Wrongful Death Attorney

Wrongful Death Attorney

When and Why You Need a Wrongful Death Attorney

Wrongful deaths compound the sorrow of a life lost with the added sting of injustice. The difference between a grandparent dying naturally after a rich, full life, and a loved one dying due to preventable accident or outrageous misconduct is profound. It changes the way surviving family members grieve, and also what needs to be done to lay a loved one to rest.

A wrongful death is a loss of life that should not have occured. Working to locate and prove the persons or parties responsible is the job of a qualified wrongful death attorney.

We at Pierce Skrabanek have an extensive history of recovering all we can for our wrongful death clients. There is no replacing the person you’ve lost, but there are real, tangible benefits to be won in wrongful death cases, including financial restitution and justice for the harm that was done.

The following information is provided to help explain the nature of wrongful death lawsuits, and what a wrongful death settlement could mean for you.

What Is a Wrongful Death Lawsuit? Who Can File for Wrongful Death?

Cornell Law provides the basic definition of a wrongful death action as “a civil action against someone who can be held liable for a death.” This means that any unjust injury which causes someone’s death may be grounds for a wrongful death action. The civil action could happen in lieu of or separate from a criminal trial, depending on the situation.

The definition goes on to specify that, originally, claims for wrongful death had to be brought by the decedent’s survivors (close relatives only, like parents, partners, or children). However, modern law has been modified in some states so that distant relatives (like grandparents) or financial dependents (like unmarried domestic partners) may also sue for wrongful death.

For example, though Pierce Skrabanek handles nationwide cases, we are based out of Texas. In the state of Texas, only immediate surviving family members can file a wrongful death suit, specifically spouses, children, or parents.

  • Spouses may file suit even if they were separated at the time of death, or if they have since remarried.
  • Biological or adopted children may file a claim (though adopted children may not file for their biological parents).
  • For parents, adoptive or biological parents have the right to file wrongful death lawsuits.

Those who do not have the right to file wrongful death claims in Texas include grandparents, siblings, cousins, or other relatives, as well as live-in partners who are not bound by a formal or common-law marriage.

If you have questions regarding who has standing in your state to file a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of your deceased loved one, call 832-690-7000 to speak with the wrongful death lawyers at Pierce Skrabanek. Do not hesitate, as there may be a statute of limitations (filing deadline) that applies to your circumstances, and your window of opportunity for justice may be closing.

How Do You Prove Wrongful Death?

Our clients often report feeling relieved once they’ve hired legal counsel. This is because the Pierce Skrabanek team immediately takes over the work to prove a case like wrongful death, removing that burden from your shoulders.

Here are the basics of how your attorneys may prove wrongful death cases:

  • Establish duty of care: Establishing a duty of care may be showing that a surgeon has a responsibility to do no harm to patients. That is often an easier standard to prove, as medical professionals swear an oath regarding their responsibilities. Harder duties of care to prove may involve the duty a retail shop owes to customers and employees, or the duty of a person to their neighbor.
  • Show a breach of duty: Examples of breach of duty stem from what standard of care was established above. A surgeon who operates on the wrong body may be guilty of medical malpractice. Another is a retail store that allows customers to walk over wet floors without warning, leading to a slip-and-fall injury. Personal duties of care may involve making sure a tree in one yard doesn’t drop a branch into a neighboring yard where children play and could be injured.
  • Connect causation: Once it’s established that someone knew to do better, but failed, the next step is to show that failure or “breach of duty” led directly to someone’s injury. In personal injury cases, this could involve a driver who rear-ended someone, causing whiplash. In wrongful death cases, it’s a far more grievous injury.
  • Account for injury damages: The injury in wrongful death cases is usually a fatal one, though there are instances where one negligent injury is compounded by malpractice treatment at a hospital. Legally, these distinctions matter for assigning fault and deciding who owes support for the resulting losses. Those losses must then be proven in terms of “calculable damages” like lost income after the death of a breadwinner, as well as damages that are harder to quantify like pain, grief, and emotional anguish.

