Wrongful Death Lawyer in Bryan/College Station, Texas
Wrongful death is a tragedy that should never take place. It occurs when someone carelessly or intentionally takes another person’s life, leaving loved ones behind to pick up the pieces. If you suffered the loss of someone you loved in Bryan or College Station, Texas, your family may have grounds to file a wrongful death lawsuit. Craft Law Firm has injury attorneys who have spent decades litigating wrongful death cases in Texas. We will passionately advocate for you and fight for the results that your family deserves.
What Is Wrongful Death?
According to Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 71.002, a person can be held liable (legally and financially responsible) for an individual’s death if the fatal injury or illness was caused by the person’s wrongful act, neglect, carelessness, unskillfulness or default. This list can refer to any act or omission that falls short of the defendant’s duty of care, or the obligation to exercise reasonable care. Negligence is the most common grounds for a wrongful death case. It refers to the failure to act with proper care.
What Is a Wrongful Death Claim?
A wrongful death claim is a civil lawsuit that is filed in pursuit of financial compensation – reimbursement for losses associated with the preventable death of a victim. In general, an easy way to think of a wrongful death claim is that if the deceased individual could have filed a personal injury lawsuit had he or she survived, a wrongful death lawsuit can be brought after the individual’s death.
What Compensation Is Available for Wrongful Death in Texas?
One goal of a wrongful death lawsuit is to make a family whole again through a monetary award. While no amount of money is ever enough to make up for losing a loved one, a fair award can help a family move forward with less financial stress. A successful lawsuit can also hold a wrongdoer accountable, providing some measure of justice and closure.
The compensation that is often available in a wrongful death claim includes:
- Lost earnings over the decedent’s lifetime
- Lost inheritance, including what the decedent would have saved in the future
- Loss of the decedent’s advice, care, support and services to family members
- Loss of consortium, or loss of the decedent’s love, comfort and society
- The mental anguish, pain and grief suffered by surviving loved ones
In some Texas wrongful death cases, punitive damages are also available. Rather than compensating a family, punitive damages punish a defendant for especially wrongful acts, such as a knowing attempt to take someone’s life or gross negligence. Understanding the value of your wrongful death claim in the Bryan-College Station metropolitan area takes talking to a lawyer.
How Do You File a Wrongful Death Claim in Brazos County, TX?
Only certain parties are legally able to file wrongful death claims in Texas. State law specifies that this right is given to the deceased individual’s surviving spouse, children and parents. If these parties don’t file within three months of the death, the personal representative or administrator of the decedent’s estate can file instead.
A wrongful death claim must be brought in the civil courthouse of the county where the death took place or the decedent lived within at least two years of the date of death. This is the statute of limitations in Texas. In Bryan or College Station, the courthouse for personal injury and wrongful death cases is Brazos County Court at Law 2.
Schedule a Free Consultation With a Wrongful Death Lawyer in Bryan or College Station Today
You’ve already been through enough as a surviving loved one in the wake of a devastating wrongful death. Let us take over from here. Craft Law Firm is a team of dedicated and compassionate personal injury and wrongful death lawyers that can guide you through the legal process. Find out how we can help you during a free initial consultation with an attorney. Call 979-459-7503 or contact us online anytime.