Personal Injury

Wrongful Death

Sheff & Cook is honored to have represented families and victims in some of the most high-profile wrongful death cases in the history of Massachusetts.

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Overview

The sudden and unexpected death of a loved one can be one of the most significant losses of your life. Not only are you grieving, but oftentimes, you’re left with a lot of questions. Why did this happen? What do I do now? No one is giving you any real answers, which makes it even more distressing when the negligence of a person or corporation caused your loss unnecessarily.

Sheff & Cook is honored to have represented families and victims in some of the most high-profile wrongful death cases in the history of the Commonwealth. This includes:

The case brought by the family of Odin Lloyd against infamous football star Aaron Hernandez
The Columbia Gas Explosion case, where three cities in the Merrimack Valley were decimated by multiple explosions resulting in injury and death
The case resulting from the tragic Back Bay catastrophe

Over our six decades of practice, countless other families have similarly placed their trust in our team when these horrible events take place. There is a reason why so many have sought our representation in wrongful death cases: we are simply the best at what we do.

Some of the most common causes of wrongful death claims include:

The expert attorneys at Sheff & Cook know how to leverage the Massachusetts Wrongful Death Statute in order to maximize results. Under the Statute, in addition to financial losses and services, family members are allowed to recover for the following losses from wrongful death cases: protection, care, assistance, society, companionship, comfort, guidance, counsel and advice. We can also bring claims for pain and suffering.

In short, we will explore every avenue to ensure a maximum recovery for you and your family.

We are proud of our reputation as a compassionate and caring firm, focused on our client’s needs. You are more than just a case, and likely to become a part of our legal “family” for many years to come. We want you to receive compensation, but also justice and meaning for your family. Often, we can work together to protect countless others from injury and death in the future.

Unsure of whether your case falls within the statute of limitations for a wrongful death case in Massachusetts? Contact our team to discuss your options.

Additional Information

Why Pursue a Wrongful Death Case

You just lost a loved one. The grief is overwhelming. You never wanted to be in this position. It’s completely understandable for you to feel like pursuing legal action is the last thing you want to be dealing with right now. However, there are several important reasons to contact a lawyer.

If another person or company is responsible for the death of your loved one, pursuing legal action is often the only effective way for you to help prevent this from happening to someone else. Without a case, no one will be held accountable. They will continue to do the same thing and other people will likely get hurt or die. This is your opportunity to prevent someone else from going through the same pain and anguish that you are going through.

In addition, you’re not being greedy by holding the party who caused your loved one’s death responsible. Whether you relied on your loved one financially or are now responsible for taking care of your loved one’s children, it’s important that all dependants are able to get the economic support they need. While no amount of financial recovery will ease the pain of losing a loved one, seeking compensation can ensure that the wrongful death of a family member does not lead to additional economic hardship in the future.

Punitive Damages in Massachusetts

Massachusetts is one of the only states that allows for punitive damages in a wrongful death case. These claims can increase the value of your case exponentially. We are experts at recognizing and pursuing punitive damage claims, which we do at the same time as we litigate all aspects of your wrongful death case. At trial, we use strong and clear techniques to help demonstrate what happened to your loved one, utilizing the law properly and under the right circumstances to achieve superior results.

Sheff & Cook’s Approach

Unlike most firms, Sheff & Cook employs a unique team approach to multiply efforts and results for our clients. In cases of wrongful death, our team of lawyers works closely with victims’ families to navigate through what can be a confusing and difficult process. In case after case, we achieve superior results and the authentic connection we forge with our clients motivates our team to perform at the very highest level.