New Orleans Wrongful Death Lawyers
There are few things more painful than losing someone you love. When that loss happens because of negligence: because someone didn’t pay attention, didn’t follow safety rules, didn’t slow down, or didn’t act responsibly, it adds a different kind of heartbreak. A wrongful death doesn’t just leave grief behind. It can leave confusion, financial pressure, unanswered questions, and a sense that something is deeply unfair.
If your family is facing a wrongful death in New Orleans, you deserve answers, support, and a clear plan. You also deserve a law firm that treats you with real respect. At the Law Offices of Chip Forstall, we’ve served New Orleans families for decades. We understand what it means to stand beside people during the worst moment of their lives, and we don’t take that responsibility lightly.
We also believe this should be understood from the start: Chip Forstall takes care of it all. Our firm is built around that promise. When a wrongful death happens, we help you make sense of what comes next, and we handle the legal burden so you can focus on your family.
If you believe your loved one’s death was wrongful, call 504-483-3400 for a free consultation.
You can also contact us online to start a private, respectful conversation today.
What a Wrongful Death Claim Means in Louisiana
A wrongful death claim is a civil legal action that allows certain surviving family members to seek compensation when a death is caused by someone else’s negligence. It’s different from a criminal case. A criminal case is brought by the state and focuses on punishment. A wrongful death case is brought by the surviving family and focuses on accountability, financial protection, and justice under Louisiana law.
That distinction matters. Even if there is no criminal prosecution, a wrongful death claim may still exist. Your family’s right to pursue a wrongful death case does not depend on whether criminal charges are filed.
A wrongful death claim is not about putting a price on a loved one. It is about ensuring your family has stability and support after a death that never should have happened and holding the responsible party accountable for wrongful choices and wrongful conduct.
Why Families Speak with a New Orleans Wrongful Death Lawyer After Accidents
When a death occurs suddenly, many families are thrust into a very complicated predicament overnight. There are immediate decisions, paperwork, funeral arrangements, and financial worries. Then, the calls start. Insurance companies. Employers. Medical providers. Sometimes even investigators. The surviving family is expected to answer questions while still in shock.
In wrongful death accidents, evidence can also disappear quickly. The accident report may be incomplete. Witnesses move on. Video footage can be overwritten. And insurers can start “building their story” early. When a wrongful death lawyer gets involved fast, it becomes much easier to preserve critical evidence, identify liability, and protect the surviving family from unnecessary pressure.
A wrongful death lawyer can also prevent painful mistakes, like accepting an early settlement before the full impact of the death is understood or signing releases that limit your rights in a wrongful death case.
Common Causes of Wrongful Death in New Orleans
Wrongful death cases can arise from many types of accidents. In Orleans Parish, we often see wrongful death claims tied to negligence in transportation, workplace safety, medical decisions, or property maintenance. Below are common categories we investigate in wrongful death cases.
Car and Truck Accidents
Many wrongful death accidents begin with a single moment: a driver running a red light, speeding, looking at a phone, or driving impaired. Car accidents and truck accidents can cause fatal injury in seconds. Truck cases can also involve multiple layers of responsibility for drivers, companies, maintenance vendors, and insurance carriers.
Workplace Accidents and Job Site Death
Construction and industrial environments can be dangerous, especially when safety protocols are ignored. Wrongful death at work can happen due to falls, machinery malfunctions, missing training, unsafe equipment, or failures in oversight. These wrongful death cases often require deeper investigation into policies and accountability.
Medical Malpractice and Preventable Death
Some wrongful death cases involve medical mistakes: misdiagnosis, delayed treatment, surgical errors, or medication problems. These are complex wrongful death matters that require careful review of records and expert input.
Dangerous Property and Negligent Security
A wrongful death may also occur due to unsafe property conditions, poor lighting, broken railings, unaddressed hazards, or negligent security. If a property owner knew about a danger and failed to act, that failure can become the foundation of a wrongful death claim.
No matter the scenario, our job is to establish liability, document the full losses, and pursue compensation that helps the surviving family move forward after a wrongful death.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Case in Louisiana?
Louisiana law defines which surviving family members can file a wrongful death claim. Often, the surviving spouse and children have priority. If there is no spouse or children, parents may be eligible. If no parents survive, siblings may qualify, and, in some cases, grandparents may have legal rights.
Because every family structure is unique, it’s important to speak with a wrongful death lawyer who can confirm who has standing. It’s also common for families to have questions about multiple claims, blended families, adult children, or a surviving spouse who lives out of state. We can walk you through this clearly, and we do it with respect.
