While 70% of wrongful death lawsuits settle before going to trial, it often turns out too late that the attorney your family retained assigned your case to a paralegal, law clerk, or case manager. The attorney you hire for your wrongful death case should actually represent you.
If your loved one died due to the carelessness of another, like in a car accident, a medical mistake, or a workplace error, your attorney should be building and litigating the case for you and not just delegating it to a new hire.
The statute of limitations for wrongful death claims in Massachusetts is strict, and the statute only lets some members of the family sue. You want to work with someone who knows what it takes to be victorious in the courtroom, not just in a lawyer’s office.
We used the following 5 criteria to evaluate the best Boston wrongful death attorneys:
- Do I really get representation from the attorney?
- Are there published trial results with attorneys who handled fatal accident cases?
- Is there a free case evaluation?
- Can I get a satisfaction guarantee?
- Is your client satisfaction guaranteed, and what’s the fine print?
- Are they going to fight hard, or just try to settle quickly?
Most law firms say they care about each case they take on individually, but they really put your case through the production line of a busy office.
We only recommend those that take your case personally: These three stand out from the rest, and here’s how they stack up.
Quick Comparison
Scan the table below to see how these 3 Boston wrongful death attorneys differ in client access, practice focus, and guarantees.
| Firm Name | Key Practice Areas | Unique Guarantee/Promise | Consultation Availability |
| Michael Kelly Injury Lawyers | Wrongful death, medical malpractice, vehicle accidents, workplace accidents, premises liability | No fee unless compensation is recovered; personalized representation | Free consultation (phone, video, or in person); 24/7 support |
| Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers | Wrongful death and catastrophic injury | Hundreds of millions recovered since 1991 | Free consultation |
| Santoro & Gray | Wrongful death and catastrophic cases | Highest personal injury verdict in Massachusetts | Free consultation |
Top 3 Wrongful Death Attorneys
Each firm below brings distinct strengths to wrongful death representation—from satisfaction guarantees to record-setting verdicts. Consider which approach aligns with your family’s needs.
Michael Kelly Injury Lawyers
Michael Kelly Injury Lawyers, Massachusetts is a personal injury law firm that represents individuals and families in serious injury and wrongful death cases throughout Boston and the surrounding areas.
The firm focuses on helping families seek compensation after the loss of a loved one caused by negligence, including motor vehicle accidents, medical errors, workplace incidents, defective products, unsafe properties, and nursing home neglect.
The firm works on a contingency-fee basis, meaning clients do not pay legal fees unless compensation is recovered. Michael Kelly Injury Lawyers handles all stages of the legal process, from initial investigations and evidence gathering to settlement negotiations and trial representation when necessary.
Key Services:
- Wrongful death claims
- Fatal car accident cases
- Fatal truck accident cases
- Fatal motorcycle accident cases
- Medical malpractice wrongful death lawsuits
- Workplace and construction accident fatalities
- Defective product liability claims
- Premises liability and fatal slip-and-fall cases
- Nursing home negligence and abuse claims
- Aviation accident wrongful death cases
- Insurance claim negotiations
- Litigation and trial representation
- Accident investigations
- Witness interviews and evidence preservation
- Expert witness coordination
- Damage assessment and compensation calculations
- Free case evaluations
- 24/7 client support
The firm helps families recover compensation for a range of damages under Massachusetts law. This includes medical bills leading up to the death, funeral and burial costs, lost wages and future earnings, loss of companionship, emotional suffering, and other allowed claims.
Their legal team works closely with medical experts, accident reconstruction specialists, and financial analysts to build strong cases and clearly establish liability. Notable results include a $455,000 wrongful death settlement, a $500,000 slip-and-fall settlement, and a $2.5 million motorcycle accident settlement.
Michael Kelly Injury Lawyers serves clients across Boston and the rest of Massachusetts. They offer flexible consultations by phone, video, or in person. With Principal Attorney Michael D. Kelly’s more than ten years of experience focused on serious injury and wrongful death cases, the firm delivers personalized attention and direct access to the attorney.
They work on a contingency fee basis, so there are no upfront costs, and they provide 24/7 availability to support families through complex litigation.
Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers
Established in 1991, Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers has over 30 years of trial experience dealing with fatal accidents in Massachusetts. They have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for their injured clients and have represented over 25,000 people. They are well-known for taking the hard cases involving deadly accidents and fatal injuries that other lawyers have refused to handle.
Their focus is on making those responsible accountable while making sure the families that have been wronged are fully compensated. In cases in which offers for the families do not fully cover their losses, the firm will not settle and will instead take their cases to trial.
They specialize in wrongful death and catastrophic personal injury cases in Massachusetts involving vehicles, premises liability, and public transit accidents. They have experience handling wrongful death cases involving cars, trucks, and motorcycles; subways and buses; and walking and pedestrian accidents.
