Losing a loved one due to someone else’s negligence is a devastating experience, and the emotional and financial aftermath can feel overwhelming. While nothing can truly make up for your loss, pursuing a wrongful death claim may provide a path toward justice and financial relief.
Our Baton Rouge wrongful death lawyers at Chris Corzo Injury Attorneys are here to support you with compassionate, experienced legal representation.
Contact our law firm today by calling 225-999-1111 or filling out our online contact form to schedule your free consultation.
Why Choose Chris Corzo Injury Attorneys To Represent You
Our Christian values are the driving force behind our philosophy: help those in need, show love and respect to others, and always do what is right.
Each Baton Rouge personal injury lawyer at our law firm is deeply committed to providing our clients with the legal counsel and courtroom representation they need to hold negligent parties accountable for something as terrible as losing a loved one.
This commitment is reflected in every aspect of how we serve our clients:
Compassionate, personalized service.
Numerous multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements.
We treat you like family.
We strive to provide 5-star service.
We will come to you to provide support during your most difficult times.
When you meet with us, you will discover the Chris Corzo Injury Attorneys advantage firsthand.
Meet Our Founding Attorney Chris Corzo
With over 15 years of experience, Chris has helped lead personal injury law firms to more than $10 billion in total recoveries. His proven results for car accident victims and their families have earned him lifetime membership in the Million and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
Recognized among the Top 100 Trial Lawyers and previously named a “Rising Star” by Louisiana Super Lawyers, Chris continues to fight for maximum compensation with a track record that sets him apart from over 99% of attorneys nationwide.
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Someone’s passing is considered a “wrongful death” if they died due to the negligence or misconduct of another person or entity. If the victim more than likely would have lived if not for the actions of another party, qualifying loved ones likely have a wrongful death suit.
This type of legal action allows them to obtain compensation for losses associated with the avoidable passing. For example, if someone perishes in a car accident in Baton Rouge, a person could potentially file a wrongful death claim.
What Types of Accidents Can Cause Wrongful Death?
Our Baton Rouge wrongful death lawyer handles cases involving a wide range of fatal incidents, including:
Car Accidents: Rollovers, head-on collisions, and side-impact collisions can all cause devastating consequences, including life-ending injuries.
Motorcycle Accidents: Motorcyclists are more exposed to danger than other motorists and are more likely to be thrown from their vehicles in a crash, potentially resulting in fatal injuries. Motorcyclists who do not wear helmets are also likely to suffer traumatic brain injuries, which can cause an eventual fatality.
Truck Accidents: Enormous, 18-wheeler trucks are much larger and heavier than most other vehicles on the road, resulting in greater, potentially deadlier forces being exerted on other drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and cyclists in the event of a collision.
Pedestrian Accidents: Even at low speeds, a pedestrian can suffer fatal injuries if they are struck by a moving vehicle.
Slip and Falls: Slip/trip-and-fall accidents are among the leading causes of accidental deaths of seniors, especially in nursing homes and assisted living centers.
Workplace Fatalities: When an employee is fatally injured on the job, a third-party defendant may be responsible.
Defective Products: Defective or dangerous products can cause fatalities, and you may have a claim against the manufacturer, designer, or suppliers of such products.
If you’ve lost a loved one and believe someone else may be at fault, we invite you to reach out—our Baton Rouge wrongful death lawyer is here to listen, answer your questions, and help you understand your legal options during this difficult time.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Baton Rouge?
In Louisiana, the law specifies who may file a wrongful death claim after the loss of a loved one. The right to file follows a specific order:
The deceased’s surviving spouse and/or children
If none, the surviving parents
If no surviving parents, then surviving siblings
If no siblings, then surviving grandparents
This order of priority is important. It means that if someone higher in the order—such as a spouse or child—chooses not to file a claim, the right passes to the next eligible group, such as the parents or siblings.
This structure helps ensure that only one wrongful death claim is pursued for a person’s untimely passing, avoiding legal conflicts and honoring the wishes of the closest surviving relatives.
If you’re unsure whether you have the right to file a claim, contact our Baton Rouge wrongful death attorney. We can guide you through the process and help you understand your legal options.
How Long Do You Have to File a Wrongful Death Claim in Louisiana?
In most wrongful death cases, a qualifying party has one year from the date their loved one passed away to file a Louisiana wrongful death lawsuit. Note that the deadline is tied to the day your loved one died, not the day they sustained their fatal injuries.
For example, if someone suffered catastrophic injuries in a motorcycle accident in Baton Rouge but only succumbed to those injuries a month later, the clock starts ticking on the day they passed away, not the date of the accident.
What Is The Difference Between Filing a Survival Action Or a Wrongful Death Action?
In Louisiana, a survival action and a wrongful death action are two distinct legal claims that can arise when a person dies due to the negligence or misconduct of another party. However, they serve different purposes and compensate for different types of damages.
Survival Action
A survival action is essentially a personal injury claim your loved one could have pursued if they had lived, but you can now pursue in their stead.
A survival action, under Louisiana Civil Code Article 2315.1, is a lawsuit brought by the estate of the deceased person for the injuries suffered by the deceased from the time of injury until the time of death. The damages in a survival action can include pain and suffering, medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages experienced by the deceased during this period.
Wrongful Death Action
A wrongful death action, under Louisiana Civil Code Article 2315.2, is a claim brought by the surviving family members or loved ones of the deceased. This claim seeks compensation for their own losses resulting from the death of their loved one.
