Shreveport Wrongful Death Attorney

Understanding Louisiana Wrongful Death Laws

At The Hall Law Firm, we know that there is nothing more difficult than losing someone you love. When your loved one’s death could have been prevented, it can be even more difficult to move forward with your life.

By filing a wrongful death claim against the responsible person or party, you can not only recover monetary compensation for unexpected financial challenges and non-economic losses, but you can also secure the justice you need to heal.

Since 1975, our firm has been representing clients in Shreveport and throughout Caddo Parish, as well as the entire state of Louisiana. We have recovered millions of dollars on behalf of individuals and families who have suffered unimaginable losses as a result of someone else’s negligent or wrongful conduct.

Our team is here to help you understand your legal options and protect your rights as you navigate the civil litigation process and seek the fair recovery you are owed.

Under La. Civ. Code § 2315.2, a “wrongful” death is when “a person dies due to the fault of another.” In this context, “another” could be another person or an entity, such as a business, manufacturer, or government agency.

Wrongful death claims typically arise from the following types of wrongdoing:

• Negligence
• Error
• Misconduct
• Intentional acts
• Medical malpractice
• Default

One of the simplest ways to determine if a death is considered “wrongful” in the eyes of the law is to determine whether the person who died (known as the “decedent”) would have had legal grounds to file a personal injury lawsuit had they lived. If they would have been able to file a personal injury lawsuit, their death is likely considered “wrongful.”

Any time a person dies as a result of another person or party’s negligence, wrongful conduct, or intentional acts, eligible surviving individuals may file a wrongful death claim or lawsuit.

Wrongful death cases often involve:

• Car accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• Truck accidents
• Pedestrian accidents
• Bicycle accidents
• Dog bites and animal attacks
• Serious slip and falls
• Workplace accidents
• Construction accidents
• Unsafe property conditions/premises
• Defective products
• Medical malpractice
• Nursing home abuse and neglect

If your loved one passed away, and you believe someone else was at fault, we encourage you to reach out to our Shreveport wrongful death attorneys for a free, no-obligation consultation. We can help you determine if you have grounds for a lawsuit and, if so, are prepared to aggressively advocate for you and the justice your family deserves.

Only certain individuals are permitted to bring a wrongful death action under Louisiana law.

These individuals include (in order):

• The decedent’s surviving spouse and/or children
• The decedent’s surviving parent(s) or guardian(s)
• The decedent’s surviving siblings
• The decedent’s surviving grandparent(s)

The first priority is granted to the decedent’s surviving spouse and/or children, who may file jointly or separately. If there is no surviving spouse and no surviving children, the decedent’s parents and/or legal guardians are next in line, following by the surviving siblings and, lastly, the surviving grandparents of the decedent.

When someone dies unexpectedly, their surviving family members may experience a range of economic and non-economic losses. Collectively, these losses are referred to as “damages.”

The purpose of filing a wrongful death claim or lawsuit is to recover monetary compensation for economic and non-economic damages arising from the decedent’s death and suffered by the estate and/or eligible plaintiffs.

In Louisiana, eligible surviving family members can seek the following types of damages in wrongful death cases:

• Medical expenses related to treating the decedent’s final injury or illness
• Funeral/burial expenses
• Lost earnings and employment benefits provided by the decedent
• The reasonable value of household/childcare services the decedent would likely have provided
• Grief and anguish experienced by the surviving individual
• Loss of companionship, care, comfort, guidance, and support provided by the decedent

Louisiana currently does not have a universal cap on wrongful death damages, meaning there is ostensibly no limit to the amount an individual can recover for economic or non-economic damages. At The Hall Law Firm, we advocate for the maximum amount our clients are owed and, when possible, even seek punitive damage awards.

Also known as “exemplary damages,” punitive damages are meant to punish the defendant for willful, wanton, or intentional infliction of injury, such as cases involving driving while intoxicated or criminal conduct like assault or homicide.

While you are not required by law to work with an attorney, there are many reasons to consider doing so. Many studies have found that people who work with wrongful death attorneys recover better settlements than those who try to resolve these claims on their own.

Even more importantly, we believe that you should spend this time focused on your family and on healing—not on fighting with the insurance company or liable party for justice. Instead, our attorneys can handle every legal detail of your case.

When you work with The Hall Law Firm, you receive direct, one-on-one attention from your attorney from start to finish. We are a local, boutique law office that purposefully limits its caseload. This allows us to better provide our clients with the level of compassionate, personalized representation they deserve.

You can rely on our team to be there for you when you need us most, providing answers to your questions and responding promptly to your calls. We make it our mission to be as accessible as possible to our clients and are prepared to aggressively litigate your case in our efforts to secure the maximum compensation you are owed.