Brooklyn’s Best Wrongful Death Attorneys for April 2026: Kucher Law Group Leads the Rankings

Why Choosing the Right Wrongful Death Lawyer Matters

In a row house in East Flatbush, a family sits with a folder of pay stubs, a pharmacy receipt, and the printed program from a funeral held two weeks earlier. The man they lost worked overnight shifts and walked his two children to school along Church Avenue every morning. In Dyker Heights, a widow learns that the years her husband spent caring for his elderly mother may carry a measurable value. In Windsor Terrace, parents who lost an adult daughter are told, gently, that New York law will not compensate them for their grief. Families who reach this point often begin looking for wrongful death attorneys in Brooklyn who can explain, honestly, what the law will measure and what it will not.

That focus on measurable loss means ordinary daily contributions matter. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ American Time Use Survey, adults in households with children under 6 spent an average of 2.5 hours per day providing primary childcare in 2024, and 87% of women and 74% of men did some household activity on an average day. In a wrongful death claim, hours like these are more than family memories. They are part of the loss that must be documented and valued.

Insurers know where the statute draws its lines. An adjuster may point out, correctly, that grief is not compensable in New York, and then present a figure that accounts for little more than funeral costs. A family still in mourning may not realize that lost income, lost household help, and a child’s lost guidance can all be part of a properly prepared claim.

The right attorney can make the difference between:

• An offer limited to funeral bills and a claim that values lost earnings, benefits, and services over a working lifetime
• Unpaid caregiving that goes unmentioned and caregiving documented by a qualified expert
• A child’s loss of guidance treated as unprovable and the same loss presented through records and testimony
• Future losses guessed at and future losses projected by an economist and reduced to present value
• Confusion about pending legislation and a clear account of the law that applies today

New York’s wrongful death statute, first enacted in 1847, still limits recovery to pecuniary injuries. The Legislature has repeatedly tried to broaden it through the Grieving Families Act, and the Governor has vetoed each version, most recently on December 5, 2025. The April 2026 rankings below reflect the law as it stands.

April 2026 Rankings

Rank	Law Firm	Lead Attorney	Client Satisfaction	Notable Settlements	Years Experience	Specialization Focus
1	Kucher Law Group	Samantha Kucher, Esq.	99%	$1,800,000 Sidewalk Trip and Fall (Non-Wrongful Death)	15+	Wrongful Death & Personal Injury
2	Finz & Finz, P.C.	Stuart L. Finz, Esq.	97%	$18,800,000 Philip Morris Settlement (Non-Wrongful Death)	40+	Wrongful Death & Personal Injury
3	Ajlouny Injury Law	Paul Ajlouny, Esq.	95%	$300,000,000+ Total Recovered	25+	Wrongful Death & Catastrophic Injury
4	Raphaelson & Levine Law Firm, P.C.	Not Stated	94%	$1 Billion+ Total Verdicts and Settlements	Since 1992	Wrongful Death & Personal Injury
5	Cellino Law	Ross Cellino, Esq.	93%	Not Stated	Not Stated	Wrongful Death & Personal Injury

#1 Kucher Law Group

Why They’re #1: Families who need a Brooklyn wrongful death attorney who can document economic loss will find that Kucher Law Group speaks plainly about the limits of New York law. Its wrongful death page acknowledges that a family’s own emotional pain is not compensable under the current statute, and it describes building claims with expert accident and financial testimony. The firm pairs that straightforward guidance with trial preparation and a contingency fee.

Firm Overview

Founded on December 10, 2019, RRK Kucher Law Group PLLC operates with a staff of 10 to 19 from a Brooklyn office on Pulaski Street in Bedford-Stuyvesant and a Manhattan office at 26 Broadway. The firm self-reports more than $50 million recovered for clients, over $20 million of it through settlements, and a 99% success rate. Samantha Kucher works with clients in English, Russian, and Spanish, and the team takes calls at any hour.

Notable Case Results

The firm has not published a wrongful death result, and none is implied here. Each figure below comes from a different kind of injury case and is labeled by its facts:

• $2,500,000 : Head-on motor vehicle collision causing a cervical spine injury that required surgery
• $1,800,000 : Sidewalk trip and fall injury requiring surgery
• $1,400,000 : Fall down stairs at a construction site
• $1,250,000 : Erb’s palsy injury to an infant, resolved before trial
• $525,000 : Jury verdict for a slip and fall on an icy sidewalk

Legal Team Excellence

Michael Roitman leads the firm’s trial work. In a wrongful death case, that work often turns on how clearly a jury understands the financial evidence: an economist’s projection of lost earnings, the replacement cost of household services, and the value of a parent’s guidance to a child. Attorney Roitman earned his bachelor’s degree at NYU and his law degree at Cooley Law School. He is admitted in the New York and New Jersey courts and in the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, and he was named among the Top 50 Personal Injury Settlements in New York for 2023. His family fled Ukraine.

