Las Vegas Wrongful Death Attorneys

Trial-Ready Since 1995. Over 100 Jury Trials. Fighting for Las Vegas Families.

Losing a loved one to someone else’s negligence leaves families grieving and overwhelmed at the same time. You may be facing a mountain of accident-related bills while trying to process what happened. You shouldn’t have to navigate the legal system alone during the hardest moment of your life.

At Christiansen Trial Lawyers, we’ve represented Las Vegas families in wrongful death claims since 1995. Peter S. Christiansen has participated in more than 100 jury trials across state and federal courts, and clients receive direct access to experienced attorneys rather than being passed to junior staff. We serve Las Vegas residents and tourists alike, and we offer free consultations, 24/7 availability, and legal services in both English and Spanish.

Call (702) 357-9977 to speak with a Las Vegas wrongful death attorney, or fill out our online form. We’re available around the clock and offer services in English and Spanish.

What Is a Wrongful Death Claim?

Under NRS 41.085, a wrongful death claim arises when a person’s death is caused by another party’s wrongful act or neglect. Nevada law allows both the surviving heirs and the personal representative of the estate to maintain separate actions. A wrongful death claim is brought by surviving family members for their own losses. A survival action under NRS 41.100 is brought by the personal representative on behalf of the estate and covers damages the deceased would have recovered had they survived. Both actions can often be filed simultaneously.

Compensation Recoverable Under Each Action

Heirs and the estate may each pursue distinct categories of damages. Understanding how they differ helps families evaluate the full scope of what they can seek.

Compensation recoverable by heirs can include:

• Medical bills incurred before death
• Loss of income the deceased would have provided
• Funeral and burial costs
• Loss of companionship
• Grief, sorrow, and pain and suffering

The personal representative’s claim on behalf of the estate can also seek punitive damages in appropriate cases. Nevada doesn’t cap wrongful death damages except in medical malpractice matters. A wrongful death civil claim can also be pursued regardless of whether criminal charges are filed against the responsible party. The burden of proof in a civil case is lower than in a criminal trial.

Causes of Wrongful Death in Las Vegas

Some accidents are no one’s fault. Others are the direct result of negligence, and a thorough investigation can establish who bears responsibility. We work with medical experts, accident reconstruction professionals, and other specialists to determine the cause of death and build the evidence needed to hold at-fault parties accountable.

Our lawyers have pursued wrongful death claims in cases involving:

• Motor Vehicle Accidents: We handle cases involving drunk drivers, fatigued truckers, and defective auto parts. Motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians face heightened fatal injury risk because they lack the protection vehicle occupants have.
• Premises Liability: Dangerous property conditions can lead to fatal falls, assaults, or injuries from heavy equipment. Property owners can be held responsible for the damages your family has suffered.
• Defective and Dangerous Products: Faulty brakes, airbags, and other auto defects frequently contribute to fatal crashes. When a product fails, the manufacturer can be liable.
• Hotel and Casino Negligence: Las Vegas resort properties owe guests a high duty of care. Fatal accidents involving inadequate security, pool drownings, or structural failures can support claims against large resort operators.
• Workplace Accidents: Construction and related industry deaths can give rise to wrongful death claims against third parties in addition to workers’ compensation claims.
• Medical Malpractice: Surgical errors, misdiagnosis, and delayed treatment are among the leading causes of wrongful death and require expert testimony.

Families can file wrongful death claims after a sudden fatal accident, but also when a loved one initially survived and later died from their injuries. If your loved one had a personal injury claim pending at the time of their death, we can convert it into a wrongful death claim.

Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim in Nevada?

Each state sets its own rules for who has legal standing to bring a wrongful death claim. Under Nevada law, heirs and the personal representative of the estate can each step forward. If your loved one had an estate plan with a named personal representative, that individual can take legal action. If none was named, the court can appoint one.

Other parties entitled to seek compensation include:

• The surviving spouse or domestic partner
• Children of the deceased
• Parents of the deceased if there is no surviving spouse or children

Nevada also recognizes standing for others who can prove financial dependence on the deceased, including stepchildren and stepparents. This ensures that those truly affected by the loss aren’t left without recourse. Under NRS 41.085, a person deemed legally responsible for the death cannot recover as an heir.

Wrongful Death Claims in Las Vegas: Local Factors That Matter

Las Vegas creates wrongful death liability scenarios that don’t exist in most other cities. The resort corridor, hotel pools, casino floors, and heavily trafficked Strip roadways generate risks specific to this market. When a fatal accident occurs here, the investigation typically involves the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, whose reports are key evidence in building a wrongful death claim. When the cause of death is disputed, findings from the Clark County Coroner’s Office can support the causation element of the case.

Wrongful death cases in Clark County are filed in the Eighth Judicial District Court. When a government entity may bear partial responsibility, Nevada law may impose a separate notice requirement with a deadline that runs independently from the standard two-year statute of limitations. Families who believe a government party is involved should consult an attorney promptly to understand whether this requirement applies to their situation.

We’ve served Las Vegas and Clark County since 1995 and are familiar with the local investigative and court processes that shape wrongful death claims in this community. That institutional knowledge matters when evidence-gathering timelines are tight and local procedures are unfamiliar.

Evaluating and Proving Wrongful Death Damages

Families often want to understand how courts and insurance companies assess the value of a wrongful death case and how those figures connect to what they’ve actually lost. Nevada law allows recovery for both economic losses, such as medical bills and lost financial support, and non-economic harms like grief, sorrow, and loss of companionship. To succeed on a wrongful death claim, four elements must be established: the defendant owed the deceased a duty of care, the defendant breached that duty, the breach directly caused the death, and surviving family members suffered damages as a result.

How Nevada’s Comparative Negligence Rule Affects Recovery

Nevada follows modified comparative negligence under NRS 41.141. A family can still recover even if the deceased was partially at fault, as long as the deceased’s share of fault doesn’t exceed 50%; recovery is reduced proportionally. Insurance companies and defense teams routinely try to inflate the deceased’s share of fault to reduce payouts. We counter those tactics by building our cases with police and accident investigation reports, medical records and autopsy findings, witness statements, surveillance footage, and expert testimony from accident reconstruction specialists and economic loss analysts.

How We Build the Damages Picture

We gather records and work with appropriate professionals so a judge or jury at the Eighth Judicial District Court can fully understand what your loved one contributed to your life and your family. We document the day-to-day impact of the loss: changes in household responsibilities, financial support the deceased provided to children or aging parents, and the emotional weight survivors now carry. Combining that personal account with objective evidence produces a damages picture that reflects both the financial and human cost of what happened.

Filing a Wrongful Death Claim: Process and Timeframes in Nevada

Under NRS 11.190(4)(e), Nevada’s statute of limitations for wrongful death claims is two years from the date of death. Missing this deadline can end a family’s right to recovery. Evidence also disappears quickly: surveillance footage gets overwritten, witnesses’ memories fade, and physical evidence degrades. Early action preserves the strongest possible case.

The process generally involves a free case evaluation, investigation and evidence preservation, demand and negotiation with the responsible party’s insurer, and litigation or trial if a fair settlement isn’t reached. Most wrongful death cases take one to three years from filing to resolution, depending on complexity and whether the case settles or goes to trial. Exceptions to the two-year deadline may apply when the defendant concealed evidence, a claimant is a minor, or the liable party left Nevada. Our wrongful death attorneys in Las Vegas can work with you to identify any applicable exceptions before time runs out.