Damages and Compensation in a New Orleans Wrongful Death Claim
Wrongful death damages can include both financial losses and the deeply personal losses that come with death. Compensation cannot undo wrongful loss, but it can help provide stability, protect a surviving spouse, and ensure the family is not financially punished for another person’s negligence.
Types of damages that may be recoverable
- Medical expenses related to the fatal injury
- Funeral and burial costs
- Loss of financial support and benefits
- Loss of household services and contributions
- Loss of love, companionship, and guidance
- Emotional suffering of surviving family members
- Other damages depending on the facts of the wrongful death case
A wrongful death case may also involve a survival action (a separate claim tied to what the loved one endured before death). If that applies, we explain it in plain language.
What to Do After a Wrongful Death in New Orleans
If your family believes a death was wrongful, you don’t have to know everything immediately. But there are a few steps that can protect your rights.
Preserve documents and details
- Get the accident report (if an accident occurred)
- Keep medical records, bills, and communications
- Save contact details for witnesses
- Keep any photos or videos of the scene
- Write down your recollection while it is fresh
Avoid early settlements
Insurance companies may offer money early in wrongful death cases. Families often consider it because they need relief. But early wrongful death settlements can be too small, especially if long-term damages and future needs haven’t been calculated.
Talk to a lawyer before giving statements
You don’t need to navigate this alone. A wrongful death attorney can handle communication and protect the surviving family from pressure and confusion.
Call us for a free consultation. We’ll explain your rights, your timeline, and the next best step for your wrongful death case.
Why Choose the Law Offices of Chip Forstall?
Wrongful death representation isn’t just about legal paperwork. It’s about people. It’s about grief, loss, and the weight of trying to protect your family while your heart is broken. We never forget that.
Chip Forstall has spent decades representing New Orleans families in serious accidents, catastrophic injury matters, and wrongful death claims. Our firm approaches wrongful death cases with preparation, compassion, and resolve. We treat clients like family because that is how we believe a law office should operate in New Orleans.
Jonathan Forstall and the Team
Jonathan Forstall and our full team work together to support families through wrongful death cases with clear communication and respectful guidance. We don’t leave you wondering what’s happening next. We explain the process, keep you updated, and handle the difficult conversations for you.
And throughout it all, we live by a promise that matters in wrongful death cases: Chip Forstall takes care of it all.
Convenient Mid-City Office
Our office is conveniently located in Mid-City at 320 North Carrollton Ave, Suite 200, New Orleans, LA 70119. If coming in person is difficult, we can begin by phone or online and keep the process as simple as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions About Wrongful Death in New Orleans
How is a wrongful death case different from a criminal case?
A criminal case is brought by the state and focuses on punishment. A wrongful death claim is a civil case brought by the surviving family to seek compensation and accountability.
Do I have to prove the person intended to cause death?
No. Most wrongful death claims involve negligence, carelessness, reckless choices, safety violations, or failures to act responsibly.
How long do I have to file a wrongful death claim in Louisiana?
Louisiana has strict deadlines, and many wrongful death actions must be filed within one year of the date of death, though exceptions can apply. Speaking with a lawyer early can protect your rights.
Who qualifies as a surviving family member for wrongful death?
Often the surviving spouse and children qualify first, followed by parents, siblings, and sometimes grandparents. Eligibility depends on the family structure and Louisiana law.
What if multiple parties may be responsible?
That’s common in wrongful death accidents. Liability can involve drivers, companies, employers, or property owners. A lawyer can investigate and identify responsible parties.
What compensation can we recover in a wrongful death case?
Compensation may include funeral expenses, medical bills, loss of financial support, and loss of love and companionship, plus other damages depending on the case.
Will a wrongful death case go to trial?
Many wrongful death cases resolve through settlement, but not all. We prepare every case as if it may go to trial so you have leverage.
How much does it cost to hire your firm?
Your first consultation is free. We can explain fees and the process clearly so you can make a comfortable decision. We know this is a difficult time, and we try to make this part as straightforward as possible, not separate from your real-life concerns.
Talk With a New Orleans Wrongful Death Lawyer Today
If your loved one’s death was wrongful, you deserve a law firm that takes your case seriously and treats your family with care. We are proud to serve New Orleans, proud to stand with Orleans Parish families, and committed to helping surviving spouses and families find stability after wrongful death accidents.