The above points are also known as the four elements of negligence, and are required to prove in cases of personal injury and wrongful death before damages awards are agreed upon or decided by a judge. This is why you hire a wrongful death attorney, because while these are the concerns of the legal system, your time is better spent elsewhere. Specifically, your personal priorities likely involve processing your grief and rebuilding your life after a loss, rather than trying to deal with legal matters on your own.

For the support needed to recover, you may require a legal settlement.

THE REASON YOU NEED A WRONGFUL DEATH ATTORNEY IS BECAUSE THE CONCERNS OF THE LEGAL SYSTEM ARE FOR YOUR LAWYER TO WORRY ABOUT—YOUR TIME IS BETTER SPENT PROCESSING YOUR GRIEF AND REBUILDING YOUR LIFE AFTER A LOSS.

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What Could a Damages Award Mean for You?

Once a wrongful death is proven, the next step is agreeing upon the amount of damages. To be clear, however: there is no monetary amount that makes up for the loss of a human life. So what does a wrongful death settlement pay for?

Here are some examples that may apply in wrongful death cases:

Calculable Economic Damages

This category of damages is often clear, and may be presented by your lawyer as a series of receipts.

Economic damages may include:

  • Medical expenses like an ambulance response and emergency room services
  • Funeral and burial costs
  • Loss of wages and financial benefits, including future earnings, pensions, and lost health insurance (an especially vital consideration if the deceased person was the main or sole breadwinner for a household)

Non-Economic Damages

The non-economic and emotional losses are the ones that really matter in cases of wrongful death. And yet, these damages are often harder to prove. This is why experienced wrongful death attorneys like those at Pierce Skrabanek are essential — to help translate irreplaceable losses into terms that are recognized by the law.

Non-economic damages may include:

  • A loss of guidance, care, and nurturing from a parent or partner
  • Loss of the promise and companionship of a child
  • The loss of consortium, or affections unique to marriage
  • The pain, anguish, and suffering that accompanies grief

Other Damages and Fees

Certain wrongful death scenarios involve criminal prosecution, as in the case of a murder. However, even when wrongdoing isn’t criminal, a judge may assign extra penalties to teach a lesson.

Other damages and fees that may result from a wrongful death verdict are:

  • “Punitive” damages meant to punish the wrongdoer, which may then be awarded to you (for example, a reckless driver who caused a fatal crash, a negligent workplace that knew of unsafe conditions but did nothing to protect employees, or an incompetant hospital worker that failed to properly care for their patient)
  • Charging your legal fees to the other party, which may be done if they refused to agree to a fair settlement, and instead insisted on a full lawsuit

There are many facets involved in settling a wrongful death claim, but the work of a practiced attorney can make the process as easy as possible for you during your time of mourning.

How Are Wrongful Death Settlements Paid Out?

Once the amount of damages has been finalized, there are two main ways wrongful death settlements are paid out:

  • Lump sum: A lump sum is a one-time payment that can quickly help families and survivors pay down medical debt, close out an estate, and begin again after the loss of their loved one. This is the more common result of successful wrongful death cases.
  • Structured settlement: This payment method schedules regular amounts over months or years, a practice that may help replace lost wages until a future date.

Once these decisions are made, they are hard to modify. Choosing the method of payout is an important decision, and often requires the guidance of an attorney to help you plan for your future with confidence and clarity. A professional wrongful death lawyer will make sure that you understand the terms you’re agreeing to before you accept a settlement offer.

Testimonials

Read what our past clients have to say about our legal services. 

Daryl M.

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“My experience with Mr. Skrabanek was honestly far better than all expectations that we had. He took care of us like we were family, making sure me and my wife always felt like a priority and walked us through all of the concerns that we had. If you are looking for a professional who truly cares for his clients you can stop the search. You won’t be disappointed.”

