Las Vegas Wrongful Death Attorney

Wrongful Death

Free & confidential · No attorney fee unless we recover money for your family · Available in English & Spanish · Serving Henderson, Las Vegas, Summerlin & Clark County · Call (725) 485-3301

In short: A Las Vegas wrongful death claim can involve both the family's losses and the estate's claims, and Nevada generally gives families two years to file. The Ruiz Law Firm can quietly review who may bring the claim, what evidence should be preserved, and what insurance or defendants may be involved, with no attorney fee unless we recover money for your family.

Las Vegas Wrongful Death Lawyer

If your family is facing the loss of someone you love because of another person or company's negligence, we are so sorry. There is no right way to grieve, and you should not have to carry the legal side of this alone. When you are ready — there is no rush and no obligation — a Las Vegas wrongful death lawyer at The Ruiz Law Firm can quietly handle the paperwork, the insurance companies, and the deadlines so your family can focus on each other. The conversation is free and confidential, and because we work on a contingency fee, there is no attorney fee unless we recover money for your family.

Nevada generally gives families two years from the date of death to file, so there is usually time to grieve first and decide later. We can speak with you in English or Spanish, and there is never any pressure to move faster than you are ready to.

A Difficult Local Reality

Fatal negligence is not a distant problem in our community. Nevada Office of Traffic Safety and Zero Fatalities Nevada crash data show the local stakes of fatal crashes in Clark County. And crashes are only one cause. Wrongful death claims also arise from falls and unsafe conditions at hotels, casinos, and apartments, from workplace incidents, from medical errors, and from defective or unsafe products. Behind each of these numbers is a real person and a family left to cope.

Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim in Nevada

Under Nevada law (NRS 41.085), two parties may bring an action, and sorting out which one applies to your family is one of the first things an attorney handles:

• The heirs of the person who died. Heirs are generally the people who would inherit under Nevada law — most often a surviving spouse or domestic partner and children, and in some situations parents. Heirs recover for their own losses, such as grief, loss of companionship, and the support the person would have provided.
• The personal representative of the estate. This is the person appointed to act for the estate, who brings a survival action for losses the person suffered before death.

A person who wrongfully caused the death cannot recover as an heir. The Ruiz Law Firm can help identify the proper heirs and, where needed, help open the estate.

Wrongful Death Claim vs. Survival Action

Nevada recognizes two separate claims after a fatal injury, and many Las Vegas cases involve both. A wrongful death claim is about the family's own losses; a survival action is about what the person endured before death. Under NRS 41.085 the two may be joined.

| | Wrongful death claim | Survival action | | --- | --- | --- | | Who brings it | The family's heirs | The estate's personal representative | | What it covers | The family's own losses | Losses the person suffered before death | | Examples | Grief, loss of companionship, lost support, funeral costs | Pre-death medical bills, pre-death pain and suffering |

If you are not sure which fits your situation, that is completely normal. Our wrongful death claim and survival action guide explains how the two work together, and we are glad to walk you through it.

What to Expect When You Reach Out

We know calling a lawyer can feel like a big step. Here is what actually happens:

1. You talk with our team — not a call center. We listen to what happened.
2. We explain your options in plain language, with no pressure. You decide what feels right for your family.
3. If you move forward, we handle the rest — the insurers, the paperwork, and the deadlines.

There is no rush and no obligation. The call is free, and there is no attorney fee unless we recover money for your family.

How We Approach These Cases

A wrongful death claim cannot undo what happened. Its purpose is to hold the responsible party accountable and protect the family's financial and personal interests. We approach that work with care and restraint: we investigate the facts, protect the deadlines, and present the loss accurately rather than leaning on pressure or promises. You can also meet the attorneys at The Ruiz Law Firm to see who would be handling your case.

What Damages Can a Family Recover?

