If your family is seeking a wrongful death lawyer, the single biggest hurdle you’ll confront is locating a trial attorney committed to fighting your case themselves, not assigning it to a staff member, and who has demonstrated success against big business, insurance companies, and other organizations. Standard personal injury attorneys won’t help you with that problem.
Most wrongful death lawyers fail to specialize in fatal injury cases, provide any sort of satisfaction guarantee, or personally defend wrongful death clients as opposed to employing staff members who oversee the claims process.
That’s the reason why, at a time when you need aggressive wrongful death attorneys to stand up for you, families are left without adequate representation.
What Is a Wrongful Death Claim?
Wrongful death happens if death results from negligence, recklessness, or intentional acts. In Massachusetts, the surviving spouse, children, or parents may be able to seek compensation. These are civil cases, not criminal. They’re about money, not jail time.
Damages may include:
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Past and future lost income
- Loss of services and companionship
- Mental anguish
- Medical expenses may also be covered.
You have three years from the time of death to file a wrongful death suit, per Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 229, Section 2. It is not an option to wait more than three years to file a suit because you’ll lose the right to compensation forever.
Wrongful death claims involve complex legal concepts, including personal injury, administration of the deceased’s estate, liability of others, and corporate entities that have a role in the deceased’s death. Insurance carriers hire the best defense to minimize the value of the settlement.
Wrongful death is an area of the law that requires specialized skills. That’s why you need an attorney with wrongful death trial experience as opposed to general personal injury experience.
How to Choose the Right Wrongful Death Lawyer
You need a bad-ass advocate when a family member is taken away from you because of negligence. Don’t look at the marketing; look at trial skills, track record of actual results, and whether or not you actually have access to an attorney.
- Trial experience and jury verdicts: Ask how many wrongful death cases have been brought to trial by the attorney you hire and won. Winning trials is good for negotiation leverage.
- Settlement amounts: Ask for specific recovery figures for fatal injury cases and ask how the settlement amounts were determined. “Millions recovered” for fatal injuries means nothing without the actual amounts.
- Attorney representation: Ask if you actually get to meet with an attorney to handle your claim. You do not want to be passed off to a paralegal or case managers once you retain a firm.
- Wrongful death cases: Ask how much the firm concentrates on wrongful death and fatal injury claims specifically, not just general personal injury.
- Satisfaction guarantees: Make sure the firm stands behind their work with satisfaction guarantees and written guarantees about attorney fees. This is especially important for those who can’t afford high upfront costs.
- Availability and responsiveness: Can you contact them at any time of day, or do they have a limited consultation hour, and do they promptly get back with you?
The difference between attorneys who handle wrongful death claims and those who really know what they’re doing. When you have lost a family member, the last thing you want to do is worry about a trial. You want a bad-ass attorney to get you the accountability and the money you need to live your life.
Quick Comparison
Scan this table to identify which Boston wrongful death firm aligns with your family’s priorities—whether that’s guaranteed satisfaction, record verdicts, or round-the-clock access.
| Firm Name | Key Specialties | Notable Track Record | Client Promise |
| Michael Kelly Injury Lawyers | Wrongful death and catastrophic injury | $2.5M settlement; $455K wrongful death recovery | Personal representation by attorneys who answer their own phones |
| Santoro & Gray | Catastrophic injury and wrongful death focus | Highest personal injury verdict in Massachusetts | Meaningful outcomes for grieving families |
| Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers | Tough cases other attorneys declined | Hundreds of millions recovered since 1991 | 25,000+ satisfied clients and families |
| Joel H. Schwartz, P.C. | 185+ years combined litigation expertise | 30,000+ claims resolved, hundreds of millions recovered | 60+ years firm experience since 1965 |
| Altman & Altman | Personalized attention to every detail | Aggressive representation with creative solutions | Maximum recovery explored for clients |
| FitzGerald Law Company | Multicultural and multilingual team support | 30+ years combined legal experience | Deep understanding of client challenges |
Top 6 Wrongful Death Law Firms
Choosing the right lawyer after a wrongful death matters. The firms below have strong track records, handle complex cases, and support families well. Whether you want a satisfaction guarantee, big verdicts, or bilingual help, this list highlights what sets each apart in 2026.
Michael Kelly Injury Lawyers
Boston-based Michael Kelly Injury Lawyers stands out for combining direct attorney involvement with a client-focused approach to wrongful death litigation. The firm offers a 30-day satisfaction guarantee, allowing clients to change representation within the first 30 days if they are not satisfied. Cases are handled on a contingency-fee basis, so families pay no legal fees unless compensation is recovered.
Wrongful death forms one of the firm’s main practice areas, along with catastrophic injury, medical malpractice, and serious car accident cases. The legal team handles everything from the initial investigation and evidence gathering all the way through settlement talks or trial. They regularly work with medical experts, accident reconstruction specialists, and financial analysts to build solid claims.
Notable results include a $2.5 million motorcycle accident settlement, a $500,000 slip-and-fall recovery, and a $455,000 wrongful death settlement.
Michael Kelly Injury Lawyers has offices in Boston, Cambridge, Lowell, Worcester, and Salem. They represent families across Massachusetts and offer consultations by phone, video call, or in person.
Why families choose this firm:
- Direct attorney access throughout the case
- 30-day satisfaction guarantee
- No fee unless compensation is recovered
- $2.5M motorcycle settlement and $455K wrongful death settlement
- Experience in wrongful death, medical malpractice, and catastrophic injury claims
- Multiple offices serving families across Massachusetts
Santoro & Gray
Boston Personal Injury Lawyers Who Fight for Your Truth—that tagline isn’t marketing fluff. Co-founding partners Victoria Santoro and Jessica Gray built their reputation on fierce litigation with a proven track record of achieving meaningful outcomes for catastrophically injured clients and grieving families, including the highest personal injury verdict in Massachusetts history. When a wrongful death case demands aggressive courtroom advocacy and maximum jury awards, this firm delivers.