Key feature:
- Over 25,000 clients since 1991
- Have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars
- Have taken cases that other attorneys refused to
- Free consultations
- All fatal accident areas
When filing wrongful death claims in Massachusetts, families may need to file lawsuits against large corporations, negligent individuals, or negligent government entities. The attorneys at Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers can take cases in which defendants have disputed liability and where plaintiffs must prove negligence or intentional misconduct.
They have had success in recovering full settlements from parties at fault, and if the defendants refuse to negotiate settlements, they can take the matter to court. They will work with you to find compensation to ensure you and your family are not left to suffer losses on your own.
They have taken many cases and have had a lot of success for over 30 years, and they will fight for your loved one’s rights until a settlement or trial award is reached that will ensure they have been fully compensated. The firm has taken many cases that other lawyers have refused and has had success in court.
They have recovered large judgments from defendants in multi-defendant cases, and when other cases were considered too difficult to handle by other firms. They believe that by being aggressive in litigation to hold negligent parties accountable for their negligence and to make sure all losses are recouped will make Boston safer by keeping all who are responsible to account for their negligence and will help to prevent future losses.
Santoro & Gray
Victoria Santoro and Jessica Gray, the co-founding partners of their law firm, stand with families in wrongful death cases, having obtained the highest personal injury verdict in Massachusetts to demonstrate their ability to handle a complex trial.
If case managers aren’t enough for you, Santoro & Gray puts you directly in touch with experienced trial attorneys. This law firm primarily deals with catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases, which they feel were not compensated fairly. They handle car and truck accidents, medical malpractice, and premises liability cases that have led to death.
Santoro & Gray is an aggressive litigation firm. If the insurance company or opposing counsel will not negotiate a fair settlement, your attorney is always willing to take your case to court to prove the case’s true value to a jury. Victoria Santoro and Jessica Gray continue to work directly on cases and do not delegate case management to associates. They are willing to go the trial distance with families.
Santoro & Gray has a proven track record with grieving families, and if your case is one where liability is contested, and severe injuries or death are involved, you need an attorney who is willing to go the distance in court to obtain the compensation you need. Their highest personal injury verdict in Massachusetts shows that they have trial strength. Co-founding partners Victoria Santoro and Jessica Gray will work directly on your case.
Santoro & Gray primarily deals with catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases, which they feel were not compensated fairly. If the insurance company will not negotiate a fair settlement, they are willing to take your case to trial to prove the case’s true value to a jury.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How expensive is a wrongful death attorney in Massachusetts?
A: Most wrongful death attorneys work on contingency, as there is nothing due before they win. In the event of a win, the attorney takes 33%-40% of the settlement amount or award. If the case doesn’t win, then the attorney will be out of pocket, as you would not owe anything. The attorney will usually advance court costs and any expert witness costs for your claim, deducting these costs at the very end out of the settlement or verdict.
Q: How long does a typical wrongful death lawsuit take?
A: Typically, cases take about 12 to 36 months to resolve. Simple cases that settle before trial will usually resolve in about 12 to 18 months. Complex cases involving extensive depositions, expert witness testimony, or a full trial could take closer to 24-36 months. Keep in mind that Massachusetts has a three-year statute of limitations to file a wrongful death claim after the date of death.
Q: What damages can a family recover in a wrongful death claim?
A: Under the wrongful death law in Massachusetts, the decedent’s estate can recover lost wages and earning capacity, medical and funeral expenses, the loss of care and guidance or society and companionship, as well as consciousness, pain, and suffering the person endured before passing. Punitive damages are uncommon and only allowed in instances of gross negligence or willful misconduct.
Q: Do I have to take the first settlement offer?
A: Most first offers don’t compensate for the full amount of your claim. Wrongful death attorneys who have trial experience are often able to secure a higher settlement. Insurance companies know that if a claim isn’t settled for the full amount, they may be taking it to trial. Only accept the final settlement once it covers your actual damages, lost wages, and your family’s loss of companionship and guidance.
Q: What if I decide I want to hire a new wrongful death lawyer?
A: You have a right to change attorneys at any time. If you choose to fire an attorney and retain new counsel, your prior attorney may be entitled to some compensation, which will be deducted from your case recovery. Make sure to check your contract for a termination clause and discuss your intentions with the attorney.
Conclusion
Losing a family member is hard enough without adding legal confusion to the mix. The attorneys we’ve highlighted here have proven they can handle wrongful death cases in Massachusetts—they have the track records, the trial experience, and the client-focused approach that matters.
But the bottom line is this: you need to do your own homework too. Schedule consultations, ask tough questions, and make sure the lawyer you pick is actually the one who will handle your case. Don’t settle for a firm that will pass you off to a junior associate or a paralegal. Your family deserves better than that. Use this guide as a starting point, but trust your gut and choose someone who makes you feel confident about the road ahead.
