Las Vegas Wrongful Death Lawyer

Did you lose a loved one in a fatal accident in Las Vegas?

At The Galliher Law Firm, we are wrongful death lawyers who pursue full recovery for grieving families throughout Las Vegas and the surrounding area.

If someone else’s negligence took your family member’s life, Nevada law gives you the right to hold that person or company accountable. A wrongful death claim cannot undo the loss, but it can address the financial harm that follows it and provide a measure of justice. Our founder opened The Galliher Law Firm in 1974 and has spent 52 years representing plaintiffs across Southern Nevada. He handles every case personally. Our Las Vegas, NV wrongful death lawyer can carry the legal burden so your family does not have to. Consultations are free and confidential.

Wrongful Death Lawyer Las Vegas, NV

A wrongful death lawyer represents the family and the estate of someone killed by another party’s wrongful act or neglect. Under Nevada law, that representation involves two distinct claims. The heirs pursue compensation for their own losses, and the personal representative of the estate pursues losses the deceased sustained before death. An attorney investigates the fatal incident, identifies every liable party, values both claims properly, and negotiates or litigates until the family receives what the law allows.

Grief makes it hard to deal with adjusters, deadlines, and paperwork. A wrongful death attorney in Las Vegas, NV takes over those tasks while your family focuses on each other. Our firm has guided Clark County families through this process for five decades.

Types of Wrongful Death Cases We Handle in Las Vegas

Fatal accidents happen in many settings, and the cause of death determines who can be held responsible and how the case must be built. Federal crash data recorded 40,901 traffic deaths nationwide in 2023, and Nevada roads contribute to that toll every year. These are the fatal incident types our firm handles most often.

• Car accidents. High-speed crashes on I-15, U.S. 95, and valley surface streets claim lives in Clark County every month. NHTSA speeding statistics show speeding contributed to 29 percent of U.S. traffic deaths in 2024. We reconstruct the collision, secure witness testimony, and pursue every available insurance policy.
• Truck accidents. A loaded commercial truck can weigh 40 tons, and collisions with passenger vehicles are frequently fatal. These cases involve federal regulations and corporate defendants who begin building their defense immediately.
• Motorcycle accidents. Riders killed in crashes are often blamed unfairly by insurers. We gather the evidence needed to establish what actually happened.
• Bicycle accidents. Cyclists have no protection against a vehicle, and fatal collisions raise questions about driver attention and roadway conditions.
• Traumatic brain injuries. Severe head trauma sometimes proves fatal days or weeks after the incident. The claim accrues on the date of death, not the date of the crash.
• Medical malpractice. When a preventable medical error causes death, the family may have a claim against the provider. These cases follow special rules and shorter timelines, so early action matters.
• Premises liability. Fatal falls, drownings, and security failures on hotel, casino, and commercial properties fall into this category. Property owners in Las Vegas owe their guests a duty of reasonable care.
• Pedestrian accidents. Pedestrian deaths remain one of the most persistent traffic safety problems in the Las Vegas valley. Drivers who fail to yield at crosswalks and intersections can be held fully accountable.
• Drunk driving crashes. Impaired drivers who kill may face punitive damages on top of compensatory awards. A criminal prosecution does not prevent the family from filing a civil claim.

Why Choose The Galliher Law Firm as My Wrongful Death Lawyer in Las Vegas, NV?

Fifty-Two Years of Plaintiff’s Work in Nevada

Keith E. Galliher, Jr. has devoted his entire 52-year career to plaintiff’s injury work in this state. He earned his undergraduate degree from UNLV in 1970, was admitted to the Nevada bar in 1974, and later served as an alternate municipal judge for the City of Las Vegas. His memberships include the Clark County Bar Association and the American Association for Justice, the national organization formerly known as the Association of Trial Lawyers of America. Our personal injury lawyer in Las Vegas, NV has obtained multiple seven-figure verdicts and settlements, and we have recovered millions of dollars for clients and their families over the decades.

Nothing Owed Unless We Win

Wrongful death cases proceed on a contingent fee, which means your family pays no attorney fees unless we secure compensation. The State Bar of Nevada and the Nevada Supreme Court have specifically approved our fee agreement.

What Is Important to Understand About a Wrongful Death Case?

Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Wrongful Death Cases

Nevada’s wrongful death statute creates two separate claims. Heirs, generally the surviving spouse, children, or parents, recover for their personal losses. The personal representative recovers on behalf of the estate. Nevada’s comparative negligence rule, found in the same chapter of the statutes, can reduce a recovery if the deceased shared fault, so establishing full liability is central to the case.

Recoverable damages typically include:

• Grief and sorrow suffered by each heir
• Loss of probable financial support the deceased would have provided
• Loss of companionship, society, comfort, and consortium
• Medical expenses the deceased incurred before death
• Funeral and burial expenses
• The deceased’s pain and suffering damages before death, recoverable by the heirs

Each heir proves individual losses, and awards to heirs are protected from the deceased’s creditors. Estate recoveries work differently and may be reachable by creditors, which is one more reason the two claims must be handled with care. Valuing lost future support alone often requires economic analysis of the deceased’s earnings, benefits, and working years remaining.

What Are Important Aspects of a Wrongful Death Case?

Wrongful death claims involve procedural requirements that families rarely think about in the weeks after a death. We address them from the first meeting.

• Standing. Only heirs and the estate’s personal representative may bring the claim, so appointing a representative early keeps the case moving.
• Evidence preservation. Vehicles, surveillance footage, and maintenance records disappear quickly. Prompt investigation protects the proof.
• Insurance coverage. Identifying every applicable policy, including umbrella and commercial coverage, shapes what recovery is possible. An honest assessment of claim value requires knowing the coverage first.
• Early settlement pressure. Insurers sometimes approach families quickly with offers that ignore the full value of both claims. No offer should be accepted before the losses are completely understood.
• Parallel criminal proceedings. A criminal case against the at-fault party runs separately, and its outcome does not decide the civil claim.

What Is the Wrongful Death Case Timeline?

Every family’s situation is different, but most wrongful death cases in Clark County move through the same general stages.

• Appointment. Court appoints a personal representative for the estate if one is needed.
• Investigation. We obtain the accident report, coroner’s findings, medical records, and witness statements.
• Demand and negotiation. We present the claims to the insurers and negotiate for full value on behalf of both the heirs and the estate.
• Litigation. If negotiation fails, we file suit. Complex fatal cases can take longer than routine claims, and the time to settle depends heavily on the facts.
• Resolution and distribution. Settlement or verdict proceeds are distributed to the heirs and the estate according to their separate claims.

What Should You Bring to Your Wrongful Death Consultation?

You do not need a complete set of records before meeting with us. Our office obtains documents through formal channels as part of every case, so bring what is readily available:

• The death certificate
• Any police, incident, or coroner’s report
• Medical records and bills from the final treatment
• Funeral and burial expense receipts
• Letters or emails from any insurance company

We will explain the process plainly and answer everything you ask. Reviewing a few consultation questions beforehand helps many families make the most of the meeting.

Nevada Legal Resources for Wrongful Death Cases

The Nevada Legislature publishes the state’s statutes online, and families can read the laws governing these claims for themselves. A short orientation to the key chapters follows.

• Chapter 11 of the Nevada Revised Statutes sets the statute of limitations, which generally gives families two years from the date of death to file suit.
• Chapter 41 of the Nevada Revised Statutes contains the wrongful death statute cited above, together with the state’s comparative negligence rule.
• Chapter 42 of the Nevada Revised Statutes governs damages, including punitive damages in cases involving impaired drivers.

Reach Out to The Galliher Law Firm to Schedule a Consultation

No family should face this process the wrongful passing of a loved one alone. You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for your family. We will listen and explain your options honestly. There is no obligation, and no pressure to decide anything after the first meeting. Contact us to schedule a free, confidential case review with a Las Vegas wrongful death attorney.

Wrongful Death Statistics in Las Vegas, NV

Several agencies track fatal accidents in Clark County, and the numbers explain why families keep needing a Las Vegas wrongful death lawyer. Traffic deaths draw the most attention. Preliminary figures from the state Office of Traffic Safety put Clark County at 239 roadway deaths in 2025, down from 296 the year before. That is more than four deaths every week, and well over half of the state’s total.

Traffic is only one aspect. Falls, drownings, workplace incidents, and medical errors also end lives in this valley, and most never make the news. The coroner investigates thousands of deaths a year.

