Acension Parish Wrongful Death Lawyer

When you lose a family member because of the carelessness of another individual or entity, you could hold that party accountable in a civil wrongful death claim. These claims are not criminal cases and do not always mean the at-fault party committed a crime. Filing these claims can hold negligent parties responsible and recover essential financial support for grieving families. An Ascension Parish wrongful death lawyer can provide advice, support, and representation.

The loss of a loved one can be even more difficult when it should have been preventable. Filing a civil claim can help your family get justice and find some closure.

Pursue Justice With Knowledgeable Wrongful Death Attorneys

It is devastating to deal with the loss of a loved one, and it is not made easier by the numerous financial costs and losses that are associated with the death. There are funeral costs and burial or cremation costs on top of the loss of income and emotional support. A wrongful death claim can help families recover these losses. Financial compensation cannot fix the loss of a loved one, but it can help a family get some stability and the time needed to grieve.

At Gauthier Amedee, we help families navigate these cases and secure the compensation they are owed. Our attorneys have more than 40 years of combined personal injury law experience, and we use our resources and knowledge to support individuals and families in our communities.

When you bring your case to us, we will investigate and determine if you have the grounds for a wrongful death claim. We assess the damages and fight for the maximum compensation you are owed.

What Is a Wrongful Death Claim?

Personal injury claims can be filed when someone is hurt because another party breached the duty of care that was owed. Sometimes, a person dies in an accident like this or dies at a later time because of their injuries. When this happens, they can’t file a personal injury claim. However, their family members could file a wrongful death claim or survival action on their behalf.

Who Is Eligible to File a Wrongful Death Claim?

Specific family members are eligible to file a wrongful death claim to recover the damages they have suffered because of the loss of their loved one. A survival action can be filed by family members in an attempt to recover the damages suffered by the deceased prior to their death. For either type of claim, the family members who can file are the following:

1. The deceased’s surviving spouse and children, or their spouse or their children
2. The surviving parents or parent, if no spouse or children survived the deceased
3. The surviving siblings or any sibling, if no spouse, children, or parents survived the deceased
4. The surviving grandparents or any grandparent, if no spouse, children, parents, or siblings survived the deceased

Family members have the same ability to file whether they are related by blood or adoption. Parents of the deceased who abandoned the individual when they were a minor are considered not to have survived the deceased.

What Are Common Causes of Wrongful Death Claims?

Whenever someone who should have had the grounds for a personal injury claim dies in the accident or dies later from the injuries they suffered in an accident, their family members have the right to file a wrongful death claim or survival action. Some accidents are more likely to cause severe injury and death than others. Wrongful death claims are frequently caused by:

• Vehicle accidents. In motor vehicle accidents, there were sadly 25 fatalities in Ascension Parish in 2024, 19 of which occurred in rural Ascension and four of which occurred in Gonzales. Vehicle collisions are a frequent cause of wrongful deaths, particularly in truck accidents, motorcycle collisions, and pedestrian and bicyclist accidents.

  When a vehicle accident leads to someone’s death, surviving family members can file a claim against the at-fault driver for their negligence. Determining what driver is at fault requires an investigation. They may be at fault for being distracted, failing to ensure their vehicle was drivable, or running a stoplight.

  After a vehicle accident, securing a police report of the accident is important, especially when your loved one passes away in the accident and cannot share their own testimony. The Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office is located at 828 South Irma Boulevard in Gonzales. Their non-emergency number is (225) 621-8300.

• Medical malpractice and negligence. Injuries and illnesses from medical malpractice can be catastrophic and lead to death. Mistakes and negligence during surgery or when prescribing or filling a medication can be deadly. When medical providers are negligent with the duty of care they owe patients, surviving family members can file a claim against the healthcare provider or facility.

• Workplace accidents. Deaths in the workplace are more likely in industrial worksites, but they could happen in any workplace. There were 104 fatal workplace injuries in 2023 in Louisiana. The most frequent cause of fatal injuries was transportation accidents.

  When your loved one dies while in the workplace or while completing their job duties, you could recover death benefits in a workers’ compensation claim; however, there are some cases where you can also file a wrongful death claim. You may be able to file against negligent employers or third parties.

• Dog bites and attacks. Dog attacks can lead to puncture wounds, infection, and crushing injuries. These injuries can lead to death, particularly certain infections like sepsis or tetanus. In the eleven years from 2011 to 2021, there were 468 deaths due to dog bites in the U.S. In 2021, there were 81, the highest number in these recorded years.

Severe injuries and death are especially likely when the victim is vulnerable, such as a child or an elderly or disabled person. When the attack happens because the dog’s owner is negligent in preventing harm, the owner could be liable for the resulting death.

Wrongful deaths can occur from other accidents, too. If you are unsure whether you have the grounds for a claim, talk with an attorney.

Contact Gauthier Amedee for Legal Support in an Ascension Parish Wrongful Death Case

Wrongful death and survival actions must be filed within a certain period of time after a person’s death. Missing this deadline can mean your case is barred from financial recovery. Get in contact with our firm at Gauthier Amedee as soon as possible to determine if you have a case. Our dedicated attorneys want to provide you with compassionate legal advice and help you decide on the next steps to take.