Depending on the facts, a wrongful death claim and a survival action together may recover:

• Funeral and burial costs
• Final medical expenses related to the injury
• The income and support the person would have provided
• Grief and sorrow, loss of companionship, and loss of a parent's guidance
• Losses the person suffered before death, through the survival action

No attorney can promise an amount. The value of any case depends on liability, available insurance, the person's age and earnings, the family relationships, the medical evidence, and whether comparative fault is raised. Nevada follows a modified comparative negligence rule with a 51% bar under NRS 41.141, which can reduce or bar recovery based on the fault assigned to the person who died.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can file a wrongful death claim in Las Vegas, Nevada?

Under Nevada law (NRS 41.085), two parties may file. The heirs of the person who died can bring a wrongful death action for their own losses, and the personal representative of the estate can bring a survival action for losses the person suffered before death. Heirs are generally the people who would inherit under Nevada law and commonly include a surviving spouse or domestic partner, children, and sometimes parents. A person who wrongfully caused the death cannot recover as an heir. The Ruiz Law Firm can help identify the proper heirs and, if needed, help open the estate.

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

A wrongful death claim belongs to surviving family members for their own losses, such as grief, loss of companionship, and lost support. A survival action belongs to the estate, through the personal representative, for losses the person suffered before death, such as pre-death medical expenses and conscious pain and suffering. Many Las Vegas cases involve both, and under NRS 41.085 the two actions may be joined.

How long do I have to file a wrongful death claim in Nevada?

Nevada's filing period for wrongful death claims is generally two years from the date of death, and Nevada's general personal-injury deadline is also two years under NRS 11.190(4)(e). Missing the deadline can bar the claim, so it helps to speak with an attorney early enough to preserve evidence and sort out who has standing — but there is usually time to grieve first and decide when you are ready.

What damages can a family recover in a Nevada wrongful death case?

Depending on the facts, recovery may include funeral and burial costs, final medical expenses, the income and support the person would have provided, and non-economic losses such as grief and sorrow, loss of companionship, and loss of a parent's guidance. A survival action may also recover losses the person suffered before death. No attorney can promise an amount — the value depends on liability, available insurance, the person's age and earnings, the family relationships, the medical evidence, and whether comparative fault is raised.

Does it cost anything to talk to a Las Vegas wrongful death lawyer?

No. The Ruiz Law Firm offers a free, confidential consultation, and wrongful death cases are handled on a contingency fee, so there is no attorney fee unless we recover money for your family. You can call (725) 485-3301 or request a free, confidential case review online, and we can speak with you in English or Spanish.

Does Nevada's comparative negligence rule affect a wrongful death case?

It can. Nevada follows a modified comparative negligence rule with a 51% bar under NRS 41.141. If the other side argues the person who died was partly at fault, the percentage assigned can reduce or, past the bar, prevent recovery. That is one reason crash reports, property records, employer records, or medical records need to be reviewed carefully and early.

What kinds of cases lead to a wrongful death claim in Las Vegas?

Wrongful death claims can follow fatal Las Vegas car accident claims as well as truck, motorcycle, or pedestrian crashes, falls or unsafe conditions at hotels, casinos, apartments, or job sites, medical errors, defective products, and workplace incidents. Some workplace deaths involve both a workers' compensation path and a separate third-party negligence claim. The Ruiz Law Firm reviews the facts and explains which paths may apply to your family's situation.

Speak With a Las Vegas Wrongful Death Attorney

When you feel ready, a short conversation is the simplest first step — there is no cost and no obligation. Call (725) 485-3301 to speak with The Ruiz Law Firm directly, or request a free, confidential case review and we will reach out at a time that works for your family. We will listen, explain your options in plain language, and help preserve the evidence needed to evaluate the claim — in English or Spanish. We also offer a no-cost free consultation and serve Henderson, Las Vegas, Summerlin, and the surrounding Clark County area. There is no attorney fee unless we recover money for your family.

The Ruiz Law Firm · 1055 Whitney Ranch Dr, Suite 110, Henderson, NV 89014 · (725) 485-3301