Baton Rouge Wrongful Death Lawyer

Baton Rouge Wrongful Death Lawyer

If you’ve recently suffered the tragic and unexpected death of a family member in a Baton Rouge, Louisiana accident, call Palmintier Law Group. You deserve justice for your loss. Our experienced Baton Rouge wrongful death lawyers can help you fight for the maximum financial payout you need and deserve.

Since we were founded, the Palmintier Law Group has been trusted by grieving families in Baton Rouge and across the State of Louisiana. Collectively, our award-winning litigators have 80+ years of experience and an unrivaled ability to make a difference in the lives of the clients we represent.

Our law firm has won over $1 billion in settlements and jury awards in tough personal injury cases, such as slip and fall accidents, Baton Rouge medical malpractice, nursing home abuse, child injuries, brain injuries, Uber accidents, and more. Today, we’re here to fight for you. 

Schedule a free consultation by contacting our legal team in Baton Rouge, LA, now at 225-401-6962.

Types Of Wrongful Death Cases We Handle 

Under Louisiana law, a wrongful death claim may be filed when a person dies as a result of another person or entity’s negligent, reckless, or intentional actions. The liable party could be an individual or organization whose actions or failure to act resulted in a preventable death. 

While no amount of money can undo the inexplicable pain caused by such a tragic event, pursuing a wrongful death lawsuit can offer surviving family members a sense of justice and closure. When you work with a Baton Rouge, LA wrongful death lawyer from Palmintier Law Group, you partner with someone who takes the time to listen to your story, understands your family’s needs, and provides you with unwavering support every step of the way. 

Our firm represents families in wrongful death cases involving:

Medical Malpractice

A study by Johns Hopkins Medicine found that more than 251,000 people die annually due to preventable medical mistakes. When healthcare professionals fail to provide the standard of care expected, they may be liable for medical malpractice in the event of a wrongful death. Depending on the situation, hospitals may also be held accountable if a patient’s death results from systemic failures such as understaffing, poor hygiene, or lack of proper training. 

Automobile Accidents

The most common causes of wrongful death claims are automobile accidents involving drunk, distracted, impaired, or aggressive drivers. Pedestrian accidents are another common cause of wrongful death claims, particularly when drivers engage in reckless behavior like speeding through crosswalks or ignoring traffic signals.

Road conditions or design flaws can also contribute to fatal accidents. Poorly maintained roads, a lack of proper signage, or obstructed views due to overgrown trees or shrubs can create hazardous driving conditions and increase the likelihood of accidents. 

Defective Products

A wrongful death lawsuit may result when a death occurs due to a defective product, faulty design, or failure to provide adequate warnings about potential risks. Some of the most common examples of faulty products linked to wrongful death include the following. 

  • Faulty brakes
  • Contaminated prescription medications
  • Dangerous power tools
  • Children’s toys with choking hazards or toxic materials. 

Product liability is one reason designers, manufacturers, distributors, and sellers invest in rigorous testing, quality control, and regular inspections to identify and address potential defects before products reach consumers.

Occupational Hazards

When someone is killed in a workplace accident, eligible affected family members may be entitled to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the deceased person’s employer and/ or other individuals who were responsible for the death. These cases often involve faulty equipment, improper training, or illness due to unsafe work environments. High-risk occupations like construction, manufacturing, transportation, and agriculture have high rates of workplace accidents, such as slips, trips, falls, and exposure to hazardous chemicals or environments. 

Regardless of the cause, after your loved one has been killed in an accident, you deserve answers and accountability from the responsible parties. Our team of skilled Baton Rouge wrongful death attorneys at Palmintier Law Group recognizes the profound impact that an unexpected loss has on a family and recently achieved a $2.60 million recovery in a wrongful death and survival case related to a hotel shooting. Contact us to learn more about how we can support you during this difficult time. 

How Palmintier Law Group Can Help if You’ve Suffered the Wrongful Death of a Family Member in Baton Rouge, LA

Palmintier Law Group Wrongful Death Lawyers in Baton Rouge Near You

It’s never easy losing someone you love. When the loss is the result of an avoidable accident, it can be that much more traumatic. While money will not bring your loved one back or erase the pain you’re experiencing, it can provide tremendous relief during a time of suffering (and for years to come).

Hold those responsible for your loved one’s wrongful death accountable, and let our Baton Rouge personal injury lawyers help.

After a fatal accident, you’ll be able to count on our award-winning Louisiana trial attorneys to:

  • Handle all aspects of your wrongful death claim so that you can take this time to grieve your loss and begin to move forward
  • Thoroughly investigate the circumstances of your loved one’s fatal accident and wrongful death
  • Gather and analyze accident reports, video footage, photographs, medical records, forensic reports, witness statements, and other evidence
  • Consult with highly regarded experts and specialists as we determine what your wrongful death case is likely worth
  • File all appropriate claims and documents with the insurance company and/or local court on your behalf
  • Represent your family’s best interests during settlement negotiations
  • Aggressively pursue a top-dollar verdict at trial if your wrongful death lawsuit goes before a jury

At Palmintier Law Group, we offer unrivaled legal representation to families grappling with the tragic death of a close loved one. Call our Baton Rouge, LA law office to learn about the benefits of working with our top-rated legal team. We offer a free consultation and work on contingency – so there’s no cost to you unless we win compensation for your wrongful death case.

How Does Louisiana Define Wrongful Death?

In Louisiana, wrongful death is defined under La. Civ. Code Section 2315.2 as a “person [dyinig] due to the fault of another.”

So, pursuant to Louisiana state law, a wrongful death lawsuit can arise when a person’s death is the result of a person’s negligence, wrongful conduct, or intentionally harmful actions.

