Fort Worth Wrongful Death Lawyers
Caring advocacy when negligence causes the death of a loved one in Texas
Most fatal accidents are sadly preventable. Motorists know the rules for safe driving. Property owners know they need to keep their property safe. Doctors understand that competency is essential to the health of their patients. Oilfield and pipeline owners must maintain a safe work environment and protect their workers. Manufacturers know that every consumer product must be designed, manufactured, and marketed in a way that ensures their product is safe.
At Slack Davis Sanger, our Fort Worth wrongful death attorneys guide families through the traumatic time after the loss of a loved one. At the same time, our lawyers work aggressively to hold wrongdoers accountable for their misconduct. We thoroughly investigate why your loved one’s death occurred and what steps should have been taken to prevent it. Our team of personal injury lawyers has an impressive record of verdicts and settlements in Texas.
What is a wrongful death claim?
In Texas, when a close family member dies, there are two types of civil claims that are filed:
- A wrongful death claim. This claim is filed by the surviving spouse, children, or parent of the deceased.
- A survival action claim. This claim is filed by the personal representative of the decedent’s estate.
Both the wrongful death and survival claims are normally filed at the same time. The wrongful death claim compensates the family for the damages caused by the premature death of the loved one. The survival action claim essentially compensates your loved one for any damages suffered (such as pain and suffering, medical bills, and income loss) from the date of the accident until the date of death.
What types of accidents cause wrongful death?
At Slack Davis Sanger, our personal injury lawyers have more than 200 years of combined experience. We represent families in Fort Worth and across Texas when personal injury accidents take the life of your loved ones. Our lawyers handle the following types of accident claims:
Aviation accidents. Our Fort Worth wrongful death lawyers have the legal and technical experience to handle all types of aviation accidents. We represent victims of commercial airline crashes, private plane accidents, air ambulance accidents, and air tour helicopter crashes. We work with the FAA and aviation experts, including our own in-house attorneys, to help show how pilots and aviation companies were negligent.
Car, truck, and motorcycle accidents. Many vehicle accidents happen for similar reasons – driver intoxication, distracted driving, speeding, driving too fast for traffic and weather conditions, and other causes. Some accidents are usually unique to the type of vehicle. Commercial trucks are prone to jackknife, rollover, and spill their cargo. Motorcycle riding is especially treacherous because a motorcycle does not offer riders any protection. Riding in the rain, around curves, and in groups is especially dangerous and deadly.
Boat accidents. Negligent boat operation can cause passengers to go overboard; so, too, can lack of preparedness regarding safety regulations and devices. Carbon monoxide poisoning is also more common on boats than one might think. We represent families whose loves ones were killed in boat crashes, Jet Ski accidents, capsizing incidents, and other boating-related activities.
Pedestrian and bicycle accidents. Cyclists and walkers have virtually no protection from accidents. When a vehicle strikes a pedestrian or a bicycle rider, the consequences are often deadly.
Medical malpractice. Medical providers must provide competent care according to the standards of their practice. When doctors, hospitals, and others make an incorrect diagnosis, fail to make a timely diagnosis, make mistakes during surgery or the delivery of a child, or prescribe wrong medications, they should be held liable for any deaths they cause.
Defective products. Manufacturers and sellers have a duty to ensure their products are safe. The burden is on them, not the user of the product, to ensure a product’s safety. If a car part, tool, children’s product, or other consumer product is defective, the manufacturer may be strictly liable. We work with product engineers and review recall records to show that the design, manufacture, instructions, or warnings were defective.
Oilfield and pipeline accidents. A large part of Texas’ economy is based on oil production and delivery. When companies and employers fail to take proper precautions, deadly explosions, fires, and spills may cause fatal accidents and injuries.
Workplace accidents. Our Fort Worth wrongful death lawyers represent families when workers and contractors are killed at construction sites, manufacturing plants, oilfields, hospitals, and other locations. Workplace deaths are often due to defective products, exposure to dangerous chemicals, vehicle accidents, electrical accidents, and other causes.
Premises liability claims. A torn carpet can catch a shopper’s heel. A spilled drink that isn’t cleaned promptly can cause a person to slip and fall. Property owners who fail to look for and fix property defects and dangers should be held accountable for any injuries or deaths they cause.
What damages are available in a Fort Worth wrongful death claim?
There is no cash award that can ever replace your loved one. The purpose of a wrongful death lawsuit is different – it is meant to hold the responsible party accountable, to respect your loved one’s life, and provide some financial security for the family members left behind.
Our Fort Worth wrongful death lawyers work with professionals who understand how to determine value in wrongful death cases. We also work with the family members to understand their grief and loss. Wrongful death damages include:
- The burial and funeral costs
- The pain and suffering the decedent experienced prior to their death
- The medical expenses incurred
- The amount of money the decedent would have earned and used to support their family had they survived
- The amount of any lost retirement benefits or inheritances
- The emotional trauma for the spouse, children, and parents
- The value of the care, guidance, support, companionship, and maintenance the loved one would have provided each family member
- The loss of consortium-damages that relate to the loss of the love, support, and companionship of the family members left behind
Do you have a wrongful death lawyer near me?
Slack Davis Sanger’s Fort Worth office is located on 100 Lexington Street, Suite 70. We maintain additional offices in Dallas and Austin, and serve clients throughout Texas.
Talk to a respected and experienced Fort Worth wrongful death lawyer today
At Slack Davis Sanger, our Fort Worth wrongful death lawyers understand the unique challenges involved with fatal accidents. Your loved one is not here to advocate for him or herself, but we can do so on their behalf. Our lawyers understand how devastating wrongful death cases are. To discuss your case, please call 800-455-8686 or fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment.
Fort Worth Office
100 Lexington Street
Suite 70
Fort Worth, TX 76102
Main Fort Worth Practice Areas