They specialize in wrongful death alongside spinal cord injuries, medical malpractice, and other catastrophic injury claims—cases where settlement offers rarely reflect true damages without trial-ready counsel.
Their highest personal injury verdict in Massachusetts speaks louder than any client testimonial. It signals jury trust, meticulous case preparation, and the willingness to take insurers to trial when fair compensation isn’t offered.
Families navigating wrongful death claims face opponents with deep pockets and aggressive defense teams. Santoro & Gray match that intensity with courtroom experience that insurers respect.
Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers
Since 1991, Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers has built a solid name in Boston for handling serious personal injury and wrongful death claims. They’ve helped over 25,000 clients and recovered hundreds of millions of dollars. The firm often takes on complex fatal accident cases that demand aggressive preparation.
Their approach centers on thorough investigations and strong advocacy. No matter if it’s a car or truck crash, a dangerous property condition, or medical negligence, they fight for both the financial losses and the deeper impacts like pain and suffering.
You can start with a free consultation where experienced attorneys review your situation and lay out a plan. What makes them effective:
- More than 30 years focused on fatal injury cases in Boston
- Hundreds of millions recovered since 1991 for 25,000+ clients
- Proven willingness to litigate tough cases that other firms pass on
- Deep experience in vehicle collisions, premises liability, and catastrophic deaths
Joel H. Schwartz, P.C.
Joel H. Schwartz, P.C., has been serving Boston families for over 60 years, backed by a team whose combined litigation experience exceeds 185 years. They’ve resolved more than 30,000 cases and helped recover hundreds of millions after serious losses. Families who want experienced depth often turn to them.
Their method is practical and organized. Using custom software along with careful investigation, they ease the burden on clients while keeping a personal touch. No case gets handed off to beginners — senior lawyers like John M. Vlassakis and Constance M. Toomey stay actively involved.
They particularly understand construction accidents and pedestrian fatalities, issues that hit Boston’s urban areas regularly. This combination of modern tools and seasoned attorneys delivers both responsiveness and real legal power.
| Attribute | Value |
| Firm Experience | 60+ years |
| Combined Litigation Expertise | 185+ years across the team |
| Claims Resolved | 30,000+ |
| Best For | Families seeking institutional depth and proven multi-million-dollar recoveries |
Altman & Altman
Altman & Altman aggressively represents clients in personal injury cases, with free consultations available 24/7—a critical lifeline for families managing wrongful death claims after sudden tragedy. Led by Steven Altman and a dedicated team including David Altman, Steven Goldwyn, and Asia Fitzgerald, the firm brings personalized attention with every detail examined and creative solutions explored to ensure every possible avenue to success is left open.
Their practice spans car accidents, workers’ compensation, birth injuries, and medical malpractice—all areas where wrongful death claims frequently arise. Round-the-clock accessibility matters. Families can reach the firm immediately at any hour, ensuring no question goes unanswered during the most overwhelming moments of grief and legal confusion.
FitzGerald Law Company
FitzGerald Law Company offers more than 30 years of combined experience to families in Boston facing wrongful death claims. They don’t publish detailed results from fatal injury cases, but their team brings something unique. Many staff members are immigrants or first-generation Americans, which adds real empathy to their legal support.
The firm handles personal injury, along with immigration and criminal defense. This makes them helpful for families with overlapping legal needs. Led by Principal Attorney Desmond P. FitzGerald, their diverse team includes native Spanish speakers who understand different cultural experiences of loss.
After a tragedy, families want lawyers who connect on a personal level and speak their language when it matters most. Though wrongful death isn’t their only focus, their straightforward and personalized service makes them a good fit for many.
Key strengths include:
- 30+ years combined legal experience
- Multilingual staff with firsthand immigration experience
- Personal injury specialization alongside other areas
- Cultural sensitivity built into their approach
- Direct access to attorneys with personalized case handling
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How much does a wrongful death lawyer cost in Massachusetts?
A: They typically work on contingency. You pay nothing unless you win. Attorney fees generally run 33% to 40% of the recovery, sometimes a bit higher if the case goes to trial.
Q: How long does a wrongful death case take?
A: Settlements often happen in 12–18 months. Trials can stretch the process to 24–36 months. Cases with malpractice or multiple defendants usually take more time.
Q: Can I handle a wrongful death claim without a lawyer?
A: It’s possible, but not recommended. Insurance companies have strong defense teams. Without your own experienced lawyer, you’re likely to receive far less compensation.
Q: What evidence is needed for a wrongful death claim?
A: Key items include the death certificate, accident reports, medical records, witness statements, and financial documents. Your attorney will arrange expert testimony to support the case.
Q: Do wrongful death settlements get taxed?
A: Most compensation is non-taxable, including loss of companionship, funeral expenses, and lost income. Punitive damages are taxable. Speak with a tax professional for details.
Conclusion
Grieving families deserve more than a case manager shuffling paperwork—they need an aggressive trial advocate who answers directly and fights for maximum recovery.
The six firms above earned their rankings through proven jury verdicts, documented settlement millions, and unwavering commitment to personal representation. Each brings distinct strengths: satisfaction guarantees, record-breaking verdicts, decades of litigation expertise, or round-the-clock availability.
Your next step matters. Request free consultations from at least three firms, ask pointed questions about their trial track record and who will handle your case day-to-day, then trust your instinct on which attorney truly understands your family’s pain and will fight relentlessly for justice. Don’t settle for less.