Grieving Families Act

New York Grieving Families Act – Senate Bill S74A

Losing someone can be terrible, but losing someone due to negligence is unimaginable. Grieving families across New York are experiencing the effects of negligent death. The Grieving Families Act of New York aims to provide wrongful death compensation for families who have recently lost a loved one. The New York State Senate and Assembly have passed Senate Bill S74A and is on its way to Governor, Kathy Hochul.

Below, we will outline asbestos and its relation to mesothelioma as well as the intricacies of mesothelioma legal options like a wrongful death suit.

Is There Still Asbestos in New York?

Asbestos is a natural mineral used in New York construction from the 1900s until the early 2000s due to its fire-resistant qualities. Many New York buildings still contain asbestos today. Asbestos was found in New York factories, textile mills, power plants, manufacturing plants, and shipyards. Many workers at these facilities were exposed to asbestos and developed mesothelioma. Additionally, asbestos makes part of hundreds of New York buildings. Over time, residents and workers alike have potentially been exposed to asbestos which is where

What Triggers Mesothelioma?

When asbestos fibers become disturbed by construction or movement, the hazardous fibers are released into the air. When inhaled or ingested, asbestos fibers become trapped and cannot be removed. Whether in the lungs, heart, abdomen, or testicles, asbestos fibers can irritate and mutate into cancerous mesothelioma cells.

Some several occupations and industries are at a higher risk for asbestos exposure in New York. People may have been exposed to asbestos fibers in places such as:

• Asbestos Industry
• Construction
• Factories
• First Responders
• Metropolitan Transportation Authority
• Mining
• Power Plants
• Much more

People may still be affected by asbestos within New York shipyards, such as the Bethlehem Steel Shipyard during the 9/11 tragedy, and in the construction of old buildings.

New York Wrongful Death Laws and Grieving Families

The current New York wrongful death law only allows compensation related to lost wages and funeral expenses. New York’s current wrongful death statute has been in place since 1847, and the S74A Grieving Families Act aims to revise it. Under the proposed Grieving Families Act (GFA) update, families could recover monetary damages from the entity or person(s) responsible for their greiving family member’s death. This comes on the heels of the open enrollment for the toxic exposure bill that was put into action last year.

To begin, the New York Grieving Families Act would redefine the definition of a ‘family member’ to expand compensation to those affected. The bill would expand damages families are eligible for to include emotional losses in addition to financial damages from mesothelioma treatment. Additionally, the update would lengthen the wrongful death statute of limitations to three and a half years.

Grieving Families Act Wrongful Death Damages

Wrongful death action can be difficult to navigate; however, families affected should receive compensation. The average wrongful death mesothelioma compensation is between $1 million and $2 million. Understand your wrongful death claim and the Grieving Families Act of New York of 2022. Connect with a mesothelioma compensation specialist today by filling out our free case evaluation.