Wrongful Police Shootings and Wrongful Death Claims

When a Shooting Steals a Life: Wrongful Death After Police Violence

Losing someone you love to a police shooting? There’s no easy way to say it. It’s devastating. No warning. No goodbye. Just a storm of shock, anger, and questions you never thought you’d have to ask. And if you’re here, you’re probably already thinking: What now? That’s where wrongful shooting attorneys step in to help families like yours uncover the truth, demand accountability, and push back against silence.

At Horn Wright, LLP, we know this isn’t just about legal action. It’s about your life, family, and future. We work with people who’ve had someone ripped away by police violence. We’ll shoulder the legal weight so you can focus on what matters most, healing. And while wrongful death laws aren’t identical everywhere as places like Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont do it a little differently, New York has its own rules you’ll want to understand right away.

Not Every Badge Protects: When Police Violence Turns Deadly

A wrongful death happens when someone dies because another person acted carelessly or with power they never should’ve abused. In police shootings, that often looks like excessive force, skipping proper procedures, or ignoring someone’s rights altogether. These aren't one-off mistakes. They’re actions that cut lives short.

Sometimes, a case makes national news. Most don’t. But behind every one is a grieving family trying to piece together what happened and why it was allowed to happen at all.

Wrongful death claims give families a legal way to speak up. To force transparency. And to hold someone accountable when internal reviews fail. In cases that gained public traction, legal pressure led to real consequences, like the firing of the Rochester police chief. Lawsuits aren’t about revenge. They’re about truth. And the right attorney will help you fight for that without flinching.

Lives Shattered, Futures Erased: What Families Really Face

Grief never shows up alone. It drags chaos with it: bills, fear, uncertainty. According to the 2024 Police Violence Report, over 1,260 people were killed by police that year. Most weren’t even armed. Some were pulled over. Others were struggling with mental health. None of them deserved what happened.

Now, you’re left trying to keep everything together:

• Medical bills you didn’t expect
• Burial costs you never planned for
• Rent, groceries, childcare, all while your world’s upside down

Your loved one did more than just live with you. They helped carry you through life. And now that they’re gone, it’s not just grief you’re facing but also everything that comes after.

Who Can File a Claim (And Why It’s Not Always Obvious)

New York law says only certain people can bring a wrongful death case. But figuring out if you qualify, that’s not always clear.

Usually, the court appoints a personal representative, someone to act on behalf of the estate. But who gets compensated depends on their relationship with the person who died.

Here’s who might qualify:

• Spouses or long-term partners
• Children (biological, adopted, or adult)
• Parents
• Anyone who relied on the victim financially

If there’s a will, it can help clarify who leads the case. If there isn’t, the court decides. Either way, your connection to your loved one still matters and the law recognizes that.

It’s also worth noting that some attorneys miss key civil issues when they don’t specialize in wrongful death or civil rights law. So choosing someone who truly understands this legal landscape could mean the difference between feeling stuck and starting to move forward.

Time Runs Out Fast: Don’t Wait to Speak Up

This part is critical. You don’t have forever to file a claim. In fact, your window is probably shorter than you think.

New York law says you have two years from the date of death to file a wrongful death lawsuit. If the NYPD or another city agency is involved, you only get 90 days to file a formal Notice of Claim.

Three months. That’s it. And if you’re grieving, that time flies. Missing the deadline could mean losing the chance to ever file. Even if you’re unsure whether you’ll move forward, don’t wait to find out where you stand.

Their Income Vanished. You’re Left with the Bills

Financial compensation can help cover the long-term income your loved one would’ve contributed, as well as the loss of benefits like health coverage or retirement contributions. It may also address the practical support they provided, whether that was childcare, housework, or simply helping you get from one day to the next. In some cases, it includes lost inheritance.

When government negligence plays a role in that loss, you’re not just mourning a life cut short, but you’re also trying to understand how a system meant to protect people instead failed your family in the most permanent way possible.

Funeral Bills That Hit Like a Second Loss

Funeral costs aren’t cheap. And families often face them with zero preparation. When police actions are influenced by bias that financial burden feels even more unjust. You're left paying for the consequences of a tragedy that never should’ve happened in the first place:

• Ambulance and emergency services
• Medical examiner reports
• Transportation of remains
• Burial or cremation arrangements

And just when you think it couldn’t get worse, families sometimes lose even more through civil asset forfeiture, a legal process that lets authorities seize property or money connected to the incident, even when no charges are filed.

For grieving families already buried under costs and confusion, it’s like being punished twice. What should be a time for mourning becomes another legal and financial nightmare.

Building the Case That Tells Their Story

This isn’t about legal boxes. It’s about your loved one’s life. What they meant to you. And what they endured.

To prove wrongful death, you’ll need solid evidence:

• Police footage, body cam or dash cam
• Eyewitness videos
• Autopsy results
• Internal policy records
• History of prior complaints

Winning a civil case takes more than paperwork. It takes a clear story built with facts that humanize the person who was lost. And when departments try to hide the truth, as they do in false imprisonment cases, that story becomes even more powerful.

Why Lawsuits Push Change Further Than Protests

Protests shine a spotlight. But lawsuits force action. When legal claims uncover systemic abuse, they make it harder for officials to look away. They change policies. Prompt investigations. Lead to oversight.

And while no lawsuit can undo the pain, it can stop the next family from suffering the same loss.

When the System Fails, Your Voice Still Matters

You didn’t choose this. But you do get to choose what happens next. If someone you love was killed in a police shooting, don’t stay silent. Wrongful shooting attorneys help families demand answers, challenge power, and fight for what’s fair. If you’re ready to take the next step, contact Horn Wright, LLP. Your story matters, and so does your future.