If your family loses a loved one due to another person’s negligence — whether from a car accident, medical error, workplace incident, or faulty product — a wrongful death attorney can represent you.
These lawyers handle civil claims only. They’re not estate planning attorneys who deal with wills and probate, nor are they criminal prosecutors going after manslaughter charges in court.
A wrongful death claim is fundamentally a civil case intended to recover damages for things like funeral expenses, the income the dead would have generated, and the profound emotional toll the loss has on the family.
What Makes a Strong Wrongful Death Attorney?
You need attorneys who do more than just handle the paperwork when you lose a loved one. The strongest ones combine real compassion with courtroom anger. They ensure that there are no middlemen between you and them.
Key qualities to look for include:
- A solid history of multi-million-dollar recoveries
- Free consultations to start the conversation
- Recognition that no financial award fixes the loss, yet it provides important stability
- Hands-on case handling that respects your family’s unique needs
To help you choose, we looked at five attorneys specializing in fatal accident claims. Rankings focused on trial aggression, recovery results, and how well they support families during the long legal journey.
Top 5 Wrongful Death Attorneys
We selected these attorneys for their ability to handle wrongful death cases at every level of complexity.
Our criteria included trial experience, settlement results, expert networks, and client support. All have proven track records of securing real compensation for grieving families.
Michael Kelly Injury Lawyers
Michael Kelly Injury Lawyers is a personal injury firm that represents individuals and families in serious injury and wrongful death cases around Boston and nearby areas.
They focus on helping families recover compensation after losing a loved one to negligence — from car accidents and medical errors to workplace incidents, defective products, unsafe properties, and nursing home neglect.
The firm works on a contingency-fee basis, so clients pay nothing upfront unless they win compensation. They handle the entire process, from investigating the accident to negotiating settlements or going to trial.
Key Services:
- Wrongful death claims
- Fatal car, truck, and motorcycle accidents
- Medical malpractice wrongful death
- Workplace and construction fatalities
- Defective product cases
- Premises liability and slip-and-fall deaths
- Nursing home negligence and abuse
- Aviation accident wrongful death
- Insurance negotiations
- Full litigation and trial representation
- Accident investigations and evidence preservation
- Expert witness coordination
- Free case evaluations
- 24/7 client support
They go after reimbursement for everything from medical bills leading up to the death and burial costs to lost income, loss of companionship, mental anguish, and other compensation available under Massachusetts law. To make each case as strong as possible, the team collaborates with financial analysts, medical professionals, and accident reconstructionists.
Some of their notable settlements include a $2.5 million motorcycle accident case, a $500,000 slip-and-fall recovery, and a $455,000 wrongful death settlement. Principal Attorney Michael D. Kelly has more than ten years of devoted experience in this area. What clients like most is the direct access to their attorney, the truly hands-on support, and the ability to connect however works best — by phone, video call, or in person.
Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers
Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers opened its doors in 1991. Over the past thirty-plus years, the firm has stood by Boston families dealing with devastating losses. They’ve recovered hundreds of millions of dollars and helped more than 25,000 injured clients, which has earned them a solid reputation for both handling lots of cases and getting good results.
The firm covers just about every type of wrongful death case you can think of — car accidents, truck crashes, motorcycle wrecks, pedestrian incidents, and fatal premises liability claims. At the heart of what they do is holding careless parties accountable and working to make the community a safer place.
| Attribute | Detail |
| Founded | 1991 (35+ years) |
| Track Record | Hundreds of millions recovered |
| Clients Served | 25,000+ injury victims |
What sets this firm apart is their willingness to take on cases other attorneys reject. They’ve won tough cases turned down elsewhere, applying aggressive trial preparation to even the most complex wrongful death scenarios.
Their commitment is uncompromising: full and fair compensation for families who’ve lost loved ones to carelessness or recklessness.
Santoro & Gray
Santoro & Gray has earned a strong reputation as one of Boston’s most aggressive wrongful death firms. Co-founding partners Victoria Santoro and Jessica Gray focus on fatal accidents and catastrophic injuries, including truck crashes, medical malpractice, and spinal cord injuries.
Their track record includes the highest personal injury verdict in Massachusetts history. But behind each case is a grieving family, and the firm combines courtroom skill with real compassion.
They don’t push quick settlements. When insurers lowball or deny responsibility, they take cases to trial. Their thorough investigation and aggressive advocacy give families the strength they need during a long legal process, while still providing personal attention.
Key strengths of the firm:
- Record-setting verdict that shows their trial strength
- Women-led partnership with both founders directly involved
- Dedicated focus on wrongful death and catastrophic injury cases
- Seven core practice areas, with deep experience in high-stakes claims
Families facing the loss of a loved one deserve lawyers who won’t back down but who also understand the emotional side of these cases.
Santoro & Gray brings both — fierce representation in court and genuine empathy for clients. You’re not just another file here. Each case is treated with the seriousness it deserves, whether that means negotiating a fair settlement or taking the fight all the way to a jury verdict.
Joel H. Schwartz, P.C.
Joel H. Schwartz, P.C., brings more than 60 years of experience to wrongful death cases in Boston. Their eight-attorney team has a combined 185+ years of litigation know-how and has resolved over 30,000 claims, recovering hundreds of millions for Massachusetts families.
They handle the full range of fatal accidents — car, truck, motorcycle, pedestrian, and construction site deaths — with a thorough, litigation-focused approach.
What really helps is their use of custom software and strong personal attention. Instead of handing everything off to case managers, attorneys stay directly involved from start to finish.
Key strengths:
- 60+ years serving Massachusetts families
- 30,000+ cases resolved with hundreds of millions recovered
- Direct attorney involvement in every case
- Technology tools that keep things organized and moving
If your family is dealing with a wrongful death claim, Joel H. Schwartz, P.C., offers the experience, systems, and personal care you need during an incredibly tough time.
Crowe & Harris, LLP
At Crowe & Harris, LLP, families dealing with wrongful death in New England get more than legal representation — they receive real emotional support, too. The firm knows these cases require both strong advocacy and human compassion.
Two of their attorneys, Sharon D. Randall and Barbara M. Welch, are also registered nurses. This combination brings valuable medical insight to complex fatal accident and malpractice cases. They’re able to thoroughly review medical records, question opposing experts, and explain clinical failures in ways juries can understand.
| Attribute | Detail |
| Best for | Families seeking personalized attention and medical expertise |
| Geographic reach | All of New England |
| Team structure | Senior partners + nurse-attorneys on every case |
| Core specialties | Wrongful death, medical malpractice, catastrophic injury |
Working from Boston, they take on cases across the region, including fatal car accidents, surgical mistakes, missed diagnoses, and tragic birth injuries. Unlike firms that treat cases like items on a conveyor belt, Crowe & Harris gives each one the time and customization it deserves — from investigation through trial preparation.
For grieving families, this combination of compassionate support and personalized legal strategy can be exactly what they need to fight for real accountability.
Conclusion
When negligence causes the loss of a loved one, families need more than basic legal expertise. They need an advocate who will battle hard in the courtroom and stay present through the grief.
The five ranked firms combine strong trial records with real empathy. You get direct access to your attorney instead of being shuffled to support staff. They all have solid experience in wrongful death cases, proven multimillion-dollar recoveries, and a personalized approach that respects your family’s situation.
Start with one of their free consultations. Inquire about recent wrongful death verdicts, who handles daily communication, and how they support families emotionally while the case proceeds. The right choice can bring accountability and financial security after such a painful loss.
