Suffering the loss of a loved one can be hard on even the strongest family, and settling your loved one’s affairs could bring on extra stress. If someone’s negligent action or inaction resulted in the death of your loved one, though, you may be entitled to seek compensation from the responsible party for various related damages and losses.
If you would like to file a civil injury suit against the person responsible for your loved one dying, you could turn to a compassionate Fort Worth wrongful death lawyer to handle the legal issues surrounding your claim. A skilled personal injury lawyer could work to preserve evidence, negotiate with opposing attorneys, bring expert witnesses into the case, and organize other legal matters to help you and your family obtain compensation.
Who is Eligible to Bringing a Wrongful Death Action to Court?
Under state law, only certain individuals are eligible to file a wrongful death claim according to Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code §71.004: the spouse of the deceased person, their children, or their parents, in that order of priority. Distant relatives such as cousins, aunts, or uncles are ineligible to bring forth a fatal accident claim in the area.
Statute of Limitations
In most cases, the statute of limitations for a wrongful death suit is two years. This means the decedent’s surviving family members must begin the proceedings of filing such a suit within three months of the date of their loved one’s death.
If they do not, the executor of the deceased estate is allowed to file a claim instead, unless the surviving family members explicitly request otherwise. For answers to any further questions regarding who may be eligible to file a suit, speak with a knowledgeable fatal accident attorney in Fort Worth.
For a free legal consultation, call (817) 775-5364
Available Damages in a Fatal Accident Case
Essentially, a wrongful death claim gives surviving family members access to the same compensation that would have been available to the injured person had they survived their accident. The damages the surviving family members could receive can be economic or non-economic.
Economic damages have a clear monetary value attributed to them, while non-economic damages address more subjective issues. The decedent’s estate could receive compensation for economic damages such as costs of medical bills, lost wages, lost inheritance, and funeral costs. They may also be able to recover non-economic damages such as mental anguish, loss of companionship, loss of consortium, pain and suffering, and more.
In a successful wrongful death claim, the overall compensation due to the family would be divided amongst the eligible family members. Since the total compensation may be divided among a large group of people in some cases, it could be essential to talk to a tenacious Forth Worth wrongful death attorney who may be able to help maximize a family’s recovery.
Fort Worth Wrongful Death Lawyer Near Me (817) 775-5364
Call a Fort Worth Wrongful Death Attorney Now
If you and your family suffered the loss of a loved one due to another person’s negligence, you deserve justice. Trusting a skilled attorney to represent you could help you and your family focus on healing from your loss rather than dealing with mounting paperwork, incoming deadlines, depositions, and other stressful legal matters.
A skilled Fort Worth wrongful death lawyer could help you pursue the compensation you need after your loss. Call today to schedule a consultation.
Call (817) 775-5364 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
