Legal Representation Afer Your Loved One’s Fatal Accident
The compassionate and knowledgeable Waco personal injury lawyers at Brown Trial Firm, PLLC can provide the dependable legal representation you deserve if your loved one has passed away as a result of another’s reckless actions. We can handle the legal matters of your case in your stead so you and your family can focus on healing. Do not wait to learn about your legal rights and options. You may be eligible for substantial compensation for your losses. Call us now!
The natural death of a loved one is difficult for anyone to go through, but when the death is caused by the preventable mistakes of another person or company, the tragedy is even worse. Survivors often face not only emotional and mental fallout, but also financial problems, especially if the victim was the primary caretaker in the family. Seeking accountability and justice is no easy matter due to all the emotional difficulties and other problems that come after the death of the loved one; however, a qualified attorney can help survivors with their legal matters so they can be left in peace during their mourning.
If someone close to you was taken away due to the negligent actions of another person or company, it is highly advised that you get in touch with a Texas wrongful death lawyer right away. At Brown Trial Firm, PLLC, we believe in hard work, open communication, and compassionate client relations. For many years, our practice has been conducted along these principles, and because of it, we have gained a reputation for high quality service and success. If you wish to learn more about your rights and options, please call our law office today at (866) 393-2611.
What is Wrongful Death?
When a person dies in an accident that was caused by the negligent actions of another party, then loved ones have the legal right to file a wrongful death claim. A wrongful death suit can be filed for different kinds of fatal events, including auto accidents, medical malpractice, product liability, etc. Individuals, companies, and even government agencies can be held accountable as the liable party in a wrongful death suit.
What Damages May Be Recovered in a Wrongful Death Suit?
Actual damages include the following:
- Financial losses, such as the loss of the victim’s income contributed to the family and loss of the victim’s care, maintenance, services, support, advice, and counsel.
- Mental anguish, which refers to the emotional and mental struggles loved ones deal with in the wake of the victim’s death
- Loss of love, comfort, companionship, and society
- Loss of inheritance
Exemplary damages are damages designed to prevent the type of event in the future and may be recovered if the liable party caused the victim’s death through an act of will, omission, or gross negligence.
Who May Recover Damages in a Texas Wrongful Death Claim?
Wrongful death claimants must be within one of the following categories in order to recover damages:
- Surviving Spouse
- Children, including adoptees
- Parents
How Long Do I Have to File a Wrongful Death Claim in Texas?
The statute of limitations for most wrongful death cases in Texas is two years. In other words, claimants must file their wrongful death suit within two years of the victim’s death. If you are thinking about filing a wrongful death claim, you should contact an attorney as soon as possible. Timeliness is important to every case, not just for the purpose of meeting the statute of limitations, but also for the purpose of ensuring that vital evidence is preserved.
Waco, TX Wrongful Death Attorneys Pursing Responsibility, Accountability and Justice
The experienced Waco wrongful death attorneys at Brown Trial Firm, PLLC have achieved many clients seven-, even eight-figure jury verdicts and settlements in the past for their wrongful death claims. With our legal guidance, you may receive compensation that’ll allow you to focus on healing and to move on with your life. For a free, comprehensive consultation and answers to your wrongful death case questions, contact us at (254) 269-6700 or (866) 393-2611 today.
Texas Deadly Accident Lawyer Answers Wrongful Death FAQs
Accidental or wrongful death, by its very definition, is an unnecessary and entirely preventable disaster in any family’s life. If you believe a loved one’s death could have been avoided and is the direct result of someone’s reckless actions, pursuing legal action may be within your rights. Let the Board Certified lawyer Laura Brown help build your case and seek a just compensation from those responsible. For a free consultation and more information concerning wrongful death lawsuits in Waco, give the Texas deadly accident attorneys at our office a call at (254) 269-6700 or (866) 393-2611.
Q: What defines a wrongful death suit in Texas?
A: Any individual who dies due to injuries suffered at the hands of another person’s, or entities’, negligence could be a victim of wrongful death. Often referred to as accidental death, in the state of Texas the surviving family has the option to seek redress in the court of law under the Wrongful Death Act. In order to make a successful claim, the plaintiff must prove without a doubt that were it not for the negligence of the accused, the victim would have survived.
Q: What kind of compensation is available?
A: Under state law, a victim’s surviving family may collect actual and exemplary damages in a wrongful death suit. Actual damages refer to everything from medical bills, funeral costs, lost wages, and property damage to emotional suffering and mental anguish. If the accident which caused the victim’s death was due to dangerously gross negligence or blatant disregard for basic safety, punitive damages, otherwise known as exemplary damages, could also be levied as a form of punishment.
Q: Who can file a wrongful death claim?
A: Under the Wrongful Death Act only the spouse, children or parents of the victim may file a claim. This right extends to lawfully adopted children and the parents of adopted children as well. If the plaintiff is a minor at the time of the victim’s death they have the option to wait until he or she is 18 to pursue the claim or have a guardian represent them in said claim much earlier.
Q: How long do I have to file a claim?
A: In general, the surviving family has exactly two years from the victim’s death to file. Failing to do so in a timely fashion could forfeit the claim. If you are planning to file a wrongful death suit, it is highly recommended that you speak with a qualified personal injury attorney in Waco, TX to discuss your options.
Q: Survival Action vs. Wrongful Death
A: In the state of Texas, there are two distinct laws pertaining to the victims of a wrongful death and their surviving family. There is the Wrongful Death Act, which pertains to injuries – actual and exemplary – sustained by the victim’s family. Then there is the Texas Survival Statute, which refers to the physical damages sustained by the victim – loss of wages, medical expenses, funeral costs – that have survived him in death. Just like a personal injury suit, this allows the beneficences to claim additional remuneration that would have been available had the victim survived.
If you have reason to suspect a loved has been the victim of someone else’s negligence, don’t wait a moment longer. Contact Board Certified attorney Laura Brown at (866) 393-2611 for a free consultation. We will provide a detailed outline of both your legal options and the comprehensive representation you can expect from us.