Bigger. Faster. Settlements.
No settlement brings someone back. But when negligence takes a life, the family deserves answers, accountability, and security. Kyle handles these cases personally, with undivided attention for your family and a relentless push against those responsible.
Accountability, handled with care.
Losing a family member to someone else's negligence is a grief unlike any other, because it did not have to happen. A wrongful death case will not undo it. What it can do is establish the truth of what happened, hold the responsible parties accountable, and secure the financial future the person you lost was building for your family.
These cases demand two things that rarely come together: relentlessness toward the defendants and their insurers, and genuine gentleness toward the family. Kyle handles every wrongful death case personally. You will never explain your loss to a rotating cast of case managers, and you will never be pushed to decide anything before you are ready.
Insurers move quickly after a death, hoping a grieving family will accept a fast number. Kyle's job is to carry the fight so your family does not have to, and to make sure the recovery reflects the full life that was taken, not the insurer's spreadsheet.
What families should know first.
There is no checklist for grief. There are a few things that protect your family's rights.
Do not give statements to insurers
Insurance companies often call families within days, sounding sympathetic. Nothing requires you to speak with them, and you should not without counsel.
Preserve what exists
The vehicle, the scene evidence, medical records, and any photos or footage. Kyle can take over preservation immediately so the family does not carry it.
Be careful with quick offers
An early settlement offer after a death is a tactic, not a kindness. Accepting it closes the case forever, usually for a fraction of its value.
Talk to Kyle when you are ready
The consultation is free and unhurried. He will explain who can bring the claim, what it covers, and what the path looks like, with no pressure to proceed.
Losses Kyle handles.
Fatal Car & Truck Crashes
Highway and intersection deaths caused by negligent, impaired, or commercial drivers, where serious coverage is usually available.
Workplace & Construction Deaths
Job site fatalities can involve both death benefits and separate claims against third parties whose negligence caused the loss.
Premises & Security Failures
Deaths from preventable violence or dangerous conditions on commercial property, the kind of failures behind Kyle's $5 million negligent security result.
Pedestrian & Crosswalk Deaths
The valley's most dangerous roads take lives every year, and the blame-the-victim defense should never go unanswered.
Drunk & Reckless Drivers
Egregious conduct can support punitive damages on top of the family's losses.
Motorcycle & Rider Deaths
Rider bias does not end with a fatality. These cases need the same evidence-driven answer to it.
What the law gives you here.
A few Nevada rules decide whether and how much you can recover. Here is what matters most in these cases.
Who can bring the claim
Nevada law gives the claim to the estate and to specific heirs, including a spouse, children, and in some cases parents. Kyle will map exactly who holds which claim in your family.
Two years, generally
Nevada generally allows two years from the death to file. Evidence preservation should begin much sooner, and Kyle can carry that burden immediately.
What the claim covers
Funeral and medical expenses, the financial support the person provided, and the grief, companionship, and guidance the family lost. The law recognizes the human losses, not just the economic ones.
Punitive damages
Where the conduct was egregious, such as drunk driving, Nevada allows punitive damages meant to punish and deter, on top of the family's compensation.
This is general information about Nevada law, not legal advice, and the rules have exceptions. Kyle will tell you exactly how they apply to your case.
Two things a billboard cannot buy.
What full value looks like.
Insurers pay more when they know your lawyer will take the case all the way. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome, but they show what relentless preparation can do.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Each case turns on its own facts.
What clients say.
After a devastating accident caused by an impaired driver, Attorney Cottner handled every detail with care and dedication to ensure I was made whole again. I am forever grateful!
Kyle is an easygoing and highly communicative lawyer who genuinely cares about his clients. He takes the time to explain each step of the process clearly, making sure his clients feel informed and supported.
From beginning to end, The Cottner Firm & Kyle have provided me with outstanding experience relative to a bad situation. They’ve shown consistent consideration & it is very appreciated!
What people ask before they call.
Generally the deceased person's estate and specific heirs, including the spouse, children, and in some circumstances parents. Different family members hold different parts of the claim, and Kyle will explain how that applies to your family.
Funeral and medical costs, the income and support your loved one would have provided, and compensation for the family's grief and loss of companionship. Where the conduct was egregious, punitive damages may also apply.
Nevada generally allows two years from the death, but evidence should be preserved immediately. Talking to Kyle early does not commit your family to anything.
Not before someone values the full case. Early offers after a death are designed to close the claim cheaply while the family is grieving. Once accepted, it is final.
Most cases resolve without one, but insurers pay full value only when they know your lawyer will try the case. Kyle prepares every case that way, and his trial record is the leverage behind the settlement.
Nothing up front, and no fee unless Kyle recovers for your family. The consultation is free and unhurried.
Find out what your case is worth.
Tell Kyle what happened. The consultation is free, there is no obligation, and you pay nothing unless he wins your case.