Metairie Wrongful Death Lawyer

Losing someone you love because of another person’s carelessness is one of the hardest things any family can endure. While no amount of money can replace what you’ve lost, pursuing justice can help bring closure and provide financial stability for your family’s future. A Metairie, LA wrongful death lawyer can guide you through this difficult process with compassion, respect, and skill. Schedule your free and confidential consultation with Kiefer & Kiefer today.

Wrongful Death Lawyer Metairie, LA

When a fatal accident occurs because of negligence, whether from a reckless driver, a dangerous property condition, or a preventable workplace hazard, families are often left with overwhelming grief and uncertainty. Other than emotional loss, you may face unexpected expenses, lost income, and unanswered questions about accountability.

Our fatal accident lawyers have been helping Louisiana families with wrongful death claims for decades. Our attorneys understand that this isn’t just a legal matter, it’s deeply personal. We take the time to listen to your story, explain your options, and handle every step of your claim with compassion and professionalism.

We represent families in wrongful death cases arising from:

• Car, truck, and motorcycle accidents
• Maritime and offshore incidents
• Industrial and construction accidents
• Dangerous or defective products
• Medical malpractice
• Premises liability and slip-and-fall fatalities

Louisiana law allows certain family members, typically spouses, children, or parents, to file a wrongful death claim when a loved one’s death was caused by negligence or misconduct. These claims seek damages for both economic and emotional losses, including:

• Funeral and burial expenses
• Loss of financial support and future income
• Medical costs incurred before death
• Loss of companionship, guidance, and care
• Emotional pain and suffering of surviving family members

Our Metairie wrongful death attorneys work closely with investigators, medical professionals, and economists to cover every aspect of your loss with proper documentation. Our family loss lawyers build strong, evidence-based cases that honor your loved one’s memory while holding the responsible parties accountable.

Our wrongful death lawyers know that compassion and communication matter just as much as legal experience. You’ll always have access to your attorney, and we’ll keep you updated throughout the process, so you never feel left in the dark.

Why Experience Matters In Wrongful Death Cases

Wrongful death cases are among the most detailed and emotionally charged areas of personal injury law. They often involve multiple parties, large insurance companies, and significant financial stakes. An experienced attorney knows how to balance sensitivity with assertive legal action to achieve a positive outcome for your family.

We bring over six decades of proven experience to every case. We understand the laws that govern wrongful death claims in Louisiana and have a long history of success in helping families find justice and closure. Our firm combines deep legal knowledge with genuine care for every client we represent.

• 60+ years representing families in wrongful death and catastrophic injury cases
• Recognized leaders in personal injury and family-based litigation across Louisiana
• Award-winning trial attorneys with extensive negotiation and courtroom experience
• Known throughout Metairie and New Orleans for integrity, compassion, and results

“Throughout the duration of our legal battles, Megan and everyone at Kiefer & Kiefer kept us informed, answered every question, and fought tirelessly on our behalf, ultimately securing us the best possible outcome. Megan has been such a relief and a reassurance throughout an extremely difficult time. Having Kiefer and Kiefer on your side when you need legal assistance is the smartest move you can make.” – Matthew G.

Losing someone to negligence changes everything, but you don’t have to face the aftermath alone. Kiefer & Kiefer has been standing up for Louisiana families for generations, helping them find peace of mind through justice and accountability. If you’ve lost a loved one due to another’s negligence, don’t wait, schedule your free and confidential consultation today.

Types Of Wrongful Death Cases We Handle

Losing a loved one is devastating under any circumstances, but when death results from someone else’s negligence or recklessness, the pain is compounded by a profound sense of injustice. Your family member’s life was cut short not by natural causes or unavoidable tragedy, but by preventable actions that should never have occurred. While no amount of money can restore your loss, Louisiana law recognizes that surviving family members deserve compensation for funeral expenses, lost financial support, and the irreplaceable companionship taken from them. We represent families throughout Louisiana who have lost loved ones to negligence, holding responsible parties accountable and pursuing the substantial damages your family needs during this difficult time.

Motor Vehicle Fatalities: Car, truck, and motorcycle accidents claim lives across Louisiana when drivers operate recklessly, under the influence, or while distracted by phones and other devices. High-speed collisions, head-on crashes, and intersection accidents often result in fatal injuries despite modern safety features. We investigate all factors contributing to deadly crashes and hold negligent drivers and their insurance carriers accountable for the lives they’ve taken.

Commercial Truck Accidents: Collisions with large commercial trucks frequently result in fatalities due to the massive size and weight of these vehicles. Driver fatigue, inadequate training, improper maintenance, and violations of federal safety regulations contribute to deadly crashes involving 18-wheelers and delivery trucks. We pursue claims against trucking companies, drivers, and maintenance providers whose negligence caused your loved one’s death.

