The Gutierrez Law Firm compassionately represents Houston families in wrongful death cases. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation to find out how to hold those at fault for a tragedy fully responsible. We seek the most possible to help families cover funeral expenses, pay leftover medical bills, and earn support for the futures of those left behind.
Do I Need a Wrongful Death Lawyer After a Tragic Death?
If you’ve lost someone to a fatal accident and an individual, a business, or a government entity is to blame, you should speak to a wrongful death lawyer as soon as possible.
Your family is empowered to seek justice and financial support after a tragic death, but the insurance companies who represent at-fault parties will be fighting back. Your family may run up against corporate lawyers who get paid to prevent you from receiving full support. Insurance adjusters and lawyers will try to blame the victim for the accident. They’ll also spend a lot of time trying to convince your family that they shouldn’t expect any financial support.
Our Houston wrongful death lawyers protect your family at such a difficult time. We want to handle the frustrating claims process while allowing close relatives time to grieve a loved one’s death. We fully investigate any accident and the people who caused it. Then we present all the evidence and demand the maximum in support so families have what they need to rebuild their lives.
What Kind of Negligence Can Lead to Wrongful Death Cases?
Houston is the fourth largest city in the U.S. and unfortunately, there are a lot of dangers associated with so many people living in one area.
Any commuter using Houston highways and interstates can tell you how dangerous rush hour traffic can be. A reckless driver can lose control on a busy route like I-610 and cause life-threatening injuries to any motorist nearby.
In Harris County and the Galveston Bay region, there’s plenty of risk when people enjoy the ocean or get out on local rivers and lakes for a good time. People must be careful, but the property owners and state and county agencies responsible for these bodies of water often have to accept liability for drownings and boating accidents.
These are just a few of the types of wrongful death accidents that we commonly help local families with:
- Fatal traffic accidents including car accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, truck accidents, and cycling accidents.
- Deadly Workplace accidents.
- Premises liability at apartment complexes and hotels, restaurants, and public places.
- Unsafe Amusement Park, Waterpark, and Fun parks.
- Defective products.
- Slip-and-fall and Trip-and-Fall accidents that lead to death.
- Medical malpractice.
- Nursing home abuse deaths.
- Deadly dog bites.
After a death, families often need more than just to see that justice is served. Close relatives, especially children and spouses of the victim, must be protected in the future. In the years ahead, they’ve been robbed of the love and financial support a loved one would have provided. A Houston wrongful death attorney factors in this loss of stability and guidance and makes sure those at fault are held accountable.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim in Texas?
Texas law allows the following people to file a wrongful death claim:
- The victim’s surviving spouse
- The children of the victim
- The parents of the victim
One person can file on behalf of the rest of the beneficiaries. If none of those parties come forward within three months after death, the executor or administrator of the deceased’s estate must file suit. This occurs unless all of the surviving family members request that no wrongful death lawsuit be filed.
A wrongful death lawyer can also file this claim on behalf of close family members. A wrongful death representative gathers evidence clearly showing who was to blame for a tragic death. Then a lawsuit is filed to seek support for the family left behind.
A wrongful death lawsuit is a civil case. Families may file this case anytime, even when an at-fault party faces criminal charges. They don’t have to wait for the outcome of a criminal trial. The civil and criminal cases will be decided separately.
Compensation for Families After a Tragic Houston Death
Families should never be left alone to face the financial consequences of a tragic death. They must demand help with the bills that arise after an accident. They can also seek support for the intense emotional toll the loss of a loved one will cause.
Gutierrez Law Firm will create a wrongful death claim that includes every hardship the family has endured and will endure. This is a critical step in seeking support for a family in crisis because anything left out of a claim would likely become damages the family would have to cover out of their own pockets. To our lawyers, it’s unacceptable to expose families to any of the financial consequences of someone else’s mistakes.
These are just a few of the factors that your lawyer demands on behalf of your family:
- Money to pay for a funeral and proper burial.
- Money to cover the response fees and medical bills an accident leaves behind.
- Money for the future when a family will no longer be able to rely on the income the deceased may have provided.
- Additional support for the emotional pain family members will continue to deal with in the years ahead. Support should factor in the loss of guidance for the family and the loss of intimacy shared with a spouse.
- Support for parents after a child’s death. This would include non-economic damages such as losing a lifetime of companionship.
- Cost of mental health care for grieving family members.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does my family have to file a wrongful death claim?
Texas allows your family up to two years to file a wrongful death claim. But families shouldn’t wait years to file. They should act as soon as possible. Waiting can allow time for evidence to be lost or even intentionally destroyed. Eyewitnesses can also move away or forget what they saw.
What if my family member was found partially to blame for a tragic accident?
Families can still seek support even if a loved one was partially to blame for a deadly accident. Victims and others at fault can share blame for a tragedy under Texas’ legal concept of modified “comparative negligence.” It means that as long as victims are found to be less than 51% responsible for what happened, families can still hope to secure support from the other party. Take note that the settlement money received would be reduced by the percentage of blame the victim was assigned.
What if my family can’t afford a wrongful death lawyer?
Your family can always afford excellent legal care from Gutierrez Law Firm. We don’t accept any upfront money. And your family doesn’t owe anything unless we win your case for you. Then our fee is paid out of the settlement money an at-fault party provides your family.
Contact a Houston Wrongful Death Lawyer
Nothing can restore the life of a loved one taken in a senseless accident. But families are empowered to seek justice and hold those who contributed to a tragic death accountable. Families must also seek the immediate financial help they’ll need and the support they’ll require in the future.
Please don’t face this confusing and difficult time alone. Our Houston wrongful death lawyers offer a free and confidential case consultation to all families. Please tell us about what you’re going through and how we can help. We can help you quickly determine if it’s in your family’s best interests to pursue a legal claim. Contact our office today to schedule a free, no-obligation case review.