• Clark County recorded 83 pedestrian deaths in 2025, down from 97 in 2024, according to the same state preliminary data.
• Accidents rank as the third leading cause of death in Nevada, behind only heart disease and cancer, based on CDC state statistics for 2024.
• Nevada’s unintentional injury death rate was 67.6 per 100,000 residents in 2024, per the Healthy People 2030 state profile.
• The Clark County Coroner’s Office had 8,670 deaths reported in 2024 and responded to 3,963 scenes, according to the county’s coroner performance report.

Behind each number is a potential claim. A wrongful death attorney in Las Vegas, NV reads these reports looking for the negligent driver, the careless property owner, or the provider who missed something obvious.

Mistakes That Can Damage Your Wrongful Death Claim

Nothing about the weeks after a death feels like a legal matter. But decisions made during that time shape the claim, and some cannot be undone. A Las Vegas, NV wrongful death lawyer sees the same errors repeated across cases.

1. Speaking to the at-fault party’s insurer without counsel. Adjusters call quickly and sound sympathetic. A recorded statement from a grieving spouse becomes evidence used to argue the deceased shared fault or that the losses are smaller than claimed.
2. Accepting an early settlement. The first offer almost never values the estate’s claim and the heirs’ claims separately. Once a release is signed, the case is concluded.
3. Delaying the appointment of a personal representative. The estate’s claim cannot be filed without one. Waiting months to open probate pushes everything else back.
4. Failing to preserve evidence. Vehicles get sold for salvage. Casino surveillance footage is overwritten in days. Phone records that would prove distracted driving crashes require a prompt legal hold.
5. Posting about the death online. Insurers review social media. A memorial post mentioning the deceased’s drinking that night, or a photo from a later family trip, gets twisted into an argument about fault.
6. Treating the criminal case as the civil case. A DUI prosecution does not pay the family anything. The civil claim runs separately and has its own deadline.
7. Overlooking responsible parties. A fatal truck crash may involve the driver, the carrier, and a maintenance contractor. A death from spinal cord injuries weeks after a fall may involve a property owner and a hospital. Each carries separate coverage.
8. Letting the deadline slip. Nevada law gives most families two years from the date of death to file suit. Grief makes time move strangely, and families underestimate how much of that window has passed.
9. Hiring a lawyer who hands the case off. The attorney who signs you up should be the one who tries the case.

Las Vegas Wrongful Death Lawyer FAQs

How much does a wrongful death attorney in Las Vegas cost?

We handle these cases on a contingent fee. The family pays nothing up front and owes no attorney fees unless we recover compensation. Case costs, such as witness fees and record charges, are advanced by our firm and repaid from the recovery under a written agreement you review first.

Who can file a wrongful death claim in Nevada?

The heirs of the deceased and the personal representative of the estate. Heirs generally means the surviving spouse or domestic partner and the children. If there are none, the parents may qualify. Which relatives have standing depends on who survives the deceased.

How long do we have to file?

Two years from the date of death in most cases. That is the window set by Nevada’s statute of limitations for wrongful death. Claims against a government entity and claims arising from medical care follow different rules and can require action sooner.

What if my family member was partly at fault?

Nevada’s comparative fault rule applies to wrongful death cases. If the deceased was 50 percent or less at fault, the family can still recover, reduced by that percentage. At 51 percent or more, the claim is barred. Insurers push hard on fault for exactly this reason.

What is the difference between the heirs’ claim and the estate’s claim?

Heirs recover for their own losses: grief, lost financial support, lost companionship. The estate recovers what the deceased could have claimed while living, including medical bills and the work of proving pain and suffering before death. Awards to heirs are protected from the deceased’s creditors. Estate awards may not be.

How is a wrongful death case valued?

The economic portion depends on the deceased’s age, earnings, benefits, and expected working years, usually calculated by an economist. When death follows months of treatment, brain injury care costs add up quickly. The non-economic portion depends on each heir’s relationship with the deceased. Punitive damages are possible for especially reckless conduct, such as drunk driving.

Do we need a personal representative before we start?

Not before you call us, but one must be appointed before the estate’s claim is filed. If the deceased left a will, the named executor usually serves. If not, the court appoints an administrator, often the surviving spouse or an adult child. We coordinate this step as part of the case.

What kinds of deaths qualify for a wrongful death claim?

