Wrongful Death Lawyer Kenner, LA

Wrongful death cases require a different kind of attention. Trial-tested wrongful death attorneys committed to thorough preparation in every matter.

If you’ve lost someone because of another person’s negligence or wrongdoing, you are likely dealing with immense grief, confusion, and financial uncertainty. Our Kenner, LA wrongful death lawyer can hold the responsible party accountable for a loss that cannot be measured in dollars alone. At Kiefer & Kiefer, we have represented families in wrongful death cases across Louisiana for over 40 years, and we know what it takes to build a case that reflects what your family lost. We know there is no amount of money that can bring them back, but we can help you obtain justice. Contact us today for a free consultation.

Wrongful Death Lawyer Kenner, LA

What can a wrongful death attorney do for my family after losing a loved one wrongfully? A wrongful death claim is a civil cause of action brought by surviving family members or the decedent’s estate when a person dies as a result of another party’s negligence, recklessness, or intentional misconduct. It is separate from any criminal proceeding that may arise out of the same incident.

These claims are not about replacing the person you lost. We know it cannot be undone, but at the very least there is accountability and compensation so you don’t have to deal with financial hardships. Louisiana law provides a mechanism for survivors to seek compensation. A Kenner wrongful death attorney pursues that accountability through the civil courts on your family’s behalf.

Types of Wrongful Death Cases We Handle in Kenner

Wrongful death claims arise across many different circumstances. At Kiefer & Kiefer, we represent families in Kenner and throughout Louisiana regardless of how their loved one was killed, as long as the death was caused by another party’s fault. Our attorneys have handled cases involving:

• Motor vehicle accidents. Car crashes, head-on collisions, and intersection accidents frequently result in fatal injuries. We investigate liability, gather evidence, and fight insurers who try to minimize what your family is owed.
• 18-wheeler accidents. Commercial truck crashes are among the most deadly on the road. Our attorneys previously defended trucking companies and insurance carriers, giving us direct insight into how those defenses are built and how to defeat them.
• Motorcycle accidents. Motorcyclists face unique road hazards and serious bias from insurers and adjusters. Fatal motorcycle crashes often involve drivers who failed to see or yield to a motorcyclist.
• Premises liability. Dangerous property conditions, including broken staircases, inadequate lighting, and missing railings can cause fatal falls. We work with safety engineers and inspectors to document what the property owner knew and failed to fix.
• Slip and fall accidents. A fatal fall caused by a wet floor, uneven surface, or negligently maintained walkway may give rise to a wrongful death claim against the property owner or business.
• Truck accidents. Beyond 18-wheelers, delivery trucks, commercial vehicles, and company cars all carry insurance policies and employer liability. We pursue every available avenue of recovery.
• Bicycle accidents. Cyclists killed by motorists are often wrongly blamed at the scene. We have successfully challenged police findings to establish the driver’s fault and recover for the family.
• Medical malpractice. When a patient dies because of a healthcare provider’s negligence, surviving family members may have a wrongful death claim.
• Serious injury. Some cases begin as personal injury claims and become wrongful death matters. If a loved one died from injuries sustained in an accident, we can evaluate whether a wrongful death claim applies.

Why Choose Kiefer & Kiefer as My Wrongful Death Lawyer in Kenner, LA?

Our Approach to Wrongful Death Cases

When we take on a wrongful death case, we learn more about your loved one. We ask to see photos, hear stories, and understand the relationship your family has lost. This is both sentimental, and strategic for obtaining a strong sense of justice. Insurers and defense attorneys evaluate these cases in terms of numbers. However, we present your family’s loss in human terms, the kind that resonates with a jury, and forces the other side to reckon with what they actually took from you.

Megan Kiefer has been recognized by Super Lawyers from 2022 through 2024 and was named to the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum and The Best Lawyers in America® 2023. She is also an adjunct instructor at Tulane University Law School’s Trial Advocacy program. Our personal injury lawyer in Kenner, LA, has helped clients across Jefferson Parish and the greater

Proven Preparation, Not Just Settlement Pressure

At Kiefer & Kiefer, we have recovered millions of dollars for clients. Those results include a $1.9 million recovery in a wrongful death case involving chemical exposure, $5 million result for paralysis caused by a negligent property condition, and $4.2 million recovery following a catastrophic workplace accident. We also work on a contingency fee basis, so you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.

