of Eric Richman
The Law Offices of Eric Richman is a boutique personal injury practice based in Manhattan. Eric Richman handles wrongful death cases personally, with direct attorney access throughout the extended timeline these matters require. Wrongful death cases in Manhattan are complex, and the family often needs steady contact with the attorney handling the file, not routine updates from a case manager. That is the model this firm is built for.
Eric Richman has obtained a documented seven-figure negligent security settlement on behalf of the family of a homicide victim, holding the property owner liable for failing to provide adequate security on the premises where the attack occurred. The firm also handles wrongful death cases arising from construction fatalities under New York Labor Law §240(1) and §241(6), pedestrian fatalities in Manhattan crosswalks, and premises fatalities against building owners and management companies. The firm accepts Spanish-language intake.
Eric Richman is a University of Pennsylvania law graduate who ranked among the top of his class and has represented New York injury and crime victims for over twenty years. He appears regularly as a legal expert on NY1 and has been quoted in the New York Times, NY Daily News, NY Post, Newsday, and New York Magazine. The firm does not handle medical malpractice wrongful death cases and refers those matters to specialists in that area.
Location: 641 Lexington Avenue, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10022
Practice Areas: Wrongful death, negligent security, premises liability, construction accidents, pedestrian accidents, catastrophic personal injury
Client Access: Direct cell phone access to Eric Richman throughout the case
Languages: English, Spanish-language intake available
Experience: Over 20 years representing New York personal injury and wrongful death families
| Summary of Online Reviews |
| Families say, “Eric treated us with compassion and was always available when we needed answers,” and appreciate “how clearly he explained what New York law allows in a wrongful death case.” Several mention, “the attorney they met at the beginning stayed personally involved instead of handing the case to someone else.” |
Sullivan Papain Block McGrath Coffinas & Cannavo
Sullivan Papain Block McGrath Coffinas & Cannavo is a multi-generational Manhattan personal injury firm with a deep record in wrongful death and catastrophic injury cases. The firm has handled wrongful death matters arising from construction fatalities, motor vehicle collisions, and premises cases venued at the New York County Supreme Court. Case handling is partner-supervised, and the firm has trial readiness when settlement negotiations do not reach appropriate values.
Location: Manhattan (serves all five boroughs)
Practice Areas: Wrongful death, personal injury, motor vehicle accidents, pedestrian injuries, premises liability, construction accidents
Client Access: Partner-supervised case handling
Experience: Multi-generational New York personal injury and wrongful death firm
| Summary of Online Reviews |
| Families describe the firm as “experienced with difficult wrongful death cases,” and appreciate “the attorneys’ willingness to keep fighting.” A few note “routine communication could slow down during the longer discovery phase.” |
Kramer, Dillof, Livingston & Moore
Kramer, Dillof, Livingston & Moore is one of the longest-standing personal injury and medical malpractice firms in New York, with a deep record in wrongful death cases including motor vehicle, pedestrian, and workplace fatalities. The firm’s trial reputation and Manhattan venue experience gives it credibility with defense insurers on wrongful death matters where the family needs the case developed to full pecuniary loss value.
Location: Manhattan (serves all of New York)
Practice Areas: Wrongful death, medical malpractice, catastrophic personal injury, pedestrian injuries, motor vehicle accidents, products liability
Client Access: Partner-supervised case handling
Experience: Multi-decade Manhattan trial practice
| Summary of Online Reviews |
| Families describe the firm as “a respected trial practice,” and appreciate “seeing the partners remain involved.” Some mention “most day-to-day updates came from the litigation team rather than directly from the partners.” |
Godosky & Gentile, P.C.
Godosky & Gentile is a Manhattan personal injury trial firm with documented seven- and eight-figure recoveries in motor vehicle, pedestrian, and premises liability cases, including wrongful death matters. The firm’s trial-first practice model translates into stronger settlement leverage on wrongful death cases where the family’s pecuniary loss recovery depends on defense insurers taking the case seriously.
