Contact the Willis Law Firm to get a Houston wrongful death lawyer who is sensitive to the loss of a family member and will handle your case very delicately. We understand the personal trauma and suffering that a surviving spouse and other family members endure when they lose a loved one. Our Houston injury law firm is sympathetic and will listen to the surviving family members when it comes to such claims.
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What Does the Law Allow in a Wrongful Death Lawsuit?
Wrongful death is under tort law and is designed to compensate for harm to a person resulting in death. A wrongful death lawsuit holds that the decedent was killed as a result of negligence or other liability and that the surviving dependents or beneficiaries are entitled to monetary (money) damages as a result of the defendant’s negligence or grossly negligent conduct. Each state in the United States has is own wrongful death statutes, or wrongful death laws, that govern wrongful death claims and wrongful death lawsuits.
Who is a Plaintiff in a Wrongful Death Lawsuit?
Wrongful death beneficiaries usually include:
- Surviving spouse of the deceased
- Natural born children (minor or adult children) of the deceased
- Adopted children of the deceased
- Parents of the deceased
- Grandparents in some states under specific circumstances
- In some states siblings (brothers and sisters)
What are Wrongful Death Damages?
Wrongful death damages are dependent upon the relationship of the plaintiff to the deceased. These wrongful death damages to the beneficiaries may include:
- Loss of companionship
- Mental anguish
- Past medical expenses
- Loss income
- Potential financial contributions and inheritance
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of support
- Loss of benefits caused by the victim’s death (pension, medical coverage, etc.)
- Loss of care, protection to the survivors
- General damages
- Punitive or exemplary damages
Wrongful Death Claim
If you or a family member have lost a loved one due to the negligent conduct, or grossly negligent behavior of another, then you may have a right to file a wrongful death lawsuit against these wrongdoers. Due to the nature of a wrongful death case, a full investigation of the facts of the accident and preservation of the evidence is essential to success. Time is of the essence, talk to a Houston wrongful death lawyer as soon as possible – don’t delay.