First of all, let’s state the obvious: Commencing a legal action is not foremost on the minds of surviving family members following the death of a loved one.
And, as true as that is in any instance, it is even more of a certainty when a family fatality owes to third-party wrongdoing.
Examples of that recur with sad regularity in Texas and across the country. A drunk driver runs a red light and collides head on with a bicyclist or pedestrian. A fatigued trucker dozes off on an interstate and crashes into a passenger vehicle. Someone’s mistake at a jobsite creates a dangerous condition that takes the life of a fellow worker. A defectively designed or manufactured product kills a consumer.
There is a common element in all those examples that underscores the inherent tragedy of a wrongful death.
That is another party’s negligence. Absent that deficient conduct, wrongful death outcomes never occur.
When they do, family survivors understandably grieve. There is no replacing a lost loved one. The law recognizes that.
Yet is also enables survivors to proceed with a legal claim that can secure maximum compensation. A wrongful death lawsuit acknowledges that surviving loved ones often have compelling financial and related needs following a family member’s passing. A meaningful remedy allows for closure and a damage award that can prove broadly beneficial in providing compensation for the following needs:
- Lost wages
- Medical and funeral expenses
- Loss of companionship
- Pain and suffering
A remedy also addresses accountability, which is often keenly sought by surviving family members.
A compassionate and experienced legal team can provide further information.