An Overview of Wrongful Death Claims in Texas

When wrongful deaths happen in Corpus Christi, Texas, it can be life-shattering. If someone was responsible for the untimely death of your loved one, you may be entitled to compensation. Understanding an overview of wrongful death claims in Texas can help you know if you and your family can recover damages for the loss of your loved one.

Our team at Carabin Shaw has won over $1 billion for our clients because we don’t stop fighting until we get our clients proper compensation. Our Corpus Christi wrongful death attorneys can offer you a free consultation to evaluate your case and help you know what your options are for getting justice for your deceased loved one.

In Corpus Christi, Texas, the surviving descendant or their lawyer can file a lawsuit or a wrongful death claim. The following types of people typically qualify as survivors in a wrongful death claim:

1. Spouses, dependents, or life partners - Under Texas law, the legal right for recovery is given to those who are recognized as the decedent's financial dependent, which includes domestic and life partners.
2. Immediate family members - The children, spouse, or parents of an unmarried child can legally obtain financial compensation from negligent parties in a wrongful death lawsuit. To learn how this process works, consult an attorney as soon as possible.
3. Parents - When a newborn is deceased, one or both parents can file a wrongful death claim to recover compensation for economic and non-economic damages.
4. Distant family members - There are circumstances where relatives such as grandparents or brothers and sisters can file a wrongful death claim to recover damages from the responsible party. If you have questions, talk to a lawyer.

A number of parties can be sued depending on your type of case. Because of the various types of wrongful death claims, there are too many potentially liable parties to name, but some common examples are the following:

• The driver responsible for the wreck with your loved one
• The doctor who gave a negligent examination
• A government agency that failed to place proper warning signs for dangerous road construction
• The owner of the property where a swimming pool drowning occurred
• The parts manufacturer that created a faulty part, causing an accident

To learn more information about wrongful death claims, read over our Corpus Christi wrongful death attorneys page.

In a wrongful death claim, those filing suit are eligible to recover different types of compensation depending on the circumstances of the decedent’s death. The compensation falls into two categories: economic and non-economic damages. Compensation like medical bills and loss of income are considered economic damages because there is a calculable monetary value attached to them; non-economic damages like pain and suffering, on the other hand, are intangible.

Below are the types of compensation you can recover in a wrongful death claim:

• Funerary cost
• Loss of inheritance
• Loss of future income of the decedent
• Loss of consortium
• Property damage
• Medical bills
• Pain and suffering

To calculate some of these costs, courts will look at variables like how long the deceased would have probably lived if the accident had not occurred, how many years they would have kept working, and, sometimes, their expected years of retirement.

To know what damages may apply to your case and how much compensation you may be eligible to recover, it’s best to let an experienced Corpus Christi wrongful death attorney review your case.

Dealing with the unexpected loss of a loved one can be overwhelming. We recommend having experienced legal representation to guide you through a wrongful death claim. Our legal team fights for our clients until they get the compensation they deserve, which is why we’ve received the rating of a top 10 firm in client satisfaction. If you want what’s right for your lost loved one, call us today at 361-444-1111.