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Undefeated Houston Wrongful Death Lawyers

Houston Wrongful Death Lawyers with the Largest Wins in History

Our Undefeated Texas Wrongful Death Lawyers have won billions and repeatedly recovered the largest wrongful death verdicts and settlements in history for family members of wrongful death victims across Texas, Louisiana, New Mexico, and the United States.

We’ve successfully represented hundreds of families whose loved ones were tragically killed in connection with some of the most catastrophic accidents in history, including oilfield accidents, plant and refinery accidents, workplace accidents, product liability cases, chemical plant accidents, truck accidents, and motor vehicle accidents.

While nothing makes up for the loss of a loved one, a wrongful death lawsuit is the only way to ensure that the negligent parties are held accountable, that others aren’t killed from the same dangerous conduct in the future, and that you and your family have the financial resources to care and provide for yourselves (and each other) in your loved one’s absence.

We Ensure That Our Clients Are Able to Provide for Themselves and their Families for the Rest of Their Lives

Every wrongful death case is unique, but our goals are always the same:

1. Hold the negligent and reckless parties fully accountable

2. Provide our clients and their families with the financial resources to care and provide for themselves for the rest of their lives

3. Prevent the dangerous conduct from occurring again in the future

Not only do we consistently achieve these goals, but we also set records for our clients while doing so.

Billions Won and the #1 Largest Wrongful Death Recoveries in TX

In the past 5 years alone, our Houston Wrongful Death Lawyers have:

Contact Our Houston Wrongful Death Lawyers for a Free Consult at 1-888-603-3636 or by Clicking Here

What is a Wrongful Death Lawsuit?

Wrongful death lawsuits allow surviving family members to hold the negligent defendants legally responsible and financially accountable by providing the decedent’s family and estate with the financial resources to care for themselves and their family members in their loved one’s absence.

Who can File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit and What is the Deadline for Filing it?

In most states, like Texas, the surviving spouse, children, and parents are permitted to file wrongful death claims on behalf of a deceased family member.

If the decedent didn’t have children or wasn’t married at the time of death, the wrongful death lawsuit can be filed by the decedent’s parents or by the estate itself, through the Executor or Administrator.

If you don’t have an estate created, which is required to pursue and recover survival or “pre-death” damages, our team of probate lawyers will create the estate and, if you agree, seek to have you appointed as the “administrator” of the estate.

What Damages are Available in Wrongful Death Cases?

When a spouse, parent, or other family member is tragically killed, the decedent’s family is left with unbearable grief and, often times, piling expenses with little or no income to pay them.  This is especially true when the decedent was the household’s primary wage earner, and his or her salary was used to pay the mortgage, car notes, health insurance premiums, groceries, tuition bills, and other living expenses.

A monetary recovery may seem inconsequential and of little consolation, but, unfortunately, the bills continue even in your loved one’s absence and can add tremendous stress to what’s already the most difficult time of your life.

A wrongful death suit is the only way families can hold at-fault parties accountable for their loved one’s death and ensure that they’re able to move forward, financially, in their loved one’s absence.

Under Texas law, families of wrongful death victims are entitled to recover “economic” and “non economic” damages, which include the following:

  • Loss of past and future income (economic)
  • Loss of past and future household services and assistance (economic)
  • Loss of society, companionship, and consortium (non-economic)
  • Loss of inheritance (economic)
  • Mental anguish and emotional distress suffered by family members (non-economic)
  • Pre-death pain and suffering (non-economic)

Punitive Damages are often Available to Punish the Negligent Parties

In cases involving “grossly” negligent conduct, the family is also entitled to recover punitive damages, which are designed to punish the wrongdoer and prevent them from putting others at harm with the same dangerous conduct in the future.

While most lawyers have and will never recover them, our wrongful death lawyers have consistently recovered punitive damages in EVERY major case we’ve taken to trial. Visit our law office in Houston to get started with your case today.

What is a Survival Claim and How is it Different from a Wrongful Death Claim?

The purpose of a wrongful death lawsuit is to hold the negligent person or company accountable, prevent the same dangerous conduct from injuring or killing others in the future, and to compensate the surviving family members for the emotional suffering and financial losses they’ve experienced as a result of their loved one’s death.

A survival action, on the other hand, is different.

Survival claims are filed by the surviving family members to recover damages for any pain and suffering the DECEDENT suffered in the minutes, hours, or days leading up to his or her death.

These pre-death suffering damages are designed to compensate for the decedent’s pain, fear, and suffering experienced in the last minutes of life.

Survival Damages Belong to the Estate and are Divided Between Living Family Members

Unlike the damages in a wrongful death case, the damages recovered through a survival claim belong exclusively to the decedent’s estate and are divided up among living family members.

When there is evidence that the decedent suffered and experienced pain before they passed away, our lawyers will always file a wrongful death AND survival claim to ensure that the surviving family members receive the absolute maximum compensation available for their losses and the decedent’s pre-death suffering.

