Houston Fatal Car Accident Lawyer
A car accident that causes the loss of a loved one can devastate a Texas family. If the fatal crash was the result of someone’s carelessness or disregard for safety, the knowledge that your family member’s death was preventable may magnify your pain and sorrow.
No amount of money will replace your lost loved one. But it is understandable to have questions and concerns about how you will pay the bills and run your household if your loved one helped support your family. Seeking compensation from the at-fault driver’s insurance company may be in your family’s best interest to provide financial security.
At Herrman & Herrman, P.L.L.C., our compassionate and knowledgeable attorneys are prepared to stand up for you after a fatal car crash in Houston. If your family has lost a loved one in a car accident through the negligence of another, let our experienced car accident attorneys offer guidance during this difficult time.
We will listen to your concerns, review the details of the accident and discuss your legal options during a free consultation. Herrman & Herrman, P.L.L.C. is an established law firm with more than 100 years of combined legal experience.
We have helped thousands of people in Houston and throughout the Rio Grande Valley. If we handle your case, we will do so on a contingency fee basis so you will not pay any upfront costs. Call Herrman & Herrman P.L.L.C. to obtain a free review of your case.
What Types of Compensation Are Allowed after a Houston Fatal Car Accident?
The State of Texas allows the close relatives of the victim of a fatal car accident to seek compensation for their loved one’s loss if the death was due to carelessness, neglect, a defect, or a wrongful act on the part another driver or other party.
When filing a wrongful death lawsuit, you may seek compensation for:
- Medical bills of the accident victim
- Funeral and burial expenses, which can cost thousands of dollars
- Emotional pain and suffering over a loved one’s preventable death
- Loss of companionship and affection
- Loss of earning capacity
- Loss of future inheritance.
In some cases, the family may seek exemplary damages if the death was caused by intentional acts or outrageous conduct by the at-fault party. Exemplary damages are commonly referred to as punitive damages in other states and are intended to punish a wrongdoer.
Determining the amount of compensation that should be awarded for a loved one’s death involves making complex estimates of your loved one’s future lifetime income and benefits if he or she had not been killed. It is important to work with a law firm that has handled numerous wrongful death claims.
If the misdeed rises to the level of criminal conduct, the wrongdoer may face criminal charges. For example, a drunk driver who causes a fatal car accident may face criminal charges for violating the law by driving while intoxicated and causing a fatal crash. The conviction of the drunk driver, while appropriate, will not provide any financial compensation to the victim’s family.
The family will need to file a separate wrongful death lawsuit in civil court seeking damages for their losses. Wrongful death lawsuits are civil lawsuits that are separate from any criminal proceedings against the wrongdoer.
Who Can File a Lawsuit After a Fatal Car Wreck in Houston?
Texas law allows certain immediate family members of a car accident victim to file a wrongful death claim. In writing the law, Texas lawmakers determined that the spouse, children and parents should be permitted to file a lawsuit seeking compensation for the loss of their loved one.
Siblings of an accident victim, while often very close, do not have legal standing in Texas to bring a wrongful death action on behalf of a deceased brother or sister.
The sudden death of a loved one can cause overwhelming emotions of grief, sadness and anger. A knowledgeable and compassionate lawyer can provide the strength and guidance you need to move forward and help ease your burden.
How Long After a Houston Fatal Car Crash Can a Lawsuit Be Filed?
The close relatives of an individual killed in a car accident have two years from the date of death to file a wrongful death lawsuit in Texas. Additional time may be allowed in certain circumstances. But it is important to seek legal advice as soon as possible so your lawyer has time to investigate the accident and file a civil lawsuit seeking compensation within the time allowed.
Our attorneys will investigate to determine all the contributing factors to a deadly car accident. A careless driver, an auto defect such as faulty brakes or a dangerous road condition may have contributed to the crash. We will identify the insurance policies available to provide compensation for your loss and negotiate aggressively with the insurance companies for just compensation.
Determining all the potentially at-fault parties is an important step in the process and it takes time. Don’t let the deadline pass for filing a lawsuit. Contact an experienced car accident lawyer to get to work on your case.
How Can I Afford a Houston Fatal Car Accident Lawyer?
At Herrman & Herrman, we are committed to providing legal representation to the family of a wrongful death victim, regardless of the family’s ability to pay a lawyer. We understand your family may be experiencing financial stress after a sudden loss, particularly if your lost loved one’s income provided support.
A personal injury attorney at Herrman & Herrman will represent you on a contingency fee basis. That allows you to obtain high-quality legal representation without having to pay money up front. You will not have to pay any money unless we are successful in obtaining a settlement or a jury verdict on your behalf.
It is our way of putting your family’s interests first. If we do obtain money for you, then we receive an agreed portion of the settlement as payment for our legal services and expenses.
Our Houston attorneys aggressively pursue just settlements of fatal car accident claims.
While our attorneys cannot guarantee a specific outcome of your case, we have successfully resolved more than 20,000 cases and have obtained multiple seven figure settlements. Call Herrman & Herrman, P.L.L.C. today if you have lost a close relative in a fatal car accident.
Our firm has offices in the following locations: Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi South Side, Brownsville, McAllen, San Antonio, Houston, and Ft. Worth , TX.
