When you lose a loved one because of another person or entity’s actions, you and your family deserve justice. No court order or compensation can make up for what you have lost, but it can bring closure, relieve financial stress, and hold negligent parties accountable.
Our Gonzales personal injury attorneys at Chris Corzo Injury Attorneys are here for you if you are navigating this impossibly difficult scenario. Founded on strong Christian values, we are deeply committed to our clients and endeavor to provide compassionate and capable legal representation.
Our wrongful death lawyers in Gonzales understand how to prevail in these cases and have secured billions of dollars for thousands of clients. No matter your circumstances, we will leverage the full extent of our firm’s resources to recover the compensation you and your family need to move forward. We frequently take these cases on a contingency basis, so you owe us nothing unless we win.
Call (225) 999-1111 or visit our contact page to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case.
Why Should You Partner With Chris Corzo Injury Attorneys?
- We have a nearly 100% success rate.
- We have recovered billions of dollars for our clients.
- We have been winning wrongful death cases for decades.
- We are compassionate and handle your case with respect and dignity.
- Our Christian values drive us to seek justice and maximum compensation for our clients.
You will quickly see and feel the difference in the way we treat our clients and handle their cases. Schedule your free consultation and understand why you should choose Chris Corzo Injury Attorneys for your wrongful death claim.
What Is Wrongful Death?
A person’s death is “wrongful” if it occurs due to the negligence, recklessness, or willful misconduct of another person or entity. Surviving relatives have the right to bring a wrongful death claim against the parties responsible for the death of their loved one. Winning a wrongful death lawsuit allows the filing party to recover compensation from the defendant.
Common Causes of Wrongful Death
Any scenario where someone sustains injuries caused by negligence has the potential to become a wrongful death case. Wrongful death rules apply when injuries sustained in a negligence-related accident prove fatal.
Our Gonzales wrongful death attorneys are ready to represent you if your loved one perished because of a:
- Vehicular Accident. Crashes involving cars, trucks, and motorcycles all have the potential to cause catastrophic injuries that can easily become life-threatening, especially if the collision occurs at a high speed.
- Slip and Fall. Something as innocuous as a slip and fall can have fatal consequences if the victim’s head, neck, or back strikes a sharp edge or especially hard surface.
- Defective Product. Certain defective products, including pharmaceutical drugs, may have dangerous design or manufacturing defects that can in some cases result in death. Inadequate warning labels or instructions can also lead to fatal consequences.
- Pedestrian Accident. When a pedestrian is struck by a motor vehicle, they often do not survive the impact.
- Bicycle Accident. Like a pedestrian, cyclists are likely to suffer catastrophic injuries when they collide with a motor vehicle.
- Workplace Accident. If a party other than your employer or co-worker is responsible for your loved one’s fatal injuries, you may have the right to bring a wrongful death claim in addition to a worker’s compensation claim.
- Premises Liability. If your loved one was fatally injured because of a dangerous condition on another party’s property, you may have grounds for a premises liability case to seek compensation from the property owner.
- Violence. If your loved one died due to injuries sustained in a battery, you may have the right to bring a wrongful death action in addition to any criminal charges that are filed.
Damages You Can Recover in a Louisiana Wrongful Death Claim
A wrongful death lawsuit can help you recover monetary and non-monetary damages. Monetary damages are calculable and have a dollar amount associated with them, while non-monetary damages are more nebulous and are meant to cover other consequences that come with a loved one’s untimely passing. In some cases involving especially reckless or malicious conduct, punitive damages may be awarded to punish the defendant and deter similar behavior in the future.
Our legal professionals at Chris Corzo Injury Attorneys will fight to secure compensation for all pertinent losses, including:
- The victim’s final medical expenses
- Burial and funeral expenses
- Loss of income and benefits the victim would have earned
- Loss of inheritance
- Loss of companionship
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Emotional distress
Punitive damages are only allowed if specifically provided for by statute. However, if certain egregious actions caused your loved one’s injury, a jury may award punitive damages.
