Best Wrongful Death Attorneys Across the United States

Wrongful death lawyers are worth calling when a loved one dies because of someone else's carelessness. Their cases include fatal crashes, medical errors, unsafe workplaces, and defective products. Each claim starts with determining who was at fault and which insurance policies apply. A claim can pay for funeral costs, lost income, and the support a family no longer has. The firms below range from solo trial lawyers to practices with offices in several states.

Listed Wrongful Death Lawyers are ranked by one score, applied the same way to every firm. It draws on public signals, including:

  • Client satisfaction and overall online reputation
  • The volume and consistency of client feedback
  • How established the firm is
  • Peer recognition within the legal community and across the web

Ranked listings are ordered by our independent score. Featured listings are paid placements shown separately. See how we rank law firms.

Find Top Wrongful Death Attorneys Near Me

x

Leading Wrongful Death Law Firms for Fatal Crash, Workplace & Malpractice Claims

Screenshot of the Baumgartner Law Firm Website

Baumgartner Law Firm is a Houston injury practice built around a small, selective caseload. Founder Greg Baumgartner accepts a limited number of serious injury and wrongful death cases in Harris County. He handles each one himself, from the first investigation to the final resolution.

The firm has represented injured Texans since 1985 and has recovered more than $100 million. Results include $6 million in a fatal car crash where the defense blamed the victim.

Greg holds two law degrees and graduated from the Trial Lawyers College. He is AV Preeminent rated by Martindale. Clients owe no attorney fee unless the firm recovers money.

Screenshot of the FVF Law Firm - Injury & Wrongful Death Lawyers Website

A $20 million wrongful death result in 2025 leads the case record at FVF Law Firm. The Austin practice, short for Fogelman & Von Flatern, also serves Houston and Orlando.

Other fatal-case results include a $10.5 million Legionella claim and a $9.1 million explosion case. The team also handles construction-site deaths and commercial trucking crashes.

Its attorneys are recognized by Super Lawyers and the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. The Better Business Bureau gave the firm its Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics.

Screenshot of the Leah Wise Law Firm, PLLC Website

Leah Wise is a Pharr, Texas injury lawyer known online as the CrashGal. She was recognized for the largest Texas settlement of 2020.

From its Rio Grande Valley headquarters, her firm serves clients across Texas. It also runs offices in Houston and Albuquerque, New Mexico. The team has won more than $100 million, including $7.5 million in a construction accident case.

The practice takes car, truck, and DUI crashes, medical malpractice, and fatal accident cases. Staff speaks Spanish, and calls are answered 24/7.

Screenshot of the Claggett, Sykes & Garza LLC Website

Other lawyers often refer their toughest cases to Claggett, Sykes & Garza. The Connecticut trial firm has secured more than $1.5 billion in verdicts and settlements.

Partners Sean Claggett, Will Sykes, and Andrew Garza have trained thousands of attorneys in trial skills. The office even has its own practice courtroom for focus groups and trial prep.

Catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases sit at the center of the practice. One jury returned a $153 million verdict in a product defect death case.

Screenshot of the Sears Injury Law, PLLC - Puyallup's #1 Car Accident, Wrongful Death, and Brain Injury Lawyers Website

Sears Injury Law is a Washington personal injury firm based in Puyallup. It also has offices in Seattle, Tacoma, Everett, Vancouver, and Portland, Oregon.

Since 2017, the firm has closed more than 20,000 cases and recovered over $500 million. Many of its lawyers once worked as insurance defense counsel.

Fatal-case results include a $4 million nursing home wrongful death settlement. The team also handles traumatic brain injury and pedestrian claims.

Screenshot of the Sigman Janssen Law Firm Website

For nearly a century, Sigman Janssen has represented injury victims in Appleton and the Fox Cities. Attorney James Pitz has recovered more than $100 million for the firm's clients.

The team files cases in Outagamie County Circuit Court and nearby county courts. Its practice covers fatal accidents, truck crashes, and workers' compensation. Attorneys will meet clients at home or in the hospital.

Screenshot of the Neff Injury Law Website
3975 Roswell Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30342, USA

Few firms cap their caseload the way Neff Injury Law does. The Atlanta litigation team typically carries no more than 20 cases at a time.

Every matter involves catastrophic injury or wrongful death. Results include a $6.75 million settlement for an auto wreck death and a $47 million negligent security verdict.

Founding partner Michael Neff wrote two peer-reviewed books on premises liability for trial lawyers.

Screenshot of the Wrongful Death Krause Law Firm Website
125 Clairmont Ave Ste 470, Decatur, GA 30030, USA

Roger Krause is an Atlanta wrongful death lawyer whose Decatur-based firm takes no other cases. That focus covers fatal car and truck crashes, medical errors, drownings, and police misconduct.

The firm keeps a small caseload so each family gets close attention. Krause has been named a Georgia Super Lawyer and one of The National Trial Lawyers Top 100. Families can request his free guide, "Fighting Back," on Georgia death claims.

Screenshot of the Rosengard Law Group, Personal Injury Lawyers Website

From a Cherry Hill office, Rosengard Law Group serves injured clients throughout New Jersey. Attorney Adam S. Rosengard leads the firm.

It files wrongful death lawsuits along with car, motorcycle, and slip-and-fall claims. The team works with accident reconstruction experts and doctors to build each case.

Screenshot of the Law Offices of Timothy Grabe Website
909 SW St Clair Ave suite 1c, Portland, OR, USA

Timothy Grabe is a Portland, Oregon trial attorney who has practiced since 1983. He spent several years representing insurance companies before switching sides.

