How Do You Prove Wrongful Death in Texas?

How Can a Plaintiff Prove Wrongful Death in Texas?

Losing a loved one is never easy, but the pain can be even more unbearable when it happens due to the negligence or intentional actions of another person or entity. In Texas, it is considered a wrongful death when someone dies due to someone else’s wrongful acts.

Proving wrongful death in Texas requires meeting certain legal criteria, and having a skilled personal injury attorney by your side is crucial to handling the complexities of the legal process. Call us to talk with a top wrongful death lawyer in Houston.

To establish a successful wrongful death claim in Texas, the plaintiff must prove the following elements:

• Duty of Care: The plaintiff must demonstrate that the defendant owed a duty of care to the deceased person. This duty of care typically arises when there is a legal obligation to act reasonably and prevent harm.

Example:  A driver loses control of his car and runs into another vehicle. In this example, the driver has a duty to act reasonably. If the driver did not act reasonably, they may have breached the duty they owed to everyone on the road with them.

Example: A contractor employed subs to do work on a project. The contractor-controlled safety for the job site and allowed unsafe practices, resulting in a fatality. Because the contractor controlled the safety on the site, they may have breached their duty to keep the site safe.

• Breach of Duty: The plaintiff must establish that the defendant breached their duty of care. This means showing that the defendant’s actions or lack of action fell below the standard of care expected of a reasonable person in similar circumstances.

In our examples above, the driver breached his duty by not controlling his car. In example number two, the contractor breached his duty to keep the project reasonably safe.

• Causation: The plaintiff needs to prove that the defendant’s breach of duty directly caused the victim’s death. Establishing a clear and direct link between the defendant’s actions and the death is crucial.

The causation of the death must be directly linked to the actor’s negligence. It is not enough that negligence occurred, or that a duty was breached, the actions must have been a factor in causing the accident. In our construction accident example, the failure of the contractor to keep the project safe must have been directly related to the fatality.

For example, if the fall equipment were defective, a fall would have been needed to cause the death.

• Damages: Finally, the plaintiff must demonstrate that they have suffered damages due to the wrongful death. These damages can include funeral expenses, medical bills, loss of financial support, loss of companionship, and emotional distress.

Damages are mainly the emotional trauma of the family due to the loss of their loved one. While economic damages are always a part of the damages, grief, and mental anguish are almost always a big factor.

Here is what you need to know about wrongful death claims in Texas.

Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim in Texas?

In order to file a wrongful death claim in Texas, you’re required to meet at least one of the following criteria:

• The wrongful death laws in Texas permit the immediate family to initiate a lawsuit, including parent(s), spouses, and children.
• Texas wrongful death claim laws permit the adopted family, including adopted parents and children, to initiate a lawsuit.
• The wrongful death laws in Texas permit the personal representative of the deceased’s estate to initiate a lawsuit.

What is the Legal Standard to Prove Wrongful Death in Texas?

Losing a loved one is a devastating experience, and when their death results from someone else’s negligence or intentional act, it can be even more difficult to cope with. Like in many other states, Texas has a legal standard to prove wrongful death. Texas has a statute of limitations for wrongful death, so act quickly.

Understanding this standard is crucial to seeking justice for your loved one and considering legal action. So, let’s delve into the legal standard to prove wrongful death in Texas.

In Texas, the legal standard for proving wrongful death is based on a preponderance of the evidence. This means that the plaintiff must show that it is more likely than not that the defendant’s wrongful conduct caused the death of their loved one. Unlike in criminal cases, where guilt must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt, the burden of proof in a Texas wrongful death case is lower.

To establish a wrongful death claim in Texas, the plaintiff must demonstrate the duty, breach of that duty, and cause of the death and damages. Here are 7 key factors to consider when hiring a wrongful death attorney in Houston.

What Kind of Damages is Available in Wrongful Death Cases in Texas?

