Undefeated Houston Wrongful Death Lawyers
Losing a loved one in a catastrophic accident is devastating, especially when their death could have been prevented. Whether your family member was killed in an oilfield explosion, refinery fire, trucking accident, or workplace disaster, hiring the right wrongful death lawyer can be the difference between securing your family’s financial future or being forced to settle for far less than you deserve.
At Zehl & Associates, our undefeated wrongful death lawyers have won Billions for families across Texas and the United States. We’ve recovered the #1 largest wrongful death verdicts and settlements in history against the biggest oil companies, refineries, and trucking carriers in the world. And we do it with an unwavering commitment to clients — to treat you like family and to refuse anything less than what you truly deserve.
We know that no amount of money can replace your loved one. But in the eyes of the law, financial compensation is often the only way to hold corporations fully accountable and ensure your family has the resources to move forward.
Here are seven reasons why hiring a wrongful death lawyer is essential, and how our team at Zehl & Associates is ready to fight for you and your family every step of the way.
1. We Protect Your Rights From Day One
When our client Jan came to us after her son Tanner’s tragic death in a preventable oilfield explosion near Chickashah, Oklahoma, she knew she was up against a powerful corporation—and she wanted answers, justice, and accountability. What she didn’t know was just how far the company would go to protect itself.
The reality is, after a fatal accident, corporations and their insurers act fast to protect their bottom line, not to help your family. No matter how sincere they try to sound about “taking care of you,” their only priority is to avoid responsibility and make your case disappear as quickly and cheaply as possible.
Within hours, they’ll deploy teams of lawyers, investigators, and claims adjusters working behind the scenes to pressure you into accepting a settlement far less than what you deserve — and well before you even understand your full legal rights.
Don’t fall for it.
At Zehl & Associates, we don’t let them get away with it. Every wrongful death case is unique, but our mission is always the same: get justice for your loved one, uncover the truth about what happened, and make sure it never happens to another family again.
Not only do we consistently achieve these goals, but we also set records for our clients while doing so.
2. We Specialize in Complex Personal Injury Laws
Wrongful death cases are complex, time-sensitive, and unforgiving if you miss a step. When you’re grieving, these are the last things you want to think about, but the clock starts ticking immediately. Under Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code § 16.003, you must file suit no later than two years after your loved one’s death. Waiting even a few months can mean crucial evidence vanishes, witnesses’ memories fade, or key records are destroyed.
At Zehl & Associates, we take over every aspect of your case from day one, so you don’t have to worry about giving the other side the upper hand:
- We make sure your claim is filed before critical deadlines expire, which could otherwise prevent you from recovering anything at all.
- We handle every legal and procedural requirement, so you never have to deal with confusing paperwork or missed steps.
- We communicate with insurance companies and defense lawyers, so your family doesn’t have to answer a single call or email.
- We keep you informed and in control, without expecting you to interpret legal jargon, court filings, or the Texas legal code.
Hear why our clients like Jan say: “Zehl takes care of everything, and they always come through.”
3. We Conduct an Immediate Investigation Into What Really Happened
Before your family even knows what went wrong, the company will be working overtime to control the narrative and cover its tracks. An experienced lawyer knows the only way to level the playing field is to uncover — and prove — exactly what happened, and show how it could and should have been prevented.
Here’s how we do it:
Uncovering the truth
We work with leading accident reconstruction experts, engineers, and investigators to expose safety violations, ignored warnings, and systemic failures that companies try to hide, including:
- Reconstructing oilfield and refinery explosions
- Analyzing black box data and crash reports in fatal 18-wheeler accidents
- Investigating mechanical failures, corrosion, and leak points in pipeline explosions
- Tracing safety violations and ignored maintenance records in workplace accidents
Preserving critical evidence
We move immediately to file suit and obtain court orders that prevent companies from destroying or altering evidence, including:
- Recovering surveillance footage, maintenance logs, and internal communications
- Securing black box data, GPS logs, and dispatch records in truck and bus crashes
- Documenting failed safety systems and inspection reports in plant, refinery, and offshore disasters
Using it to win
We don’t just collect evidence — we use it to build an airtight case that wins at trial and forces record-setting settlements. Time and again, we’ve turned hidden maintenance records, deleted safety reports, and “lost” inspection logs into the very proof that holds companies fully accountable.
Case in point: In 2025, we secured a record-breaking $35 million settlement for the family of a woman killed when a truck driver, distracted by his company-issued phone and suffering from untreated sleep apnea, slammed into her on I-35 in Fort Worth. Working with the nation’s leading cell phone forensics team and a top sleep disorder expert, we proved both the distraction and the medical unfitness caused the horrific crash, leaving the company with no defense.
4. We Identify All Responsible Parties & Hold Negligent Companies Fully Accountable
Having successfully represented thousands of families in the most complex and catastrophic wrongful death cases, we know that to maximize your family’s recovery, we must dig deep to identify every at-fault party. This includes looking into powerful corporations, negligent employers, contractors, equipment manufacturers, and any third parties whose actions contributed to the tragedy.
Once hired, we move immediately to:
- File wrongful death lawsuits against all parties whose negligence caused or contributed to your loved one’s death.
- Pursue claims against companies across all industries — from transportation and construction to manufacturing and maritime — for negligent hiring, inadequate training, unsafe working conditions, regulatory violations, and other preventable hazards.
