Who Are Brooklyn’s Top Wrongful Death Lawyers? July 2026 Rankings: Name Kucher Law Group #1

Why Choosing the Right Wrongful Death Lawyer Matters

On a warm July evening, the lifeguard chairs at Coney Island are empty soon after six o’clock, yet people are still wading into the surf to cool off. A few miles west, traffic on the Belt Parkway near Bath Beach picks up speed once the beach crowds thin out, and one careless lane change can end a life. In Brighton Beach, a family that spent the afternoon at an apartment complex pool is now answering questions from a building manager they barely know. When the worst has already happened, families in moments like these often look for Brooklyn’s top wrongful death lawyers to explain, carefully and without pressure, what comes next.

Roadway deaths in the city have declined, but they have not stopped. According to the NYC Department of Transportation, New York City recorded 205 traffic deaths in 2025, the fewest on record, and 63 of them occurred in Brooklyn. Water carries its own danger. In its May 2024 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, the CDC reported that 4,509 people died from unintentional drowning in the United States in 2022, a rate significantly higher than in 2019.

Each kind of loss brings a different insurer to the table. After a fatal crash, an auto carrier may mention New York’s new rule barring some injured claimants who are more than half at fault, and imply that the family’s claim is weaker than it is. After a drowning, a property insurer may focus on whether the swimmer ignored a sign or entered the water after hours. Both conversations can begin before a family has seen a police report or a single frame of video.

The right attorney can make the difference between:

• An insurer’s assumption that the new crash fault rule applies and a careful reading of what the statute actually covers
• A crash claim valued by guesswork and one built on scene evidence, video, and accident reconstruction
• A drowning blamed entirely on the swimmer and a close review of fencing, gates, signage, and supervision
• A notice of claim to the City that is never served and one served within the 90 days the law allows
• Pool maintenance and inspection records that are discarded and the same records requested promptly

New York’s May 2026 budget legislation changed several rules for motor vehicle cases, and families now hear competing accounts of what those changes mean when a crash is fatal. Drownings follow a separate path. They are generally evaluated under premises liability principles and pure comparative fault, and claims involving City beaches or pools carry their own notice requirements. The July 2026 rankings below begin with the firm we place first.

July 2026 Rankings

Rank	Law Firm	Lead Attorney	Client Satisfaction	Notable Settlements	Years Experience	Specialization Focus
1	Kucher Law Group	Samantha Kucher, Esq.	99%	$1,400,000 Motor Vehicle Settlement (Non-Wrongful Death)	15+	Wrongful Death & Personal Injury
2	Finz & Finz, P.C.	Stuart L. Finz, Esq.	97%	4 of Top 20 NY Personal Injury Settlements (2020, Firm-Reported)	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: Kucher Law Group provides wrongful death representation for Brooklyn families within a practice that also handles car accident and premises liability claims, the two areas that most often lie behind a summer loss. Its wrongful death page states that the firm is open 24/7 and works on a contingency fee, so a family can ask about a crash or a drowning without paying anything upfront.

Firm Overview

RRK Kucher Law Group PLLC dates to December 10, 2019, and today employs between 10 and 19 people. The firm self-reports a 99% success rate and more than $50 million recovered for clients, over $20 million of it through settlements. Its Brooklyn office sits on Pulaski Street in Bedford-Stuyvesant, with a second office at 26 Broadway in Manhattan. Samantha Kucher meets with families in English, Russian, and Spanish, and first consultations are free.

Notable Case Results

The firm has no published wrongful death result, so this list draws only on approved injury outcomes, each labeled by its facts. Vehicle and property cases appear first:

• $2,500,000 : Head-on motor vehicle collision causing a cervical spine injury that required surgery
• $1,400,000 : Settlement of a motor vehicle accident claim
• $650,000 : Slip and fall injury to a restaurant patron
• $3,500,000 : Trip and fall on subway stairs, settled at trial
• $650,000 : Fall down building stairs that left the client with a broken ankle

Legal Team Excellence

Alex Rybakov has held a New York law license since 2010, and for more than ten of his 15-plus licensed years he has handled personal injury matters exclusively. He completed his undergraduate studies at NYU and earned his law degree at Seton Hall. That sustained focus is useful in a season when one family’s questions concern a collision on a parkway and another’s concern a pool deck, because each set of facts is governed by different rules and calls for different evidence.

Michael Roitman serves as the firm’s primary trial attorney. A graduate of NYU and Cooley Law School, Attorney Roitman is admitted in the New York and New Jersey courts and in the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York. He was named among the Top 50 Personal Injury Settlements in New York for 2023, and 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 grew up at the Milton Hershey School. Attorney Kucher was named a Super Lawyers Rising Star in 2020 and has been recognized by the National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40 and by NAOPIA in 2024 and 2025.

