Did you lose a loved one due to someone else’s negligence in Lake Charles, LA? Your family may be entitled to seek compensation for your loss. Contact Hale Injury Lawyers today at (337) 426-1071 and let an experienced Lake Charles wrongful death lawyer assist you with your case.
We’ve proven our ability to succeed by helping grieving families recover tens of millions of dollars over the years. Our attorneys are ready to put over 61 years of combined experience to work for you and alleviate your family’s pain and suffering.
You probably have many different questions after the sudden loss of a loved one. You don’t have to tackle these issues alone. Contact our law offices in Lake Charles, LA, for a free case review today.
Why Should I Hire Hale Injury Lawyers for Help After Losing a Loved One in a Lake Charles Accident?
You may be facing many difficult questions after losing a loved one.
“How will I support my family and pay the bills” is not a question you should have to struggle with. Unfortunately, many grieving families quickly begin to face financial hardship. Even if your financial picture seems secure, you deserve justice if your loved one was killed due to someone else’s actions.
Our Lake Charles personal injury lawyers at Hale Injury Lawyers handle all types of wrongful death cases. Our team has been recognized for our exceptional legal representation by the National Trial Lawyers, Super Lawyers, and the Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
When you hire our attorneys in Lake Charles, we will:
- Coordinate a full investigation into your loved one’s death
- Gather and evaluate all relevant evidence
- Defend your family against any “blame the victim” strategies
- Determine who is legally liable for paying your damages
- Consult top-rated experts who can strengthen your claim for compensation
- Negotiate with the insurance companies on your family’s behalf
An insurance battle can make a difficult time even more challenging. Contact our Lake Charles personal injury attorneys to learn more about how we can help your family today.
Statistics on Fatal Accidents in Louisiana
A total of 897 fatal motor vehicle accidents were reported across the State of Louisiana in 2022. Overall, 181 pedestrians and 43 bicyclists were killed in fatal car crashes that year. Further, 30 of those traffic fatalities occurred in Calcasieu County. That includes six pedestrian deaths and two fatal bicycle accidents.
According to data published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 141 Louisiana workers were killed in fatal workplace accidents during 2021.
Thousands of Louisiana residents die due to falls, poisoning, and firearm-related injuries each year.
What Is a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Louisiana?
A wrongful death is any death that is caused by someone else’s actions. You may have a valid wrongful death lawsuit if your loved one died because of another party’s negligent, reckless, or intentional acts.
Like most personal injury cases, wrongful death claims are typically based on negligence. Your loved one didn’t get a chance to file a personal injury lawsuit because they didn’t survive. As a survivor, you inherit the right to take legal action and sue for damages.
The remedy in wrongful death cases is financial compensation, rather than criminal punishment.
Do you believe your loved one’s death could have been avoided? Our lawyers will do everything we can to identify the person or entity responsible for your loss. Call our wrongful death law firm in Lake Charles to get started today.
Who Is Responsible for Filing a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Louisiana?
Under Louisiana wrongful death laws, the following surviving family members can file a wrongful death lawsuit:
- A surviving spouse
- The victim’s children
- Surviving parents of the deceased person, if there is no surviving spouse or child
- Siblings, if the decedent did not have a surviving spouse, child, or parent
- The decedent’s grandparents when there is no spouse, child, parent, or sibling
Both biological and adoptive family members are eligible to file a wrongful death lawsuit.
What Is My Lake Charles Wrongful Death Claim Worth?
Putting a dollar value on the loss of life can be extremely challenging. Some losses, like medical bills and funeral expenses, may be relatively simple to prove. Others can be much more difficult.
The value of your wrongful death case could depend on:
- The circumstances of your loved one’s death
- Your loved one’s life expectancy and age when they died
- Your loved one’s earning potential, considering past work history, earnings, and education
- The identities of surviving dependents, including young children
- The type of support your loved one provided to the family
- The medical expenses and other costs incurred due to the injury and death
Most surviving families can recover the full value of their financial and non-financial losses. However, there is a damages cap in medical malpractice cases. Your damages award could be limited to $500,000 if your loved one died due to medical negligence.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Survivors of Fatal Accident Victims in Lake Charles?
Examples of the types of compensation your family may be entitled to recover if your case is successful include:
- Medical bills incurred from the date of injury to the date of death
- Loss of financial support
- Loss of the value of household services, including childcare
- Loss of prospective earnings and inheritance
- Loss of employment benefits
- Funeral costs and burial expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of parental support and company
- Loss of spousal companionship (loss of consortium)
Some wrongful death cases involve crimes or gross negligence. If your loved one died because of someone’s intentional acts or reckless disregard for human life, you may also be entitled to seek punitive damages.
How Can Louisiana’s Shared Fault Rules Impact My Family’s Right to Compensation?
Shared fault is often an issue in Louisiana wrongful death cases. If the insurance companies and at-fault parties can prove our loved one was partly to blame, they can pay a reduced settlement or verdict.
Louisiana has pure comparative negligence laws. Courts and insurance companies divide liability between all parties who share blame for an accident. If the insurance company has evidence to show that your loved one was partly liable, they’ll be assigned a percentage of fault. Your family’s compensation will be reduced by that percentage.
Your loved one can’t defend themselves against allegations of shared fault. Our Lake Charles wrongful death attorneys can help you defend against these types of allegations. Contact us today to learn more.
What Causes Most Deadly Accidents in Lake Charles, Louisiana?
At Hale Injury Lawyers, we have decades of experience handling complex injury cases.
We often represent grieving families in wrongful death cases involving:
- Car accidents
- Firearm violence
- Medical malpractice
- Poisonings
- Slip and fall accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Truck accidents
- Bus accidents
- Uber or Lyft accidents
- Boating accidents
- Oil rig accidents
- Construction accidents
- Workplace accidents
- Dog bites
- Defective products
- Fires and explosions
- Nursing home abuse
If your loved one was killed in an accident, you may have a valid wrongful death claim. Our lawyers can evaluate your case for free. We’re always ready to discuss your legal options, so call our wrongful death lawyers in Lake Charles for your free case review today.
How Do I Prove Fault in a Wrongful Death Case in Lake Charles, Louisiana?
Fatal accidents can involve many different variables. Even if the police report seems cut and dry, it may not be enough to prove you deserve compensation.
To recover compensation, you’ll typically have to prove:
- Someone else’s negligence caused your loved one’s death
- Your loved one would have been entitled to file a personal injury lawsuit if they lived
- Your family suffered damages
While several legal theories may be involved, most wrongful death cases hinge on the surviving family’s ability to prove negligence.
Negligence means:
- The defendant had a legal duty of care
- They breached the duty of care
- The breach directly caused your loved one’s death
- Someone suffered damages as a result
It’s okay if you aren’t exactly sure what happened. Once you hire us, our lawyers will begin our own investigation. We’ll review any available evidence, speak with eyewitnesses, consult your loved one’s doctors, and more.
How Long Do I Have To File a Lawsuit After a Fatal Accident in Louisiana?
It’s important to take legal action quickly after the death of a loved one. The statute of limitations in Louisiana wrongful death cases is only one year. The one-year clock starts to run on the date of your loved one’s death. After the one-year anniversary of your loved one’s death passes, you cannot sue for damages.
Contact a Lake Charles Wrongful Death Lawyer for a Free Case Review Today
Losing a loved one unexpectedly can be incredibly painful. The knowledge that your loss could have been prevented only makes matters worse. At Hale Injury Lawyers, we’re here to help you fight for justice. Contact us for your free consultation with an experienced Lake Charles wrongful death attorney today.