- Hold all responsible parties fully accountable, including site managers, supervisors, maintenance crews, vendors, subcontractors, and any third parties whose failures led to unsafe conditions.
- File survival claims to recover damages your loved one would have been entitled to had they survived, including medical expenses, lost income, and the pain and suffering they endured before their passing.
Sometimes, companies will try to limit your recovery by forcing you into the workers’ compensation system — don’t let them. If you’re unsure whether your case should be handled as a wrongful death lawsuit, a workers’ comp claim, or both, our lawyers will explain your options, protect your rights, and guide you toward the path that maximizes your recovery.
5. We Refuse to Accept Anything Less Than the Maximum Compensation Possible
At Zehl & Associates, our clients are more than cases. We get to know your family personally to understand the full impact of your loss. Every family’s story is different, and we’re committed to uncovering all the ways your loved one’s death has affected your life, both emotionally and financially.
Our meticulous approach means we accurately calculate every element of your damages, then demand and fight for every dollar you deserve, including:
- Medical Bills: All costs related to medical treatment your loved one received leading up to their death.
- Funeral and Burial Costs: The often-overlooked but very real expenses your family has faced.
- Loss of Financial Support: Compensation for the income, benefits, and financial stability your loved one provided.
- Loss of Inheritance: The diminished value of what your family would have reasonably expected to inherit.
- Loss of Services: The value of unpaid services your loved one provided, such as childcare, housekeeping, or home maintenance.
- Past and Future Mental Anguish: Compensation for the emotional pain, suffering, and mental distress your family has endured since the loss—and will continue to endure in the future.
- Punitive Damages: When appropriate, we pursue punitive damages designed to punish the negligent parties and deter future reckless conduct.
By taking the time to understand your family’s unique needs and losses, we ensure that the company or their insurers cannot minimize or ignore the true cost of your tragedy. When we fight for you, we refuse to settle for anything less than the maximum compensation possible — because that’s what your family deserves.
6. We Prepare Every Case For Trial to Ensure Record-Setting Recoveries
When companies face Zehl & Associates, they know they have two choices: offer a large settlement that fully compensates your family, or risk a record-setting verdict at trial. And with our undefeated track record, they know we’ve never lost a wrongful death case.
They know exactly who we are, what we stand for, and that we will never back down. We fight relentlessly to hold negligent and reckless parties fully accountable, secure financial resources that support your family for life, and help prevent these tragedies from happening again.
Because of our consistent success, both inside and outside the courtroom, the majority of our clients’ cases actually settle for record-setting amounts before trial even begins.
7. We Stand By You Every Step of the Way
If you listen to any of our video testimonials, you might notice that our clients often say we treat them like family. That’s because we genuinely care. Our commitment to clients drives everything we do. It’s why families across Texas and beyond keep coming back to us, trusting us long after their cases are resolved.
We’re here to lift the burden off your shoulders by:
- Handling negotiations with insurers and all parties involved
- Providing around-the-clock support to answer your questions and ease your stress
- Ensuring your medical bills and reasonable living expenses are covered while your case is pending
- Assisting with financial planning and trust setup after settlement, so you can focus on healing
We stand alongside families who’ve faced some of Texas’s most tragic losses—from industrial disasters such as the Port Arthur LNG scaffolding collapse to devastating railroad, truck, and oilfield accidents. We know how deeply these losses impact every part of your life. That’s why we don’t just fight for justice. We fight to honor your loved one’s legacy and protect your family’s future.
Why Choose Zehl & Associates?
At Zehl & Associates, our results speak for themselves. But beyond the numbers, what truly sets us apart is our relentless dedication to each client and our unwavering commitment to fight every case as if it were our own family’s.
- Billions Won: Corporations know that when they face us, they are up against a team that will NEVER settle for less than full accountability and the maximum compensation possible — no matter what.
- The #1 Largest Verdicts & Settlements in Texas and U.S. History: Our recent wrongful death recoveries include a $35M settlement (2025)—the largest single-plaintiff personal injury settlement in Fort Worth history—and a $37.5M Verdict (2024) against Oncor Electrical Company, the largest in their corporate history.
- Unmatched Legal Expertise: Our trial lawyers specialize exclusively in catastrophic wrongful death cases, allowing us to navigate the complex legal landscape with precision and confidence.
- Resources & Experience To Take on Any Company: From accident reconstruction experts to medical specialists and forensic analysts, we build powerhouse teams to investigate, prove liability, and maximize your compensation.
- Unwavering Commitment to Clients: We understand that behind every case is a grieving family. We take time to listen, support, and provide clear guidance so you’re never left in the dark or overwhelmed by the process.
Whether your case involves oilfield accidents, truck crashes, industrial explosions, or offshore disasters, Zehl & Associates stands ready with the experience, resources, and compassion to fight for your family’s future.
Undefeated Wrongful Death Lawyers: Call 1-888-603-3636 for Your Free Consultation
Having won Billions for accident and wrongful death victims in Texas and across the United States, our Wrongful Death Lawyers have the resources and experience to stand up against the largest corporations in the world and ensure our clients and their families receive the maximum compensation possible. As our results demonstrate — we don’t just win, we set records.
If your loved one was tragically killed due to someone else’s careless actions, call us today at 1-888-603-3636 or, send us a confidential email through our Contact Us page.
We’ll answer your questions, explain all of your rights and options, and provide you with the information you need to decide what’s best for you and your family.
All consultations are free, and you won’t pay us a dime unless we win your case.