With so many wrongful death attorneys in Boston, it’s easy for families to choose poorly. The real problem isn’t a lack of good options — it’s that most rankings online are based on the wrong things.
They reward nice websites, big ad budgets, and press mentions rather than courtroom ability or client support. Because of this, families frequently get assigned to junior staff or lawyers who rush to settle cases before fighting for full value.
We ranked each firm based on documented wrongful death verdicts, settlement amounts, direct attorney access (not paralegals or case managers), litigation experience, and communication protocols that keep grieving families informed throughout the legal process.
We’ve tried to highlight how some of these firms might be better equipped to handle the courtroom side of your case, while others might be better for a family that’s still in the dark ages of grief and needs more time, attention, and support.
Quick Comparison
Scan this table to compare trial credentials, wrongful death specialization, and direct attorney access across Boston’s top wrongful death firms.
| Firm Name | Wrongful Death Focus | Trial Experience | Key Differentiator |
| Michael Kelly Injury Lawyers | Wrongful death and serious injury cases | Settlement and trial representation | 24/7 availability, contingency fees, and personalized client support |
| RML Lawyers | Dedicated wrongful death practice | Massachusetts-based regional expertise | Family-centered litigation approach |
| Santoro & Gray | Catastrophic injury and wrongful death | Highest MA personal injury verdict | Fierce litigators for grieving families |
| Breakstone, White & Gluck | Core practice area | Decades of litigation experience | Founding partners handle all cases |
| Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers | 25,000+ clients since 1991 | Hundreds of millions recovered | Takes tough cases others refuse |
| Sweeney Merrigan Personal Injury Lawyers | Wrongful death practice area | 3+ decades of combined experience | Trial-ready: negotiate or litigate |
| Crowe & Harris, LLP | Core wrongful death practice | Serves families throughout New England | Emotional support with individualized prep |
| Joel H. Schwartz, P.C. | 30,000+ claims resolved | 185+ years combined litigation expertise | Founded in 1965, 60+ years of experience |
Top 8 Boston Wrongful Death Attorneys
We’ve put together a list of eight strong Boston wrongful death firms.
They each bring different strengths. Some excel at trial work, others focus on personal service, and some take on the most complex cases.
Still, they share one key trait: real results helping families move forward after serious loss.
Michael Kelly Injury Lawyers
Michael Kelly Injury Lawyers in Boston is a Massachusetts personal injury firm that stands up for individuals and families dealing with serious injuries or the devastating loss of a loved one. Based in Boston, they handle cases across the city and nearby communities.
The firm steps in when negligence changes everything — whether it’s a motor vehicle crash, a medical mistake, a workplace tragedy, a faulty product, unsafe property conditions, or neglect in a nursing home. They work exclusively on a contingency-fee basis, so you won’t pay any legal fees unless they recover compensation for you.
From day one, the team manages every part of the process. They investigate thoroughly, gather evidence, negotiate with insurance companies, and go to trial when it’s the right move. Families appreciate having someone in their corner who actually handles the heavy lifting.
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
Michael Kelly Injury Lawyers helps families recover compensation for medical bills, funeral costs, lost earnings, loss of companionship, and emotional distress. Their team works with medical, reconstruction, and financial experts to strengthen cases and establish fault.
They’ve secured notable results, such as a $455,000 wrongful death settlement, a $500,000 slip-and-fall case, and a $2.5 million motorcycle accident recovery.
The firm serves Boston and the rest of Massachusetts. Consultations are available by phone, video, or in person. Clients get direct attorney access and steady support. Michael D. Kelly, the principal attorney, has handled serious injury and wrongful death matters for more than a decade.
Why Choose This Firm?
Michael Kelly Injury Lawyers handles wrongful death and serious injury cases in Massachusetts. They offer personalized service, direct attorney access, and contingency fees—no upfront costs.
The firm works with medical and financial experts and provides 24/7 client support. Led by Michael D. Kelly with over a decade of experience, they’re a solid choice for complex wrongful death claims.
