Dallas Wrongful Death Lawyer for Texas Families

With more than 45 years of legal experience, over 12,000 cases handled, and more than $200 million recovered, John Lozano brings proven trial insight to wrongful death claims. His board-certified personal injury trial experience helps families pursue accountability, preserve critical evidence, and understand their legal options after a preventable loss.

Guidance When Negligence Takes a Life

Losing someone because of another person’s careless or wrongful conduct can leave a family facing emotional pain, unanswered questions, and unexpected financial pressure. A wrongful death claim cannot replace a loved one, but it can hold the responsible party accountable and address the financial and personal losses surviving family members must carry.

A Dallas wrongful death lawyer from Lozano & Khan can investigate what happened, preserve important evidence, identify every liable party, and determine which insurance policies or other sources of recovery may apply. The firm also handles insurer communication and documents how the loss has affected the family’s income, support, companionship, and future. This allows the family to focus on one another while the legal process moves forward.

Texas Wrongful Death Claims

Who May File and What a Claim Can Address

Texas law identifies specific family members who may pursue a wrongful death claim. The damages available depend on the family relationships, financial circumstances, and evidence involved in the case.

Who May File a Wrongful Death Claim in Texas

  • The surviving spouse of the deceased
  • Surviving children, including qualifying adopted children
  • Surviving parents, including qualifying adoptive parents

Losses a Wrongful Death Claim May Address

  • Lost earning capacity and financial contributions
  • Loss of care, support, services, advice, and guidance
  • Loss of companionship, mental anguish, and lost inheritance

Protecting the Claim Before Evidence Disappears

Texas generally allows two years from the date of death to file a wrongful death lawsuit. However, exceptions and shorter notice requirements may apply, particularly when a governmental entity or another specially protected defendant is involved. Families should not assume that the general deadline applies to every case.

Early investigation can preserve surveillance footage, vehicle data, medical records, photographs, witness accounts, maintenance documents, and other evidence. A Dallas wrongful death attorney can also determine whether the family should pursue a wrongful death action, a survival claim through the estate, or both. A related survival action may address losses suffered by the deceased before death, including qualifying medical expenses, conscious pain, and other estate damages.

Why Choose Lozano & Khan for a Wrongful Death Case?

A wrongful death case requires compassion, detailed investigation, and the ability to present the complete impact of a family’s loss. John Lozano has more than 45 years of legal experience, has handled over 12,000 cases, and has helped recover more than $200 million for injured clients and families.

John Lozano is board-certified in personal injury trial law, a distinction held by only 4% of attorneys. Lozano & Khan prepares each case with litigation in mind while providing families with direct communication and clear guidance throughout the legal process.

  • Board-certified personal injury trial experience
  • More than 45 years of legal experience
  • Over 12,000 cases handled and $200 million recovered
  • Free case review with no attorney fees unless compensation is recovered

 

Families searching for wrongful death attorneys in Dallas, Texas, or wrongful death lawyers in Fort Worth can speak with the firm about their legal rights, available claims, and possible next steps.

Common Questions

Mostly Asked Questions

A surviving spouse, child, or parent may bring a wrongful death claim individually or together for the benefit of all eligible family members. If none of them files within three months after the death, the estate’s personal representative generally must bring the action unless the eligible beneficiaries request otherwise.

Texas generally allows two years from the date of death to file a wrongful death lawsuit. Exceptions or shorter notice requirements may apply, so families should speak with a Dallas wrongful death attorney promptly instead of relying only on the general deadline.

The claimant generally must show that another party’s wrongful act, negligence, carelessness, unskillfulness, or default caused the person’s death. Evidence must connect the responsible party’s conduct to the death and establish the losses suffered by eligible family members.

Recoverable damages may include lost earning capacity, lost financial contributions, loss of care and support, loss of companionship, mental anguish, and lost inheritance. Available damages depend on the evidence and each beneficiary’s relationship with the deceased.

A wrongful death claim addresses losses suffered by eligible surviving family members. A survival action continues a legal claim the deceased could have pursued had they survived and is brought for the benefit of the estate.

Yes. A wrongful death lawsuit is a civil action that remains separate from a criminal prosecution and uses a different burden of proof. A family may have a civil claim whether criminal charges are filed, dismissed, or result in a conviction or acquittal.

Claims may arise from car and truck collisions, motorcycle crashes, dangerous properties, defective products, workplace incidents, medical negligence, or other preventable events. An attorney for wrongful death claims can investigate whether another party may be legally responsible.

Siblings generally are not among the family members authorized to file a Texas wrongful death claim. The surviving spouse, children, and parents are the statutory beneficiaries, although the deceased person’s estate may have a separate survival claim.

There is no standard settlement value. The amount may depend on the deceased person’s age, health, income, expected financial contributions, family relationships, available insurance coverage, liability evidence, and the extent of each beneficiary’s losses.

Consider the attorney’s experience with serious personal injury and wrongful death litigation, investigative approach, communication practices, trial preparation, and fee structure. Families comparing wrongful death attorneys in Dallas or a wrongful death lawyer in Fort Worth should also ask who will personally oversee the case.

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