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Wrongful Death Lawyer in Metairie

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Trusted Metairie Wrongful Death Lawyers Near Me

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Losing someone you love is hard enough. When that loss happens because of someone else’s carelessness, the grief can come with anger, unanswered questions, and bills you never planned for. We’re so sorry you’re going through this.

At Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys, our wrongful death lawyers in Metairie help families across Jefferson Parish and New Orleans get answers and hold the right people accountable. From Old Metairie to Fat City to the homes along West Esplanade Avenue, we’re proud to serve our Metairie neighbors.

A Metairie wrongful death lawyer can take the legal work off your plate while your family grieves. Our Louisiana wrongful death lawyers deal with the insurance companies, gather the proof, and push for full compensation. You pay nothing upfront, and there’s no fee unless we win.

We’ve recovered $3 Billion for Louisiana clients, including 230+ Million dollar verdicts and settlements. Your consultation is free, and there’s no pressure to decide anything today.

Metairie Wrongful Death Statistics

Traffic crashes cause many of the deaths that lead to wrongful death claims in Louisiana. Metairie sits in the heart of the New Orleans metro area, where busy roads carry heavy traffic every day. Here’s what Louisiana crash data shows for 2024:

753

people died in 706 fatal crashes

161

people died in crashes involving a driver with a blood alcohol level of 0.08 or higher

176

pedestrians and 44 bicyclists were killed

How Metairie Wrongful Death Lawyers Handle Your Case

From the first call, Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys takes on the legal work so your family can focus on each other. Your consultation is free, and we’ll explain your options in plain language. If you choose to work with us, we can:

  • Get the police report, coroner’s report, and autopsy results (if one was done)
  • Preserve evidence like vehicles, video footage, and phone records
  • Interview witnesses while memories are fresh
  • Gather medical records and bills from your loved one’s final care
  • Bring in experts, like crash reconstruction or medical experts, when needed
  • Identify everyone who may share the blame, from drivers to businesses
  • Find every insurance policy that may apply
  • Handle all calls with insurance adjusters
  • Prepare for trial if a fair offer never comes

To win a wrongful death case, we must show that someone owed your loved one a duty of care, failed to meet it, and caused the death and your family’s losses. As your wrongful death lawsuit attorneys, we build that proof and keep you updated at every step. We prepare every case as if it’s headed to court, because strong preparation pushes insurers to take your claim seriously.

If your loved one died across the parish line, our wrongful death attorneys in New Orleans can help your family too.

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Wrongful Death Lawyer in Metairie 2

Compensation You May Be Entitled To

No amount of money can bring your loved one back. But compensation can ease the financial strain and hold the responsible party accountable. Louisiana law allows two kinds of claims after a death caused by someone else’s fault:

  • Wrongful death action: Your family’s own losses because of the death
  • Survival action: The losses your loved one suffered between the injury and death

Our wrongful death compensation lawyers fight for the full value of both claims, which may include:

  • Funeral and burial costs
  • Medical bills from your loved one’s final care
  • Lost income and financial support your family counted on
  • Loss of love, companionship, and guidance (the law calls this “loss of consortium, service, and society”)
  • Your loved one’s pain and suffering before death
  • Exemplary (punitive) damages in limited cases, such as a death caused by a drunk driver

Every family’s losses are different. We look at what your loved one meant to your family, today and for years to come, so a quick settlement doesn’t leave you short.

Common Legal Challenges After a Wrongful Death in Metairie

Wrongful death cases can get complicated, partly because the person who knew the most about what happened can’t tell their story. Families often face:

  • Insurers who blame the person who died
  • Disputes over which family members can file
  • Several at-fault parties blaming each other
  • Drivers with little or no insurance
  • Lowball offers that ignore years of lost support
  • Workplace deaths, where workers’ compensation rules can limit claims against the employer but not always against others
  • No criminal charges, which doesn’t mean your family has no civil claim

These challenges are hard to face while grieving, and you don’t have to face them alone. With 679+ years of combined legal experience, our Jefferson Parish wrongful death lawyers know how to build a strong case.

