Did you recently lose a loved one in Lumberton, TX? Was someone else responsible for your loss? You may deserve financial compensation. An experienced Lumberton wrongful death lawyer at Fisher Firm can help your family pursue compensation for the loss of the victim’s support, love, and guidance, as well as your financial losses.
Our Lumberton wrongful death attorneys have 150 years of combined experience fighting for families like yours. Our hard work and dedication have helped us recover millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts.
Contact our law offices in Lumberton, Texas, or call us at (409) 444 3333 to learn how our skilled attorneys can help. Your consultation is always completely free of charge.
Why Call Fisher Firm to Handle My Wrongful Death Claim in Lumberton, TX?
Many families struggle financially after the loss of a loved one. You may already be faced with high medical expenses at the exact time when you’ve lost the financial support of your loved one.
An experienced Lumberton personal injury lawyer at Fisher Firm can step in to handle the legal issues. Our attorneys are board-certified in personal injury law. We know what it takes to recover the money you need and deserve in Lumberton, TX.
When you hire our Lumberton wrongful death attorneys, you’ll be surrounded by a team who will:
- Investigate and collect evidence
- Identify all legal options for recovering compensation
- Determining who is ultimately responsible for your damages
- Calculate your case value
- Work with trusted experts who can help prove your case
- Handle the paperwork and negotiate with the insurance companies
- Take your case to trial if you aren’t happy with the insurance offer
You’re going through an incredibly painful time. It’s understandable if filing a lawsuit seems impossible. Lawsuits take time and energy. You deserve to focus on your family right now.
When you hire us, you’ll be able to rest assured that you have a strong Lumberton personal injury attorney doing everything possible to recover the compensation you need. Just give us a call today to get started.
What Is Wrongful Death in Texas?
Under Texas wrongful death laws, someone can be liable for wrongful death any time they cause a death. That’s true whether the death was the result of the person’s “wrongful act, neglect, carelessness, unskillfulness, or default.”
A wrongful death lawsuit is a civil action to recover compensation on behalf of the victim’s survivors. In cases where an injury victim lives, they can file their own personal injury lawsuit. That right does not simply go away because the victim is unable to survive their injuries.
Wrongful death matters are separate from any criminal charges the state of Texas pursues. For example, if a drunk driver kills your loved one in an accident, the state can pursue charges. The at-fault driver may face jail time and other penalties. You can still file a wrongful death lawsuit for compensation based on the same event.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Texas?
Losing a loved one isn’t, on its own, enough to give you the right to file a lawsuit against the responsible party. Only certain surviving family members have the right to take legal action.
In Texas, those individuals include:
- Surviving spouses
- Children, whether biological or adopted
- The decedent’s parents
If none of these individuals exist, the victim’s executor or estate administrator may bring the lawsuit. Similarly, if the victim’s family does not take legal action within three months of the victim’s death, the executor can file the lawsuit unless the family decides otherwise.
When the executor files the claim, any damages recovered are distributed to the victim’s family or heirs.
Fatal Accidents Happen Every Day in Texas
During 2023 alone, 4,283 people were killed in motor vehicle accidents across Texas. That’s one fatality every two hours and three minutes. 578 Texas workers died in fatal workplace accidents in 2022.
Preventable deaths leave families struggling with unimaginable grief. As a surviving family member, you may have the right to pursue compensation.
At Fisher Firm, we handle all types of wrongful death claims in Lumberton, including those involving:
- Car accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Dangerous property conditions
- Criminal acts and firearm violence
- Negligent security
- Construction accidents and other deadly workplace accidents
- Industrial accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Truck accidents
- Bus accidents
- Uber or Lyft accidents
- Boating accidents
- Swimming pool accidents and drownings
- Dog bites
- Defective products
- Medical malpractice
- Nursing home abuse or neglect
Don’t hesitate to reach out to our law firm today if you’ve recently lost a loved one. Our attorneys are always available to discuss your legal options.
What Is My Lumberton Wrongful Death Case Worth?
Fatal accidents can happen in many different ways. Because every situation and every victim is different, the value of your case will be different from anyone else’s.
Instead, your case value will depend on multiple variables, including:
- The overall circumstances of the victim’s death
- The victim’s age and life expectancy
- The costs you’ve incurred, including funeral costs and medical bills
- The financial support your loved one provided
- Your loved one’s future earning potential, considering past work, education, and earnings
- The age of dependent children
- How your family has suffered due to the loss
- Whether the insurance companies can legitimately blame your loved one for contributing to their own death
Assessing the value of a wrongful death claim is a difficult process. The reality is no amount of money is going to make up for your loss or change the past. Money can, however, make a world of difference to your family’s future.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Victims in a Wrongful Death Case?
In personal injury cases, victims can recover damages for any loss they have suffered. Wrongful death cases are slightly more limited.
Under Texas law, you can recover damages for:
- Loss of the victim’s financial support
- The value of household services provided by the victim prior to death
- Funeral expenses and burial costs
- Loss of inheritance
- Medical expenses incurred between the date of injury and the date of death
- Loss of the victim’s love, support, company, and guidance
- Loss of consortium or loss of a spousal relationship
When a defendant’s acts are intentional or particularly shocking, Texas courts also have the authority to award punitive damages. Punitive damages are meant to punish the defendant for their gross disregard for human life.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Wrongful Death Lawyer in Texas?
Fisher Firm works on a contingency fee basis. Your attorneys’ fees literally depend on your lawyer’s success in your case. You won’t pay any attorneys’ fees if your attorney is unable to recover compensation in your case.
How Can Texas Comparative Negligence Laws Impact My Right to Compensation for Wrongful Death?
When the victim doesn’t survive, the idea of blaming the victim is even more tempting. After all, your loved one can’t defend themselves.
If the other side succeeds, your family could lose your right to damages under Texas modified comparative negligence rules. In Texas, victims lose their right to compensation if they’re more than 50% responsible. Even if their share of fault is less than 51%, their compensation is reduced according to their percentage of fault.
It’s really important to seek an experienced lawyer’s advice if your loved one is being blamed. Not all allegations are fair or even legitimate. Some are simply designed to scare you into taking less than you deserve. A lawyer can stand up for you and minimize the impact of Texas’ shared fault laws.
How Do I Prove My Family Should Receive Compensation After a Fatal Accident in Lumberton?
The exact elements of your case will depend on how your loved one died. Most wrongful death claims involve accidents. In accidental death cases, the victim’s family typically must prove negligence to win compensation.
Negligence means:
- The at-fault party had a duty of care
- By some careless act or omission, they breached that duty
- The breach directly caused your loved one’s death
- Your family sustained damages or identifiable losses as a result
When you hire our law firm, we’ll investigate and gather evidence on your behalf. Regardless of the legal basis for your claim, you can count on us to build the strong claim for compensation your family deserves.
How Much Time Do I Have to File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit After a Fatal Accident in Texas?
You have two years from the date of your loved one’s death to file a formal lawsuit. Note that the statute of limitations starts running on the date of death, which may be different from the date of the accident that caused their death.
Contact a Lumberton Wrongful Death Lawyer for a Free Case Evaluation Today
It’s always a good idea to speak to an experienced Lumberton wrongful death lawyer if you lost a loved one in an accident. Fisher Firm offers free case reviews. There’s never any risk or obligation to hire us. Call today to learn more about your legal right to pursue compensation in Lumberton, TX.