The Woodlands Wrongful Death Lawyer

If you lost a family member due to the negligence of an individual or company, you need a The Woodlands wrongful death lawyer that is here to help you fight for justice. We understand that no amount of compensation could ever come close to replacing your lost spouse, parent, or child, but the law does give you the right to hold negligent parties accountable.

Should you like to discuss the merits of your wrongful death case with a compassionate and experienced team, call us at 713-224-7644 today. We are The Woodlands wrongful death attorneys who are here to listen and help.

WHAT IS CONSIDERED A WRONGFUL DEATH? 

Wrongful death is when someone’s life is cut short due to negligence or intentional acts. Your The Woodlands wrongful death lawyer will help you determine whether you can prove the following before filing suit:

• The death was caused by the defendant’s negligence, recklessness, or carelessness.
• It was the defendant’s duty to provide safety or care to the victim.
• This negligence caused the death of the victim.
• Because of this death, the surviving family members of the victim incurred significant damages (medical expenses, funeral costs, potential income, and pain and suffering, and more).

Unlike a murder or homicide trial, a wrongful death lawsuit is a civil matter, not a criminal case. A criminal case can result in jail time or fines whereas a civil case could result in damages awarded.

For more information, read our articles: What is a Wrongful Death Lawsuit? and How Does a Wrongful Death Lawsuit Work?

WHO CAN FILE A WRONGFUL DEATH CLAIM? 

A wrongful death claim is usually filed by a representative of the estate of the deceased victim on behalf of survivors who had a relationship with the victim and with the help of a The Woodlands wrongful death lawyer.

In Texas, this includes the surviving spouse, the children, and the parents of the deceased. It does not include the surviving siblings, whether adopted or biological.

Claims can be filed as independent suits or the family members can join together to file a single claim.

Having a The Woodlands wrongful death lawyer from Grimes & Fertitta evaluate your case ensures you are partnering with someone who thoroughly understands how to file a wrongful death claim and the Texas Wrongful Death Statute – and can apply it to both individual and group suits.

HOW LONG DO YOU HAVE TO FILE A WRONGFUL DEATH CLAIM? 

The statute of limitations for wrongful death claims in Texas is two years from the date of your loved one’s death. There are some exceptions to this rule, but generally speaking, you have two years to file a claim. Personal injury lawyers can help you stay within this and other deadlines pertaining to your case.

However, we recommend that you do not wait until you are near the statute of limitations to speak to a lawyer. Things like an automotive “black box” or other key evidence in a wrongful death claim can be degraded over time. The sooner you find a personal injury lawyer in The Woodlands, TX to represent you, the better you will be able to build a case.

COMMON CAUSES OF WRONGFUL DEATH 

Wrongful death can be caused by a variety of accidents, with automotive accidents being the most common. Our The Woodlands wrongful death attorneys at Grimes & Fertitta have decades of experience helping victims get fair compensation for almost multiple types of personal injury claims and wrongful death accidents. For example, we recently helped a family win an almost 5 million dollar settlement in an 18-wheeler collision.

We can assist your family in a variety of wrongful death accidents, including:

• Car accident death
• Motorcycle death
• Death from a boating accident 
• Workplace accidents causing death
• Defective product causing death

If you don’t see the type of wrongful death that your loved one experienced listed here, don’t panic. A The Woodlands wrongful death lawyer at Grimes & Fertitta has experience handling a wide variety of case types.

WHAT DO WRONGFUL DEATH DAMAGES COVER? 

Damages in a wrongful death claim are not limited to funeral and burial costs, they can include a variety of additional compensation including:

• The deceased person’s pre-death pain and suffering
• Medical treatment costs as a result of the injury before death
• Loss of the deceased person’s expected income
• Loss of any inheritance as a result of the death
• Value of the services that the deceased would have provided
• Loss of companionship

Keep in mind that the type of compensation you can attempt to claim will be dependent on the specifics of your case.