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After getting into a car accident I called Barbara and it was the best decision I ever made. She is amazing! I couldn’t have asked for a better lawyer to represent me. She got me the best settlement to pay back my medi...
The fight with insurance companies is just as hard as fighting for your life after an accident. As long as you dont give up on yourself Barbara will fight for you. The staff at Kidwell and Gallagher were great as well. I...
These two are specialists in two related fields, personal injury and workmen’s comp. Both they and their staff were VERY responsive to me and my questions, and handled my case with patience and competence. I would,...
I feel like kidwell & Gallagher went above and beyond for me. Craig himself and his staff are so nice and helpful. I would highly recommend this law office for your workmans comp/injury needs. You will not be disappo...
The best place to go if you need good hometown lawyers. They are very informative and kept us updated on what was going to happen through out our case.
Was the best experience, we told them the problem and they took over everything, was such a relief. Always there to answer any questions and help is fast is possible.
I was at my job mountain crew changes there in the basement of kidwell and Gallagher
They weren’t able to help with my case, but they directed me to someone who could.
When a family loses someone due to another party’s negligence, the questions that follow are immediate and serious: who is responsible, what rights does the family have, and how long do they have to act. At Kidwell & Gallagher Injury Lawyers, we represent families throughout Reno and northern Nevada in wrongful death claims, handling the legal process from the first consultation through resolution.
If you are looking for a Reno wrongful death lawyer, our team will review your situation at no charge and explain exactly where your claim stands. You should not have to navigate Nevada’s wrongful death laws alone while also managing the weight of an unexpected loss.
When you need legal assistance with your Reno wrongful death claim, look no further than Kidwell Gallagher Injury Lawyers. We have achieved successful results for past clients’ injuries, including:
Our legal team is dedicated to getting fair results for every client we represent, and we never back down from insurance companies. When you work with our firm, you can expect the highest quality of representation, personalized and effective service, and stress-free handling of your wrongful death claim.
Most families who contact us have never dealt with a wrongful death claim before. They know someone caused this. They do not know what that means legally, what it will cost them to pursue it, or whether the process will drag their grief into a courtroom for years. Those concerns are valid, and they deserve direct answers rather than general reassurances.
Nevada law holds negligent parties financially accountable when their actions cause a death. What that looks like in practice depends entirely on the facts of your situation: who bears liability, what evidence supports the claim, and how insurers will respond. Many families also wonder whether pursuing a claim will affect confidentiality, a concern addressed in detail in our post on “Are wrongful death settlements public records?”
Our attorneys take over the legal and insurance-facing work from the first consultation forward, so the family is not the one absorbing pressure from carriers while still processing what happened.
When an individual survives an accident and experiences severe injuries, they may file a personal injury claim. However, if the accident becomes fatal because of someone’s negligence or wrongful actions, the family may decide to file a wrongful death lawsuit. Many types of accidents lead to wrongful death cases in Reno, such as:
When a family member or loved one dies, they cannot testify, stand up for their rights, or explain what happened. This is where Kidwell & Gallagher fight for the deceased and their grieving family members. We will find witnesses, use police reports, and retrieve medical records to determine how the incident occurred and ensure that the defendant is held accountable for their negligent behavior.
Under NRS 41.085, a wrongful death claim in Nevada may be filed by the heirs of the person who died or by the personal representative of that person’s estate, meaning the individual legally appointed to manage what the deceased left behind. Nevada defines heirs as those who would inherit the deceased person’s property if no will existed, which in most cases means a surviving spouse, children, or other close relatives, depending on the family’s circumstances.
Both the heirs and the personal representative may each file a claim, and Nevada law allows those claims to be pursued together in the same case. If eligibility is unclear given your family’s circumstances, a Reno wrongful death lawyer can review the specifics and tell you exactly where your family stands. Our post on understanding the basics of a wrongful death lawsuit is also a useful starting point before that conversation.
Nevada wrongful death claims can recover two broad categories of losses: those claimed personally by surviving family members, and those recovered through the estate by a personal representative.
Family members may seek compensation for grief and sorrow, lost financial support, companionship, and comfort. The estate may pursue out-of-pocket losses such as medical expenses incurred before death, funeral costs, and financial penalties the deceased would have been entitled to seek.
Under NRS 41.085, heirs may seek compensation for grief and sorrow, loss of financial support, companionship, comfort, and the loss of the relationship itself. The personal representative pursues out-of-pocket losses on behalf of the estate, including medical expenses incurred before death, funeral costs, and any financial penalties the deceased would have been entitled to seek against the responsible party.
Our attorneys identify which claims belong to the heirs and which belong to the estate at the outset of every case, because that determination shapes every step of the legal strategy that follows.
Nevada sets a strict deadline for wrongful death claims. Under NRS 11.190, families generally have two years from the date of death to file, and missing that window will bar the claim entirely, regardless of how clear the negligence.
