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.