Understanding Wrongful Death Cases

Damages, Liability, and Compensation

Louisiana’s wrongful death statute, found within the Civil Code, permits certain surviving family members to recover damages for their own losses resulting from the death. Separately, a survival action allows the estate to recover for damages the deceased person suffered between the injury and death. Both types of claims may apply in the same case, and understanding which applies to your situation requires a careful legal analysis. Generally, recoverable damages in a wrongful death claim include the following:

• Loss of financial support: The income and financial contributions the deceased would have made over their lifetime.
• Loss of love, companionship, and consortium: The relational loss suffered by a surviving spouse, children, or parents.
• Grief and mental anguish: Emotional suffering of surviving family members.
• Medical expenses: Costs for treatment of the fatal injuries before death.
• Funeral and burial expenses: Documented costs associated with laying the deceased to rest.

Important Aspects of a Wrongful Death Case

No two wrongful death matters are exactly the same, but several factors consistently affect how these cases develop:

• Who has standing to file: Louisiana law specifies which surviving relatives may bring a wrongful death claim, and the order of priority matters. Surviving spouses, children, parents, and siblings may each have standing depending on the circumstances.
• Proving fault: Louisiana follows a comparative fault system. Even if the decedent bore some responsibility, the surviving family may still recover, though the award may be reduced proportionally.
• The survival action: This is a separate claim for what the deceased person experienced before death, including pain, suffering, and medical costs. Understanding the types of damages in a negligence claim is essential to maximizing your recovery.
• Insurance coverage and corporate defendants: Many wrongful death cases involve defendants with multiple layers of insurance or employer liability policies. Identifying all available coverage is one of the many tasks we handle.
• Evidence preservation: Physical evidence, surveillance footage, and electronic data can disappear quickly.

Wrongful Death Case Timeline

Louisiana’s wrongful death statute of limitations is one year from the date of death. Missing that deadline generally prevents your family from recovering anything. Within that timeframe, the process typically follows this path:

• Investigation and evidence gathering: This begins immediately. Accident reconstruction, medical records, witness interviews, and expert analysis.
• Pre-litigation demand: In some cases, a pre-suit demand to the at-fault party’s insurer leads to a settlement before filing suit.
• Filing suit: If no acceptable resolution is reached, we file a petition in the appropriate Louisiana district court.
• Discovery: Both sides exchange evidence, conduct depositions, and retain expert witnesses. This phase can last a year or more in complex cases.
• Mediation: Courts often require the parties to attempt mediation before trial. We prepare for mediation the same way we prepare for a jury.
• Trial: If the case doesn’t settle, we try it. Our attorneys have the trial experience to present your family’s case in front of a jury.

What to Bring to Your Wrongful Death Consultation

Bring whatever information you have to your consultation. Don’t worry about having everything organized, but it helps to have:

• Any accident or incident reports related to the death.
• Medical records or a summary of treatment the deceased received.
• Documentation of financial contributions your loved one made to the household.
• Life insurance policies, if applicable.
• Photographs of the incident scene, your loved one, and family.

Louisiana Legal Resources for Wrongful Death Cases

Louisiana law governs who may file a wrongful death claim, how fault is apportioned, and what damages are available. Below are resources to help you understand the legal framework:

• La. C.C. Art. 2315.2: The primary wrongful death statute. Surviving family members have one year from the date of death to bring a wrongful death claim. Specifies the order of priority among surviving claimants: spouse and children first, then parents, then siblings, then grandparents.
• La. C.C. Art. 3493.1: Sets a two-year prescriptive period for personal injury and wrongful death claims arising on or after July 1, 2024. For incidents before that date, the one-year rule applies.
• La. C.C. Art. 2315.6: Allows bystander recovery for mental anguish suffered by a family member who witnesses the injury or death of a loved one. Applies when a surviving family member was present at the scene and suffered trauma as a result.

Reach Out to Kiefer & Kiefer to Schedule a Consultation

If you’ve lost a family member due to someone else’s negligence, you don’t have to navigate this process alone. Kiefer & Kiefer represents wrongful death claimants in Kenner and throughout Louisiana on a contingency fee basis, so there are no fees unless we recover compensation for you. We offer free consultations to learn more. Contact us to schedule your consultation for a potential wrongful death case.