Have you suddenly and unexpectedly lost someone you love in a Waco accident? You might be entitled to compensation from the person who’s responsible. Money won’t bring your loved one back, but it can help to make this difficult time in your life a little bit easier.
Our Waco wrongful death attorneys will fight to get you the money you deserve. Call our compassionate legal team to schedule your free, no obligation case assessment. We’ll review your case and fully explain your legal rights and options at this time.
You Deserve An Experienced Waco Wrongful Death Attorney
You’ve suffered a devastating and tragic loss. Don’t let just any attorney handle your wrongful death lawsuit. At Lorenz & Lorenz, all we do is personal injury law. Since 2001, we’ve dedicated our practice to helping accident victims and their families across central Texas.
We understand that your life has been turned upside down. We also know that everyday financial expenses and obligations don’t stop just because you’ve suffered a loss. If you relied on your loved one for money and support, you might struggle to make ends meet now that they’re gone. We don’t want that to happen. We’ll fight to hold the person who caused your loved one’s death fully accountable. We’ll demand that they pay you the money you need and deserve.
What If My Loved One is Partly Responsible For the Accident That Killed Them?
Don’t panic. You may still be able to recover compensation. Texas is a modified comparative fault state. This means:
- More than one person can be liable for injuries and damages.
- You can obtain compensation as long as you’re less than 51 percent at fault.
- Your award will be reduced by your degree of fault.
- You may be liable for damages suffered by other accident victims.
In other words, you can get money as long as your loved one wasn’t primarily responsible for their fatal accident. If they do share some of the blame, your award will be reduced by that amount.
What is Wrongful Death?
Wrongful death means that a negligent or wrongful act is responsible for someone’s death. In Texas, you might be entitled to compensation if you can prove that your loved one’s death was caused by a person’s “wrongful act, neglect, carelessness, unskillfulness, or default.” In other words, someone’s negligence or wrongful actions were a substantial factor in the injury that caused your family member’s untimely death.
Wrongful death cases can involve:
- Car accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Bike accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Truck accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Dog bites
- Defective products, and more.
At Lorenz & Lorenz, our attorneys handle all wrongful death matters. We’ll help you after your loved one has been killed in a Waco accident. No case is too big or too small. Call today to learn more.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit?
Wrongful death lawsuits aren’t like other personal injury cases. Not just anyone can file a wrongful death claim. In Texas, this right is reserved for a decedent’s:
- Surviving spouse
- Children (including adopted children), and
- Parents.
You cannot recover compensation if you don’t fall into one of these three categories.
Damages Available in Waco Wrongful Death Cases
Only certain damages are available in a wrongful death lawsuit. You might have the right to obtain money for:
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Medical bills incurred prior to the accident victim’s death
- The loss of financial support the victim would have provided, had they survived the accident
- Mental anguish and emotional distress associated with the victim’s death
- Loss of love, care, support, guidance, comfort, companionship, and society, and
- Loss of inheritance.
Punitive damages tend to be reserved for the most serious matters in Waco. However, you may be entitled to a punitive award if you can prove that the person who caused your loved one’s fatal accident acted willfully or with gross negligence.
When Can I File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Waco, Texas?
We understand you’re grieving your loved one’s death. A wrongful death lawsuit will require you to face some issues that are upsetting. However, you could lose your right to recover much-needed compensation if you wait too long to take action. The statute of limitations for wrongful death lawsuits in Texas is generally two years.
Our attorneys are here to help you at this difficult time. We’ll take care of your legal case while you focus on grieving and getting back on your feet. We’ll stand by your side throughout the entire process. Call our law firm today to speak with our compassionate and caring legal team.
How is a Wrongful Death Case Different From a Survival Action?
Your loved one’s estate may also be entitled to compensation after a fatal Waco accident. This is known as a survival action. The lawsuit would seek damages that the victim would have been entitled to, had they survived. This might include compensation for:
- Medical expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish, or
- Lost wages.
Survival actions are only applicable when a victim survives for some period of time after an accident. Any compensation recovered with a survival action is paid to the victim’s estate.
Call Our Waco Wrongful Death Lawyers Today
Few things are more devastating than losing someone you love. We understand how distressed and upset you are. We also understand how important money can be right now. However, you shouldn’t have to grieve and try to navigate a complicated wrongful death lawsuit on your own. Fortunately, you don’t have to. Our attorneys are here to help you at this difficult time.
We’ll do our best to get you the money after your loved one’s death because you deserve it. Our attorneys make the process easy. You focus on putting your life back together while we handle the ins-and-outs of your personal injury case. It’s just that simple. Call to get started today.