Gonzales Louisiana Wrongful Death Attorneys

When one person causes the death of another, it is legally called “wrongful death.” This is a civil legal term; criminal laws have additional terms for these circumstances.

In a wrongful death, the death may be caused by another person’s negligent actions. Because the main victim of the act (the person killed – the decedent) cannot collect damages or file suit, the surviving family or other representatives may do so. The intention of wrongful death laws is the compensation of family members for their loss – financially and emotionally. Damages may be awarded for wages and benefits lost, loss of companionship, and/or pain and suffering caused by the trauma. Discussing your case with the Wrongful Death Attorneys in Gonzales, LA is advised.

For a defendant to be held responsible for a wrongful death, it must be proven that the defendant’s conduct directly caused the death; that is, that without the defendant’s actions, the death would not have occurred. This condition met, the time elapsed between the action of the defendant’s action and the death of the decedent is immaterial. If you are not sure about the legal issues concerning your case, discuss with the Wrongful Death Attorneys in Gonzales, LA by calling (225) 228-3450

In some cases, it may be that the decedent partially caused his/her own death, due to dangerous or reckless actions, refusal of medical services, or some other means. Under some state laws, this means that the award of damages will be affected according to the percentage to which the decedent is considered responsible v. the percentage to which the defendant is considered responsible.