Losses in a wrongful death action can include loss of companionship, emotional distress, loss of financial support, funeral and burial expenses, and more. In essence, a wrongful death claim is designed to compensate the survivors for their losses, not the losses experienced by the deceased.
It is possible for both a survival action and a wrongful death action to be filed together in Louisiana. During a free consultation with our Baton Rouge wrongful death attorney, we can help you understand what your claim may involve.
To succeed in a wrongful death claim, you must show that your loved one’s death was caused by another party’s negligence or intentional misconduct. In legal terms, you’ll need to demonstrate that your loved one more likely than not would still be alive had it not been for the defendant’s actions, or failure to act.
Our Baton Rouge wrongful death attorney can help you establish the key elements required for a successful claim:
Duty of Care: You must first show that the defendant owed your loved one a legal duty of care. For example, drivers owe others on the road a duty to drive safely. Similarly, manufacturers have a duty to provide products that are safe for consumer use.
Breach of Duty: A breach occurs when someone fails to uphold their duty by acting carelessly, recklessly, or intentionally. A driver who runs a red light or a company that sells a defective product may be found to have breached their duty of care.
Causation: You must link the defendant’s actions directly to the fatal injuries. The death does not have to occur immediately after the incident, but it must be a foreseeable result of the defendant’s conduct.
Damages: Eligible family members or representatives may pursue compensation if the loss caused financial hardship, emotional suffering, or other measurable damages. In some cases, both wrongful death and survival actions may apply.
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Our Baton Rouge Wrongful Death Attorneys Are Here For You
The value of a wrongful death claim in Louisiana depends on many factors, including the circumstances of the death, the financial losses involved, and the emotional impact on surviving family members. While no amount of compensation can truly make up for your loss, a successful claim can help ease the financial burden and provide a sense of justice.
Our Baton Rouge wrongful death attorneys will carefully assess your case to pursue the full compensation you may be entitled to, which can include:
Economic Damages
These cover the financial costs associated with your loved one’s death, such as:
Medical expenses related to treatment before death
Funeral and burial costs
Lost income and earning potential the deceased would have contributed
Lost benefits such as health insurance, pensions, or inheritance
Non-Economic Damages
These damages compensate for losses that don’t have a fixed dollar amount but deeply affect your life, including:
Loss of companionship, guidance, or parental support
Mental anguish, grief, and emotional suffering
Punitive Damages
In rare cases involving especially reckless or intentional misconduct, punitive damages may be awarded to punish the wrongdoer, not to compensate the family, but to deter similar behavior in the future.
There’s no fixed dollar amount for a wrongful death case, but our legal team will help you understand the potential value of your claim based on the unique details of your situation.
What If My Loved One Was Fatally Injured At Work?
Losing a loved one in a workplace accident is devastating, and we understand how difficult it is to navigate the aftermath. While Louisiana employers are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance to cover injuries or fatalities on the job, the benefits provided are often insufficient to address the full extent of your loss.
In most cases, you cannot sue your love one’s employer directly and are limited to workers’ compensation benefits. However, if your loved one’s employer knowingly ignored safety regulations or acted with intentional disregard for your loved one’s safety, you may have grounds for a lawsuit. Additionally, other parties at the worksite—such as contractors, suppliers, or property owners—may be held accountable if their negligence or actions contributed to the accident.
Workplace product liability could also play a role. If a defective product or malfunctioning equipment caused the fatal injury, the manufacturer may be liable for your loss.
This is why it’s crucial to work with an experienced wrongful death attorney in Baton Rouge who can thoroughly investigate the incident, identify all potentially liable parties, and help you pursue the justice and compensation your family deserves.
How Can a Baton Rouge Wrongful Death Attorney Help Me?
When you’ve lost a loved one due to another party’s negligence or wrongdoing, you need the support of an experienced Baton Rouge wrongful death lawyer who will protect your rights and fight for the compensation you deserve.
At Chris Corzo Injury Attorneys, we know that no amount of money can ever truly compensate for your loss. But financial recovery can help ease the burdens caused by that loss, and seeking justice can empower you to move forward with strength and purpose.
Here’s how a wrongful death attorney in Baton Rouge can help you:
Provide clarity on your legal rights and next steps
Offer emotional and legal support during your most vulnerable moments
Thoroughly investigate the incident to identify all liable parties
Act quickly to preserve crucial evidence before it is lost or destroyed
Conduct formal discovery, including depositions and subpoenas
Negotiate with insurers and defense attorneys for a fair settlement
Prepare for trial and advocate for you in court if necessary
Having a skilled attorney by your side can dramatically improve your chances of recovering the full compensation you’re entitled to—especially when you’re grieving and in need of trusted support.
Contact our compassionate and experienced Baton Rouge wrongful death attorney today to discuss your right to seek justice for your loved one.
Call Our Baton Rouge Wrongful Death Lawyer Today for Reliable Legal Counsel
If you’ve lost a loved one due to someone else’s negligence, you deserve answers, support, and a legal team that will fight for accountability on your behalf. Our wrongful death attorney is here to provide the guidance you need while giving you the space to grieve and begin healing.
At Chris Corzo Injury Attorneys, we approach every case with integrity, compassion, and a commitment to securing the maximum compensation our clients deserve. Let us help you pursue justice with the respect and care your family deserves.