Location: Manhattan (serves all five boroughs)
Practice Areas: Wrongful death, personal injury, motor vehicle accidents, pedestrian injuries, premises liability, construction accidents
Client Access: Partner-supervised case handling
Experience: Multi-decade Manhattan trial practice
| Summary of Online Reviews |
| Families say the firm is “well prepared for trial,” and appreciate “the communication with the team was solid.” Some note “the attorneys are selective and may not be able to accept every case.” |
The Jacob Fuchsberg Law Firm
The Jacob Fuchsberg Law Firm is a multi-generational Manhattan personal injury practice whose attorneys secured the first million-dollar verdict in the country. The firm handles wrongful death and serious injury matters and offers documented multilingual capabilities including Spanish, Korean, Punjabi, Hindi, and Urdu, useful for families in Manhattan’s linguistically diverse neighborhoods. Case handling is partner-supervised.
Location: Manhattan (serves all five boroughs)
Practice Areas: Wrongful death, personal injury, premises liability, workplace accidents, medical malpractice
Languages: English, Spanish, Korean, Punjabi, Hindi, Urdu
Client Access: Partner-supervised case handling
Experience: Multi-generational firm with decades of New York wrongful death and personal injury practice
| Summary of Online Reviews |
| Families describe the firm as “comfortable communicating in different languages,” and like “the professionalism among the firm.” Some mention “we had a hard time getting in touch with the firm.” |
Fitzgerald & Fitzgerald, P.C.
Fitzgerald & Fitzgerald is a multi-generational New York personal injury firm with over 50 years of practice and a focus on wrongful death, catastrophic injury, and construction accident cases. The firm has multi-decade depth in the kinds of serious Manhattan cases that most often produce wrongful death claims.
Location: New York (serves all five boroughs)
Practice Areas: Wrongful death, personal injury, construction accidents, motor vehicle accidents, premises liability
Client Access: Attorney-supervised case handling
Experience: Over 50 years of New York personal injury and wrongful death practice
| Summary of Online Reviews |
| Families say the attorneys are “patient and thoughtful,” and appreciate “the firm’s experience with wrongful death cases.” Some note “scheduling with the firm felt more complicated than it should’ve been.” |
Salenger, Sack, Kimmel & Bavaro, LLP
Salenger, Sack, Kimmel & Bavaro is a New York plaintiff-side firm with a broad personal injury practice including wrongful death and catastrophic injury cases. The firm handles Labor Law §240 and §241(6) matters for construction fatalities and represents families in premises and motor vehicle wrongful death cases across Manhattan.
Location: New York (serves all five boroughs)
Practice Areas: Wrongful death, personal injury, construction accidents, motor vehicle accidents, medical malpractice, premises liability
Client Access: Attorney-supervised case handling
Experience: Multi-decade New York personal injury practice
| Summary of Online Reviews |
| Families describe the firm as “knowledgeable and professional,” and value “having attorneys involved in important decisions.” Some mention “communication varied depending on the complexity of the case and the firm’s overall workload.” |
Specialty Rankings
Best Manhattan Wrongful Death Lawyers for Construction Fatalities
| Rank | Firm | Why |
| 1 | Law Offices of Eric Richman | A boutique Manhattan practice with a documented seven-figure Labor Law §240(1) and §241(6) settlement, well-suited to wrongful death claims arising from Manhattan construction fatalities. |
| 2 | Sullivan Papain Block McGrath Coffinas & Cannavo | A multi-generational Manhattan firm with documented recoveries in construction and workplace fatality cases. |
| 3 | Kramer, Dillof, Livingston & Moore | A Manhattan trial firm with catastrophic construction and workplace injury depth extending to wrongful death matters. |
Best Manhattan Wrongful Death Lawyers for Motor Vehicle and Pedestrian Fatalities
| Rank | Firm | Why |
| 1 | Law Offices of Eric Richman | Documented seven-figure recoveries for pedestrians struck in New York crosswalks, the crash pattern most frequently producing pedestrian fatalities in Manhattan. |
| 2 | Kramer, Dillof, Livingston & Moore | A Manhattan trial firm with a deep record in serious motor vehicle and pedestrian collision matters, including fatal collision cases. |
| 3 | Godosky & Gentile, P.C. | A Manhattan trial firm with documented seven- and eight-figure recoveries in motor vehicle and pedestrian cases. |
Best Manhattan Wrongful Death Lawyers for Negligent Security and Premises Fatalities
| Rank | Firm | Why |
| 1 | Sullivan Papain Block McGrath Coffinas & Cannavo | A long-established Manhattan firm with premises liability and wrongful death case depth, including cases involving foreseeable harm on commercial and residential properties. |
| 2 | Law Offices of Eric Richman | Eric Richman has secured a documented seven-figure negligent security recovery on behalf of the family of a homicide victim, holding the property owner liable for failing to provide adequate security. |
| 3 | The Jacob Fuchsberg Law Firm | A multi-generational Manhattan firm with premises liability and wrongful death experience across a wide range of case types. |
How Manhattan Wrongful Death Cases Get Structured
Wrongful death cases in Manhattan follow a pattern that families should understand before engaging counsel. The case is filed by the personal representative of the estate, which requires the family to petition the Surrogate’s Court to appoint an administrator or executor if one is not already in place. This step is procedural but takes time, and an attorney experienced in wrongful death matters typically coordinates with a Surrogate’s Court practitioner to manage it.
