Have you recently lost a loved one in a fatal accident in Dallas, TX? At Anderson Injury Lawyers, our experienced Dallas wrongful death attorneys are here to help you pursue justice and fight for the full compensation you and your family deserve. Contact us at (214) 327-8000 today to get help.
We understand that no amount of money can replace your loss, but we can help you seek financial recovery for medical expenses, funeral and burial costs, and the irreplaceable loss of companionship and support.
With over $100 million recovered for injured clients, our firm is led by a Texas board-certified personal injury trial lawyer with 30+ years of experience. We’ve earned top accolades, including a perfect 10.0 Avvo rating, AV-Preeminent status from Martindale-Hubbell, and recognition from Super Lawyers and the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
Let our lawyers handle the legal aspects of your claim while you grieve. Call or stop by today to schedule a free consultation with a Dallas wrongful death lawyer.
How Anderson Injury Lawyers Can Help With a Wrongful Death Claim in Dallas
If you’ve lost a family member in Dallas, Texas, Anderson Injury Lawyers can help you fight to hold the responsible parties accountable. We know how difficult this time is for you and your family.
When you hire our lawyers to protect your family’s interests, you can count on us to:
- Investigate to determine who and what caused your loved one’s death
- Calculate the fair value of your case
- Hire top-rated experts and specialists
- Fight back if the insurance company tries to pin the blame on the victim
- Handle all insurance negotiations and communications
Our leading Dallas wrongful death attorneys don’t back down from a fight. If necessary, we won’t hesitate to take your case to trial to fight for the fair compensation you need. We’re always here to take your call, so contact us when you’re ready to schedule a free consultation.
How Common Are Fatal Accidents in Dallas?
Thousands of Texas residents lose their lives in fatal accidents every year. In 2023, 4,283 people died in fatal motor vehicle accidents across the state of Texas. In the same year, 564 Texas workers died in fatal workplace accidents.
Thousands more die each year because of fatal falls, medical mistakes, and intentional violence.
What is Wrongful Death?
Wrongful death means that someone died because of another party’s careless, reckless, or intentional acts. Most wrongful deaths happen because someone was careless.
Even if the responsible party didn’t commit a crime, they may be held liable for monetary damages in civil court.
Most wrongful death victims would have been eligible to file a personal injury lawsuit had they survived. Instead, surviving family members can pursue compensation for wrongful death.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Texas?
Only certain parties can file a wrongful death lawsuit under Texas law. After someone is killed in an accident, the following survivors are entitled to bring an action for wrongful death under Texas wrongful death laws:
- Surviving spouses
- Biological and adoptive children
- The deceased party’s parents
If the victim doesn’t have any surviving beneficiaries, the personal representative can file a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of the victim’s estate. The compensation recovered is then distributed according to the decedent’s will or state intestate laws.
What is My Dallas Wrongful Death Case Worth?
Many different factors can influence the value of a wrongful death claim, including:
- The victim’s age and life expectancy
- The victim’s lost wages and lost future earning capacity, based on prior earnings, education, and work history
- The identity and age of any dependents or children
- The victim’s pain and suffering prior to death
- The family’s trauma and emotional suffering
- The cost of the victim’s medical expenses prior to death
- The circumstances of the accident and the nature of the defendant’s acts
Our lawyers will carefully evaluate these and any other factors that might influence your case value. We’ll do everything possible to fight for the full compensation your family deserves.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Survivors in a Wrongful Death Case?
Most grieving families are entitled to seek compensation for the full value of their economic losses. They’re also entitled to seek compensation for more intangible, non-economic losses.
Depending on the circumstances, your family may be entitled to compensation for:
- Your loved one’s medical bills from the date of the accident until the date of death
- Funeral expenses and burial costs
- The lost financial support the victim would have provided
- The value of lost household services the victim would have provided
- Emotional distress and suffering
- Loss of prospective inheritance
- Loss of the victim’s company, guidance, and support
- Loss of consortium
Texas courts only award punitive damages in cases involving intentional wrongdoing or gross negligence. These damages don’t compensate for a specific loss. Instead, they punish the responsible parties for the harm they’ve caused your family.