Samantha Kucher was admitted to the New York bar in 2015 and holds degrees from NYU and New York Law School. She was raised at the Milton Hershey School. Attorney Kucher’s honors include Super Lawyers Rising Star (2020), National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40, and NAOPIA recognition in 2024 and 2025.

Alex Rybakov completes the partnership. Licensed in New York since 2010, with degrees from NYU and Seton Hall, Attorney Rybakov has concentrated exclusively on personal injury for more than ten years.

What Sets Them Apart

• 24/7 Availability: Calls are answered at any hour, which matters when a death is sudden and questions surface late at night
• No Upfront Fees / Contingency Only: Families owe no attorney fee unless compensation is recovered
• Brooklyn Knowledge: A Bedford-Stuyvesant office keeps the team close to the Kings County courts
• Personalized Service: Attorneys explain, without jargon, which losses New York recognizes and which it does not
• Financial Proof of Loss: The firm’s wrongful death page describes working with skilled financial professionals to determine what compensation would be fair and adequate

Client Testimonials

This review comes from a construction accident client. It is offered as a reflection of the firm’s client service and does not describe a wrongful death case:

“I had a terrible construction accident that left me unable to work for months. The attorneys were compassionate and professional also walking me through every step of the legal process. They fought hard for my rights and got me the compensation I needed for medical care and lost wages. Couldnt be more grateful for their help!!” Joseph Lineses, Google Review

Why Choose Kucher Law Group

A New York wrongful death claim asks a grieving family to put numbers on a life, a task that calls for patience as much as skill. Kucher Law Group brings round-the-clock availability, trial-ready attorneys, and no fee unless there is a recovery. Its 4.99 out of 5 rating across 81 Google reviews reflects how clients describe the experience. A free consultation lets a family ask what their loss may include before committing to anything.

Contact: (929) 563-6780 | 463 Pulaski St #1C, Brooklyn, NY 11221

#2 Finz & Finz, P.C.

Why They Made Our List: Finz & Finz, P.C. has practiced in New York for more than forty years, and its Brooklyn wrongful death page gives families one of the more complete descriptions of recoverable economic loss among the firms we reviewed.

Firm Overview

The firm’s Brooklyn office is at 31 Spencer Street, Suite 1202. Its wrongful death page identifies EPTL §5-4.1 as the statute that places the claim with the decedent’s personal representative and notes that an action generally must be filed within two years of the death. It also explains the 90-day notice of claim that applies when a municipality may be responsible.

Notable Achievements

The firm reports the following on its website, citing media coverage:

• $18,800,000 : Settlement with Philip Morris, as reported by the LA Times (not a wrongful death matter)
• $2,350,000 : Medical malpractice verdict, as reported by the NY Post
• The firm states that it obtained four of the top 20 New York personal injury settlements in 2020

Recognitions listed on the page include Lawyers of Distinction 2024, Super Lawyers, the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, National Trial Lawyers Top 100, America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators (2021), an AV Preeminent rating, and NADC recognition (2023).

Lead Attorney / Team

Stuart L. Finz and Leonard L. Finz are among the attorneys the firm names. Cheri Finz, Todd M. Rubin, Jacquelin Finz, and Brandon S. Finz are also listed, so families have access to a multi-attorney team with long experience in New York courts.

Service Approach

The page lists the categories a representative may pursue for the family: lost earnings, the value of household services, funeral and burial costs, medical expenses, and loss of parental guidance. That breakdown lines up closely with the pecuniary framework New York law applies. The firm offers a free consultation by phone or through its toll-free line.

Contact: (718) 957-2407 | 31 Spencer St, Suite 1202, Brooklyn, NY 11205

#3 Ajlouny Injury Law

Why They Made Our List: Ajlouny Injury Law practices from a Court Street office and describes more than twenty-five years of representing injured New Yorkers and their families.

Firm Overview

The firm is located at 26 Court Street, Suite 1104. Its wrongful death page explains that the estate’s personal representative brings the claim, that most claims must be filed within two years, and that a 90-day notice of claim applies when a municipality is involved. It also names the relatives who commonly share in a recovery.