Losing a loved one is undoubtedly one of the most devastating experiences anyone can endure. In such tragic situations, when the death occurs due to the negligence or intentional act of another person or entity, it is usually considered a wrongful death. While no amount of compensation can ever bring back a loved one, pursuing a wrongful death lawsuit can provide some financial support and a sense of justice for the surviving family members.

A wrongful death lawsuit may be able to pay the damages of the survivors of the deceased from the date of death onward.

In Texas, various types of damages are available in wrongful death cases. These damages aim to compensate the surviving family members for their losses due to their loved one’s untimely death. Here are the main types of damages typically awarded in Texas wrongful death cases:

1. Economic Damages: Economic damages cover the tangible monetary losses that the surviving family members have incurred or will incur because of the death. This includes medical expenses, funeral, and burial costs, loss of future earnings and benefits, loss of inheritance, and other financial contributions the deceased would have made over their lifetime.
2. Non-Economic Damages: Non-economic damages address the intangible losses that the surviving family members have experienced due to the death of their loved one. These damages aim to compensate for the emotional pain and suffering, loss of companionship, mental anguish, and loss of consortium or guidance.
3. Exemplary Damages: Also known as punitive damages, exemplary damages may be awarded in cases where the defendant’s actions were particularly egregious or showed a willful disregard for the safety of

What Type of Expert Testimony is Needed to Prove Wrongful Death in Texas?

Losing a loved one due to the negligence or misconduct of another person is an incredibly tragic and devastating experience. If you are seeking to prove wrongful death in Texas, it is crucial to understand the type of expert testimony required to build a strong case. Expert testimony plays a significant role in establishing liability and demonstrating the damages suffered by the surviving family members.

In Texas, to prove wrongful death, you generally need two types of expert testimony: liability experts and damages experts. Let’s delve into each of these categories to provide you with a clearer understanding.

• Liability Experts: Liability experts are individuals with specialized knowledge and experience in a particular field or area related to your case. These experts help establish the negligence or fault of the defendant. Depending on the circumstances of the wrongful death, the following experts may be required:
• Accident Reconstructionist: An accident reconstructionist can be crucial if the wrongful death was caused by a traffic accident or any incident requiring a thorough understanding of the events leading up to the tragedy. They analyze the evidence, and breaches of traffic laws, examine the scene, and reconstruct the accident to determine how it occurred and who may be at fault.
• Medical Expert: A medical expert can provide vital testimony in malpractice or negligence cases. Their expertise helps establish the standard of care that should have been provided and how the defendant’s actions deviated from that standard, resulting in the wrongful death.
• Safety Expert: A safety expert may help explain the safety issues if a wrongful death occurs in a construction project.
• Trucking regulation expert:  Many 18-wheeler fatal accidents involve one or more violations of the minimum safety standards of truck drivers and motor carriers. Personal injury lawyers with expertise in trucking accidents often use trucking experts to explain the violations to the court.

What Legal Theories are Used to Prove Wrongful Death in Texas?

Losing a loved one due to someone else’s negligence or intentional actions is unimaginable. When faced with such a heartbreaking situation, it is important to understand the legal theories that can be used to prove wrongful death in Texas. This knowledge can empower you to seek justice and hold the responsible parties accountable.

In Texas, two primary legal theories can be used to establish a wrongful death claim: negligence and intentional misconduct. Negligence is the breach of the duty of failing to act reasonably. Intentional conduct is that which was intended by the actions.

Call and Talk with a Preeminent Rated Wrongful Death Attorney with Over 35 years of Experience.

If you have lost a family member because of negligence or the intentional acts of another, call us for a free consultation about your rights and options. We have been compassionately helping families after the loss of a loved one for more than three decades and are undefeated in wrongful death litigation. Do not delay but call attorney Greg Baumgartner at Baumgartner Law Firm at (281) 587-1111.

Our law firm handles wrongful death cases from car accidents, construction accidents, work injuries, and 18-wheeler truck accidents and is ready to help.

Contact our Houston personal injury law firm for legal help!

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