Bergen County tobacco family rocked by mother’s death
December 20, 2013
An auto accident that claims the life of a loved one may also rob a family of its primary financial support, an employer of a productive worker and/or a community of a generous contributor. Legal consequences for a negligent driver may be criminal, civil or both.
A long-time, community-involved resident of Bergen County recently died in a pedestrian accident. The 73-year-old woman and her husband, the head of a successful Fort Lee tobacco company, raised a family while residing in Englewood for more than half a century. In recent years, the wife focused her efforts on the care of her husband, who suffers from Parkinson’s disease.
According to the victim’s son, his mother had stopped at a dry cleaners. Police said the woman was hit by a minivan while trying to get in or out of her parked car. The van operator was a 22-year-old driver who was arrested on a reckless driving charge.
A family member’s loss creates an emptiness that cannot be replaced. Survivors have to move forward through grief, emotional distress and sometimes financial devastation. Criminal prosecution may or may not offer a sense of relief. However, a settlement or successful civil liability claim can reduce worries about money.
A sudden, wrongful death is accompanied by expenses that may not be covered by insurance, like funeral arrangements and burial costs. At the same time, a family can lose a significant portion of income from lost wages that a decedent once provided.
The hardships a family faces following the preventable death of a relative are heaped one on top of the other as relatives try to recover from the loss. The mental anguish of a spouse, parent or child counts as harm in a liability case, the same way injuries and financial damages do.
Personal injury attorneys help clients assess damages and develop evidence to support a wrongful death claim.
Source: NorthJersey.com, “Englewood’s Myrna Sherman, matriach of Sherman tobacco family, dies at 73” Rebecca Baker, Dec. 13, 2013
“Smart, creative and
aggressive lawyers who put
their client’s interests first" —
"The Epstein Law Firm recently obtained a multi-million dollar settlement in an extremely complex and difficult financial services case. He and his team not only mastered the complex issues in the case, but also expertly handled all aspects of the negotiations. I cannot thank Michael enough for his dedication and hard work, and I highly recommend him and The Epstein Law Firm for those who need smart, creative, and aggressive lawyers who put their clients’ interests first.”
"The Epstein Law Firm recently obtained a multi-million dollar settlement in an extremely complex and difficult financial services case. He and his team not only mastered the complex issues in the case, but also expertly handled all aspects of the negotiations. I cannot thank Michael enough for his dedication and hard work, and I highly recommend him and The Epstein Law Firm for those who need smart, creative, and aggressive lawyers who put their clients’ interests first.”
