Get the compensation you and your family deserve after losing a loved one because of someone else’s negligent actions. Our compassionate wrongful death lawyers in Texas are here to support you.
Choosing a Texas personal injury lawyer is not a decision you should make lightly. It’s vital to work with a lawyer you trust to fight for justice and negotiate a fair settlement or make the best case in court.
Our wrongful death lawyers in Texas understand how difficult it can be to find the right law firm for you.
That’s why, at Patino Law Firm, we do things a little differently.
We’re a veteran-owned personal injury firm. Founder Dr. Louis Patino has decades of experience in an impressive career path that has taken him through the medical and legal fields. Before embarking on a career in law, Dr. Patino served as a U.S. Army Combat Medic for the 10th Mountain Division during the Gulf War era and practiced as a licensed chiropractor. Today, he uses his educational and personal experience in both fields to offer a unique perspective on personal injury law and empathize with victims of accidents with severe injuries.
We offer a personal approach. Right from the moment you book a no-obligation case review through to negotiating your settlement or taking your case to trial, you’ll meet directly with your dedicated lawyer. They will be your point of contact and will always be there to update you on your case and answer any questions you might have.
We’ve secured millions of dollars in settlements for our clients. We’ve secured six-figure-plus settlements for our clients for a range of claims, including wrongful death.
You don’t pay unless we win. Our Texas wrongful death attorneys work on a contingency basis, so you won’t pay a cent until we win your case.
Because wrongful death can happen in many scenarios, there’s no definitive answer to who is liable. For example, if your loved one died in a car accident caused by another driver, and that driver was speeding, they may be liable. But if the crash happened because the brakes were defective and failed, you may be able to hold the manufacturer at fault.
Determining fault relies on evidence, but in all cases, proving negligence requires you to meet four criteria:
A duty of care is a legal obligation to ensure the safety and wellbeing of others. It can be as simple as providing a safe work environment, safety-testing products before they are sold to the public, or following state traffic laws.
For example, doctors have a duty of care to look after the health of their patients. Likewise, anyone driving on the road has a duty of care to drive safely and obey the law. This means that if your loved one was killed in a car accident because another driver was intoxicated, a car accident lawyer could argue that they breached this duty and that their negligence — driving while intoxicated — caused the death.
If you need help identifying and proving who was at fault in your loved one’s accident, our wrongful death lawyers in Texas can investigate your case, gather evidence, and begin the claims process to secure the compensation you deserve.
Every state has a statute of limitations for personal injury claims. This is the amount of time you have to bring a claim. If you do not file a claim within this time, you release liability from the at-fault party and cannot claim compensation. In Texas, the statute of limitations for wrongful death claims is two years from the date of your loved one’s death. This can seem like a long time, but two years can go by extremely fast.
However, as with any law, there are exceptions. For example, if you did not discover your loved one died because of someone else’s negligence until later, you may have additional time to file a lawsuit.
It’s always a good idea to speak to a wrongful death lawyer in Texas. Every claim is unique, and they will be able to advise you based on the specifics of your case.
Texas law is highly specific in who is allowed to bring a wrongful death claim. You must be a surviving spouse, child, or parent to claim compensation. Other family members — such as grandparents, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, and cousins — or romantic partners cannot file a claim.
However, there is an exception. If the surviving spouse, child, or parent chooses not to file a wrongful death claim within three months of the death, the administrator of your loved one’s estate can file a claim unless all surviving members who are entitled to file request otherwise.
Losing a loved one comes with a tremendous financial burden, including paying previous medical bills and arranging the funeral. You might also face difficulty if you relied on your loved one for financial support.
Our personal injury lawyers in Texas can help you claim the compensation you’re entitled to. This includes quantifiable damages such as lost inheritance and loss of income or earnings, and non-economic damages.
Non-economic damages compensate you for the loss of care, support, companionship, and love, as well as mental anguish and emotional distress.
Want to find out how much compensation you could be entitled to? Try our quick and easy personal injury calculator.
It might seem that after the death of a family member, you have so much to do that you can barely take the time to grieve. But if your loved one died because of someone else’s negligence, filing a wrongful death claim is well worth taking the time and should be a priority.
Consider doing the following:
To successfully claim compensation for wrongful death, you must prove that the at-fault party was negligent and that it caused your loved one’s death. While a wrongful death lawyer can help you gather evidence, beginning the process early will maximize your chance of success.
In truck accidents, for example, it’s not uncommon for driver logs and black box data to disappear during the claims process to reduce liability. Evidence comes in many forms, from police reports to medical records. If you don’t have these documents, try to get copies as quickly as possible. You might also have video footage or photographs of the accident scene or your loved one’s injuries. This can go a long way to proving who is at fault, so keep it safe. If in doubt, don’t throw it out. You might be tempted to trash a small slip of paper containing a person’s name and contact information, but if that person is a vital witness to the accident, your lawyer will want to speak with them, and their testimony could make a huge difference to the outcome of your claim.
Losing a loved one often results in considerable expenses. You might have paid for the time your loved one spent in the hospital before their death or for emergency healthcare. You might have even paid for the funeral. Try to document your expenses and keep the receipts somewhere safe, as you can recover these costs from the person or party responsible for your loved one’s death.
Journaling how you feel can be a painful and emotional process, but it can also be cathartic, especially if you’re being a rock for your family. Keeping a journal can also help in your claim. Having evidence of how you have suffered since the passing of your loved one and how it impacts your day-to-day life — including your mental and financial state — can help you get the compensation you deserve.
No amount of money can compensate you for the loss of a loved one, but it can ensure your family is looked after and provide some small comfort knowing you won’t struggle to recover financially.
Wrongful death claims are complex, but our compassionate and dedicated wrongful death lawyers in Texas understand how difficult this time is for you and focus on resolving your claim with as little stress as possible.
Our Texas accident attorney has successfully recovered maximum compensation for injured individuals and their families all over the state, from the Rio Grande Valley to the Permian Basin.
