Helping Surviving Family Members Recover Compensation
The sudden death of a loved one can cause shock and sadness for the whole family. It can also lead to financial struggles you should not have to deal with as you grieve. If you’re trying to plan a funeral while worrying about how you’ll afford your bills, you should consult with a lawyer to learn if you should file a wrongful death claim.
When you contact Mike Massey Law, you’ll meet with compassionate lawyers who will review your situation to determine if you should request compensation from the party responsible for your loved one’s death. Call our Austin, TX wrongful death attorneys to get started on your case.
What Is a Wrongful Death Case?
If someone else caused your loved one’s death, you may be able to file a wrongful death case. Even if the death was an accident, the liable party may be required to compensate you for your financial losses as a surviving family member.
In particular, Texas law states that a family member may be able to file a wrongful death claim if their loved one was killed due to someone’s wrongful act, neglect, default, carelessness, or unskillfulness. Some common examples of such situations include:
- Car accident
- Motorcycle accident
- Commercial truck crash
- Pedestrian accident
- Boating collision
- Bicycle crash
- Bus accident
- Medical malpractice
- Assault
- Nursing home abuse or neglect
- Defective product
- Workplace accident
- Construction accident
If your loved one lost their life due to someone else’s actions, it’s time to talk to wrongful death lawyers in Austin, TX about your legal rights. You may be entitled to damages that would help you pay for the funeral, medical costs, and other expenses you face after your family member’s unexpected death. Call our law offices for a free consultation.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim in Texas?
Before you make plans to file a wrongful death suit, make sure you’re eligible to do so. In Texas, only certain relatives of the victim are permitted to initiate a wrongful death claim. They include the surviving spouse and parents. The decedent’s children, including adopted children, can also file a claim after losing a parent. Note that eligible surviving family members can file a wrongful death claim either individually or together.
If you’re a spouse, parent, or child of the victim and are considering a legal claim, make sure you initiate your case before the statute of limitations for wrongful death cases is over. In Texas, it’s two years from the day of your loved one’s death.
While this might sound like a long time to bring a case against the at-fault party, the legal process can take much longer than you might expect since you must wait on various parties and their lawyers to respond to each step. That’s why you should contact our Austin, TX law firm as soon as you consider legal action. Our skilled lawyers can let you know if you have a strong legal claim to make. If you do, we can file it for you right away so you don’t miss out on the chance to be compensated for your loved one’s unexpected death.
What Should You Expect from the Legal Process?
If you’ve never filed a Texas personal injury or wrongful death claim before, you might be anxious about how the process will go. You’ll typically start by attending a free initial consultation with an experienced wrongful death attorney who will listen to your explanation of what happened to your loved one. As they begin researching the case, they can let you know who the liable party is and whether you should file a wrongful death case against them.
As you proceed with the case, your lawyer will gather evidence to strengthen it, including photos, witness statements, and video footage. They will also calculate your losses so you can get maximum compensation for your case. The economic and non-economic damages that are common in this type of case include:
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Medical expenses, including hospital bills
- Lost income that your household will no longer get after the death
- Loss of companionship
- Mental anguish
- Emotional distress
- Loss of inheritance
Your wrongful death lawyer will give you an estimate of the amount to expect for your claim. This typically depends on your actual financial losses, such as bills and lost income, as well as the impact the death has had on your life.
Your lawyer will then file a claim against the at-fault party’s insurance company, which will require some negotiations until they agree to pay a fair settlement. If the insurance company refuses to settle out of court, your lawyer will represent you in court in a wrongful death lawsuit. Contact Mike Massey Law today if you’re ready to begin the legal process after losing a loved one.
Do You Need to Talk To Wrongful Death Lawyers in Austin, TX?
Our caring wrongful death attorneys believe you should be able to grieve the loss of your family member without worrying about your finances. If you’re unable to do this due to mounting bills and a sudden loss of income, we encourage you to contact our law firm for help initiating a wrongful death claim.
When you hire us, we’ll take the time to investigate the cause of the untimely death so we know which insurance company to contact for compensation. We will also carefully calculate the damages you should get as a surviving family member to ensure you can afford funeral expenses and more. Our lawyers understand how difficult this time is for your family, so you can expect compassion and peace of mind from our legal team during your case. Call 512-546-6997 to schedule your free case evaluation with skilled wrongful death lawyers in Austin, TX.