Auto Accident
Death
Truck Accident
Death
Industrial Accident
Burn Injury
Our Midland wrongful death lawyers know losing a family member is one of the most painful experiences in life. That loss is even more painful when it is caused by the negligence of another person or entity. Our thoughts and prayers go out to you if you have experienced a death in the family under such devastating circumstances. Our Midland wrongful death lawyers understand the emotional, financial, and mental devastation facing surviving family members.
If your loss was the result of a wrongful act by another party, our Midland wrongful death lawyers may be able to help your family through this trying time by handling the legal actions. The wrongful death laws in Texas are written to allow surviving family members to lessen the burden of losing a loved one by recovering financial damages.
Our Midland wrongful death lawyers understand no amount of money can fully compensate for the loss of a loved one. However, the compensation we can pursue on your behalf can help reduce the financial burden of your family’s loss. Further, it is the legal means Texas created to punish negligent parties for causing your loss.
If you or a family member has suffered a loss and believe you have a wrongful death claim, call our Midland wrongful death lawyers for a FREE CONSULTATION. Our accidental death attorneys will review your case, answer your questions, and make every effort to obtain all forms of compensation to which you are entitled.
A wrongful death claim is a civil action made by the family members of a deceased relative whose fatal injuries were caused by the negligence or misconduct of another individual or entity. Texas law allows surviving family members who depended on the decedent for emotional and financial support to seek monetary compensation by filing of a wrongful death lawsuit.
The loss of a loved one – such as a spouse, parent, or child – is a traumatic experience emotionally, physically, and psychologically. It can put strains on relationships and create difficulties simply moving forward with the basic duties in our daily lives.
Moreover, the loss can also have severe financial consequences. Families depend on each other for financial support, income, and division of daily duties. The unexpected loss of this support can place significant financial burdens on a family. Further, the loss of a loved one typically involves unanticipated expenses, such as medical and funeral expenses.
If you have a wrongful death claim, call our Midland wrongful death lawyers for a FREE CASE REVIEW.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) ranks unintentional injury as the leading cause of death in the United States for people under 45. Further, unintentional injury is the fourth leading cause of death across all age groups.
Unintentional injury accidents form the basis for most wrongful death lawsuits. Causes of fatal accidents that warrant the filing of a wrongful death lawsuit include:
If you have a wrongful death claim for any accident, call our Midland wrongful death lawyers for a FREE CONSULTATION.
Our Midland wrongful death lawyers compiled crash reports from the Midland Police to track fatal motor vehicle accidents in 2021, given they are the most common form of wrongful death claim made in Texas. Midland crash reports show:
Sources: Crashes and Injuries Cities and Towns; Crashes and Injuries by County; DUI (Alcohol) Crashes and Injuries Cities and Towns.
If you have tragically lost a loved one in a fatal accident, the loss alone brings insurmountable grief and often financial hardship for surviving family members. When you believe that loss may be due to the negligence of another person or entity, the loss can feel even more devastating.
Although no amount of money can adequately compensate for the loss of a loved one, Texas law permits certain surviving family members to file a wrongful death claim. Wrongful death claims must be investigated by an attorney to prove certain key elements, such as negligence on the defendant, and to ensure you are a family member that is eligible to file a claim.
If you want to file a wrongful death lawsuit, call our Midland wrongful death lawyers for a FREE CONSULTATION.
To prove negligence in a wrongful death case surviving family members of the decedent must be able to demonstrate four elements:
If you believe someone else negligently caused the death of your loved one, call our Midland wrongful death lawyers for a FREE CONSULTATION.
We provide the surviving family members of wrongful death accident victims with dedicated and tenacious legal representation, ensuring you get fair value for your claim. Our Midland wrongful death lawyers will build a strong case with supporting evidence so you recover the money you deserve.
Not all family members of a decedent are eligible to file a wrongful death claim in Texas. Under Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code § 71.004, only the surviving spouse, children, and parents may bring an action to recover damages.
If you believe you qualify to make a wrongful death claim, call our Midland wrongful death lawyers for a FREE CONSULTATION.
Calculating damages in wrongful death cases is complex. Damages are divided into two categories: 1) economic (monetary or financial) damages; and, 2) non-economic damages without a specific monetary value. An example of economic damages is lost income, whereas non-economic damages include damages like pain and suffering.
Economic damages can be easy to present, such as the cost of a funeral. However, some economic damages require experts to assess aspects of the claim. For example, a financial expert would need to calculate the present value of future lost income by looking at the decedent’s income and age until expected retirement. Non-economic damages are more difficult to quantify and can be highly subjective.
The types of damages each eligible claimant can recover varies based upon their relationship with the decedent. Examples of damages which can be claimed by one or more parties include:
If you have a have suffered damages in a wrongful death case, call our Midland wrongful death lawyers for a FREE CONSULTATION.
Damages are typically distributed based off the degree of injury to that specific party. For example, parents of an adult child will typically receive less than the spouse, since the spouse usually has greater financial damages in the form of lost income (if the decedent was a wage earner) or lost household support (if the decedent was a homemaker). If the parents were dependent upon their adult child for income, though, this can vary. Similarly, for most adult children their reliance on their parent for income or financial support lessens over time, so their damages are less than a dependent minor child.
