The loss of a loved one is heartbreaking, even when it happens naturally. But when you lose a loved one because of the negligence of someone else, that feeling is almost indescribable. Grief mixes with anger and disbelief, overwhelming many. Worst of all, even though someone else caused the death of your loved one, you may find yourself financially responsible for the costs involved with that death. Thankfully, there is something you can do about that. When your loved one dies due to the actions of another in The Woodlands, wrongful death lawyers at Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law can help you get the money you need to recover emotionally and financially.
At Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law, we understand that money may be tight after the loss of a loved one in The Woodlands. Wrongful death lawyers from our law firm will give you a free consultation and won’t charge you a fee unless they obtain money for you. Contact us today at (713) 973-8888 or toll-free 1 (800) 444-5000 to learn more about your legal options.
Damages You Can Receive in a Wrongful Death Claim
Explanation by The Woodlands Wrongful Death Lawyer Terry Bryant
If you have lost a loved one due to the negligence of another party, you can recover damages for the harm you have suffered. There are several types of damages you may be eligible for. During the initial consultation, your wrongful death lawyer with experience in and around The Woodlands will determine what damages you are likely to receive. The following are some of the most common types.
Funeral and Burial Services
The easiest damages to calculate are costs for funeral and burial services. You will receive a bill for those services. Your attorney will fight to get you the full cost of that bill.
Lost Financial Support
This type of compensation is much more complicated to determine. If your loved one hadn’t died, they would have presumably continued to work for years or even decades. And if you were dependent on any portion of that income, then you would have financially benefited from your loved one continuing to work. You can get compensation for years, or potentially decades, of lost income that you would have been supported by.
The challenge is determining the value of that support. This involves several factors. First, your wrongful death lawyer in The Woodlands needs to estimate how many more years of income your loved one would have earned and approximately how much they would have earned in those remaining years. Those calculations take into account the age of your loved one, their health at the time of their death, and what profession they were in.
Then your attorney needs to calculate approximately how much of that income would go to supporting you. That calculation is based on the relationship you had with your loved one and how much they supported you. If you are a non-working spouse, for example, you could expect to be fully supported for the rest of your life. However, if you are a child, you might only have been supported until you entered the workforce.
Lost Value of Inheritance
Even if you aren’t a dependent of the deceased, you might be an heir. And all that lost income represents lost inheritance. It can be assumed that in the remaining time they worked, your loved one would have squirreled away more money that would have eventually gone to their heirs. Determining how much requires some complex accounting. However, your lawyer will typically be able to get you at least some additional compensation if you are named in the will.
Anguish and Grief
The previous types of damages were economic damages. An experienced lawyer or accountant could calculate exact values or good estimates using financial documents, statistics, health records, and spreadsheets. However, anguish and grief can’t be calculated precisely. Instead, attorneys use a combination of precedent and the strength of your relationship with the deceased to determine the value of your suffering. The closer you are to your loved one, the more money your lawyer will be able to get you.
Loss of Companionship
This is similar to the previous category of damages but is based on the loss of future interactions with the deceased. If you are their spouse, this means that you will no longer see them daily and will no longer have intimate relations with them. A parent or child will typically experience less loss of companionship in the long run, even if their anguish might have been more acute from the death.
Have you lost a loved one in The Woodlands? Wrongful death lawyers at Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law are here to help you get the compensation you deserve. Contact our law firm today at (713) 973-8888 for a free and confidential consultation with an attorney who cares.
Why Choose Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law?
The Woodlands Wrongful Death Attorney Terry Bryant Is Dedicated to Helping People in Need
Early in life, Terry Bryant determined that he wanted to dedicate his career to helping people in need. And few people are in greater need than those who have recently lost a loved one. The insurance companies will try to take advantage of you while you are in a state of grief by offering you less money than you need or deserve. At Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law, we have a proven track record of challenging insurance companies and getting fair results for our clients.
Furthermore, the lawyers at our law firm care. After you lose a loved one in The Woodlands, wrongful death attorneys at Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law will give you the compassion and resources you need to recover from this tragedy. Do you need a lawyer to meet you at home or handle aspects of the funeral arrangements for you? Our legal team will provide whatever assistance it can. While settling your finances is important, it is just as important to receive emotional support after the death of a loved one, and The Woodlands wrongful death attorney Terry Bryant has been doing that for clients for decades.
Frequently Asked Questions
The result of your wrongful death claim could be crucial to your financial future. When facing that situation, you deserve to be able to make educated decisions about your claim. At Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law, we answer every question after a client has lost a loved one in The Woodlands. Wrongful death attorneys at our firm are typically asked the following questions.
Who can file a wrongful death claim in Texas?
The only relatives who may file a wrongful death claim in Texas are the spouse, child, or parent of the deceased. Other relatives, like siblings and grandparents, aren’t eligible, even if they are named in the will of the deceased. However, if no eligible person files a lawsuit within three months of the death, the representative for the estate of the deceased may file a claim.
How long do I have to file a wrongful death lawsuit in Texas?
The Texas statute of limitations generally gives you two years from the date of the death of your loved one to file a lawsuit. (*However, always speak directly to a lawyer to learn the exact deadlines that apply to your potential claims. There are many exceptions and other deadlines.) This may seem like a long time, but it can pass quickly if you don’t act swiftly after a loved one dies in The Woodlands. Wrongful death attorneys at our law firm can help you best if you contact us as soon as possible after the death.
Will my wrongful death lawsuit go to trial?
Probably not. Typically, we will do our best to negotiate a fair settlement that will ensure you get the money you need. If your wrongful death attorney in The Woodlands can negotiate a settlement, you will usually get compensation much more quickly than if you have to wait for the results of a trial, and without as much risk. We know that is important when you are facing financial hardship.
How long will my case take to settle?
Typically, insurance companies settle within a few months. Understandably, that may seem like an eternity if your primary source of income has been shut off. Your wrongful death attorney in The Woodlands will do everything possible to get you compensation as quickly as possible. Additionally, we will help you find financial resources to support you until you get paid.
Will I have to pay if I don’t get compensation?
No. At Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law, we guarantee that you only get charged if you have a successful recovery.
If you still have pressing questions, any of our attorneys will happily answer them during your free case evaluation and consultation.
Contact Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law Today for Help With Wrongful Death Claims in The Woodlands
Have you recently lost a loved one due to the negligence of another party? Are you facing costs that you can’t pay? Our law firm will help you get the money you need to avoid this financial pain.
Call Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law now at (713) 973-8888 or toll-free 1 (800) 444-5000 to consult with a compassionate and knowledgeable lawyer.
Attorney Terry Bryant
Terry Bryant is Board Certified in personal injury trial law, which means his extensive knowledge of the law has been recognized by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, setting him apart from many other injury attorneys. The 22 years he spent as a Municipal Judge, Spring Valley Village, TX also provides him keen insight into the Texas court system. That experience also helps shape his perspective on personal injury cases and how they might resolve. This unique insight benefits his clients. [ Attorney Bio ]
