A car accident is one thing. Losing someone you love in one is another. If a crash in Houston took someone from your family, you need a lawyer who handles both sides of that: the car accident itself, and the wrongful death claim it created. Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law has built fatal crash cases for decades, including cases where we had to look past the at-fault driver's insurance policy to find the money our clients were actually owed.
Call (713) 973-8888 to talk with a Houston car accident wrongful death lawyer today. The consultation is free, and you won't owe us anything unless you win.
Do I Need a Lawyer If My Family Member Died in a Houston Car Accident?
Yes. Even when fault looks obvious, the at-fault driver's insurance company will look for any reason to pay your family less, including arguing your loved one shared some of the blame. A lawyer addresses those arguments early, and the first consultation costs nothing.
This matters even more in car accident deaths specifically, because more than one insurance policy is often involved: the driver's own policy, an employer's policy if they were working at the time, and your family's underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage. Sorting out which policies apply, and how much each one is worth, is hard to do alone while you're grieving.
Why a Car Accident Wrongful Death Claim Moves Differently Than Other Cases
The underlying wrongful death law is the same no matter what caused the death. A car accident case adds something a medical malpractice or product defect case doesn't have: a police investigation, a crash report, and an insurance company that's often trying to settle fast, before your family understands what the claim is actually worth.
We've written a full breakdown of who can legally file a wrongful death claim in Texas and what damages are available in our guide to fatal car accident claims. This page focuses on what's specific to the car accident side of your case instead of repeating that ground.
When More Than One Driver Caused the Crash
Your family isn't limited to pursuing a single driver. Multi-vehicle pileups are common on Houston freeways, and when more than one driver shares the blame, you can bring a claim against each one, which means each driver's insurance policy becomes a potential source of compensation.
Texas uses a comparative-fault system. Each driver's share of blame is calculated as a percentage, and recovery can come from multiple parties based on that split. Untangling this usually takes the crash report, traffic camera footage where it exists, and sometimes an accident reconstruction expert.
We handle that investigation so your family isn't stuck negotiating with several insurance companies at once.
What If the At-Fault Driver's Insurance Isn't Enough?
This happens more than people expect. Texas only requires drivers to carry $30,000 in per-person liability coverage, which can fall far short of what a fatal accident claim is actually worth. When that gap exists, your own underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage, if your family has it, can help cover the difference.
We've handled cases built around exactly this problem. In one case, after an 18-wheeler crossed the center line and caused a fatal collision, we recovered the trucking company's policy limits and then pursued a separate recovery from the family's underinsured motorist carrier. Most families have no idea that a second claim exists until a lawyer points it out.
The Evidence We Use to Build a Fatal Car Accident Case
We start with the official Texas crash report, known as the CR-3, and move quickly from there, because some evidence disappears fast. That includes traffic camera and dashcam footage, 911 call recordings, and the vehicle's event data recorder (sometimes called a "black box" or “EDR”), which can show speed and braking in the seconds before impact.
When drunk or distracted driving is suspected, we also pursue toxicology results and phone records that can show texting or calls at the time of the crash. The earlier we're involved, the more of this evidence is available; traffic camera footage in particular can be erased within days if no one formally requests it.
What to Expect After You Call
You'll talk with someone from our team the same day, often within minutes, about what happened and what your family needs right now. That call is completely free and confidential, and you're not committing to anything by making it.
If you decide to move forward, we open an investigation immediately: requesting the crash report, securing any available video, and taking over communication with the insurance company so your family isn't fielding those calls. Coming into our office isn't required. We're glad to handle this by phone, video, or in person, whatever fits your family right now.
Have questions right now? Call (713) 973-8888 or toll-free 1 (800) 444-5000. We're available 24/7 for a free, confidential consultation.
What Does It Cost to Hire a Car Accident Wrongful Death Lawyer in Houston?
Nothing upfront, and nothing out of pocket along the way. Our no-fee guarantee means we're paid a percentage of whatever you recover, and only if you actually recover it. No settlement or verdict means no fee, period.
We'll walk through exactly how that works during your free consultation, so there are no surprises later.
Ask Terry Bryant: Car Accident Wrongful Death Questions
Below are a few things Houston families want to know before they make that first call.
Does it change anything if the crash involved a rideshare driver, like Uber or Lyft?
It can actually help your family. Rideshare companies are required to carry large commercial insurance policies, often well beyond a personal auto policy, and that coverage can apply if the driver was logged into the app at the time of the crash. Figuring out which policy applies, and when, is something we sort out early in cases like this.
What's the average settlement for a fatal car accident in Texas?
Averages don't tell you much in a case like this. What actually matters is how much insurance coverage is available, how clear the fault is, what your loved one earned, and how many people depended on them financially. Anyone who quotes a number before reviewing those details is guessing.
Does it matter if the at-fault driver was working at the time of the crash?
It can matter a great deal. If the driver was on the clock, their employer's insurance, which is often far larger than a personal auto policy, may also be responsible for the claim. This is one of the first things we check when we take on a case.
Can I still file a claim if the other driver didn't get a ticket?
Yes. A traffic ticket, or the absence of one, isn't the same as a legal finding of fault. Civil claims use a different standard of proof than a traffic citation, so the lack of a ticket doesn't close the door on your family's claim.
What if I already gave a statement to the insurance company before calling?
You can still move forward, but stop giving any further statements until you've spoken with a lawyer. Insurance companies sometimes use early statements, especially anything that sounds uncertain or apologetic, to argue your loved one shared the blame. We can review what was already said and build our strategy around it.
Do I need a separate lawyer for the criminal case against the driver?
No. The criminal case belongs to the state, and its only goal is to punish the driver. Your wrongful death claim is a private, civil matter aimed at getting your family compensated, and the two run on completely separate timelines. You're free to pursue your claim while the criminal case is still working its way through court.
Can I still file a claim if the crash happened months ago?
Possibly, depending on exactly how much time has passed, so call us either way. Texas generally gives families 2 years from the date of death to file, and that window closes faster than people expect once it's underway. (*Always speak directly to an attorney for the exact deadlines that apply to your potential claims.) The sooner we know your timeline, the better we can protect it.
Contact Our Houston Car Accident Wrongful Death Lawyers Today
If a car accident took someone you love, the insurance company already has a strategy for your claim. Your family deserves one too. Since 1985, Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law has served Katy and the surrounding Harris, Fort Bend, Montgomery, and Waller County communities from our office right here on the Katy Freeway.
Call (713) 973-8888 or toll-free 1 (800) 444-5000, or send us a few details through our contact form, and a member of our team will reach out within minutes.