Fort Worth Wrongful Death Lawyer

Compassionate Representation for Surviving Loved Ones

Losing a loved one because of negligence shatters families. Grief quickly mixes with urgent questions about medical bills, funeral costs, and how to keep the household afloat.

As a Fort Worth wrongful death attorney, I have spent more than 20 years standing beside families at their most vulnerable. Before founding my practice, I served as a prosecutor and judge and tried more than 200 cases – experience that now helps me anticipate the tactics insurers use to deny fair compensation.

Many of the tragedies I investigate happen on familiar stretches like I-820 or SH-121, in workplaces across Tarrant County, or inside local hospitals. No matter where the fatal accident occurred, my goal is justice that honors your loved one’s memory and secures your family’s future.

A successful wrongful death claim can cover funeral and burial expenses, replace lost income, and provide the stability children need after an irreplaceable loss. Because we work on contingency, you pay nothing up front and nothing unless we win.

If you are ready for answers, call me at (817) 335-4357 or visit our Haltom City office at 6200 Airport Freeway for a free, confidential consultation. Together, we will shoulder the legal burden so you can focus on healing.

What Is a Wrongful Death Claim Under Texas Law?

A wrongful death claim is a civil lawsuit that asks a court to compensate surviving family members for a death caused by another person’s negligence, carelessness, or intentional act. Texas recognizes this right in Civil Practice & Remedies Code § 71, commonly called the Texas Wrongful Death Act.

Unlike criminal cases – which seek punishment on the state’s behalf – a wrongful death claim pursues money damages on behalf of the surviving spouse, children, or parents. By holding the at-fault party financially accountable, the lawsuit eases funeral costs, replaces lost income, and discourages similar misconduct in the community.

Because juries decide these cases on a “preponderance of the evidence” standard (just over 50 percent certainty), prompt investigation and persuasive proof are critical. We collect police reports, medical records, and expert testimony right away so your family’s story is heard clearly and convincingly in court.

Who Can File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Texas?

Texas limits wrongful death lawsuits to a clearly defined circle of close relatives. Under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 71.004, the surviving spouse, children, and parents have the immediate right to sue.

If none of those family members files within the first three months after death, the executor or personal representative of the estate may step in to protect everyone’s interests. That single action prevents multiple suits and ensures any recovery is shared among all statutory beneficiaries.

Distant relatives – such as siblings or grandparents – generally cannot file unless they are serving as the estate’s representative. Because eligibility rules are strict, I review family relationships at our first meeting and confirm who can sign the paperwork, so no time is lost.

How Long Do We Have to File a Wrongful Death Claim in Texas?

Texas gives most families two years from the date of death to file a wrongful death lawsuit. Missing this deadline almost always means losing the right to recover any compensation.

A few narrow exceptions can pause the clock – for example, when the only eligible heir is a minor or when the defendant’s identity is concealed – but courts apply those exceptions sparingly. Evidence also fades quickly, so waiting risks both your claim and the proof needed to win it.

Our firm starts investigations immediately, preserving police reports, witness statements, and digital data before anything disappears. If the calendar is ticking toward the two-year mark, call me today at (817) 335-4357 so we can protect your family’s rights without delay.

What Compensation Can Our Family Recover After a Wrongful Death?

Texas law allows surviving families to collect financial and emotional losses caused by a preventable death. These damages exist to replace lost support, cover sudden expenses, and recognize the irreplaceable value of a loved one’s presence.

Economic losses we pursue include:

• Final medical bills and all related treatment costs.
• Funeral and burial expenses that often average thousands of dollars.
• Lost earnings and benefits the deceased would have provided over a lifetime.
• Loss of inheritance, the savings the decedent was reasonably expected to leave to heirs.

Non-economic losses we seek include:

• Mental anguish and the grief that weighs on spouses, children, and parents.
• Loss of companionship, love, and guidance that only the deceased could give.

In rare cases of gross negligence or intentional harm, juries may also award exemplary (punitive) damages to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar conduct.

If the deceased suffered consciously before passing, we may file a separate survival action so the estate can recover for that pain and suffering as well. These combined claims ensure that every facet of the family’s loss is recognized – and that the wrongdoer, not the survivors, bears the financial burden.

What Tragedies Most Often Lead to Wrongful Death Claims in Fort Worth?

Fatal accidents are sadly common across Fort Worth and Tarrant County. In 2022 alone, police recorded 120 traffic-related deaths within the city limits, and statewide workplace data show 533 fatal on-the-job injuries in a single year. These numbers reveal just how often preventable acts cut lives short.

Based on decades of local practice, we most frequently investigate:

• Motor-vehicle collisions on busy corridors such as I-820, SH-121, and I-35W – including car, motorcycle, and 18-wheeler crashes.
• Commercial truck wrecks on the Dallas-Fort Worth logistics routes.
• Medical errors at area hospitals and surgical centers.
• Construction and industrial accidents in the region’s booming building sites.
• Criminal acts where negligent security enabled violence.

Less common but equally devastating cases we handle include:

• Defective consumer or auto products that cause fires, rollovers, or explosions.
• Premises liability disasters such as fatal slip-and-falls, drowning in an unguarded pool, or deadly dog attacks – Texas reported 12 dog-bite fatalities in 2022.
• Aviation or train incidents involving regional airports or rail yards.
• Boating crashes on Eagle Mountain Lake or Lake Worth.

Because every wrongful death is unique, we begin each investigation with a clean slate – collecting crash reports, OSHA findings, medical records, or product-testing data to pinpoint exactly how negligence occurred and who is responsible. Our goal is to turn raw facts into a compelling case that honors your loved one’s legacy and keeps other families safe.

How Do We Prove a Wrongful Death Case in Texas?

Successful wrongful death claims rely on clear, admissible proof. My job is to gather that evidence quickly and organize it so a jury sees exactly how negligence caused the loss.

Texas law requires us to show four elements: duty of care, breach of that duty, causation, and damages. We start by identifying every party who owed your loved one a duty – drivers, employers, doctors, or product designers. Next, we document the breach through crash reconstructions, OSHA reports, medical records, or expert testimony.

To link the breach to the fatal injury, we secure time-sensitive proof such as vehicle “black box” data, surveillance video, and eyewitness accounts before they disappear. We also establish damages by collecting pay stubs, funeral invoices, and statements that describe the lost companionship each family member now feels.

Because Texas civil cases are decided on a preponderance of the evidence – just over 50 percent certainty – thorough preparation often forces insurers to settle rather than risk trial.

What If the Insurance Company Blames Your Loved One for the Accident?

Texas uses a modified comparative-fault rule that bars recovery when the deceased is 50 percent or more responsible for the incident.

Insurers often seize on this rule to shift blame and shrink payouts. We counter that tactic by securing objective proof – dash-cam video, skid-mark measurements, and expert reconstructions – to show the true sequence of events.

Even if an investigation finds partial fault under 50 percent, the family can still recover; the verdict is simply reduced by that percentage. Example: a $100,000 award becomes $75,000 if the deceased was 25 percent at fault.

Our role is to defend your loved one’s reputation and keep the focus where it belongs – on the negligent party whose actions caused the fatal loss.

How Can You Reach a Fort Worth Wrongful Death Lawyer Today?

Help is available right now. Call (817) 335-4357 or complete our quick online form to schedule a free, confidential consultation with me.

We meet families at our office – 6200 Airport Freeway, Haltom City, TX 76117 – or anywhere in Tarrant County if travel is difficult. You pay nothing up front and no attorney’s fee at all unless we secure compensation for your loss.

Your loved one’s story deserves to be told; let us carry that burden while you focus on healing.