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Mistakes to Avoid After a Wrongful Death in Metairie

Grief makes it hard to think about legal steps, and insurance companies know it. A wrongful death claim lawyer in Metairie can help you avoid these common missteps:

  • Giving a recorded statement to the other side’s insurance company
  • Signing papers or accepting an early settlement offer
  • Throwing away your loved one’s phone, clothing, or other belongings from the incident
  • Letting a damaged vehicle be repaired, sold, or scrapped before it’s inspected
  • Posting about the death or the case on social media
  • Waiting for a criminal case to end before calling a lawyer
  • Assuming you have plenty of time to file

Already made one of these mistakes? Don’t panic. Call us, and we’ll work to protect your family’s rights.

Contact a Wrongful Death Attorney Near New Orleans  Today

Injured in an Accident? Find Legal Help Near You

Looking for a wrongful death lawyer near you? From Williams Boulevard in Kenner to the streets of Bucktown, Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys is here for families across Jefferson Parish. You can meet with our team at Gordon McKernan’s New Orleans office on Veterans Memorial Boulevard in Metairie.

We offer statewide support with local service, so your family never feels like just another case file. Your consultation is 100% free, and you pay nothing unless we recover money for you. That’s the G Guarantee.

Deadlines in wrongful death cases can be short, so don’t let the insurance company set the terms. Call 888.501.7888 today. Get Gordon. Get It Done.

Causes of Wrongful Death in Metairie

As fatal accident attorneys in Metairie, our first job is to find out exactly what went wrong and who is responsible. That answer shapes every part of your family’s claim. Below are some of the most common causes we handle.

Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Results may vary depending on the facts and circumstances of each case. Viewing this website or contacting our firm does not create an attorney-client relationship.

Understanding Metairie Wrongful Death Laws

Louisiana has strict rules about who can file a wrongful death claim and when. The law lists family members in order. Each group can file only if no one in the group above it survived:

  1. The surviving spouse and children
  2. Parents
  3. Brothers and sisters
  4. Grandparents

Adopted children and adoptive parents have the same rights. A parent who abandoned the person who died while he or she was a minor may lose the right to recover.

Statute Of Limitations:

Louisiana calls the filing deadline the “prescriptive period.” If you miss it, your family could lose the right to recover.

  • 1 year from the death or 2 years from the injury, whichever is longer, for wrongful death and survival claims
  • 1 year from the death for deaths caused by medical malpractice, plus extra steps like a medical review panel
  • Older cases may follow shorter deadlines.

For example, if a crash causes a death on the same day, your family generally has 2 years to file. A Metairie wrongful death attorney can confirm your exact deadline.

Comparative Fault:

Since January 1, 2026, Louisiana follows a modified comparative fault rule. If your loved one is found less than 51% at fault, your family’s award is reduced by that share. At 51% or more, the family can’t recover damages.

Insurers may try to shift blame onto someone who can no longer tell their side, so strong evidence matters. Deaths before 2026 may be handled differently.

Minimum Insurance Requirements:

For deaths caused by car crashes, Louisiana drivers must carry at least:

  • $15,000 for injury or death of one person
  • $30,000 for injury or death of two or more people per accident
  • $25,000 for property damage

These limits are low compared to what a family loses after a death. Uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM) coverage can help fill the gap, and Louisiana auto policies include it unless the policyholder rejected it or chose lower limits. Many trucks that haul freight across state lines must carry at least $750,000 under federal rules, so a fatal truck accident attorney will check every layer of coverage.

If a crash took your loved one, our New Orleans fatal car accident lawyers know how to track down every policy that may apply. Deaths caused by businesses, property owners, or doctors involve different insurance, and we look for every policy in those cases too.

Need help understanding how these rules apply to your case? Contact us today for a free consultation.

Don’t Wait — Talk to a New Orleans Wrongful Death Lawyer Today

At Gordon Mckernan Injury Attorneys, we understand that emotional and physical recovery come hand and hand after an injury or accident. We also know that you may not have the energy or time to fight with an insurance company and the complexities of your personal injury claim.

