What Kind of Damages Can A Family Recover In A Wrongful Death Lawsuit In Louisiana?

The sudden and untimely demise of a loved one due to someone else’s negligent actions can be one of the most devastating tragedies a family may have to deal with.

Wrongful death lawsuits in Louisiana are complicated for the families of decedents because, amid personal grief, turmoil, and tragedy, they may have to pick up the pieces and fight through the complex and complicated legal system, meet deadlines, and field questions from merciless insurance claims adjusters.

The decedent’s family may feel overwhelmed and vulnerable without proper legal representation. And in some cases, grieving families can get taken advantage of.

An experienced and knowledgeable Louisiana wrongful death attorney should handle a wrongful death claim to avoid causing additional pain and heartache to the surviving family.  

Common Causes Of Wrongful Death

The most common causes of wrongful death accidents in Louisiana include:

· Car collisions;

· Boating accidents;

· Medical malpractice;

· Defective products;

· Workplace accidents;

· Drowning;

· Nursing home negligence;

· Construction site accidents; and

· Exposure to workplace hazards.

Factors That Determine Wrongful Death Damages  

Some of the prominent factors that play an essential role in determining the amount of compensation to be paid to the survivors of the victim of wrongful death are:-

· Age of the decedent;

· Age and circumstances of the dependents of the decedent;

· The education, profession, and training of the decedent;

· Lost income that would have been earned by the decedent in the future and would have contributed to running the household;

· Lost future financial benefits arising out of retirement, insurance policies, and investments that are no longer applicable due to loss of life;

· The decedent’s general life expectancy;

· Property damages;

· The status of the person’s health before death; and

· The amount of insurance coverage available to resolve the wrongful death claim.

The settlement amount depends on whether you settle your wrongful death suit or go to trial.

Any wrongful death claim estimates provided before the final legal decision are purely speculative. The ethical wrongful death lawyer at Bart Bernard Injury Lawyers will avoid guaranteeing any specific dollar amount in an upcoming wrongful death lawsuit because the judge’s final determination can hinge on many factors.

Compensation For The Family Of A Victim Of Wrongful Death In Louisiana

A Compassionate and insightful wrongful death attorney in Louisiana will aggressively pursue compensation on your behalf and let you focus on emotional healing.

In general, a decedent’s family may be entitled to recover compensation for:-

Economic Damages

· Medical costs that the decedent incurred as a result of injuries before death;

· Loss of the decedent’s expected income;

· Funeral and burial costs;

· Value of services that the decedent would have provided;

· Benefits that the decedent would have received had they been able to work through retirement age. Typical benefits include health insurance, pension payments, and retirement plan contributions;

· Eligible family members can recover economic damages for their loss of inheritance and any additional loss of appreciation or wealth;

· Non-working spouses who relied entirely on their spouses to provide a stable household income can claim damages for lost financial support in addition to other losses like spousal care and companionship;

These damages are quantifiable and reimbursable. There is no cap on the recovery of these damages.

Non-Economic Damages

· Damages for surviving spouse’s lost companionship and protection;

· Damages for pain and suffering;

· Damages for loss of consortium;

· Damages for loss of care, guidance, and nurturing that the decedent would have provided to their family; and

· Damages for minor children’s lost parental companionship, instruction, and guidance.

Exemplary (Punitive) Damages

These damages do not compensate for any losses. Their purpose is to punish the wrongdoer and deter others from committing reckless actions through malice.

Exemplary damages may be awarded upon proof that the injuries on which the action is based were caused by a wanton and reckless disregard for the rights and safety of the person through an act of pornography involving juveniles, regardless of whether the defendant was prosecuted for his actions.

Bart Bernard Injury Lawyers – We Help Louisiana Families Reclaim Stability After The Tragic Loss Of A Loved One.

The primary role of a wrongful death attorney is to advocate for the rights and interests of the surviving family members who have suffered the loss of a loved one.

Suppose you and your family have lost a loved one due to someone else’s carelessness or negligence in Louisiana. In that case, the compassionate personal injury lawyers at Bart Bernard Injury Law can assist you in rebuilding your life. 

While it is true that most personal injury cases, no matter what the subject, are resolved outside of court, it is still better to work with proven trial lawyers.

Louisiana personal injury attorney Bart Bernard has earned the respect of clients and his peers for his ability to build strong cases that protect the rights and interests of his clients. Working with Attorney Bernard will strongly message insurance companies and other litigators that you take your rights very seriously.

Our lawyers build a strong rapport and relationship with the decedent’s family. We spend a large amount of our time with such families understanding how they have been affected by their irreparable loss.

Our Louisiana law firm has decades of experience and extensive resources to assemble a team of experienced professionals and outside experts to ensure you recover fair and just compensation.

To schedule a free, no-obligation case evaluation, please get in touch with us online or call us to speak with a Louisiana wrongful death attorney at our law firm.