RML Lawyers
RML Lawyers combines Massachusetts expertise with a family-centered approach to wrongful death cases. They understand Boston court procedures, insurance tactics, and jury expectations. Their approach balances compassionate communication with aggressive case building, recognizing that families need both legal strength and emotional support.
What sets them apart is their blend of local knowledge and personalized service. They’re not a national mill processing cases through templates. Each claim receives individualized attention rooted in Massachusetts law, and their contingency fee structure aligns incentives with maximum recovery.
Key Features:
- Massachusetts-focused practice with local court expertise
- Family-centered communication throughout litigation
- Contingency fee model removes upfront financial barriers
- Personalized case handling, not assembly-line processing
Why Choose This Firm?
RML Lawyers suits families who value regional specialization and want attorneys who understand Massachusetts wrongful death statutes, local insurance adjusters, and Boston jury tendencies. Their family-first approach means you’re not just a case number in a national database.
Santoro & Gray
Santoro & Gray stands out as strong advocates for families dealing with catastrophic injuries and wrongful death. Co-founders Victoria Santoro and Jessica Gray built the firm with one goal: real trial representation that doesn’t settle for less.
They handle wrongful death cases alongside spinal cord injuries, medical malpractice, and premises liability. From day one, each matter receives thorough preparation for settlement or trial. That record-setting Massachusetts verdict? It came down to hard work and readiness.
Key features:
- Co-founding partners handle cases directly
- Trial-tested strategy across wrongful death claims
- Proven track record in catastrophic injury litigation
- Focus on meaningful outcomes for grieving families
Why Choose This Firm?
When a wrongful death case demands courtroom-ready advocacy and a team willing to fight insurance carriers to a verdict, Santoro & Gray delivers both. Their Massachusetts record speaks to preparation, not just negotiation.
Families facing fatal accident claims get partners who’ve already won the state’s largest personal injury award, experience that translates directly into leverage during settlement talks and confidence if the case goes to trial.
Breakstone, White & Gluck
Breakstone, White & Gluck lists wrongful death as one of their main practice areas. They’re selective about the cases they take, which lets them give each family the focused attention it needs.
You’ll work directly with one of the three founding partners — not a junior associate or case manager. That means you get decades of real litigation experience on your side right from the start.
The firm keeps things straightforward: fewer cases, more personal care. Their attorneys are experienced trial lawyers who spend time in courtrooms, not just behind desks. Families get direct access without the usual handoffs.
Key Highlights:
- Direct representation by a founding partner in every case
- Selective intake for deeper focus and resources
- Decades of combined trial experience
- Personalized approach across Massachusetts
Why Choose This Firm?
Larger firms often run on volume, which can leave families feeling like just another file. Breakstone, White & Gluck avoids that by taking on fewer matters and staying fully accountable.
Founding partners handle the work themselves, so clients in wrongful death cases receive steady guidance and the kind of results that come from real courtroom experience.
Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers
Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers has over 30 years of wrongful death experience, recovering hundreds of millions for 25,000+ clients. They’re known for taking cases other attorneys decline, including fatal accidents statewide.
What sets them apart is their willingness to fight rejected cases—and win. Their trial readiness forces serious negotiations. This is a selective representation focused on maximum recovery, not high-volume processing.
Key Highlights:
- Over 30 years representing fatal accident victims statewide
- Hundreds of millions recovered across 25,000+ client cases
- Trial-ready approach for cases other firms reject
Why Choose This Firm?
Jeffrey Glassman’s three-decade track record speaks to consistency families need during crisis. Their willingness to litigate rejected cases means they’re not intimidated by complex wrongful death claims involving multiple defendants or disputed liability.
The firm’s stated mission is holding those whose careless, reckless, or intentional acts caused lasting harm accountable, aligning legal strategy with family justice goals rather than quick settlements that undervalue loss.
