Undefeated Texas Wrongful Death Lawyers
Losing a loved one under any circumstances will forever change your life. However, if you’ve lost a loved one due to someone else’s negligence or carelessness, the entire experience can be exceptionally painful and hard to navigate.
The state of Texas has stringent laws to hold at-fault parties accountable for wrongful death incidents. These laws are designed to help grieving family members seek justice and obtain financial resources to help fill the monetary void caused by an unexpected and otherwise preventable death.
Before you enter into a major legal battle, it’s only natural to have questions like “What is the average wrongful death settlement in Texas?” or “What are the chances of winning a wrongful death suit?” Here’s what you need to know.
What Is a Wrongful Death in Texas?
According to Texas statutes, a wrongful death is a death that stems from an injury that was the result of another person’s negligence or reckless actions.
Simply put, wrongful death happens when someone acts in a careless or negligent manner that directly contributes to the victim’s injury and subsequent death. The key is demonstrating that the at-fault person’s actions were more than a simple mistake and that said actions played a significant role in the incident.
The Average Wrongful Death Settlement
There isn’t an “average” wrongful death settlement amount in Texas.
Settlement amounts vary greatly depending on factors like:
- The amount of fault of each party
- The egregiousness of the negligence
- The age and health of the victim
However, high-profile incidents where the at-fault party exhibited severe negligence or carelessness can result in multi-million dollar settlements. A skilled personal injury lawyer will value your case by examining all pertinent facts and details about the incident.
The Chances of Winning a Wrongful Death Claim
No two wrongful death cases are alike. As a result, the chances of winning a wrongful death suit vary based on the strength of your claim, as well as your attorney’s skill, experience, and track record.
Here’s a summary of the process:
- You’ll consult an experienced wrongful death attorney
- They will assemble a team of expert witnesses, including engineers and safety experts, and determine what happened and why
- Your attorney will file a wrongful death lawsuit against the responsible parties
- Your attorney will prepare and file a “demand letter” requiring that the defendants pay a specified sum of money to resolve your case before trial
- If the defendants refuse to pay the demand, your attorney will take your
- They’ll continually negotiate with the defendant and their legal team
Many wrongful death cases are settled (resolved) before trial. If, however, the defendant refuses to make a fair settlement offer, your attorney will take the case to court, where a jury will hear the case and render a verdict.
How Long Will It Take To Settle My Wrongful Death Case?
Lots of factors impact how long it takes to settle your case, including how quickly you hire a personal injury attorney and how soon the court gives you a trial date. Many times, defendants won’t offer a reasonable settlement until shortly before trial.
What Factors Can Impact a Wrongful Death Settlement Amount?
When valuing your wrongful death claim, your attorney will consider factors such as:
- The final medical expenses for the victim
- The nature of your relationship with the decedent
- Future financial support the victim would have provided to his or her family
- Future household services that the victim would have provided to his or her family
- The health and age of the deceased
- Your needs and the needs of any other dependents
For instance, suppose the deceased was a 35-year-old husband and father who worked full-time. Their family’s damages would be higher than a 75-year-old retiree with no dependents.
Will My Wrongful Death Case Go To Trial?
Not necessarily. Many wrongful death claims are settled before trial. However, if the defendant refuses to do what’s right, your attorney will need to take your case to trial to fight for a fair outcome.
Our wrongful death lawyers prepare every case for trial and have consistently recovered the largest wrongful death verdicts and settlements in Texas history.
Settlement Vs. Verdict
A settlement is an out-of-court agreement between two parties to “settle” a civil legal matter. The settlement amount is determined via negotiations between your attorney and the defendant’s legal team. As the plaintiff, you decide whether to accept the settlement offer.
How Do Personal Injury Lawyers Get Paid?
Wrongful death attorneys fall under the umbrella of personal injury lawyers. Like other types of personal injury lawyers, wrongful death attorneys get paid on a contingency fee basis.
You only pay for their services if they recover a settlement or verdict in your case. The fee is a percentage of your awarded compensation, and it is taken off the top, so you don’t have any out-of-pocket costs.
Why It’s Important to Hire the Best Texas Wrongful Death Lawyers
The chances of winning a wrongful death suit on your own are slim to none. However, when you hire an attorney to represent you and your loved ones, the chances of winning a wrongful death suit go up significantly.
Finding the right attorney is about more than just winning or losing. A great wrongful death attorney will hold the wrongdoers accountable and ensure that they pay the maximum compensation to you and your family for your financial and emotional losses so that you have the resources to move forward after the death of a loved one.
An experienced wrongful death lawyer with a track record of substantial verdicts and settlements in wrongful death lawsuits will make all the difference in your fight for what’s right.
Contact Our Undefeated Texas Wrongful Death Lawyers for a Free Consultation
If you lost a loved one as a result of someone else’s recklessness, a wrongful death lawsuit is often the only way to hold the wrongdoers accountable and provide your family with the financial resources needed to provide for yourself and your family in your loved one’s absence.
With billions won and the largest wrongful death recoveries in history, our Undefeated Wrongful Death Lawyers have the resources, experience, and skills to take on the largest companies and legal teams in the country and not only win – but set records.
All consultations are free, and you don’t pay anything unless we win your case. Call 1-888-603-3636 or contact us through our only chat or web form.
Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers – Houston
2700 Post Oak Blvd #1000, Houston, TX 77056
(888) 603-3636
Open 24 hours
Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers – Midland
306 W Wall St Suite 701, Midland, TX 79701
(432) 220-0000
Open 24 hours