Metairie & New Orleans Wrongful Death Lawyer

What a wrongful death claim is

Under Louisiana law, when a person dies because of another's fault — a negligent driver, a careless property owner, a trucking company that cut corners, a defective product, an act of violence — certain surviving family members have the right to bring a claim for that loss. Louisiana actually recognizes two related claims that are often brought together:

• The wrongful death claim compensates surviving family members for their own losses flowing from the death — the loss of the relationship, companionship, guidance, and support, as well as funeral expenses and the financial contributions the loved one would have provided.
• The survival action compensates for what the deceased person themselves suffered between the injury and death — including their pain, suffering, and medical expenses in that period. This claim belongs to the estate and passes to the same family members.

Bringing both together is often how a family is made as whole as the law allows.

Who can bring a wrongful death claim in Louisiana

Louisiana law sets a specific order of who may bring these claims. The right belongs to the closest surviving family members, generally in this priority:

• The surviving spouse and children of the deceased
• If there is no spouse or children, then the surviving parents
• If there are no surviving parents, then the surviving siblings
• If none of the above, then the surviving grandparents

Only one class brings the claim — if there are a surviving spouse and children, for example, the deceased's parents and siblings generally cannot also bring a separate claim. Sorting out who has the right to recover, and coordinating the claim among family members, is part of what we handle so the family doesn't have to navigate it during grief.

What a wrongful death claim can recover

No amount of money replaces a person. But Louisiana law allows a family to recover for the very real losses a death leaves behind. Depending on the case, those may include:

• Loss of love, companionship, and guidance — the relationship itself
• Loss of financial support the loved one provided or would have provided
• Loss of services — the things they did for the household and family
• Funeral and burial expenses
• The deceased's own pain, suffering, and medical expenses between the injury and death (through the survival action)

Every family's loss is different, and the value of a claim depends on the specific facts. We'll give you an honest assessment — never a sales pitch.

Don't wait — Louisiana sets a strict deadline

Louisiana's deadlines for wrongful death and survival claims can involve more than one possible date — generally one year from the date of death or two years from the date of the injury, whichever is longer — and certain claims, such as those involving medical malpractice, follow different rules. Because the deadline is strict and the facts of each case can change it, the only way to know exactly how long your family has is to have an attorney look at the specifics.

There's also a practical reason not to wait: the party responsible — and their insurance company — often begins building a defense within days. Evidence fades, witnesses become harder to find, and records can disappear. An early, confidential conversation lets us preserve what matters while your family focuses on each other.

Why Bono Law Firm

We're a family-owned firm based in Metairie, serving New Orleans, the Westbank, the Northshore, and the surrounding parishes since 1980. We keep our caseload manageable on purpose, so every family gets prompt answers and genuine personal attention — and your questions are answered by John C. Bono or Michael P. Bono, not a call center. We handle these cases with care, and when an insurance company won't be fair, we're prepared to go to trial. There's no fee unless we recover for you, and we'll come to you at home, in the hospital, or wherever is easiest. You can see the kind of outcomes we fight for in our case results, and more about our approach on the Bono difference.

Common questions

Wrongful death FAQ

If you've lost a loved one because of someone else's negligence in Greater New Orleans, we're here to carry the legal weight while your family grieves.

Serving Metairie, New Orleans, Kenner, the Westbank & Gretna, and the Northshore · Se Habla Español