Houston Wrongful Death Lawyer

Lost a loved one due to negligence in Houston, TX? Contact the top Houston wrongful death lawyer to seek justice and compensation.

Losing a family member because of someone else’s negligence leaves you grieving while also facing funeral expenses, lost household income, and an uncertain financial future. Whether the death resulted from a car crash on I-10, a workplace incident, or a medical failure, the people responsible and their insurance companies are rarely forthcoming. Instead, they move quickly to protect their own interests, often before your family has had time to process what happened.

At DeHoyos Accident Attorneys, our personal injury attorneys specializing in wrongful death claims handle every aspect of the wrongful death claim so your family can focus on each other. We investigate the circumstances of the death, identify all liable parties, and calculate the full economic and emotional loss your family has suffered. With more than $20 million recovered for clients across Houston, we fight to secure the accountability and financial stability your family deserves.

Contact us to schedule a free consultation and discover how the Houston wrongful death lawyers at DeHoyos Accident Attorneys can help you seek the compensation and justice you deserve.

How Our Wrongful Death Lawyers Help Houston Families

Losing a loved one to someone else’s negligence leaves families facing both emotional devastation and immediate practical challenges. At DeHoyos Accident Attorneys, we step in to handle the legal burden so you can focus on your family. From the moment you contact us, we take over every aspect of your wrongful death claim—investigating the accident, identifying all responsible parties, and fighting to secure the full compensation your family deserves.

Here’s how we support Houston families throughout the legal process:

• Immediate Investigation: We act fast to preserve critical evidence, including surveillance footage, accident reports, witness statements, and corporate records before they disappear.
• Identifying All Liable Parties: Many wrongful death cases involve multiple defendants. We investigate every angle to ensure no responsible party escapes accountability.
• Handling Insurance Companies: We deal directly with insurance adjusters so they cannot pressure your family into accepting a lowball settlement.
• Calculating Full Damages: We work with financial experts and economists to accurately value your family’s losses, including lost income, benefits, and the lifetime financial support your loved one would have provided.
• Filing All Necessary Claims: We pursue both wrongful death and survival claims when applicable, maximizing your family’s total recovery.
• Trial-Ready Representation: We prepare every case for trial, which gives us the leverage needed to negotiate the strongest possible settlement.

What is a Wrongful Death?

Chapter 71 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code defines wrongful death as any death “caused by the wrongful act, carelessness, unskillfulness, neglect, or default of another person or corporation.”

Wrongful death occurs when a person dies as a result of another party’s negligence, reckless behavior, or intentional misconduct. In these cases, surviving family members or beneficiaries have the right to seek compensation through a wrongful death lawsuit. 

The goal is to hold the responsible party accountable and provide financial support for the family’s economic and emotional losses. 

In Texas, wrongful death claims can arise from car accidents, medical malpractice, workplace incidents, or criminal actions like assault.

Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim in Texas?

Under the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, only certain eligible family members have the legal right to file a wrongful death lawsuit. The surviving spouse, children, and parents of the deceased are eligible. This includes legally adopted children and spouses recognized under a common-law marriage.

If eligible family members do not file a wrongful death claim, the personal representative of the estate may be able to file on their behalf. Siblings are not eligible to file a wrongful death claim in Texas.

What Compensation Can Your Family Recover?

A wrongful death claim cannot undo your loss, but it can provide the financial stability your family needs to move forward. Texas law allows surviving family members to pursue compensation for both financial and personal losses.

Your family may be entitled to recover:

• Funeral and burial expenses
• Medical bills your loved one incurred before passing
• Lost wages, benefits, and future earning capacity
• Loss of inheritance that your loved one would have built over their lifetime
• Mental anguish suffered by surviving spouses, children, and parents
• Loss of companionship, parental guidance, and household contributions

Wrongful death cases involving gross negligence, such as a drunk driver or a company that ignored known safety hazards, may also qualify for punitive damages. These are additional damages designed to punish the at-fault party, not simply compensate your family.

Why You Need the Top Houston Wrongful Death Lawyer

Wrongful death cases are among the most aggressively defended claims in Texas. Corporate defendants and their insurers deploy experienced legal teams specifically to reduce what they pay grieving families.

• Multiple Liable Parties: Fatal truck accidents and workplace incidents often involve the driver, their employer, and equipment manufacturers. We investigate every angle to find every responsible party.
• Lowball Settlement Pressure: Insurers know your family is under financial stress. They use that pressure to push fast, inadequate settlements before you understand the full value of your claim.
• Expert Testimony Requirements: Proving lifetime lost income and loss of financial support requires testimony from economists and financial experts. DeHoyos Accident Attorneys has the resources to retain them.
• Trial Readiness: We prepare every wrongful death case as if it is going to trial. That preparation is what forces insurance companies to take your claim seriously at the negotiating table.