Pedestrian and Bicycle Deaths: People on foot and cyclists have virtually no protection when struck by motor vehicles, making these accidents often fatal even at moderate speeds. Drivers who fail to yield, run red lights, or operate while impaired kill innocent pedestrians and riders who were lawfully using roadways. We hold careless drivers accountable for taking the lives of vulnerable road users.

Workplace Fatalities: Construction sites, industrial facilities, and other work environments claim workers’ lives when employers fail to maintain safe conditions or follow OSHA regulations. Falls from heights, struck-by accidents, electrocutions, and equipment malfunctions cause deaths that proper safety protocols would have prevented. We pursue wrongful death claims against all parties whose negligence contributed to fatal workplace accidents.

Medical Malpractice Deaths: Healthcare providers who deviate from accepted standards of care cause preventable deaths through surgical errors, misdiagnoses, medication mistakes, and delayed treatment. Patients who sought help for treatable conditions die because doctors, nurses, or facilities failed to provide competent care. We work with medical professionals to prove that substandard care directly caused your loved one’s death.

Nursing Home Deaths: Elderly residents in care facilities die from neglect, abuse, inadequate medical attention, and preventable complications like bedsores and malnutrition. When facilities fail to provide appropriate staffing, supervision, and care, vulnerable residents suffer fatal consequences. We hold nursing homes accountable for deaths resulting from their failure to protect residents entrusted to their care.

Defective Product Deaths: Dangerous consumer products, medical devices, and vehicles cause fatalities when design flaws, manufacturing defects, or inadequate warnings make them unexpectedly hazardous. Manufacturers and distributors bear responsibility when their products kill consumers who used them as intended. We pursue claims against all parties in the supply chain whose products caused your loved one’s death.

Premises Liability Deaths: Property owners whose negligence creates deadly hazards face liability when visitors die from falls, inadequate security, structural failures, or other dangerous conditions. These deaths occur at retail stores, apartment complexes, entertainment venues, and private properties where owners failed to maintain safe environments. We prove that property owners knew or should have known about the hazards that killed your family member.

Swimming Pool Drownings: Inadequate supervision, missing barriers, broken drain covers, and other safety violations at residential and commercial pools lead to drowning deaths, particularly among children. Pool owners must maintain proper fencing, equipment, and safety measures to prevent these tragedies. We hold property owners accountable when their negligence results in fatal drowning accidents.

Boating and Maritime Deaths: Recreational and commercial boating accidents cause fatalities from drowning, collisions, and other maritime hazards. Boat operators who drive recklessly, under the influence, or without proper safety equipment put passengers and other boaters at fatal risk. We handle wrongful death claims arising from negligent boat operation and unseaworthy vessels.

Transportation Accidents: Bus crashes, train derailments, and aviation accidents claim multiple lives when operators, maintenance providers, or companies fail to follow safety protocols. Common carriers owe passengers the highest duty of care, and breaches of this duty resulting in death warrant substantial damages. We pursue wrongful death claims against transportation companies whose negligence caused fatal accidents.

Deaths from Dangerous Drugs: Pharmaceutical companies that rush dangerous medications to market or fail to warn about deadly side effects cause preventable deaths. Drugs with known cardiac risks, suicide risks, or life-threatening interactions kill patients whose doctors prescribed them without adequate safety information. We hold drug manufacturers accountable for deaths caused by dangerous medications they marketed despite knowing the risks.

Construction Site Fatalities: Building sites present numerous deadly hazards including falls from scaffolding, trench collapses, electrocutions, and equipment accidents. General contractors, subcontractors, and property owners who fail to follow safety regulations cause deaths that proper precautions would have prevented. We pursue wrongful death claims against all parties whose negligence contributed to fatal construction accidents.

Deaths from Impaired Driving: Drunk and drugged drivers kill thousands of people each year despite widespread awareness of these dangers. Victims of impaired driving crashes had their lives needlessly cut short by drivers who made conscious decisions to operate vehicles while intoxicated. We pursue maximum damages from impaired drivers and, when applicable, establishments that over-served alcohol to visibly intoxicated patrons.

The death of a family member leaves emotional wounds that never fully heal, and the financial impact can be equally devastating when you’ve lost a wage earner or caregiver. Louisiana wrongful death law provides surviving family members with legal recourse, but insurance companies will try to minimize payouts even in cases involving obvious negligence. As an experienced Metairie wrongful death lawyer, we at Kiefer & Kiefer understand the profound loss your family has suffered and the justice you deserve. We handle these sensitive cases with compassion while aggressively pursuing the substantial compensation Louisiana law provides to families who have lost loved ones to negligence. Contact us today to discuss your wrongful death claim and learn how we can help your family hold responsible parties accountable while securing the financial recovery you need to face the future.