What Sets Them Apart

• 24/7 Availability: The wrongful death page invites families to call at any time of day, which matters when a loss happens on a holiday weekend
• No Upfront Fees / Contingency Only: The firm is paid only if it recovers compensation for the family
• Brooklyn Knowledge: A Bedford-Stuyvesant office keeps the team close to the Kings County courts
• Personalized Service: Attorneys explain in plain language whether the 2026 vehicle reforms are likely to matter in a particular claim
• Vehicle and Premises Experience: The firm maintains dedicated car accident and premises liability practices, and its approved results include both kinds of case

Client Testimonials

This general review does not name a practice area and does not describe a wrongful death matter. It reflects one client’s experience of the firm’s communication:

“They demonstrate true expertise in their field and possess exceptional communication skills. Throughout the process, They consistently kept me updated and ensured that I was fully involved in every decision that was made. I wholeheartedly endorse them to anyone seeking legal support.” Laura Hussain, Google Review

Why Choose Kucher Law Group

A fatal crash and a drowning raise different legal questions, and in the summer of 2026 the crash questions are newer than usual. Kucher Law Group gives families attorneys who answer at any hour, prepare matters for trial, and take no fee unless they recover. Clients rate the firm 4.99 out of 5 across 81 Google reviews. A free consultation lets a family learn which rules apply before deciding 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. pairs more than forty years of New York injury practice with a Brooklyn office on Spencer Street and a wrongful death page that addresses the notice rules families face when a public entity may share responsibility.

Firm Overview

The firm’s Brooklyn office is at 31 Spencer Street, Suite 1202. Its Brooklyn wrongful death page describes the personal representative’s role under EPTL §5-4.1 and the general two-year filing period measured from the date of death. It also discusses the 90-day notice of claim that applies to municipalities, a rule that can become important when a death occurs on a City street, involves a City vehicle, or happens at a City beach.

Notable Achievements

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

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

Its listed honors 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 in 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, and the depth of that roster gives a family several experienced points of contact during a difficult stretch.

Service Approach

The wrongful death page sets out recoverable categories that include lost earnings, the value of household services, funeral and burial costs, medical expenses, and loss of parental guidance. For a family that has lost a parent on the road or at the water, that list offers a practical outline of what a claim may include. Free consultations are available through the firm’s Brooklyn number or its toll-free line, 855-TOP-FIRM.

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 Court Street in Brooklyn, reports more than twenty-five years of representing injured New Yorkers, and advertises advice at any hour.

Firm Overview

The firm’s office is 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 claims against municipalities require a 90-day notice of claim. It also identifies the relatives who most often share in a recovery.

Notable Achievements

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

Lead Attorney / Team

Paul Ajlouny founded the firm, and Michael Levitz is also listed among its attorneys. Together they offer families a small, identifiable team rather than an anonymous intake line. The page does not list awards or professional recognitions.

Service Approach

Ajlouny Injury Law works on contingency, so a family pays no fee unless compensation is recovered. Its page separates the wrongful death claim, which addresses the survivors’ losses, from the survival action, which addresses what the decedent experienced before death. That distinction carries extra weight this summer, because the survival claim is where questions about the reach of the new vehicle fault rule may be argued.

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 offers consultations in English, Spanish, and Mandarin.

Firm Overview

The firm does not list a Brooklyn office. It works from 14 Penn Plaza in Manhattan and from offices in Woodbury and 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

Individual attorneys are not named on the wrongful death page, so a family may want to ask who will handle the matter during the first call.

Service Approach

The page states the two-year filing period measured from the date of death, links to EPTL §5-4.1, and lists lost wages, loss of support, funeral costs, and loss of parental guidance among recoverable losses. Its three consultation languages may help families along the southern shore who prefer to discuss a loss outside of English.

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 presents the state’s wrongful death statute in straightforward language.

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. It describes serving Brooklyn clients for decades without giving a specific number of years.

Notable Achievements

Case amounts are not published on the wrongful death page. The page lists medical bills, funeral expenses, and lost wages among recoverable damages, and it explains those categories in terms a family can follow without a legal background.

Lead Attorney / Team

Ross Cellino and Timothy Cellino are both named on the page, giving families two attorneys to ask about when they first call.

Service Approach

Cellino Law offers a free initial consultation and a toll-free number, 888-888-8888, in addition to its Brooklyn line, so a family can ask a first question about deadlines without any obligation.

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

Understanding Brooklyn Wrongful Death Cases

Summer changes where fatal accidents happen in Brooklyn. More people travel the parkways toward the shore, walk the boardwalk after dark, and swim at beaches and pools. A death on the road and a death in the water are governed by different rules, and since late May 2026 the road rules have shifted.

Fatal Crashes Near Bath Beach

The Belt Parkway, Cropsey Avenue, and Bay Parkway carry heavy beach and holiday traffic past Bath Beach. A fatal collision may involve a driver, the vehicle’s owner, the driver’s employer, or a public agency responsible for the roadway, and dashcam or traffic camera footage can be overwritten quickly.

Summer Crowds in Coney Island

Surf Avenue and Stillwell Avenue fill with pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers hunting for parking on summer weekends. When a pedestrian is killed, vehicle data and witness accounts gathered near the boardwalk often determine how fault is divided.