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How It Works

Filing a claim with Gordon Mckernan Injury Attorneys is easy!
Simply follow the steps below.

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Get Your Free Consultation

Fill out our quick and easy form to find out if your case qualifies. Our consultations are free and confidential, and we are here to help whether you hire us or not!

Hear From An Attorney

Our team will evaluate your case and decide on the best course of action. One of our lawyers will get back to you promptly and begin the process of winning your case! 

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Get It Done!

Once your case has been evaluated and deemed a good fit for our firm, our team will go to work immediately on gathering evidence, building your case, and getting you the compensation that you deserve. 

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Laura Betancourt
3 October 2026
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Very grateful to Claire Caillier for all of the assistance and guidance she gave our family.
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john spring
3 October 2026
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First time that I had to deal with needing an attorney. It was a great choice picking the Gordon firm ! Brandon was exceptionally on top of my case since day one ! Kept me posted with all updates ! Was well satisfied with the outcome and would recommend the Gordon law firm to anyone ! Thank again for the great service John r spring
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LaQuida Livingston
2 October 2026
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Ryan Thibodeaux is the man. Definitely recommend. Very professional and consistent. He is very knowledgeable. He gets the job done.
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Tiffany Smith
2 October 2026
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I highly recommend this law office to anyone who has been involved in a car accident. From the very beginning, they were there for me every step of the way and made a stressful situation so much easier to deal with.
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Julie Davis
2 October 2026
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The team at Gordon McKernan was great. Always quick to respond and willing to answer any question I might have.
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Ward Barr
2 October 2026
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Coburn and Brie were friendly, hard working people! I believed the claim was in good hands 😁
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Teresa Harlan
2 October 2026
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Mr. Burroughs did an excellent job representing us. He was very helpful and always kept in touch with us. The office staff were courteous and helpful. Would definitely use them again and recommend other people to use them.
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Maine louisianimal
2 October 2026
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Matthew Reed was very helpful, and personable as my attorney I would. Recommend him 10 out of 10 times
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Teylor Feliz
2 October 2026
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Holly es una excelente abogada que también habla español. Tiene una comunicación estupenda y es muy conocedora.
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Lauren Standeford
2 October 2026
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Antonio was awesome to work with during my WC case. He was very professional, informative and always on top of things. 10/10 would recommend!
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Sharon Flowers
1 October 2026
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I’ve had a great experience with Courtney and Chelsea ! I appreciate them for everything they did for me and my daughter after our accident!
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Travis Byrd
30 September 2026
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Truly great experience very smooth cool and responsive team my settlement was cleared in less than a year now my life is back on track thank you to miss Courtney and the entire Gordon family
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Carl Ellis
30 September 2026
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Enjoyed working with Matt Terrell. Great guy and family man.
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Adam Beard
29 September 2026
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Ivy Perkins was my attorney and she kicked it out of the park. Very professional and handles business, great work!
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Doris Broussard
28 September 2026
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Mr Chad was very good. Every time I called call me back kept me updated on my case I recommend I will use them again
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Dee Budgewater
28 September 2026
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My attorney at Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys was Hayden Bergeron and he was phenomenal. He was professional, prompt and empathetic to my concerns. He was concerned about my recovery and ensuring that I was fairly compensated for my damages. They made a horrible experience one I could navigate with confidence because they led me through it!
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Marvin Light
28 September 2026
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Professional and informative
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Carla Murphy
26 September 2026
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Ask for Lawyer Coburn in Shreveport! He was on top of everything from start to finish and got me more than I expected. He made the whole process so much easier, and I felt confident knowing he was handling my case. I’m so grateful for his hard work and couldn’t be happier with the outcome. Highly recommend!
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J Diaz
26 September 2026
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Im absolutely pleased with this lawyers they get it done.
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Charlene Pinkney
25 September 2026
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Thanks to Bill Mitchell and Brandon Stockstill for the hard work on completing my case ,, thank you
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