Metairie & New Orleans Wrongful Death Lawyer

There is no good way to begin a page like this. If you're reading it, you've likely lost someone — a spouse, a parent, a child — because of someone else's carelessness, and no lawsuit, settlement, or verdict will undo that. We understand that, and we want to be honest with you from the first sentence: a wrongful death claim is not about replacing what you've lost. It's about holding the responsible party accountable and securing the financial stability your family needs to move forward.

At Bono Law Firm, we've walked Louisiana families through this since 1980. When you call, you speak directly with an attorney named Bono — John or Michael — not a case manager. There is no fee unless we recover for you, and the first conversation is free and without obligation. If it's easier, we'll come to you.

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 the 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 the 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 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

Louisiana law allows surviving family members to recover for losses that are both financial and deeply personal:

  • Loss of love, affection, and companionship — the relationship itself

  • Loss of financial support the deceased provided or would have provided

  • Loss of services the deceased performed for the family

  • Funeral and burial expenses

  • The deceased's medical expenses from the final injury

  • The deceased's conscious pain and suffering before death, through the survival action

  • Loss of guidance and nurturing, particularly significant when a parent of minor children dies

There is no formula that puts a number on a human life, and no two cases are valued the same way. What a claim is worth depends on the circumstances of the death, the relationship, the deceased's age and earning capacity, the degree of fault, and the available insurance. We will give you an honest assessment — never an inflated promise.

Common causes of wrongful death cases

The cases we see most often arise from:

  • Car, truck, and motorcycle accidents

  • Commercial trucking and 18-wheeler collisions

  • Pedestrian and bicycle fatalities

  • Unsafe premises and fatal falls

  • Defective products

  • Medical and nursing-home negligence

  • Workplace and industrial accidents

The deadline matters — and it's easy to miss while grieving

Louisiana law sets a strict deadline (called "prescription") for filing a wrongful death claim. For deaths resulting from incidents on or after July 1, 2024, the deadline is generally two years; for earlier dates, it may be one year. The clock runs from the date of death.

We know that thinking about deadlines and lawsuits is the last thing a grieving family wants to do — and we'd never push anyone to act before they're ready. But evidence fades, witnesses move, and the responsible party's insurance company often begins building its defense within days. Speaking with a lawyer early, even if only to understand your options, protects your family's rights while you focus on what matters. The consultation costs nothing and creates no obligation.

How we handle these cases

A wrongful death case requires proving how the death happened and who is responsible — work that often involves accident reconstruction, medical records, employment and financial records, and expert testimony. We handle all of it, and we deal with the insurance companies directly so your family doesn't have to. Our goal is to give you the space to grieve while we carry the legal weight.

We also understand that for many families, accountability matters as much as compensation — knowing that the person or company responsible was made to answer for what happened. We take that seriously.

No fee unless we recover for you

Since 1980, Bono Law Firm has stood with Louisiana families through the hardest moments of their lives, across Jefferson, Orleans, St. Tammany, St. Charles, and the surrounding parishes. Consultations are free and confidential, we will come to you, and there is no fee unless we recover compensation for your family.

If you've lost a loved one because of someone else's negligence in Greater New Orleans, call Bono Law Firm, APLC at 504-835-9909 for a free, confidential consultation. Se Habla Español.