Losing a loved one in an accident caused by a reckless driver or negligent individual is a heartbreaking and traumatic experience. Unfortunately, it is often compounded by the stress of medical bills, funeral expenses, lost financial support, and the uncertainty of what the future holds for your family. At a time like this, you need a compassionate team of personal injury lawyers in Houma to provide support and advocacy.
At Scott Vicknair Injury Lawyers, our job is to stand beside your family and provide compassionate legal guidance through this difficult time. Our Houma wrongful death lawyers have what it takes to get the financial security your family needs to move forward.
Why Families Choose Scott Vicknair Injury Lawyers
Families choose us because we are committed to providing strong, thorough legal advocacy when they need it most. With more than 120 years of combined experience, our team has recovered over $100 million in settlements and jury verdicts for injured clients and families across Southeast Louisiana.
We provide free consultations so you can understand your legal options without any financial hurdles. We’re also available 24/7, so you can get the answers and support you need when you need it. Our firm works on a contingency fee basis, so you pay nothing unless we secure compensation for your case. The care and dedication we bring to each case are reflected in the 3,000+ Google reviews we have received from past clients.
When you choose Scott Vicknair Injury Lawyers, you partner with a team that cares for the people of Houma both in and out of the courtroom.
Wrongful Death Claim Eligibility in Louisiana
The following family members may be eligible to file a wrongful death claim:
- Spouse and/or children
- Surviving parents, if no spouse or children exist
- Surviving siblings, if no spouse, children, or parents exist
- Surviving grandparents, if none of the above-listed relatives exist
If you’re unsure of your eligibility, a Houma wrongful death attorney from our team can explain your rights during a free case evaluation. We’ll answer any questions you have and help you get started on your claim if you’re eligible to file a civil suit.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim in Louisiana?
Typically, the surviving spouse and children can file a wrongful death claim in Louisiana. If there is no spouse or child, the right passes to the surviving parents and siblings. Louisiana Civil Code Article 2315.2 establishes this order to maintain consistency in the process and to protect the legal rights of the closest family members.
Because Louisiana follows this priority system, not everyone close to the deceased has the legal right to file a claim. Unmarried partners, close friends, and other extended family members do not have the same legal standing. Our Houma wrongful death attorneys can help you establish where you fall in the line of priority and what options might be available.
Compensation Available in a Louisiana Wrongful Death Lawsuit
Filing a wrongful death claim for compensation cannot erase the pain of losing a loved one, but it can help relieve the immediate resulting costs and support the people who relied on your loved one every day. Recoverable damages typically fall into two categories: economic and non-economic losses.
Economic damages are the measurable financial losses associated with your loved one’s death. This may include:
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Lost wages and financial support that the family depended on
- Loss of benefits, such as health insurance
- The value of your loved one’s household services
- Future inheritance
Non-economic damages address the emotional and personal impact, such as:
- Loss of love, companionship, and support
- Loss of guidance and mentorship
- Mental anguish caused by the untimely loss
How a Survival Action Can Recover Additional Damages
Families may pursue survival actions as a separate legal claim alongside a wrongful death lawsuit to achieve a more complete recovery.
While wrongful death lawsuits are concerned with the effect on the family, survival actions deal with the harm that your loved one suffered before they passed. The compensation for survival actions may cover conscious pain and suffering, lost wages before death, and the medical expenses that your loved one incurred before dying.
Every family’s needs are different, and we take the time to understand what this loss has meant for you personally and financially.
A Houma wrongful death lawyer on our team will help gather the proper documents and evidence to show the full impact of your loss. You have enough to carry already. Let us help with the legal part.
How Long Do You Have To File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Houma, Louisiana?
Louisiana law typically gives families only one year from the date of their loved one’s death to file a wrongful death lawsuit. That deadline can pass quickly, especially while you are grieving and trying to manage funeral arrangements and other responsibilities.
Although there are limited exceptions to the filing deadline, it is important to speak with a Houma personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. Acting early helps protect your right to pursue a claim and allows your legal team to preserve important evidence before it is lost or becomes more difficult to obtain.
What a Houma Wrongful Death Lawyer Can Do For You
Our Houma lawyers help families seek justice by holding negligent parties accountable through civil lawsuits and pursuing compensation to help them move forward.
Between the stress of sudden medical expenses and funeral planning, it can become difficult to find time to properly grieve when also having to deal with insurance companies. That’s where we can help. We handle the legal responsibilities, so your family does not have to manage the process alone. We help by:
- Investigating the facts surrounding the accident
- Collecting and preserving evidence to support your claim
- Consulting with accident reconstruction experts and other professionals
- Interviewing witnesses to document key facts
- Handling all communications and negotiations with insurance companies
- Evaluating the full financial impact of your loss
- Filing your lawsuit within Louisiana’s legal deadlines
- Taking your case to trial when a fair settlement is not offered
Get Compassionate Legal Guidance After the Wrongful Death of a Loved One
If you lost a loved one because of someone else’s negligence, you or eligible family members may have the right to pursue a wrongful death claim. The legal process can feel challenging while you manage the impact of your loss. Our trial-ready team is available 24/7 to take the burden off your shoulders.
Contact Scott Vicknair Injury Lawyers online or call (504) 474-6158 today for your free case review. There are no fees unless we win.
On This Page
Why Families Choose Scott Vicknair Injury Lawyers
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim in Louisiana?
Compensation Available in a Louisiana Wrongful Death Lawsuit
How Long Do You Have To File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Houma, Louisiana?
What a Houma Wrongful Death Lawyer Can Do For You
Get Compassionate Legal Guidance After the Wrongful Death of a Loved One
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