The longer a family waits to contact a Reno wrongful death lawyer, the harder it becomes to recover the evidence that the case depends on. Surveillance footage gets overwritten, witnesses move, and insurance carriers count on families waiting too long to build a strong claim. Our post on do insurance companies want to go to court? explains how carriers calculate their position from the start and why early representation changes that calculation.
Our Reno Wrongful Death Lawyers at Kidwell & Gallagher | Personal Injury Lawyer Reno help victims from Nevada. Our firm is conveniently located near you. We have an office in Reno at 403 Hill St, Reno, NV 89501. Find us with our GeoCoordinates: 34.051221159397144, -118.25445490707811.
Kidwell & Gallagher Injury Lawyers represent Reno families who have lost someone to another party’s negligence, and we pursue every available avenue of compensation with urgency and care. Call (775) 323-2667 today for a free consultation with our Reno wrongful death lawyer.
Craig W. Kidwell is the managing partner of Kidwell & Gallagher, Ltd., and exclusively represents injured workers in Nevada. Mr. Kidwell has been practicing workers’ compensation law in Nevada since 1999 and has acted as lead counsel on over 2,000 contested workers’ compensation claims. Mr. Kidwell represents injured workers in Nevada through all stages of Nevada’s complex worker’s compensation system. Craig regularly appears in all levels of Nevada’s administrative workers’ compensation system and has represented injured workers in Nevada’s districts and Supreme Court.
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If you have chosen to pursue a wrongful death suit, make sure you choose a lawyer who will guide you through the process with care, understanding, and commitment. Kidwell & Gallagher is dedicated to helping honor your loved one and ensuring justice is served. We have one ultimate goal in mind when it comes to wrongful death cases: to give our clients peace of mind. Therefore, we will do everything we can to fight for your right to the compensation you deserve for tragically losing a loved one.
Do not continue putting this off, as it is an important matter that should be solved as soon as possible. If this sounds like a good fit, please do not hesitate to contact our firm’s Reno wrongful death attorney by filling out our contact form. After doing so, we will schedule your free consultation and begin working on your claim.
We look forward to meeting you and helping you through these difficult times.
Contact a Reno lawyer near you:
With more than 21 years of experience in complex litigation cases in Nevada, I’ve represented injured workers in Nevada through all stages of Nevada’s complex worker’s compensation system. I regularly appears in all levels of Nevada’s administrative workers’ compensation system and I’ve represented injured workers in Nevada’s districts and Supreme Court.
With more than 21 years of experience in complex litigation cases in Nevada, I’ve represented injured workers in Nevada through all stages of Nevada’s complex worker’s compensation system. I regularly appears in all levels of Nevada’s administrative workers’ compensation system and I’ve represented injured workers in Nevada’s districts and Supreme Court.
When you schedule your free consultation with a personal injury lawyer in Reno, Nevada, you should come prepared with specific questions for us to address.
When any fatal accident occurs, it is important to speak to an attorney to determine if you have a potential case and what rights you have. Kidwell & Gallagher understands how difficult and emotionally exhausting these situations can be. Still, we will do everything we can to find the exact cause of your loved one’s death, determine who is responsible, and hold them accountable for their actions.
Our attorneys will also handle all forms of communication with insurance companies. We do this because anything you say to insurance companies can and most likely will be used against you, which could affect the results of your case. Insurance companies are known to offer individuals lower amounts than they deserve. Therefore, if you choose a wrongful death attorney from our firm, you will never have to worry about signing or saying the wrong information.
Lastly, we have the experience to investigate these types of cases and the skills to show how your loved one’s death impacted your life. One of the methods we use to do this is by reaching out to professionals who can help us build stronger arguments against the defendants. Some examples of the professionals we may use are accountants, doctors, nurses, psychologists, safety experts, law enforcement, and more.
Finding the best wrongful death lawyer in Reno will increase your chances of receiving compensation for the wrongful death of your spouse or family member. While you can certainly represent yourself in any type of case, a wrongful death case can quickly become tricky and complex. That is why hiring an attorney who knows how to navigate the legal process and understands the laws surrounding wrongful deaths is recommended.
At Kidwell & Gallagher, we have two of the finest Reno wrongful death lawyers you can count on. They are aware of the stresses and hardships you are experiencing, such as how to pay for your loved one’s medical and funeral costs, how to continue getting by and paying bills without the help of their income, and how to move forward with your life without them. As a result, both attorneys are very compassionate and understanding, and we will do our best to take some of the pressures of the legal process off you. While you focus on getting back on your feet, we will handle the hurdles and challenges of your case and only reach out when needed.
Ultimately, we believe you will see how much we care about our clients and how hard we work to stand up for their rights. Talk to an experienced Reno wrongful death lawyer from our office today to build a case for compensation after the tragic loss of a loved one.
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Managing Partner, Craig W. Kidwell who has more than 20 years of legal experience as a personal injury attorney.
