The death of a loved one is among the most difficult experiences we face in life. When your loved one is suddenly taken from you because of someone else’s negligence, the anguish can feel unbearable.
In addition to your grief, you may be feeling anger and confusion. If your loved one provided financial support, you may have money concerns.
When your loved one’s death is caused by the wrongdoing or negligence of another party, you may be entitled to recover compensation.
At Chris Corzo Injury Attorneys, we are the leading wrongful death attorneys in Louisiana. We understand that no amount of money can compensate you for the loss of your loved one. However, we also know that financial compensation can help ease some of the burdens caused by your loved one’s death.
We have decades of experience helping wrongful death clients receive maximum compensation for their damages, and we want to help do the same for you.
To schedule a free consultation, call (225) 999-1111 or complete the form on our contact page.
Our compassionate attorneys will listen to you, answer your questions, and explain your rights. If we represent you, we will work tirelessly to get you the justice and compensation you need.
Why Choose Chris Corzo Injury Attorneys?
- We have recovered over $10 billion for our clients.
- We have a nearly 100% success rate.
- We have decades of experience handling wrongful death cases.
- Our attorneys are compassionate and handle every case with dignity and respect.
What is a Wrongful Death Action?
Louisiana Civil Code Article 2315.2 provides the right for certain family members to file suit against a person who causes the death of another.
A wrongful death action seeks compensation for your damages from the party who negligently or wrongfully caused the death of your loved one.
How is a Wrongful Death Action Different From a Survival Action?
Louisiana Civil Code Article 2315.1 provides the right for certain family members to recover damages suffered by a deceased person before their death.
The damages recoverable are not the damages suffered by the family members, as in a wrongful death action.
In a survival action, the damages recoverable are the damages suffered by the deceased person before their death.
The right of a survival action is the right that the deceased person would have had to bring a personal injury suit had they survived. At death, this right survives and is given to specific family members as set forth in the statute.
What is the Statute of Limitations for a Zachary Wrongful Death Claim?
A statute of limitations sets the deadline for filing a claim. If you miss your deadline, you will not be able to recover compensation for your damages.
Louisiana recently expanded its statute of limitations for most personal injury claims. However, that new statute of limitations does not apply to wrongful death actions.
A Louisiana wrongful death action has a statute of limitations of one year.
Louisiana Civil Code Article 2315.2 (B) states:
“The right of action granted by this Article prescribes one year from the death of the deceased.”
Note that the one-year deadline begins to run on the date of death of your loved one, not necessarily on the date of the accident or incident that caused their death.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim?
In most cases, the wrongful death action is brought by a surviving spouse and surviving children of the deceased. However, the statute provides who has the right to bring the suit if there is no surviving spouse or child.
Louisiana Civil Code Article 2315.2 (A) provides:
“If a person dies due to the fault of another, suit may be brought by the following persons to recover damages which they sustained as a result of the death:
- The surviving spouse and child or children of the deceased, or either the spouse or the child or children.
- The surviving father and mother of the deceased, or either of them if he left no spouse or child surviving.
- The surviving brothers and sisters of the deceased, or any of them, if he left no spouse, child, or parent surviving.
- The surviving grandfathers and grandmothers of the deceased, or any of them, if he left no spouse, child, parent, or sibling surviving.”
What Type of Compensation Can I Recover in a Zachary Wrongful Death Case?
In a wrongful death action, family members may recover damages such as:
- Funeral and burial expenses.
- Loss of future wages to family members who relied on the deceased person’s income.
- Loss of companionship or consortium.
If your loved one survived for a period after an accident or incident and suffered damages before they died, you can also bring a survival action to recover:
- Medical expenses incurred before death that were incurred because of another party’s negligence or wrong action.
- Lost wages suffered by the deceased before death.
- The deceased person’s pain and suffering caused by their injuries before their death.
Why Do I Need a Lawyer To File a Wrongful Death Claim?
You need an experienced Zachary wrongful death attorney to represent you because:
- You deserve to be able to grieve and process your loss while an experienced wrongful death lawyer handles all aspects of recovering damages for you.
- A wrongful death attorney can quickly advise who has the right to bring the claim and what damages they should be able to recover based on their relationship with the deceased.
- Insurance companies and defense attorneys will fight to avoid paying your claim or to minimize the amount of your claim. An experienced wrongful death attorney will be able to combat their tactics and hold them accountable for the full value of your damages.
- Litigation can be expensive, but most wrongful death attorneys will handle your case on a contingency basis and only charge you after they have recovered compensation for you.
Contact a Zachary Wrongful Death Attorney
If you have lost a loved one due to negligence or wrongdoing by another party, you may be entitled to compensation for your damages.
Although no amount of money can bring back your loved one, financial compensation can help ease some of the burdens caused by their death. Let a Zachary personal injury lawyer help you today.
At Chris Corzo Injury Attorneys, we have represented wrongful death clients for decades and have recovered over $10 billion in client compensation. We want to help you recover the maximum compensation for your damages.
To schedule a free consultation, call (225) 999-1111 or complete the short form on our contact page.