Sweeney Merrigan Personal Injury Lawyers
Founded in 2010, Sweeney Merrigan brings more than thirty years of combined experience, standing by people when they need it most. These trial lawyers prepare every case with the mindset that they’ll negotiate hard for a fair settlement — but they’re equally ready to take it to court and win if the insurance company won’t budge.
Because wrongful death is a main practice area, families work with attorneys who know the nuances of these cases instead of being passed to generalists. They treat each client as a true partner, speaking honestly about the case realities right from the first meeting.
What sets them apart:
- More than 3 decades of combined trial experience
- Straightforward talks about case strengths and weaknesses
- Willingness to litigate when needed — which often leads to better offers
- Personalized, client-focused approach throughout
- 256 client reviews that reflect their genuine family support
Why Choose This Firm?
Families need attorneys who won’t settle for cheap to close files fast. Sweeney Merrigan’s dual-track approach—negotiate hard, litigate harder—ensures insurance carriers can’t exploit grief or urgency.
Their candid communication style means no false promises about timelines or outcomes, just honest advocacy rooted in decades of courtroom wins and settlement leverage built on proven trial credentials.
Crowe & Harris, LLP
Crowe & Harris, LLP helps grieving families across New England. They focus on a personalized approach instead of high-volume cases like many larger firms.
Wrongful death is a core part of their work. The firm also handles medical malpractice and catastrophic injury cases. Senior partners stay involved from beginning to end, so families work directly with experienced attorneys rather than junior staff.
The firm stands out with attorney-nurses Sharon D. Randall and Barbara M. Welch. Their clinical background strengthens medical arguments in cases involving hospital errors, surgical mistakes, or missed diagnoses. Founding partners Philip J. Crowe and Michael J. Harris remain hands-on through every step — investigation, negotiations, and trial.
Key Highlights:
- Direct partner involvement in every wrongful death case
- Attorney-nurse team members for stronger medical analysis
- Truly personalized approach tailored to each family’s needs
- Regional coverage across New England from their Boston office
Why Choose This Firm?
Families overwhelmed by loss need attorneys who treat their case as singular, not a file number. Crowe & Harris’s rejection of volume-driven workflows means your wrongful death claim receives dedicated research, expert witness coordination, and compassionate communication throughout litigation.
The attorney-nurse credentials strengthen medical malpractice wrongful death cases where clinical negligence must be proven to a jury.
Joel H. Schwartz, P.C.
Joel H. Schwartz, P.C. has over 60 years of firm experience and 185+ years of combined litigation expertise across eight attorneys. They’ve resolved more than 30,000 claims and recovered hundreds of millions for clients.
The firm uses technology and research to manage complex wrongful death cases. Their eight-attorney team, led by Joel and Steven Schwartz, provides direct lawyer involvement. They handle car, motorcycle, bicycle, truck, pedestrian, and construction accident claims.
Key Highlights:
- 60+ years firm history with 30,000+ claims resolved
- 185+ years combined litigation expertise across team
- Hundreds of millions recovered for clients
- Eight-attorney team for direct representation
- Technology-driven case management with personal care
Why Choose This Firm?
Families who value experience and efficiency often turn to Joel H. Schwartz, P.C. The firm has handled over 30,000 claims, which means they’ve refined their process for insurance talks and trial preparation.
Using their own software and thorough research, they handle much of the administrative load. This leaves families with one less thing to worry about during a wrongful death case, without cutting corners on what matters.
Conclusion
Losing a loved one is hard enough without navigating a wrongful death claim alone. The firms in this guide are among Boston’s most experienced, each offering different strengths—some excel at trial work, others focus on personalized support, and a few take on cases others won’t.
No single firm fits every family. Take advantage of free consultations to ask questions and find the right match for your situation.
One important reminder: Massachusetts has strict filing deadlines for wrongful death claims. Missing them means losing your right to seek compensation, so don’t wait to reach out.
We hope this guide helps you make an informed decision. The right attorney provides more than legal work—they offer the guidance your family needs during this difficult time.
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