Wrongful Death Statistics in Metairie, LA

Metairie sits in Jefferson Parish, and according to crash data compiled through Louisiana’s Center for Analytics and Research in Transportation Safety (CARTS), Jefferson Parish saw approximately 2,844 traffic accidents causing injury or death in 2023 alone. Ten pedestrians and two bicyclists were also killed in those crashes.

Statewide, Louisiana recorded 811 traffic fatalities in 2023, placing it consistently among the most dangerous states per mile traveled. Motor vehicle crashes are just one cause of wrongful death. Workplace accidents, medical negligence, dangerous premises, and defective products claim lives in Metairie every year. According to NHTSA crash data, alcohol-impaired driving alone accounted for over 12,000 deaths nationally in 2023. Families who lose someone to preventable negligence deserve answers and accountability.

Mistakes That Can Damage Your Wrongful Death Claim

Grieving families often make well-intentioned decisions that end up undermining their legal case. These are the most common ones, and what to do instead.

1. Waiting too long to contact an attorney. Louisiana recently updated its wrongful death prescriptive period. Under Louisiana Civil Code Article 2315.2 as amended by Act 176 (effective August 1, 2025), families now have one year from the date of death or two years from the date of injury, whichever is longer. Getting a Metairie wrongful death lawyer involved early on protects everything you need to build your case against the responsible party.

2. Speaking directly with the insurance company. The at-fault party’s insurer will contact you. They may sound sympathetic to your situation, but they are not. Every recorded statement you give and question you answer, is collected to minimize what they owe your family. Refer all insurer communications to your attorney from the moment you retain one.

3. Sharing details on social media. People grieve publicly, and that’s understandable. But posts describing the accident, the circumstances of your loved one’s death, or your emotional state can be pulled into litigation. Defense attorneys regularly monitor social media for anything that complicates a claim. Keep details of the case private until it resolves.

4. Accepting an early settlement offer. Insurance companies move quickly on wrongful death claims when they know the liability is clear. A fast offer is rarely a fair amount. It’s designed to close your claim before your family understands the full scope of what you’ve lost, including future income, future companionship, and the long-term financial impact on your household. A wrongful death attorney in Metairie, LA can properly calculate what your family is owed before any number is discussed.

5. Assuming the criminal case handles civil liability. If a criminal prosecution is underway, families sometimes believe justice is being handled. However, civil and criminal cases are entirely separate. A criminal conviction is not required to win a civil wrongful death case. And a criminal acquittal doesn’t mean you cannot sue them in civil court. Louisiana law allows civil claims based on negligence, not the criminal standard of beyond a reasonable doubt.

6. Not gathering evidence at the scene. In the immediate aftermath of a fatal accident, evidence matters. If any family member was present, photos, videos, witness names, and contact information should be collected as soon as it is safe to do so. Police reports can contain errors, witnesses have gaps in their story, and physical evidence from the scene connects facts that later become disputed.

7. Choosing a lawyer without wrongful death experience. These are not standard personal injury cases. They involve different calculations for damages, complex questions about which family members have standing, and emotionally demanding discovery processes where depositions may include deeply personal questions about your relationship with your loved one. A wrongful death claim lawyer who handles these cases regularly understands what it takes to build and present them effectively.

Metairie Wrongful Death Lawyer FAQs

Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim in Louisiana?

The right to file belongs to the surviving spouse and children first. If none survive, then the parents may file. If no spouse, children, or parents survive, siblings may file. If none of those family members survive, grandparents may bring the claim. The law establishes a strict priority order, and only the highest-priority surviving family members may pursue the case.

How Long Do I Have to File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Louisiana?

The prescriptive period is one year from the date of death or two years from the date of injury, whichever is longer. Medical malpractice wrongful death claims follow a separate timeline. Deadlines can be easy to miscalculate, particularly when the death occurred weeks or months after the initial injury.

What Damages Are Available in a Louisiana Wrongful Death Case?

Louisiana allows surviving family members to recover for their own losses resulting from the death. These include the loss of financial support the deceased provided, funeral and burial expenses, loss of love, affection, companionship, and guidance, medical expenses incurred before death, and the emotional pain and suffering experienced by surviving family members. These are separate from survival action, which recovers for the suffering the deceased personally endured before death.

What is a Survival Action, and Is It Different from Wrongful Death?

Yes, they are distinctly separate claims. A wrongful death action compensates surviving family members for their own losses. A survival action, governed by allows the estate or certain heirs to recover the damages the deceased victim experienced between the time of injury and death. Both claims are often filed together, but they compensate for different categories of loss and have different legal requirements.

Does It Matter if My Loved One Was Partially at Fault?

