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Wrongful Death

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$6.5M

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$2.2M

Truck Pedestrian Wrongful Death

$1.2M

Truck Accident

Trusted Houston Wrongful Death Attorney

As experienced Houston wrongful death attorneys, we know few things are as shocking and distressing as losing a loved one unexpectedly. The only thing that can make things worse is when the party responsible for the wrongful death of your loved one refuse to acknowledge their role and pay what they owe you and your family

If you lost a loved one because of another person’s negligence, you need more than just a wrongful death attorney; you need an ally dedicated to fighting for the justice you and your family deserve. Every cause of wrongful death is beyond tragic, and it’s critical during this tragic time to engage the best counsel, as soon as possible. Grimes & Fertitta have secured millions in compensation to help families recover, including: brain injuries/TBI, spinal cord injuries, toxic chemical injuries, truck accidents, and more.

Let us be your advocate during this difficult time. Call 713-224-7644 or contact us online to schedule a consultation with Grimes & Fertitta today.

Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum

Filing a wrongful death lawsuit: What you need to know

In the aftermath of a wrongful death, one of the first things surviving spouses and other surviving family members often want to do is to ensure the responsible party is held accountable. But how do you prove wrongful death in court?

In order to craft a successful lawsuit, there are four wrongful death elements you must establish:

  • A person has died
  • The death was the result of another person’s negligence or intent to harm
  • The presence of surviving family members and/or a surviving spouse who have suffered financial damages as a result of the death
  • A personal representative has been appointed to handle the estate of the deceased

While the first element may be simple to prove, establishing the others often requires careful preservation and documentation of evidence, something the Houston wrongful death attorneys at Grimes & Fertitta have years of experience handling. We know what kind of evidence you need as well as the expert witnesses required to substantiate that evidence.

Common causes of wrongful death

In broad terms, wrongful death can refer to any death caused by another party’s negligence or criminal actions. In other words, any time someone’s poor decision making or failure to perform a specified duty results in the death of another person, that person may be deemed the responsible party in a wrongful death lawsuit.

Some of the most common causes of wrongful death include:

Who collects damages in a wrongful death lawsuit?

Because of the complicated web of problems that a wrongful death can leave behind, one of the questions a Houston wrongful death lawyer is asked most often is, “Who gets the money in a wrongful death lawsuit?”

In the state of Texas, surviving family members and surviving spouses are able to file wrongful death lawsuits and can either do so individually or in a group claim. Siblings, however, are unable to sue either individually or as part of a group claim.

Surviving spouses and family members in Texas can pursue a variety of damages in a wrongful death lawsuit, including:

  • Medical bills
  • Funeral expenses
  • Loss of income
  • Emotional distress/loss of companionship
  • Loss of inheritance
  • Punitive damages (if criminal activity was involved)

Richard Grimes and his entire staff were a pleasure to work with from the very onset of our case to the final conclusion . When we were faced with a challenging personal injury incident, Richard was able to intervene on our behalf and his professionalism, knowledge and great personality completely changed the trajectory of our case for the better. Richard and his assistant Deborah were extremely attentive to not only every detail but every question we had and kept in constant communication to ensure we understood the process every step along the way. I'm truly grateful to have been referred to Richard Grimes and would highly recommend Grimes & Fertitta.

Sue Laubenstein | PERSONAL INJURY CLIENT

Why you should contact a wrongful death attorney right away

As difficult as it can be to regain your bearings following the wrongful death of a loved one, hiring a committed legal ally is one of the most important steps you can take during this difficult process.

Proving wrongful death requires thorough investigations (often involving third-party experts) and carefully organized evidence. In most cases, this isn’t something the family can handle on their own.

Additionally, it is nearly impossible to know the full extent of financial damage a wrongful death can cause in the days and weeks that follow. This is why families should be wary of signing or agreeing to anything without first speaking to an experienced Houston wrongful death attorney.

And unfortunately, the clock starts ticking fast. The wrongful death statute of limitations for Texas families is two years — two years after the death, you will no longer be able to seek the damages that you and your family deserve.

Hire a Houston wrongful death attorney who treats you like more than just a case number

A Houston wrongful death lawyer knows that there is no amount of money that can make up for the loss of a loved one. But when someone else is responsible for a wrongful, there is no reason that the survivors should be overwhelmed by the sudden financial stress of funeral costs, lost income, medical bills, and more.

At Grimes and Fertitta, it is the goal of each and every one of our Houston wrongful death attorneys to take the legal burden off your shoulders and pursue appropriate compensation so that you and your loved ones are taken care of and have the space to grieve.

Don’t let another party’s negligence take any more from you than it already has. Contact Grimes & Fertitta online or call us at 713-224-7644 to schedule a free consultation today.

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Those in need of personal injury lawyers, business litigation lawyers, or family law lawyers in Houston or The Woodlands are often going through one of the toughest times of their lives. Clients working with Grimes & Fertitta benefit from our straightforward, practical,
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