At Palmintier Law Group, we’ve been fighting for grieving Baton Rouge families in all types of  wrongful death cases for decades, including those involving:

  • Car accidents
  • Trucks accidents
  • Motorcycle accidents
  • Bicycle accidents
  • Pedestrian accidents
  • Uber and Lyft rideshare accidents
  • Bus accidents
  • Train accidents
  • Dog bites and animal attacks
  • Matters of premises liability
  • Slip and fall accidents
  • Negligent security 
  • Assault
  • Workplace accidents
  • Industrial accidents
  • Electrocution accidents
  • Construction accidents
  • Maritime accidents
  • Medical malpractice
  • Nursing home abuse and neglect
  • Catastrophic injuries, including brain injury, spinal cord injury, amputation, and severe burns
  • Matters of product liability

Experience matters in these types of complex legal disputes. Our wrongful death attorneys in Baton Rouge have over eight decades of combined experience fighting for families like yours. Put our experience to work for you. Call our trusted legal team to set up a time to discuss the details of your wrongful death case today.

Who Can File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Louisiana?

Typically, a person who is injured in an accident reserves the right to file a personal injury claim or lawsuit for damages against a liable party. The right to seek compensation doesn’t disappear just because the victim dies. Instead, it shifts to specific surviving family members.

The victim’s surviving spouse and child(ren) reserve the right to file a wrongful death lawsuit after a fatal accident in Baton Rouge.

If there is no surviving spouse or child, the right to bring a wrongful death claim belongs to the victim’s:

  • Mother and/or father (unless they abandoned the victim during childhood)
  • Brother and/or sister, or
  • Grandfather and/or grandmother.

Louisiana state law specifically provides that adoptive family members have the same rights under the law as biological family members.

What’s My Baton Rouge Wrongful Death Case Worth?

It’s hard to put a price on losing someone you love. When it comes to a wrongful death lawsuit, many factors will play a role in determining its value. 

  • How old was the victim at the time of their wrongful death?
  • Did the victim’s own negligence contribute to their fatal accident?
  • Did the victim survive their fatal injuries for any period of time?
  • What medical bills were incurred before death?
  • What did the victim’s funeral cost?
  • Did the victim support the plaintiffs (surviving family members) financially? 
  • Was the victim likely to earn a higher income as they grew older?
  • Did the victim support the household in non-financial ways?
  • What was the relationship between the victim and the plaintiff?

Those responsible for the tragic death and their insurance carriers will work tirelessly to minimize the value of a wrongful death claim. Don’t give them the opportunity to limit what your case is worth. Level the playing field by enlisting the help of a trusted personal injury law firm near you in Baton Rouge, LA. 

At Palmintier Law Group, we’ll carefully examine the specific facts and circumstances of your wrongful death case. We’ll bring in trusted experts – including forensic specialists, accountants, financial experts, and psychologists – to offer insight into your damages and their potential value. 

When it’s time to negotiate, we’ll have prepared a compelling legal claim backed by hard facts and solid evidence that sets you up for the result you deserve.

What Types of Damages Can Be Awarded in a Louisiana Wrongful Death Lawsuit?

Wrongful death lawsuits are different from other types of personal injury claims in a variety of ways. One includes the types of damages that can be awarded. After all, wrongful death lawsuits are intended to compensate the family, not the victim. 

When you file a wrongful death lawsuit after a fatal accident, you can pursue both economic and non-economic damages.

Economic damages, intended to offset financial costs and losses related to your family member’s death, can include money for: 

  • Funeral expenses
  • Medical bills paid prior to death
  • Lost wages and financial support
  • Value of household services provided
  • Loss of inheritance

Non-economic damages, intended to compensate for the trauma of losing a family member, can include:

  • Pain and suffering
  • Loss of consortium
  • Loss of companionship
  • Mental anguish

If your family member’s death was the result of the defendant’s intentionally harmful or grossly negligent conduct, a jury could potentially award punitive damages, as well. However, these damages may only be awarded in Louisiana for specific types of cases – one example is for car accidents involving drunk driving.

Can Shared Fault Affect My Louisiana Wrongful Death Lawsuit?

Yes. Louisiana’s pure comparative negligence statute applies to wrongful death litigation. If the decedent contributed to their fatal accident in any way, it would have a direct impact on the family’s related wrongful death lawsuit.

Let’s say your spouse was killed in a car accident in Baton Rouge. They’re assigned 10 percent of the blame for the fatal wreck. When you file a wrongful death claim, a settlement or jury award will be reduced by 10 percent to account for their negligence.

Our experienced wrongful death attorneys in Baton Rouge will help you defend your loved one’s reputation and fight back against claims of shared responsibility. Our goal isn’t just to help you win your case, but to recover the maximum amount payable under Louisiana state law.

What Is the Statute of Limitations for Wrongful Death Lawsuits in Louisiana?

Wrongful death lawsuits are subject to a one-year statute of limitations in the State of Louisiana.

The deadline begins to run on the date of the victim’s death. This may or may not be the same date as their fatal accident. 

You will lose the right to demand monetary justice if you fail to file your wrongful death claim before the applicable statute of limitations expires. Contact our law office as soon as you can to ensure you file your lawsuit on time.

Schedule a Free Consultation With an Experienced Baton Rouge Wrongful Death Lawyer

Are you struggling with the unexpected death of a family member after a tragic accident in Baton Rouge, Louisiana? Contact Palmintier Law Group. Our Baton Rouge wrongful death lawyers are here to offer the support and guidance you need during this trying time.

You have one shot at getting justice for your loved one’s wrongful death. We’re here to put 80+ years of combined experience and the full force of our law firm behind your case to help you make the most of it.

Contact our Baton Rouge, LA law office to get started with a free consultation today.

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*Disclaimer – we do not endorse these companies or profit from having them listed on our website.

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