Any death caused by another party’s wrongful act or neglect. Vehicle collisions are the most common, including head-on collisions and crashes involving pedestrians. Fatal falls on commercial property, railroad accidents, drownings, defective products, and medical errors also qualify when negligence can be proven.

How long will the case take?

Cases with clear liability and adequate insurance can resolve within a year. Disputed fault, multiple defendants, or a trial can push that to two years or more. We give families a realistic estimate once we understand the facts and coverage. Families who stay organized tend to be effective injury clients, which helps.

Will the same attorney handle our case from start to finish?

Yes. Keith Galliher personally handles every wrongful death case in Las Vegas that our firm accepts. He meets with the family, directs the investigation, negotiates with insurers, and tries the case if needed. You will not be passed to an associate. Our practice areas have been plaintiff’s injury work since 1974.

Important Resources for Las Vegas Wrongful Death Cases

Most Dangerous Locations for Wrongful Death in Las Vegas

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department publishes its highest-crash intersections each year, and our wrongful death lawyers in Las Vegas, NV see the same streets case after case.

Dangerous streets:

• Flamingo Road. The intersection at Rainbow Boulevard led the valley in crashes through early 2025.
• Sahara Avenue. The crossings at Eastern, Maryland Parkway, and Decatur rank among the city’s most collision-prone.
• Charleston Boulevard. The eastern stretch at Lamb and Nellis sees frequent high-speed and pedestrian crashes.
• Tropicana Avenue. The intersections at Jones, Koval, and Decatur mix resort traffic with heavy local use.
• Boulder Highway. Long one of the deadliest corridors for pedestrians in Clark County.

Dangerous highways:

• Interstate 15. The valley’s main north-south route produces fatal rollovers and multi-vehicle crashes at speed.
• U.S. 95 and Interstate 11. The Spaghetti Bowl interchange and the northwest valley stretch see frequent serious collisions.

What Are Important Local Resources for Las Vegas Wrongful Death Cases?

These Las Vegas agencies hold the records a wrongful death claim depends on.

• Clark County Coroner’s Office: (702) 455-3210. Investigates the death and issues cause and manner of death reports.
• Las Vegas Metropolitan Police: (702) 828-3111. Its Fatal Detail investigates deadly crashes and writes the collision report.
• Southern Nevada Health District: (702) 759-1010. Issues certified death certificates for Clark County.
• District Court Probate Department: (702) 455-2650. Appoints the personal representative who brings the estate’s claim.
• University Medical Center: (702) 383-2000. Nevada’s only Level I trauma center and the source of many final medical records.

The Galliher Law Firm is not affiliated with these organizations and does not endorse them; they are listed for information only.

About The Galliher Law Firm

Keith E. Galliher, Jr. earned his law degree from Arizona State University in 1974 and was admitted that year to the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada, then to the Ninth Circuit in 1976 and the United States Supreme Court. He is listed in the Martindale-Hubbell Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers and is a sustaining member of the Nevada Justice Association.

Over five decades he has secured several multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements, and when a case calls for it, our firm investigates crash scenes and witness accounts with the help of a former police officer. He also sits on the March of Dimes Board of Directors, a role noted in our firm’s history.

What Our Clients Say

★★★★★

“Keith Galliher is an amazing attorney who has been practicing Law since the early 1970s. He is also an amazing person. Keith is different than normal attorneys… He and his staff truly work hard for their clients and are a very successful firm. They care about their clients. You will see a big difference when interacting with Keith versus many other attorneys at other Law Firms. I highly recommend Keith Galliher for your legal needs.” – Mark’s Watches

Read more reviews on our Google Business Profile.

Additional Resources for Las Vegas Wrongful Death Cases

• 10 Mistakes After An Accident That Hurt Your Case
• 7 Mistakes When Settling Too Quickly
• Understanding Your Settlement Offer
• Nevada Comparative Fault and Injury Claims
• The Two Year Countdown That Follows a Crash

Contact The Galliher Law Firm

If someone else’s negligence took your family member’s life, our Las Vegas, NV wrongful death attorney will listen, explain the two claims your family may hold, and tell you whether a case exists. You pay no fees unless we win. The consultation is free and confidential, at our East Sahara Avenue office or by phone. Contact us to schedule a consultation.