Did you lose a loved one because of someone else’s negligence in Shreveport, Louisiana? Nothing can replace the person you lost, but Louisiana law gives your family the right to seek justice.
A dedicated Shreveport wrongful death lawyer at Desiah Injury Lawyers can pursue the accountability your loved one deserves. Call (318) 252-3034 for a free consultation.
Let us fight to secure your family’s financial future and hold the responsible party accountable for what happened. We handle every wrongful death case on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing unless we win.
Why Choose Desiah Injury Lawyers for Help After a Wrongful Death in Shreveport, LA?
Wrongful death claims are among the most emotionally difficult and highest-stakes cases in personal injury law. They pit grieving families against insurance companies that care more about their bottom line than your loss. Our Shreveport personal injury lawyer takes that fight off your shoulders so you can focus on healing.
Families in Shreveport, LA, choose our firm because:
- You work directly with our founding attorney, Travis Desiah, who has over a decade of experience representing injury victims.
- We are known for personalized service and steady communication at every stage of the case.
- We have a trial lawyer who will represent your best interests in court and at the negotiating table.
- We serve clients across the state, with offices in Shreveport and New Orleans.
- We handle wrongful death cases on contingency, so you owe no attorney fees unless we recover for you.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with a Shreveport wrongful death attorney. We are here for you when you need us most.
What Is a Wrongful Death Under Louisiana Law?
Under Louisiana law, a wrongful death occurs when a person dies because of another party’s negligence or wrongful act. If your loved one could have brought a personal injury claim had they survived the incident, eligible surviving family members generally have the right to pursue a wrongful death claim under Louisiana Civil Code Article 2315.2.
Louisiana also recognizes a separate survival action under Article 2315.1. While a wrongful death claim compensates the family for their own losses, a survival action lets the family recover the damages your loved one suffered between the moment of injury and death, such as their conscious pain, medical expenses, and lost wages. The two claims arise from the same event and are often filed together.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim in Louisiana?
Louisiana law is strict about who may bring a wrongful death claim. Rather than allowing any relative to file, Article 2315.2 sets out categories of beneficiaries, and only the highest surviving category may recover:
- First, the surviving spouse and children of the deceased
- If there is no spouse or child, the surviving parents
- If there are no surviving parents, the deceased’s brothers and sisters
- If none of the above survive, the grandparents
Determining who has the legal right to file is an important early step in assessing a wrongful death claim. These rights can become complicated in blended families or in situations involving estranged relatives. An experienced attorney can help identify the proper claimants in your family.
How Can I Prove a Wrongful Death Claim?
To recover compensation, your family must show that another party’s wrongful conduct caused the death. A successful wrongful death claim generally requires proving four elements: (1) the defendant owed your loved one a duty of care; (2) the defendant breached that duty; (3) the breach caused the fatal injury or illness, and (4) the death caused losses to the surviving family or the estate.
This requires clear evidence connecting the defendant’s negligence or wrongful actions to your loved one’s death. Depending on the case, your attorney may rely on:
- Police and accident reports
- Photographs and surveillance or dashcam footage from the scene
- Event data recorder information from vehicles
- Medical records and autopsy findings
- Statements from eyewitnesses
- Cellphone records that may reveal distracted driving
- Analysis from accident reconstruction and financial experts
Contact us today for a free case review to learn how we can help gather this evidence and prove that your loved one’s death was caused by negligence.
How Much Is My Shreveport Wrongful Death Case Worth?
No two wrongful death cases are alike, because no two lives are alike. The value of your family’s claim depends on your loved one and the losses your family has suffered.
Factors that influence the value of a wrongful death claim include:
- Your loved one’s age and life expectancy
- Their income and future earning potential
- The financial support they provided to the household
- The loss of love, companionship, and guidance felt by surviving family members
- The available insurance coverage
- The strength of the evidence
- Whether your loved one shared any responsibility for the incident
These cases generally require testimony from financial and economic experts to establish their full value. At Desiah Injury Lawyers, we work with respected specialists to account for your family’s losses, down to the last dollar. Call us today to learn what your case may be worth.
What Damages Are Available to the Loved Ones of Shreveport Wrongful Death Victims?
A wrongful death claim can compensate your family for both the financial and the deeply personal consequences of losing a loved one.
Recoverable damages may include:
- Loss of the deceased’s future income and financial support
- Medical expenses related to the final injury or illness
- Funeral and burial costs
- Loss of love, affection, and companionship
- Loss of the care and protection the deceased would have provided
- The value of the household services your loved one performed
Unlike many states, Louisiana does not place a general cap on wrongful death damages.
An experienced Shreveport attorney can explain how these rules apply to your situation and structure your claim to maximize your family’s recovery.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Wrongful Death Lawyer?
Most wrongful death attorneys handle these cases on a contingency fee basis. That means no upfront attorney fees, no hourly billing, and no out-of-pocket cost to begin your case. The firm advances the costs of investigating and litigating the claim, and your attorney’s fee is simply a percentage of any compensation recovered for your family.
If there is no recovery, you generally owe no attorney fees at all. Desiah Injury Lawyers offers free consultations and handles wrongful death cases on contingency. Call today to get started.
Can You Recover Compensation if Your Loved One Is Being Blamed for a Fatal Accident in Louisiana?
Yes, for deaths occurring on or after January 1, 2026, Louisiana follows a modified comparative fault rule. Your family may recover only if your loved one was less than 51% responsible for the incident, and any award is reduced by their share of fault. If your loved one is found 51% or more at fault, recovery is barred entirely.
For example, if your family’s damages total $1,000,000 and your loved one is assigned 25% of the fault, the recovery would be reduced to $750,000.
For deaths that occurred before January 1, 2026, Louisiana’s older “pure” comparative fault rule applies, which allowed recovery no matter how much fault was assigned to the deceased.
What Causes Most Wrongful Deaths in Shreveport, LA?
Most wrongful death claims stem from preventable accidents caused by negligence or unsafe conditions.
In Shreveport, these claims commonly arise from:
- Car accidents
- Commercial truck crashes
- Motorcycle accidents
- Pedestrian and bicycle collisions
- Medical malpractice
- Workplace accidents
- Dangerous property conditions and inadequate security
- Defective products that cause fatal injuries
Any death caused by negligence or misconduct may support a claim. These civil cases are also independent of any criminal case arising from the same event, meaning you can take legal action regardless of whether criminal charges are filed or successful.
How Long Do I Have to File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Louisiana?
Recent changes to state law extended the general deadline for many personal injury claims to two years, but that extension doesn’t apply to wrongful death claims.
Because the applicable deadline may be as short as one year, you should never wait to act. The safest course is to speak with an attorney as soon as possible, so your right to file is protected and your legal team has the time it needs to build the strongest possible case.
Contact Our Shreveport Wrongful Death Lawyer for a Free Consultation
A wrongful death lawsuit can help deliver a measure of justice and provide the financial stability your family needs to move forward. At Desiah Injury Lawyers, we are ready to put our commitment and legal experience behind your family’s claim.
Contact our Shreveport wrongful death attorney today to schedule a free consultation and learn more about your legal options.