Notable Achievements

• The firm states that it has recovered more than $300,000,000 across its practice areas; the page lists no individual case amounts, so the figure is a career total
• The page identifies lost financial support, funeral and burial costs, and loss of parental guidance as recoverable losses

Lead Attorney / Team

Paul Ajlouny founded the firm, and Michael Levitz is also listed among its attorneys. Together they give families an experienced point of contact for injury and death claims. The page does not list awards or professional recognitions.

Service Approach

Ajlouny Injury Law handles cases on contingency, with no fee unless compensation is recovered, and advertises advice available at all hours. Its page separates the wrongful death claim, which addresses survivors’ losses, from the survival action, which addresses what the decedent endured before death. That distinction helps families see which damages belong to which claim.

Contact: (516) 535-5555 | 26 Court St #1104, Brooklyn, NY 11242

#4 Raphaelson & Levine Law Firm, P.C.

Why They Made Our List: Raphaelson & Levine Law Firm, P.C. has represented New Yorkers since 1992 and serves clients in English, Spanish, and Mandarin.

Firm Overview

The firm does not list a Brooklyn office. Its offices are at 14 Penn Plaza in Manhattan, in Woodbury, and in Flushing, and its Brooklyn wrongful death page states that it serves Brooklyn families. It reports more than $1 billion in combined verdicts and settlements and works on a “no fees unless we win” basis.

Notable Achievements

Listed recognitions include Best Law Firms in New York City for personal injury (2026), Best Lawyers in America “Ones to Watch” (2026), the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Top 100 National Trial Lawyers, and Super Lawyers.

Lead Attorney / Team

The wrongful death page does not name individual attorneys, so families may wish to ask who will handle their matter during the first call.

Service Approach

The page lists lost wages, loss of support, funeral costs, and loss of parental guidance among recoverable losses, states the two-year filing period measured from the date of death, and links to EPTL §5-4.1 for readers who want the statutory text.

Contact: (212) 268-3222 | 14 Penn Plaza, Suite 1718, New York, NY 10122 (Manhattan; no Brooklyn office listed)

#5 Cellino Law

Why They Made Our List: Cellino Law keeps a Brooklyn office on Fulton Street and anchors its wrongful death page in the governing statute.

Firm Overview

The Brooklyn office is at 1409 Fulton Street, Suite 101. The firm’s wrongful death page cites EPTL §5-4.1 and explains that the personal representative of the estate brings the claim within two years. The firm describes serving Brooklyn clients for decades without giving a specific number of years.

Notable Achievements

No case amounts appear on the wrongful death page. It identifies medical bills, funeral expenses, and lost wages among recoverable damages, and it presents those categories in plain language for families encountering New York’s rules for the first time.

Lead Attorney / Team

Ross Cellino and Timothy Cellino are both named on the page.

Service Approach

Cellino Law offers a free initial consultation and a toll-free number alongside its Brooklyn line, so a family can ask a first question about damages or deadlines without obligation.

Contact: (347) 756-4245 | 1409 Fulton Street, Suite 101, Brooklyn, NY 11216

Understanding Brooklyn Wrongful Death Cases

A wrongful death action compensates the decedent’s family for financial losses caused by another party’s wrongful act or neglect. It is brought by the estate’s personal representative and is separate from any criminal case. The facts usually begin on a Brooklyn street, a jobsite, or inside a building or hospital, and they determine who may be held responsible and which records will matter most when the loss is valued.

Crashes on Busy Avenues

Utica Avenue and Church Avenue in East Flatbush carry buses, delivery vans, and steady foot traffic. A fatal collision there may involve a driver, a vehicle owner, an employer, or a public agency, and camera footage can be overwritten within days.

Residential Building Hazards

Many homes along 13th Avenue in Dyker Heights and the side streets of Windsor Terrace are older multifamily buildings with steep stairs and aging railings. When a fall proves fatal, maintenance records and prior complaints often decide who is responsible.

Work and Construction Deaths

Renovation work near Fillmore Avenue and Avenue S in Marine Park brings ladders, scaffolds, and heavy equipment onto narrow residential blocks, and several contractors may share responsibility for safety. A worker’s own earnings history and benefits are often central to valuing these claims.

