Zachary Wrongful Death Lawyer
Wrongful Death Attorney in Zachary, LA
It is never easy to face the loss of a loved one. These devastating losses can be even more frustrating and emotionally complicated when the care and reasonable actions of another party would have prevented your loved one’s death. Surviving family members can hold individuals or companies liable for a wrongful death, and a skilled Zachary wrongful death lawyer can make this process much easier to manage.
Hire a Wrongful Death Lawyer
The right attorney can provide you with compassionate support and exceptional legal guidance. At Murphy Law Firm, our team has over 150 collective years of legal experience advocating for the justice that grieving families throughout Louisiana deserve. We have secured many successful results, including a $3.3 million settlement for a wrongful death auto accident case. This cannot guarantee future results but represents our commitment to our clients.
Our team understands how painful the unexpected loss of a loved one is. We use this to support our clients throughout the legal process. While you focus on grieving and healing, we focus on your legal options and help you pursue compensation you may be entitled to.
Wrongful Death Claims
A wrongful death claim is similar to a personal injury claim, but is filed when the person does not survive their injuries. It holds an at-fault party liable for the damages this death caused a family. This party could be a driver, the manufacturer of a dangerous product, a medical provider, or a property owner. If they owed someone a duty of care, breached that duty, and caused that person’s injury and death, they could be held liable for the costs to the family.
Common Reasons for Wrongful Death Claims
Wrongful death cases can arise from many of the same situations that personal injury claims do, but certain cases are more likely to cause catastrophic injury and death. Understanding some of the most common scenarios that involve wrongful death can not only protect you and your loved ones from experiencing this, but can also help you understand options should a loved one lose their life due to negligent behavior.
Car Accidents
In 2025, there were 198 suspected injuries and one fatality in vehicle accidents in Zachary, according to data gathered by the Center for Analytics & Research in Transportation Safety (CARTS) as of early 2026. Certain accident types, like head-on collisions or driving under the influence, are more likely to cause fatal injuries. Bicycles, pedestrians, and motorcyclists are also more likely to suffer a fatality. The at-fault driver is liable for the damages they caused in the crash.
Truck Accidents
Vehicle accidents involving semi-trucks or other commercial vehicles tend to be more serious and cause more damage. East Baton Rouge Parish had the top number of commercial motor vehicle crashes, according to CARTS, with five fatal crashes and 179 suspected injury crashes in 2025.
Workplace Accidents
Louisiana has numerous dangerous industries, particularly the maritime, mining, and construction industries. Accidents can happen in any workplace, causing serious injury and potentially death. Surviving family members may be able to file for benefits through the workers’ compensation system. There may also be options through a civil claim.
Slips and Falls
There were 412 deaths from unintentional falls in Louisiana in 2024, according to data gathered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A slip and fall is one common type of premises liability claim, filed against a negligent property owner. If your loved one was injured and killed because of a hazard on someone else’s property, and the owner should have addressed that hazard, you may be able to file this claim.
Medical Malpractice
Negligent medical providers can cause injuries and death by surgical errors, misdiagnoses, prescribing the wrong medication, anesthesia errors, failing to diagnose a condition, or other issues. You should hold a medical provider or facility liable if their negligence led to your loved one’s death.
When you file a civil claim, you may file it with the 19th Judicial District Court that serves East Baton Rouge Parish, or you may file it with the civil court in the City Court of Zachary. You may even file with the US District Court. Our firm has experience with many different civil courts in the area and can help you advocate for your interests.
Meet Our Attorney
Peyton Murphy
Peyton Murphy, a Louisiana lawyer with 30+ years of experience, specializes in personal injury cases. He founded Murphy Law Firm in Baton Rouge in 1993 and fights for his clients’ compensation.
Contact Peyton
FAQs
How Much Is a Wrongful Death Claim Worth in Louisiana?
The value of a wrongful death claim in Louisiana relies on factors like the damages a family suffered and the specifics of the case itself. A family might suffer damages like the loss of financial support, costs of medical treatment before their loved one’s death, and the loss of mentorship. When these damages are more substantial, the value of the claim needs to be higher. If a case involves exemplary damages, it can be worth more.
Who Can File a Claim for Wrongful Death in Louisiana?
Close family members of the deceased can file a claim for wrongful death in Louisiana, related by blood or adoption. First, the right to file claims to the surviving spouse and children, or the spouse or the children. If there are no spouse or children, the right goes to the surviving parents of the deceased. Then, the right passes to surviving siblings, then surviving grandparents. Parents who abandoned the child as a minor do not have the right to file.
What Is the Success Rate of Wrongful Death Cases?
Wrongful death claims are each unique, and whether your case will succeed or not depends on your case’s merits. If another party’s negligence or misconduct caused the death of your loved one, that party owed them a duty of care, and you have proof of each of these elements, your case is more likely to succeed. Your case is also more likely to succeed if you work with a dedicated wrongful death attorney to prepare and negotiate your case.
Why Is It Helpful to Hire a Wrongful Death Lawyer to File a Claim in Louisiana?
It’s helpful to hire a wrongful death lawyer to file a claim in Louisiana because a lawyer has significant experience gathering evidence for these cases, filing them in court, negotiating a settlement, and advocating in a trial. They understand the process of filing with an insurance company, as well. A lawyer can calculate losses and manage your case while you take the time that you need to grieve. Your case is more likely to succeed with an attorney.
Zachary Wrongful Death Lawyer
Murphy Law Firm can help you with a wrongful death claim, giving you the support you deserve. With our client-first approach, you have a dedicated partner throughout the legal process. Let us put our knowledge and experience to work for you. Contact our office today.
Your Path to Legal Resolution Starts with Murphy Law Firm.
When you choose Murphy Law Firm, you gain access to a team of experienced attorneys with a proven track record of success. We understand the importance of trust, and we strive to build lasting relationships with our clients by delivering exceptional results.
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