Nothing can ever match the pain of losing a loved one to the negligence of another. Unfortunately, many families are forced to endure this pain, day in and day out, and if you are one of them, a Houston wrongful death lawyer at our firm is here for you. Continue reading and contact The Gonzalez Law Group today to learn more about how our team can help.
Houston Wrongful Death Lawyer | Here for You and Your Family
If your loved one recently lost his or her life to another person’s negligence, our compassionate yet aggressive Houston personal injury attorneys are here to help you and your family attain the justice you deserve. Though the last thing anyone wants during this time is to speak with an attorney, you should understand that Texas places a two years statute of limitations (time limit) on wrongful death claims, although certain limited exceptions exist in some cases. In most cases, families will want to act quickly so an experienced Houston wrongful death lawyer can immediately conduct a thorough investigation and identify all negligent parties.
Wrongful Death Claims in Texas
Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 71.002(a) establishes that an action for actual damages arising from an injury that causes an individual’s death can be brought when liability exists under this section of state law. Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 71.002(b), a person is liable for damages arising from an injury-causing an individual’s death if the injury was caused by that person’s wrongful act, neglect, carelessness, unskillfulness, or default.
Any number of accidents or other incidents can result in a person’s death. Some of the most common causes of wrongful death claims in Texas include, but are not limited to:
- Homicide
- Auto Accidents
- Commercial Truck Accidents
- Motorcycle Accidents
- Ride-share Accidents
- Pedestrian Accidents
- Distracted Driving Accidents
- Head-On Collisions
- Multiple-Vehicle Accidents
- Hit and Run Accidents
- Product Liability
- Premises Liability
- Slip and Fall
- Workplace Accidents
Types of Wrongful Death Beneficiaries in Texas
Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 71.004(a) states that a wrongful death action is for the exclusive benefit of the following relatives of the deceased:
- surviving spouse;
- children; and
- parents.
Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 71.004 (b), the surviving spouse, children, and parents of the deceased can bring the action or one or more of those individuals may bring the action for the benefit of all. Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 71.004(c) establish that when none of the individuals entitled to bring an action have begun the action within three calendar months of the death of the injured individual, his or her executor or administrator can bring and prosecute the action unless requested not to by all those individuals.
The damages that may be awarded to victims in these cases can include economic damages for calculable losses such as loss of income. In some cases, noneconomic damages may be awarded for more subjective kinds of harm such as loss of consortium.
Contact Us Today!
If your loved one was recently killed as the result of another party’s negligence in Harris County, it is in your best interest to immediately retain legal counsel. The Gonzalez Law Group helps families in communities all over Harris County, Friendswood, Pearland, Seabrook, League City, Deer Park, Pasadena, La Porte, Galena Park, Baytown, and many other communities in Houston. Contact us today to have our lawyers provide a complete evaluation of your case during a free initial consultation.