Louisiana follows a comparative fault system. If your loved one was partially responsible for the incident, their percentage of fault may reduce the total recovery. However, partial fault by the deceased does not necessarily eliminate the claim. The specifics depend heavily on the facts, and a wrongful death lawyer in Metairie can assess how fault allocation may affect your family’s case.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Wrongful Death Attorney?

Kiefer & Kiefer handles wrongful death cases on a contingency fee basis. That means there are no upfront costs and no fees unless we recover for your family. Our initial consultation is free and confidential.

How Long Does a Wrongful Death Case Take?

Every case is different. Some settle within months when liability is clear and the insurer negotiates in good faith. Others, particularly those involving disputed facts, multiple defendants, or large insurance companies, take significantly longer. Our attorneys give every family an honest assessment early on, including what to expect at each stage.

What if the At-Fault Party Doesn’t Have Enough Insurance?

This is a real concern, especially in cases involving private individuals rather than commercial entities. Options may include uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, additional parties who share liability, or the deceased’s own insurance policy. A thorough investigation can reveal more avenues for recovery than are immediately obvious.

Can I Still File a Civil Case if There Is an Ongoing Criminal Prosecution?

Yes. Civil and criminal cases proceed on entirely separate court systems. A criminal case requires proof beyond a reasonable doubt. A civil wrongful death case uses the much lower standard of preponderance of the evidence, meaning it’s more likely than not that the defendant’s negligence caused the death. Families often pursue civil cases alongside or after criminal proceedings.

What Should I Bring to My First Consultation?

Bring anything you have to your first consultation. A copy of any police or incident reports, medical records related to the final injury or illness, insurance information for all parties involved, photos or video from the scene, and documentation of the deceased’s income. Don’t worry if you don’t have everything for your initial meeting, as we help families gather what’s needed.

Local Information for Metairie, LA Wrongful Death Cases

Most Dangerous Locations in Metairie for Fatal Accidents

Metairie’s dense suburban layout creates serious traffic hazards along its major corridors, including the following:

• Veterans Memorial Boulevard. Particularly near the intersection with Causeway Boulevard, consistently generates high-volume conflict points between commercial vehicles, commuters, and pedestrians.
• Airline Drive near the Kenner. This boundary carries heavy freight and is the site of repeated fatal and near-fatal crashes.
• The I-10 on- and off-ramps. These ramps through Metairie are among the highest-volume stretches in Jefferson Parish, where speed differentials between merging and through traffic create crash conditions.

Many wrongful death cases in Metairie trace back to these same corridors, where recurring hazards go uncorrected despite documented crash histories.

Important Local Resources for Metairie Wrongful Death Cases

After losing a family member in Metairie, LA, these local resources may assist your family during a difficult time. This list is provided for informational purposes only. Kiefer & Kiefer does not endorse any of the organizations listed below.

• East Jefferson General Hospital: 4200 Houma Blvd., Metairie, LA 70006 | (504) 454-4000. The primary hospital serving Jefferson Parish’s East Bank, with a full emergency department.
• Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office: P.O. Box 327, Gretna, LA 70054 | (504) 363-5500. The law enforcement agency with jurisdiction over unincorporated Metairie. Crash reports and incident documentation are obtained through this office.
• Jefferson Parish Coroner’s Office: Provides official cause-of-death determinations and death investigation services for Jefferson Parish. Death certificates and investigative findings from this office are critical documents in wrongful death cases.
• Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development: Maintains crash data and road safety records relevant to traffic-related wrongful death claims.

About Kiefer & Kiefer

Kiefer & Kiefer has represented Louisiana families in wrongful death and catastrophic injury cases for over 40 years. Megan Kiefer and Nat G. Kiefer, Jr., lead the firm’s wrongful death practice alongside Chris Short and Danielle Smith Heath. Megan Kiefer is a Super Lawyers honoree from 2022 through 2024 and a Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum inductee. The firm secured a $1.9 million recovery in a wrongful death case involving chemical exposure, and our attorneys have the resources, experience, and commitment to present your family’s full loss, financially and personally, to insurers and juries alike.

What Our Clients Say

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“This law firm is EXCEPTIONAL! If you need some one who will truly fight for you, look no further. This is the Law Firm to hire! Knowledgeable, compassionate, and incredibly skilled. I’m beyond satisfied with the results of my son’s case! Thanks Megan Kiefer, and the entire team at Kiefer & Kiefer who assisted with my case!!” — Anunka L.

Read more reviews on our Google Business Profile.

Contact Kiefer & Kiefer

If your family has lost a loved one due to someone else’s negligence, you don’t have to figure out your next steps alone. Our wrongful death attorneys represent families throughout Metairie and the greater New Orleans area. We work on a contingency fee, so you owe nothing unless we recover compensation for your family. When you contact us, you’ll speak with an attorney, not a call center. We’ll listen to what happened, answer your questions honestly, and help you understand your options. Contact us to schedule your free, confidential consultation.