Some examples of when punitive damages may be awarded include:
- Under Louisiana Civil Code Article 2315.4, punitive damages may be awarded upon proof that the injuries were caused by a defendant whose intoxication while operating a motor vehicle was a cause in fact of the resulting injuries.
- Louisiana Civil Code Article 2315.7 provides that punitive damages may be awarded if injuries were caused through criminal sexual activity that occurred when the victim was seventeen years old or younger, regardless of whether the defendant was prosecuted for their acts. Injuries caused by sexual assault in the workplace may also give rise to punitive damages according to Louisiana Civil Code Article 2315.11.
- Under Louisiana Civil Code Article 2315.8, if injuries were the result of domestic abuse, punitive damages may be available.
- Under Louisiana Civil Code Article 2315.9, injuries caused by certain acts of terror may result in punitive damages.
- Louisiana Civil Code Article 2315.10 provides that punitive damages may be awarded if an act of hazing causes death.
How a Wrongful Death Attorney Can Help
You will need time to process the loss of your loved one in the days, weeks, and months after their passing. You may understandably not have the bandwidth to take on what can be a complex and contentious legal proceeding. A lawyer recognizes what you are going through and can provide the attentive, empathetic guidance needed to move your wrongful death case forward while simultaneously giving you space to grieve.
Depending on the nature of the claim, you may be going up against a company with considerable financial and legal resources. Our wrongful death lawyers in Gonzales are prepared to level the playing field. We will investigate what happened, determine liability, and gather the evidence needed to prove the elements of the case. Our team will also work to avoid a drawn-out trial by attempting to negotiate a settlement that covers your losses. If an acceptable settlement is not possible, we will fight for you in court. In either scenario, we always endeavor to maximize the compensation you recover.
Frequently Asked Questions about Wrongful Death in Louisiana
Who Has the Right to Bring a Wrongful Death Claim in Louisiana?
If one of your family members perishes in a tragic accident, you should not automatically assume you have the right to file a wrongful death lawsuit on their behalf. Louisiana enforces rules on who can bring a claim. Generally, the most immediate surviving relatives can take legal action.
You likely have the right to file a wrongful death lawsuit if you are:
- The spouse or child of the deceased
- The parent of the deceased (if there is no surviving spouse or child)
- The sibling of the deceased (if there is no surviving spouse, child, or parent)
- The grandparent of the deceased (if there is no surviving spouse, child, parent, or sibling)
- The representative of the deceased’s estate (if there is no surviving spouse, child, parent, sibling, or grandparent)
Who Receives Compensation in a Louisiana Wrongful Death Settlement?
The party who brings the wrongful death lawsuit stands to receive any money secured in a settlement. If the deceased’s surviving spouse successfully files a claim, for example, they get the settlement money. Should a representative of the estate win or settle a wrongful death lawsuit, the deceased’s estate will receive the money.
How Long Do I Have to File a Wrongful Death Claim in Louisiana?
Qualifying parties only have one year from the date of the victim’s passing to file a wrongful death lawsuit. Missing this deadline will likely prevent a person with standing from recovering any compensation. Remember that the important date is the day the victim died, not the day they sustained fatal injuries.
If a person suffers serious injuries in a motorcycle accident but does not pass away due to them until a month has passed, the latter date is the one that matters for purposes of understanding Louisiana’s statute of limitations.
Contact a Gonzales Wrongful Death Lawyer Today
If you have lost a loved one due to another party’s negligence or wrongdoing, you may be entitled to recover compensation for your damages.
Insurance companies and defense attorneys will likely try to avoid liability or minimize the amount they must pay. Often, they will try to place blame on your deceased loved one for the accident that caused their fatal injuries.
You need an experienced Gonzales wrongful death attorney to protect your rights and help you recover the maximum compensation you are entitled to.
At Chris Corzo Injury Attorneys, we have been successfully handling wrongful death actions for decades and have recovered billions of dollars for our clients. We want to help you get the justice and financial compensation you deserve.
Call (225) 999-1111 or complete the short form on our contact page to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case. We will listen to you, answer your questions, and explain your rights. If we represent you, we will work tirelessly to recover every dollar you deserve.