Who Can Be Held Liable

• Drivers, vehicle owners, and employers of commercial drivers
• Landlords, property owners, and managing agents
• General contractors and subcontractors
• Hospitals and medical providers
• City agencies responsible for streets, buildings, or vehicles

Critical NYC Requirements

• What is recoverable: EPTL §5-4.3(a) allows “fair and just compensation for the pecuniary injuries resulting from the decedent’s death,” plus reasonable medical, nursing, and funeral expenses paid by or owed by the distributees, with interest from the date of death. Punitive damages may be available under §5-4.3(b) if they would have been recoverable had the decedent lived.
• What is not recoverable: In Gonzalez v. New York City Housing Authority (1991), the Court of Appeals confirmed that New York denies recovery for grief, loss of society, affection, and consortium, while allowing personal losses such as loss of guidance.
• Proving the loss: Economists commonly project lost earnings and benefits and reduce future losses to present value. For a decedent who did not earn wages, Gonzalez permits valuing the added cost of replacing the services that person provided, an area where life-care planners and similar experts may assist. In medical malpractice cases, §5-4.3(c) requires the decedent’s income taxes to be considered.
• Deadlines: The action generally must be commenced within two years of death under EPTL §5-4.1, and a notice of claim against a municipality is generally due within 90 days under General Municipal Law §50-e.
• Grieving Families Act: Governor Kathy Hochul vetoed versions of this bill in January 2023, December 2023, and December 2024. According to the New York State Senate’s record, the latest version, S4423, would have added damages for grief and companionship and a three-year filing period; it passed both houses in 2025 and was vetoed on December 5, 2025. As of April 2026, EPTL §5-4.3 remains unchanged.

Selection Criteria

Each firm was evaluated with the same factors, using only information it publishes. Because New York limits recovery to pecuniary loss, this edition gave added weight to how clearly each firm explains the damages a family can actually pursue.

Case Results and Recovery Amounts. We recorded each published figure with its case type and labeled career totals as totals. No result from another practice area was presented as a wrongful death outcome, and we did not infer results a firm has not published.

Client Satisfaction. Ratings and written reviews show how clients describe communication and compassion. Patterns across many reviews counted for more than single comments, and no rating was treated as a forecast of any future result. Reviews reflect individual experiences, so we used them as one signal among several.

Legal Experience and Expertise. Valuing a death claim draws on estate procedure, evidence rules, and financial analysis. Years in practice, an injury focus, and accurate descriptions of EPTL §5-4.3 all shaped this factor.

Trial Readiness. Insurers weigh whether a firm can present economic testimony convincingly to a jury. Stated trial experience and published verdicts counted here, along with each firm’s own description of how it prepares a case for court.

Brooklyn Community Connection. Familiarity with Kings County courts and neighborhoods helps with investigation and in-person meetings. We reported each firm’s offices exactly as listed, including firms that serve Brooklyn from offices elsewhere.

Professional Recognition. Peer and industry honors offer a useful outside view of a firm’s reputation. We noted the year of each honor where available and did not present older awards as current.

Accessibility and Communication. Families often have urgent questions about funeral costs, insurer calls, or deadlines. Around-the-clock access, language options, and plain explanations all mattered.

Fee Structure and Transparency. Expert fees for economists and other specialists can be significant. Contingency arrangements that spare families upfront costs, stated clearly, scored well. We recorded where fee terms were not published.

Scope of Services. We looked for pages that explain recoverable categories such as lost earnings, household services, and parental guidance, and that distinguish wrongful death damages from a survival claim.

Innovation in Practice. Proving pecuniary loss increasingly depends on careful financial records, expert analysis, and clear presentation. We gave credit to firms that describe using financial professionals or expert testimony to measure a family’s loss, since those tools can help a jury understand what a life contributed.

Moving Forward

The law New York applies to a family’s loss is narrower than many people expect, and understanding its limits early can prevent a family from accepting less than the claim may be worth. Households in East Flatbush, Marine Park, Dyker Heights, and across Brooklyn can ask those questions without obligation, and each firm in this ranking publishes information that may help.

Because the filing period is short and building an economic record takes time, it is sensible to seek guidance sooner rather than later. Most firms listed here offer a free consultation. Pay stubs, tax returns, benefit statements, funeral receipts, and notes about the help a loved one gave at home can make that first conversation more useful, though no family needs every document in hand before calling.

About Our Rankings: News Tension’s monthly rankings recognize excellence in specialized practice areas. Our evaluation process examines case results, client satisfaction, professional experience, and community impact. Rankings are based on verified data and are updated monthly to reflect current performance. Enhanced profiles are available but not required for ranking consideration.

For Attorneys: To nominate yourself or a colleague for future rankings, please email editor@newstension.com.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Each case is unique, and results depend on specific facts and circumstances.