When wrongful death cases go to trial distribution of damages among the claimants is left to the discretion of the court. In general, most juries award the largest portion of the proceeds to surviving spouses, then minor children, then parents of the decedent. What the jury will be instructed to do is attempt to match the distribution of the awarded funds to the surviving family members based off their relative degree of loss.
No, survival actions and wrongful death claims are distinctly different. Wrongful death lawsuits are brought by surviving family members to compensate for their damages. These lawsuits are intended to hold negligent parties accountable for dangerous conduct that led to someone’s death, and to prevent the defendant from taking such reckless actions in the future.
Conversely, survival actions are personal injury claims to compensate the heirs, legal representatives, and estate of the decedent (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 71.021). They are brought on behalf of the decedent to compensate their estate for the decedent’s pain and suffering from the time of the accident up until death. Although tragic, the longer and more intense pain the decedent suffered before dying, the greater value there is in a survival action.
If you want to file a survival action in conjunction with a wrongful death lawsuit, call our Midland wrongful death lawyers for a FREE CONSULTATION.
In Texas, there are two deadlines to be aware of when it comes to bringing a wrongful death claim. The surviving spouse, children, and parents of the deceased are the only parties that can bring a wrongful death claim within the first 90 days after the date of death. However, if they have not brought an action within three months of the date of death, the executor of the decedent’s estate may also file a wrongful death claim unless requested not to by all the above surviving family members.
Per the statute of limitations in Texas, all of the above parties then have up to two years from the date of death to file a wrongful death lawsuit. Be aware, the statute for wrongful death is different than that for personal injury claims which have two years from the date of accident. While two years sounds like a long time, it is important to file your claim as soon as possible to ensure evidence does not disappear and witness memories do not fade.
If you would like to file a wrongful death lawsuit, call our Midland wrongful death lawyers for a FREE CONSULTATION.
Our Midland wrongful death lawyers understand what a difficult period this is in your life and welcome the opportunity to grant you some peace of mind. To lessen the burden on already financially challenged families, we work on a contingency fee basis.
This means that our Midland wrongful death lawyers do not receive any payments for our services unless we are able to recover a settlement on your behalf. If we recover a settlement, our fee will only come out of a portion of that settlement. If for any reason we are unable to recover damages for you, you will not owe us a penny.
Our firm obtained one of the top 100 wrongful death settlements in the U.S. in 2021, and 15 of the top 50 personal injury settlements in the State of Texas. We have handled a wide variety of different wrongful death cases and have a history of obtaining excellent results for our clients.
Remember, the statute of limitations in Texas is 2 years from the date of death in wrongful death claims. If you have lost a loved one in any type of accident due to the negligence of another person or entity, call our Midland wrongful death lawyers today or submit a form for a NO COST CONSULTATION with a wrongful death attorney at Thompson Law.
In Texas, you have two years from the date of death to file a wrongful death suit. This differs from the statute of limitations for typical personal injury claims not involving death, which allows two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. Our skilled wrongful death attorneys can help ensure you meet all the legal requirements and deadlines necessary. If a wrongful death lawsuit is not filed by the proper person within the time allowed by law, you will lose your right to recover monetary damages.
Knowing the applicable statutes of limitations, understanding the elements of negligence and proximate cause, and gathering evidence to establish liability are all crucial factors that can influence the outcome of a wrongful death case.
Wrongful death cases can be highly emotional and complex, making it crucial to determine who is at fault. In these cases, liability is determined by analyzing the evidence to identify who acted negligently or intentionally caused the death. This often involves investigating the circumstances leading up to the incident, such as whether the victim was in a safe environment and whether there were any contributing factors to the death. Additionally, insurance policies and state laws may also come into play when determining fault. It’s important to have a skilled attorney who can guide you through the legal process and help you receive the compensation you deserve. While nothing can bring back a loved one, accountability can bring some closure and justice for the family.
The loss of a loved one can be a devastating experience, especially when the death was caused by another person’s negligence or intentional harm. In such situations, the surviving family members may be entitled to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the responsible individual or entity. The process for filing a wrongful death lawsuit typically involves gathering evidence, hiring an attorney, filing the complaint, and going through the discovery process which involves exchanging information and evidence with the opposing party. The case may then proceed to trial or settle outside of court. It is important to remember that each state has its own laws and procedures for filing a wrongful death lawsuit, so it’s recommended to consult with an experienced attorney to help guide you through the process.
While many wrongful death cases settle out of court, anyone filing a lawsuit should prepare for the possibility of having to go to trial. A skilled wrongful death attorney can litigate on your behalf to ensure the best possible outcome for you and your family.
In Texas, damages for wrongful death can include funeral and burial expenses, loss of financial support, loss of possible inheritance, pain and suffering, and loss of society, companionship, support, and care. In some instances, punitive damages might be sought. These are damages intended to punish the guilty party and deter other parties from engaging in the same conduct.
In Texas, the surviving spouse, children, or parents can file a wrongful death claim. If no family members file, an executor of the deceased person’s estate may file. Here is a complete guide to wrongful death claims in Texas.
Thompson Law receives an attorney fee and you pay no legal fees as our client unless we pay you. Thompson Law has 350 years of combined experience in legal representation and has won over $1.8 billion dollars in cash settlements for our clients. We master the art of managing client cases with empathy, compassion, respect and, of course, prodigious skill. Contact us today for a free, risk-free consultation to discuss your accident and your options.
State law limits the time you have to file a claim after an auto accident. If you have been injured in an accident, call now to get the help you need.