Denise J.

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“Mike and his team helped me settle an injury claim case. I was informed and helped through every step and they were always professional and very responsive. I really enjoyed working with them.”

Victoria S.

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“My attorney, Michael, did an amazing job with my case. He’s a straight shooter and has a vast knowledge of the law combined with an extensive amount of experience, making him a fantastic attorney. I fully recommend this firm.

Thank you Pierce Skrabenek!”

Gabriela C.

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“Paul Skrabanek of the law firm Pierce Skrabanek was very professional and went above & beyond in handling my daughter's case. Very dedicated, worked diligently, and got justice for my family. If I could give a higher rating than 5 stars I would. Thank you and your firm for such tenacity.”

Raymond H.

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“These guys are awesome, they were very informative from the beginning to end, working with them was super smooth, and I had all questions answered thoroughly. The whole team at this firm works to help in every way they can. They were able to get me the compensation I deserved and exceeded my expectations. If you’re ever in need of a stellar team to stand behind you and work for you, these guys are the ones you would want in your corner.

Thank you very much Paul and thank your team for me.”

Cam F.

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“Working with Paul Skrabanek was a very positive experience. He helped me understand the legal process as someone who has never been a part of a lawsuit, and was able to get me settled quickly and painlessly! Loved working with Pierce Skrabanek law firm!”

Michele R.

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Michael Pierce and his team, especially Krystle, were very professional, always available (even on weekends), and very knowledgeable. We appreciate their hard work on our case and the time they took to explain every detail as our case progressed. Mike is a phenomenal attorney and we highly recommend them for your legal needs.”

Beverly C.

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“I found Mr. Skrabanek to be very trustworthy, creditable, and genuinely concerned about my well-being while I was going through this very difficult process. He showed constant concern for me being completely satisfied before making any final decisions.”

Diane T.

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“Fantastic team of attorneys and staff dedicated to their clients. Michael Pierce is an outstanding trial attorney for personal injury cases.”

Deborah S.

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“We watched, participated & listened to Paul Skrabanek fight for a settlement which we could be happy with. Just this month the case has been put to rest.”

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Contact Pierce Skrabanek for Wrongful Death Cases

Pierce Skrabanek is a sincere, down-to-earth law firm based out of Texas, with nationwide reach. We fight as aggressively for our clients as we would for our own family members, and in cases of wrongful death, we make sure everything is done to get as much justice as possible.

If you think you need a wrongful death attorney, call us today at 832-690-7000, or fill out our contact form to schedule a free consultation. Let us advocate fiercely for you and your family, and contribute what we can via the law to help you find peace.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a wrongful death lawsuit?

A wrongful death suit is a civil action (as opposed to a criminal one). Wrongful death lawsuits seek to prove that a person or entity failed to meet a reasonable standard of safety and care, and the result of that failure led to someone’s untimely death.

Who can file for wrongful death?

Across the United States, immediate surviving family members like parents, children, husbands, and wives have the right to sue for wrongful death. In certain states, that right extends to more distant family members (such as grandparents) or financial dependents (like live-in partners).

How do you prove wrongful death?

Short answer: you hire a capable attorney like those at Pierce Skrabanek to gather evidence of negligence, and build a case for compensation. That work includes showing that a person or entity failed to act responsibly, and that their actions caused a fatal injury. It also involves calculating the cost of a death in financial terms — economic costs like lost income, and non-economic costs like the loss of an individual’s irreplaceable companionship.

How are wrongful death settlements paid out?

There are two main ways that wrongful death settlements may be paid out. The first is a lump sum, which is a one-time payment useful for repaying medical debts, settling an estate, and rebuilding one’s life after a profound loss. The second is a structured settlement, which refers to regular and sometimes long-term payments that could help replace a lost income stream and provide for a stable future.

Contact Pierce Skrabanek at 832-690-7000 for assistance with your claim.