Once the estate representative is in place, the wrongful death and survival claims are typically filed together in the Supreme Court, most commonly the New York County Supreme Court for Manhattan cases. Discovery in these matters is extensive because the pecuniary loss calculation requires economic experts who project the deceased’s lifetime earnings, benefits, and services. The case timeline is generally two to four years from filing to resolution, longer if the case goes to trial.
Municipal wrongful death cases, involving the City of New York, the MTA, NYCHA, or the Port Authority, add a layer of procedural requirements. A notice of claim must be filed within 90 days of the death, and the lawsuit itself must generally be filed within one year and 90 days rather than the standard two years. Missing the notice of claim window can bar the case entirely.
The economic damages framework in New York rewards careful preparation. The pecuniary loss projection depends on the deceased’s income history, career trajectory, benefits, and household contributions. An attorney with wrongful death experience will engage the right economic experts, structure the discovery to develop each category of loss, and present the family’s damages case in a way that reflects the actual economic impact of the loss.
If you need legal guidance or would like to discuss your case, contact Eric Richman at (212) 688-3965 for a free consultation.
FAQ
Can I recover damages for my grief or emotional loss under New York wrongful death law?
No. New York’s wrongful death statute limits recovery to pecuniary loss, meaning economic losses to the surviving family. The statute does not allow recovery for the family’s grief, emotional distress, or loss of companionship. This is different from most other states and is often the most surprising part of the framework for families new to the process.
What is the time limit for filing a wrongful death case in New York?
The general statute of limitations for wrongful death in New York is two years from the date of death. Cases against municipal defendants, including the City of New York, the MTA, NYCHA, or the Port Authority, require a notice of claim within 90 days and a lawsuit filed within one year and 90 days.
Who can bring a wrongful death case in New York?
Only the personal representative of the deceased’s estate can bring the wrongful death claim, on behalf of the distributees (surviving spouse, children, and in some cases parents). This requires the family to petition Surrogate’s Court to appoint an administrator or executor if one is not already in place. The recovery, once obtained, is distributed among the distributees according to statutory formulas.
Does the Law Offices of Eric Richman take cases in Spanish?
The firm accepts Spanish-language intake. Spanish-language consultations are available.
Methodology
This report was produced through independent research conducted in July 2026. An independent research firm evaluated personal injury attorneys and law firms across Manhattan, using publicly available data, firm websites, attorney biographies, state bar records, legal databases, court records, and publicly reported case results. Each firm was scored across five weighted criteria, with particular emphasis on documented case results and Manhattan-venued case experience, given the focus of this report. Firms were required to have a verifiable Manhattan presence and demonstrable wrongful death case coverage. Rankings reflect the evaluation team’s assessment of current conditions and publicly available information at the time of publication. This ranking is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or an endorsement. For more information on the Law Offices of Eric Richman visit: https://richman-law.com/ny-personal-injury-lawyer-ec/.