Can I Recover Damages If My Loved One is Being Blamed for a Fatal Accident in Texas?
When someone doesn’t survive an accident, the responsible parties might try to blame the victim for causing the accident. Your loved one isn’t around to defend themselves. While it may seem wrong, insurance companies often try to take advantage of that fact.
If they succeed, you could lose valuable compensation. Under Texas modified comparative negligence rules, you can only recover compensation if your loved one was less than 51% responsible for their own death. If your loved one is found to be primarily responsible, your family can’t recover damages.
Shared fault rules have an impact even if your loved one was only partly liable. Even if your loved one was 50% or less responsible in their accident, your compensation can be reduced by their percentage of fault.
You’ve already lost someone important. You shouldn’t have to sit by and let the insurance company push you around. Our lawyers are here to protect you and limit the effectiveness of these and other insurance tactics. Call our law offices to schedule your free case review to learn more.
What Causes Most Fatal Accidents in Dallas, Texas?
Any type of accident can cause fatalities. Our lawyers handle all types of fatal accident cases in Dallas, including those involving:
- Car accidents
- Dallas Motorcycle accidents
- Dallas Pedestrian accidents
- Dallas Bicycle accidents
- Truck accidents
- Bus accidents
- Dallas Uber or Lyft accidents
- Dallas Slip and fall accidents
- Fires and explosions
- Sports accidents
- Dallas Boating accidents
- Exposure to toxic substances or chemicals
- Dallas Construction accidents
- Dallas Workplace accidents
- Dog bites
- Defective products (product liability)
- Dallas Premises liability
- Medical malpractice
- Nursing home abuse or neglect
- Criminal acts
Your life has already been turned upside down. Our lawyers in Dallas can handle the investigation to find out who was responsible for your loss. You can learn more about the benefits of creating an attorney-client relationship by calling to schedule a free case evaluation today.
How Do I Prove Negligence After I Lost a Loved One in a Fatal Accident in Texas?
Most wrongful death cases are based on negligence. In other words, most victims of wrongful death die because someone was careless or reckless.
To recover compensation based on negligence, you’ll have to establish:
- The responsible party owed your loved one a legal duty of care
- A breach of duty was the direct cause of your loved one’s injuries and death
- The amount of damages your family sustained
Multiple parties can share liability for the same accident. Our lawyers will carefully investigate to locate the evidence needed to establish causation and liability.
That evidence could include:
- Police reports
- Medical records
- Eyewitness statements
- Video surveillance footage
- Safety records
- Inspection and maintenance reports
- Photos of the accident scene
- Testimony from experts and specialists
Every case is different. There’s no single way to prove negligence. Our lawyers will evaluate all of the facts and conduct our own investigation. That way, you can rest assured that you’re getting the fair compensation your family deserves.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Fatal Accident in Texas?
The statute of limitations in Texas wrongful death cases is two years. However, unlike in personal injury cases, the two-year clock starts to run on the date of the victim’s death. That may not be the date of the accident itself.
Once the two-year deadline passes, you’ll lose your right to seek compensation.
We know life is difficult right now. Our Dallas wrongful death attorneys can take steps to protect your right to compensation today. Just call Anderson Injury Lawyers to get the legal advice you need today.
Contact a Dallas Wrongful Death Lawyer for a Free Consultation
An experienced Dallas wrongful death lawyer can help you get the money you need to protect your family’s future after you experience the loss of a loved one in Dallas, Texas. You’re already suffering an unimaginable loss because someone else made a mistake.
You shouldn’t have to suffer the financial consequences on top of everything else. Call Anderson Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation and get started today.
If you are in Fort Worth, contact our Fort Worth wrongful death lawyers.
For more information, visit our main office in Dallas – 408 W Eighth St #202
You can also visit our Dallas secondary law office – 6301 Gaston Ave #610