Houston Wrongful Death Lawyer
When someone’s negligence takes the life of another, they do more than just end that life; they affect the family of the decedent. A wrongful death may leave a wife or husband without a spouse, a parent without a child, or a child without parents. It hits the whole family with the loss of the primary wage earner or homemaker, and it creates a loss of companionship, love and affection that can never be replaced once it is gone.
The loss of a loved one causes immediate and lasting damage to the surviving family members left behind, both in terms of direct economic hardship as well as the suffering, grief and household upheaval that accompanies any sudden personal loss. Texas law recognizes the harm a wrongful death imposes on the surviving family members and allows them to get compensation through a wrongful death lawsuit. Such action provides real financial help when it is most needed and also helps to hold the wrongdoer accountable for their actions and realize some justice for the family member who was taken away.
Gilde Law Firm has a long history of helping families in Houston succeed in wrongful death lawsuits after the loss of a loved one due to an automobile accident or truck wreck, workplace or construction accident, product defect, unsafe premises, and countless other incidents. If you’ve lost a loved one because of another’s negligent, reckless, or intentional misconduct in Houston, let the compassionate and dedicated legal team at Gilde Law Firm help you deal with this painful loss and move forward as best you can. You shouldn’t have to encounter financial hardship on top of everything else while dealing with the tragic loss of a loved one. The experienced Houston wrongful death lawyers at Gilde Law Firm can help.
Texas Wrongful Death Law
The Texas wrongful death statute says that a person is liable for the damages arising from a fatal injury whenever the injury was caused by the person’s “wrongful act, neglect, carelessness, unskillfulness, or default.” To hold the person liable, it may be necessary to take them to court and prove they were negligent and that their negligence caused the death. Gilde Law Firm is skilled and experienced in wrongful death matters; we know how to build a strong case that proves the individual’s negligence and hold them liable for the death, whether we are negotiating a settlement with the insurance company or need to prove the case in court.
Wrongful death cases in Texas are brought for the exclusive benefit of the surviving spouse, child and parents of the deceased. Any of these individuals can bring a claim together or separately for the benefit of all of them.
In a successful wrongful death claim, the surviving family members can recover compensation for funeral and burial expenses, lost earnings and benefits, as well as their mental and emotional anguish. Texas law also allows for the recovery of exemplary damages for a death caused by a willful act or omission or gross negligence. Exemplary damages, also known as punitive damages, can further compensate the family members while holding the individual fully responsible for especially outrageous behavior in causing the death.
Survival Actions Help Maximize Justice and Accountability
Many times, a survival action can be brought in conjunction with a wrongful death action. In a survival or survivorship case, the estate of the deceased brings a lawsuit against the wrongdoer for the deceased’s medical expenses, loss of income, and pain and suffering endured between the time of injury and death. Whatever can be recovered by the estate will go to the spouse, children, and other family members according to the will or estate plan of the deceased, or according to Texas law if the person died without an estate plan.
By including a survival action with a wrongful death claim, family members recover the greatest amount of compensation available while holding the responsible parties fully accountable for the damage they’ve done. Gilde Law Firm is proud to represent estate executors and administrators along with family members in both survival actions and wrongful death claims to get the fullest measure of justice for the harm done.
Fighting for Wrongful Death Victims and Their Families in Houston
It is not uncommon for family members to go through a range of emotions after experiencing a needless tragedy like the loss of a loved one due to another’s negligence – shock, anger, confusion, and grief to name just a few. While you help yourself and your family process these emotions, Gilde Law Firm is hard at work holding the responsible party fully accountable for the harm they have caused.
We Believe: Accidents can be prevented. We believe in this litigation, and we believe you.
We Fight: Litigating against large corporations, their insurance companies, and their endless resources is extremely challenging and adversarial. Gilde Law Firm knows how to fight for your interests.
We Win: We will work to obtain the full measure of justice for your injuries, losses, or the death of your loved one.
If you’ve lost a loved one due to the negligence of another in Houston or anywhere in the U.S., call Gilde Law Firm at 281-973-2772 or toll-free at 800-973-3106 for a no-cost, confidential consultation.