Drownings at Brighton Beach and Manhattan Beach

NYC Parks states that its beaches are open from Memorial Day weekend through September 13, 2026, that lifeguards are on duty daily from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and that swimming is prohibited when lifeguards are off duty and in closed sections. A death at a City beach may raise questions about posted warnings, closed areas, and staffing, and any claim against the City must follow strict notice rules.

Pools at Apartment Complexes, Hotels, and Clubs

A private pool is a premises issue. Owners and operators may answer for broken gates or fencing, missing depth markings, poor lighting, unsafe drains, or absent supervision. Maintenance logs, incident reports, and key-fob records can show who knew about a hazard and when.

Who Can Be Held Liable

• Negligent drivers, and owners who permitted the use of their vehicles
• Employers of drivers who were working at the time of a crash
• Owners, managing agents, and boards of buildings with pools
• Pool operators, management companies, and maintenance contractors
• The City of New York, subject to notice rules and the defenses available to public entities

Critical NYC Requirements

• Comparative fault in fatal crashes: New CPLR §1411(b), added by Part EE of the FY2027 budget (S9008-C/A10008-C), bars recovery when the claimant’s culpable conduct exceeds the defendants’ in “any action to recover damages for personal injury subject to article fifty-one of the insurance law.” Subdivision (a) expressly covers “wrongful death” and the “decedent,” while subdivision (b) mentions neither. A June 2026 summary by Wilson Elser reads the reforms as not applying to accidents resulting in a death. Until courts interpret the text, some argument remains possible, particularly over a survival claim for pain the decedent suffered before death.
• No $100,000 cap in death cases: The new non-economic cap in Insurance Law §5104(d) applies “other than in an action for damages for injuries resulting in death,” as June 2026 summaries by McAngus Goudelock & Courie and Wilson Elser confirm. Death also remains a listed serious injury under Insurance Law §5102(d).
• Drownings and other non-vehicle deaths: CPLR §1411(a) keeps pure comparative fault, so a decedent’s share of fault reduces damages but does not bar recovery.
• Deadlines: EPTL §5-4.1 requires the action within two years after death. For City claims, General Municipal Law §50-e requires a notice of claim within 90 days, measured from the appointment of the estate’s representative, and §50-i requires suit within two years after the death.

Selection Criteria

Each firm was measured against the same factors, using only information it publishes. For this edition, we paid added attention to how clearly a firm’s materials prepare a family for a summer loss, whether on a parkway or at the water.

Case Results and Recovery Amounts. Figures appear with their case types, and career totals are labeled as totals. No result from another practice area was presented as a wrongful death outcome. We also noted where firms publish vehicle and premises results, since those cases share evidence with fatal crashes and drownings.

Client Satisfaction. Public ratings and written reviews show how clients describe communication, respect, and responsiveness. We weighed consistent patterns across many reviews above single comments, and we did not treat any rating as a forecast of a future result.

Legal Experience and Expertise. A fatal crash claim now requires a working knowledge of the 2026 amendments, while a drowning claim depends on premises law. Years in practice, an injury focus, and accurate descriptions of the governing statutes shaped this factor.

Trial Readiness. Insurers may test new statutory language in court before they settle. Firms that describe trial preparation and publish verdicts were viewed as better positioned to answer that challenge.

Brooklyn Community Connection. Proximity helps with canvassing for witnesses along a boardwalk or requesting footage from nearby businesses. We reported each firm’s offices exactly as listed, including firms that serve Brooklyn from elsewhere.

Professional Recognition. Peer and industry honors give an outside view of reputation. We recorded the year of each honor where available, considered who issued it, and did not describe older awards as current.

Accessibility and Communication. Summer losses often happen at night or on holiday weekends. Round-the-clock contact, consultations in several languages, and plain explanations all counted.

Fee Structure and Transparency. Reconstruction experts and premises inspections can be costly. Clearly stated contingency terms that spare families upfront expense scored well, and we noted where fee terms were not published.

Scope of Services. We looked for firms whose materials address deadlines, municipal notice rules, and the difference between a wrongful death claim and a survival claim, and whose broader practice includes vehicle and premises cases.

Innovation in Practice. Fatal crash claims increasingly turn on event data recorders, phone records, and camera footage, while drowning claims may rely on access-control logs and surveillance video. We gave credit to firms that describe gathering expert opinions and technical evidence, since those tools help show how a death actually happened.

Moving Forward

A summer day can turn into a family’s hardest week without warning, whether the loss happens on a parkway or at the edge of the water. Families in Coney Island, Bath Beach, Brighton Beach, and across Brooklyn can ask which rules apply to their situation, and they can do so without obligation.

Because a notice of claim against the City may be due within 90 days of a representative’s appointment, and because the 2026 vehicle reforms are still new, it is sensible to seek guidance early. Most firms in this ranking offer a free consultation. A death certificate, a police or incident report, photographs of the scene, and the names of any witnesses can make that conversation more productive, though no family needs every document before calling.

About Our Rankings: Business Leader Post’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@businessleaderpost.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.