Contact Our Undefeated Houston Wrongful Death Lawyers for a Free Consult at 1-888-603-3636 or by Clicking Here

With Billions Won and the #1 Largest Verdicts and Settlements in History, our Wrongful Death Attorneys have consistently proven that we don’t just win for families of wrongful death victims – We Set Records.

If your loved one was tragically killed due to someone else’s recklessness, carelessness, or negligence, call our Undefeated Houston Wrongful Death Lawyers at 1-888-603-3636, use the chat form on our website, or send us a confidential email through our Contact Form by clicking here.

Our Undefeated Wrongful Death Lawyers will 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.

Texas Wrongful Death FAQs

How Long Do I Have to File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit In Texas?

In Texas, the statute of limitations for wrongful death is two years. This means that you have two years after the date of your loved one’s passing (not the date when they sustained their injury) to file your wrongful death lawsuit. However, if you are contemplating a lawsuit, you should not wait to consult with an experienced wrongful death attorney. If you wait, evidence critical to proving your claims could be lost or destroyed long before the statute of limitations expires.

What is the Time Limit for Filing a Texas Survival Claim?

The statute of limitations for filing survival claims in Texas is also two years. However, the clock starts ticking on the day your loved one was injured or the date their injury was discovered, not the day they died. Again, if you are considering bringing a survival claim, consult an experienced lawyer as soon as possible.

Can I File Both a Wrongful Death Lawsuit and a Survival Claim?

Yes. In fact, Texas wrongful death lawsuits and survival claims are often filed at the same time. The wrongful death claim would seek compensation for you and your family’s personal losses, while the survival action seeks restitution for the losses incurred and the conscious pain and suffering experienced by your loved one prior to death.

Can I Recover Punitive Damages in a Wrongful Death Lawsuit or Survival Claim?

Texas allows for the recovery of exemplary damages (aka punitive damages) in both wrongful death lawsuits and survival claims when death results from misconduct or gross negligence. Exemplary damages are intended to punish the defendant for their wrongful conduct and deter others from engaging in similar acts in the future.

Can Extended Family File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit or Survival Claim In Texas?

Only immediate family – spouse, children, or parents – can file a wrongful death lawsuit in Texas. All other family members, including siblings, divorced spouses, and grandchildren, are barred from doing so.

A survival claim, on the other hand, must be filed by the executor, administrator, or legal representative of the estate. If a will exists, the person named as executor or administrator must file the claim, whether they’re the decedent’s spouse, a member of the extended family, or even a close friend. The decedent’s living heir can file a survival claim when there is no will. In the absence of both a will and living heir, a member of the extended family or a representative appointed by the court is permitted to file a survival claim.

What are the Elements of a Texas Wrongful Death Lawsuit?

To file a successful wrongful death lawsuit in Texas, you must prove the four following elements:

  • Duty of Care: The defendant must have owed your loved one a duty of care. For example, the driver of an 18-wheeler owes others on the road a duty of care to drive in a safe manner and obey all traffic laws.
  • Breach of Duty: You must prove the defendant breached their duty of care. For example, a truck driver who was intoxicated while behind the wheel would violate their duty.
  • Causation: You must prove the breach of duty directly resulted in your loved one’s death. For example, the truck driver’s impairment caused them to lose control of their rig and crash into the decedent’s vehicle, causing their fatal injury.
  • Damages: You must be able to demonstrate the damages incurred by you and your family as a result of your loved one’s wrongful death.

What are the Elements of a Texas Survival Claim?

To successfully pursue a survival claim in Texas, you must demonstrate the following elements:

  • As the plaintiff, you represent the decedent’s estate
  • The deceased had a personal injury cause of action
  • The deceased would have been able to sue for personal injury if they had lived
  • The defendant’s wrongful act caused the victim’s injury.

Recent Review:

5/5 Stars

“My husband was involved in a fatal 18- wheeler accident, as he was travelling to work to provide for his family. The 18-wheeler drove out of his lane and into my husband’s lane, crashing into him head on. My husband lost his life immediately. He left me and our 3 year old son behind. When searching for an attorney to represent my case I was looking for someone who would not only fight for my son and I, but be the voice of justice for the premature loss of my husband. That’s when I found Ryan Zehl and Matt Greenberg at Zehl & Associates. Ryan and Matt have been the most compassionate and justice seeking attorney for my family. They got us a settlement that I would have never expected in less than 12 months, and even had the trucking company contractually agree that the driver would never put other innocent drivers on the road at risk again, because the company was prohibited from ever allowing him to drive a commercial vehicle again.

Ryan refused their inadequate settlement offers and never once stopped fighting for my family. If you or anyone you know has been seriously injured or suffered a death to a trucking or other accident, I highly recommend Ryan Zehl and Matt Greenberg a Zehl & Associates to be the voice for you and your family.”

“They are the best personal injury lawyers in Texas, and in my opinion, in the entire United States.”

Melanie Crunk
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