He takes a limited number of serious and fatal injury cases and handles each one personally. His results include a $27 million drunk driving case. The Oregon Supreme Court appointed him a pro tem judge in Multnomah County Circuit Court.

Screenshot of the Keene Personal Injury Attorney Website

Shaheen & Gordon's Keene office is the firm's Cheshire County base. The team handles crashes on busy roads like Route 9 and Route 101. Results include a $1.25 million wrongful death settlement.

Screenshot of the Minner Vines Injury Lawyers, PLLC Website

Minner Vines Injury Lawyers is a Lexington, Kentucky trial firm with offices in Bowling Green and Nashville. Its lawyers have won more than $1 billion. That includes a $40.25 million jury award in a Jefferson County wrongful death case.

Screenshot of the The Schiller Kessler Group Website

Partners Marc Schiller and Andrew Kessler run The Schiller Kessler Group from Davie. The firm has offices across Florida. Results include a $2 million wrongful death recovery. Free case reviews are available around the clock.

Screenshot of the Killian, Davis & Richter, P.C. Website

Killian, Davis & Richter is a Grand Junction law firm on Colorado's Western Slope. It has served the region for more than three decades. The team handles oilfield, coal mine, and I-70 accidents. One case recovered $2.4 million after a propane explosion killed three people.

Screenshot of the Belt, Bruner & Barnett Personal Injury Lawyers Website

Belt, Bruner & Barnett has recovered more than $400 million for Alabama clients. Its lawyers work from Birmingham, Huntsville, and Montgomery. The firm handles wrongful death claims and funeral home negligence cases.

Screenshot of the Ruhmann Law Firm Website

Charles Ruhmann is an El Paso personal injury attorney serving Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. His firm takes cases involving fatal truck crashes and deaths linked to the ERCOT power failure. The team makes house calls and speaks Spanish.

Screenshot of the Giometti & Mereness P.C. Website
501 S Cherry St # 1000, Denver, CO 80246, USA

Giometti & Mereness has published guides on Colorado wrongful death, auto accident, and bad faith law. The Denver boutique mainly defends insurers but also represents families in wrongful death suits.

Screenshot of the Snyder Heitman LLC Website

Snyder Heitman LLC is a Greenville, South Carolina injury firm serving the Upstate. Steven Snyder and Andrew Heitman limit their caseload and take wrongful death, burn, and spinal cord injury cases.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can file a wrongful death claim?

It depends on the state. Most states let a spouse, children, or parents bring the claim. Others require the estate's personal representative to file. Georgia sets a strict order: the spouse first, then children, then parents, then the estate.

How long do families have to file a wrongful death lawsuit?

Usually two years. Most states set a two-year statute of limitations for wrongful death. Louisiana, Tennessee, and Kentucky allow only one year. Wisconsin allows three years for most deaths but two years for fatal motor vehicle crashes.

What is the difference between a wrongful death claim and a survival action?

Two claims with different owners. A wrongful death claim pays the family for its own losses, like lost income and companionship. A survival action belongs to the estate. It covers what the person suffered before death, such as medical bills and pain and suffering.

How much does a wrongful death lawyer cost?

Usually nothing up front. Most attorneys work on a contingent fee and take a share of any recovery. That share often ranges from about one-third to 40%. Ask who pays case costs, like expert witness fees, if you lose the case.

How long does a wrongful death case take?

Months to several years. Clear fault and sufficient insurance can lead to a settlement within a year. ** Disputed liability, several defendants, or a trial can stretch the case much longer.

Can a family sue while a criminal case is pending?

Yes, in most cases. A civil wrongful death lawsuit is separate from any criminal charges. The family must prove fault by a preponderance of the evidence. That is a lower bar than proof beyond a reasonable doubt.

Types of Wrongful Death Cases in the U.S.

Traffic Collisions. Car, motorcycle, pedestrian, and trucking deaths make up a large share of these claims. A truck case may name the driver, the carrier, and a maintenance company. Each one can carry its own insurance.

Medical Errors. Misdiagnosis, surgical mistakes, and medication errors can support a claim against a doctor or hospital. Many states require a sworn expert opinion before a suit can proceed.

Workplace Accidents. Workers' compensation often limits claims against the employer itself. Families may still sue a contractor, equipment maker, or property owner whose negligence contributed.

Defective Products. Faulty airbags, tires, and machinery can cause fatal injuries. A product liability claim can target the manufacturer, the distributor, or the seller.

Unsafe Property and Negligent Security. Falls, drownings, fires, and assaults at poorly kept properties can lead to a claim. The owner may be liable if it ignored a known hazard.

Child Deaths. Daycare negligence, pool drownings, and unsafe children's products fall into this group. These cases often turn on supervision standards and product warnings.

How to Choose a Wrongful Death Lawyer

Look for trial experience. Insurers tend to offer more when they believe a lawyer will go to court. Ask how many cases the attorney has tried to a verdict.

Check licensing in your state. Wrongful death rules differ from state to state. The lawyer should be licensed in the state where the claim will be filed, or work with local counsel.

Ask about caseload. A smaller caseload can mean more attention for your family. Find out who will handle day-to-day contact.

Confirm the budget for experts. Accident reconstruction, medical, and economic experts are often needed. The firm should be able to fund them through trial.

Read the fee agreement. Check the percentage, how costs come out of the recovery, and whether the rate rises at trial.

What Affects a Wrongful Death Settlement?

Settlement values vary widely. The age, income, and family role of the person who died weigh heavily. Available insurance limits often set a practical ceiling. Some states cap non-economic damages or medical malpractice awards. Punitive damages may apply when the conduct was reckless. Georgia measures damages by the full value of the life of the person who died.