What Medical Errors Can Lead to a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Houston?
Medical negligence can result in the same devastating loss as a crash, workplace hazard, or dangerous product. Medical malpractice leading to wrongful death may involve:
- A diagnosis that came too late or never made,
- Surgical injuries or complications from anesthesia,
- Incorrect prescriptions or harmful drug interactions, or
- A failure to monitor or respond during treatment.
Texas requires families pursuing a medical negligence claim to submit a qualified expert report within 120 days of filing. This report must explain how the provider violated the standard of care and how that failure led to the death.
Medical negligence claims may also be subject to damage caps on noneconomic losses like emotional anguish or loss of companionship. For many families, that limitation can influence the value of a case and how quickly hospitals or insurers try to settle.
Before signing any hospital documents or accepting an offer, speak with a Houston medical malpractice wrongful death attorney who understands this process.
Losing someone because of another person’s actions is hard enough. Figuring out what to do next shouldn’t add to that. Whether the death involved a medical error, a crash, or unsafe conditions, your family may have the right to take legal action.
Call (832) 690-7000 or contact Pierce Skrabanek online to set up a free consultation. We’ll explain what a wrongful death claim could look like and how we help families seek answers and compensation.
What Compensation Can a Houston Wrongful Death Lawyer Help You Secure?
No amount of money replaces the person your family lost. But in many cases, a wrongful death claim allows families to seek compensation for the actual costs left behind. That includes expenses, lost support, and the everyday roles the person once filled.
A claim may include:
- Medical bills from the final injury or illness;
- Funeral and burial costs;
- Lost income and benefits;
- Childcare, transportation, or household contributions; and
- Loss of companionship, guidance, and shared responsibilities.
Some families also pursue a survivor action when the person endured prolonged suffering or a hospital stay before passing. Research shows that families represented by a wrongful death attorney recover, on average, nearly three times as much as those who handle the process on their own.
“When a family calls us, it’s because someone they loved is gone and no one has answered why. That loss deserves to be acknowledged, and the full impact deserves to be understood.”
—Michael Pierce | Founding Partner, Pierce Skrabanek
What Our Houston Wrongful Death Medical Malpractice Lawyers Can Do For You
After a sudden loss, families want answers. What led to the death? Could it have been avoided? And who should be held responsible?
At Pierce Skrabanek, we start by gathering the facts. Once we understand how the death occurred, we focus on who failed to act and how their actions affected your family.
This work includes:
- Examining what caused the death. We work with experts to review the facts, connect the timeline, and determine how the loss could have been prevented. Then, we use that information to hold the right parties accountable.
- Calculating the financial impact. From lost income to final expenses, we gather records and work with economic experts to determine the immediate costs and long-term support your loved one would have provided.
- Handling negotiations. Insurance companies like to try to settle quickly and for less. We know how to counter their tactics and build a case that makes it harder for them to minimize what the loss has cost your family.
- Taking your case to trial, if needed. We’re prepared to bring the case to court when a fair settlement isn’t possible. Our attorneys have tried wrongful death cases across Houston and know what it takes to prove liability to a jury.
Where Houston Families Can Find Grief Support
When someone dies unexpectedly, the loss doesn’t stop with funeral plans or insurance forms. It can change routines, relationships, and even how the day feels. In addition to legal representation, many families need time and space to process what happened.
Several organizations in the Houston area offer free or low-cost grief support for adults and children:
- Bo’s Place. Offers grief support groups for families, teens, and young children who have lost a loved one. Programs are available in English and Spanish.
- The Center for Grief & Loss—provides individual counseling, workshops, and therapeutic programs for those coping with death-related loss.
- GriefShare—church-based support groups offering a structured, peer-led approach to grief. Groups meet weekly and are open to anyone, regardless of religious affiliation.
- The Compassionate Friends (Houston Chapter)—support network for families grieving the loss of a child, sibling, or grandchild. Monthly meetings are hosted for families seeking grief support.
Our team at Pierce Skrabanek is here to guide families through the legal side of a wrongful death claim, but we never lose sight of what you’re carrying personally. If you need referrals or don’t know where to start, we can connect you with local support services that understand what this type of loss feels like.
Proudly Representing Houston Residents