What Is a Survival Claim and How Does It Differ?

A survival claim is a separate legal action that can be filed alongside a wrongful death lawsuit. It seeks compensation for the pain, suffering, and medical expenses your loved one personally experienced between the moment of injury and their death.

The two claims work together but serve different purposes:

When the evidence supports both, DeHoyos Accident Attorneys files both claims simultaneously to maximize your family’s total recovery.

How Long Do You Have to File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Texas?

Texas law gives your family two years from the date of death to file a wrongful death lawsuit. Miss that deadline and the court will dismiss your case, regardless of how strong it is. Understanding the steps to file a wrongful death lawsuit early helps your family avoid procedural pitfalls.

If the at-fault party is a government entity, the deadline is even shorter. If the claim is against a government entity, you may need to provide formal written notice within six months of the death. The sooner youcontact DeHoyos Accident Attorneys, the sooner we can protect your family’s right to pursue justice.

Steps to Take After a Wrongful Death in Houston

The actions your family takes in the days following a loss directly affect the strength of your legal claim. Evidence disappears quickly, and insurance companies move fast.

Request the Police Report and Death Certificate

The official accident or police report documents fault and the circumstances of the death. The death certificate is required to open an estate and move forward with both a wrongful death and survival claim.

Preserve Physical Evidence and Photos

Do not repair or discard any property connected to the accident. Keep all photographs, videos, and physical evidence intact until our team has had the opportunity to inspect it.

Avoid Speaking With Insurance Adjusters

Insurance companies will call your family and may sound sympathetic. Their goal is to gather information that limits your payout. Refer every call to DeHoyos Accident Attorneys.

Contact DeHoyos Accident, Attorneys

We act immediately by sending spoliation letters, which are formal legal notices requiring the at-fault party to preserve all relevant evidence. Every day of delay increases the risk that critical proof is lost.

Why Choose DeHoyos Accident Attorneys for Your Wrongful Death Case?

When your family is facing the unimaginable pain of losing a loved one to someone else’s negligence, you need more than just a lawyer—you need a dedicated advocate who will fight relentlessly for justice while treating your family with the compassion you deserve.

DeHoyos Accident Attorneys brings the experience, resources, and trial-ready approach necessary to take on the corporations and insurance companies that will do everything possible to minimize what they pay your family.

Here’s why Houston families trust us with wrongful death cases:

• Personal Attention From Ryan DeHoyos: Ryan personally handles every wrongful death case we accept. You won’t be passed off to junior associates or paralegals—you get direct access to an experienced trial attorney from day one.
• Proven Track Record: We have successfully recovered millions of dollars for families who lost loved ones in truck accidents, workplace incidents, medical malpractice cases, and other preventable tragedies.
• No Upfront Costs: We work on contingency, which means you pay nothing unless we win your case. Your family shouldn’t have to worry about legal fees while grieving.
• Trial-Ready Representation: Insurance companies know which law firms are willing to go to trial and which will settle for less. We prepare every case for the courtroom, giving us the leverage to negotiate maximum settlements.
• Comprehensive Investigation: We work with accident reconstruction experts, medical professionals, economists, and industry specialists to build the strongest possible case for your family.
• Compassionate Support: We understand that no amount of money can bring back your loved one. Our goal is to secure the financial foundation your family needs to honor their memory and move forward with dignity.

Get Your Free Case Evaluation

Your family is facing an impossible situation. The person you loved is gone, and no legal outcome will change that reality.

But you still have decisions to make—decisions that will affect your family’s financial security for years to come. The insurance companies representing the at-fault party are already building their defense, and every day that passes makes it harder to preserve the evidence your family needs.

DeHoyos Accident Attorneys offers a free, confidential case evaluation with no obligation. We will review the circumstances of your loved one’s death, explain your legal options in plain language, and give you an honest assessment of what your case is worth.

You don’t have to face this alone. We handle everything on contingency, which means you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for your family.

Call DeHoyos Accident Attorneys today or fill out our online contact form. We are available 24/7 to answer your questions and start fighting for the justice your family deserves.

What Causes Most Wrongful Death Cases in Houston?

Any act of negligence that results in a death can give rise to a wrongful death claim. Houston’s size, industrial activity, and heavy commercial traffic make it one of the highest-risk cities in Texas for fatal accidents.

Common causes we handle include:

• Car accidents: Drunk and distracted drivers on Houston’s congested freeways, including I-45, I-10, and the 610 Loop, cause thousands of crashes each year, many of them fatal.
• Motorcycle accidents: Riders are especially vulnerable on Houston’s high-speed corridors where inattentive drivers fail to check blind spots or yield the right of way.
• Commercial truck accidents and 18-wheeler crashes on I-45, I-10, US-59, and Beltway 8
• Pedestrian accidents: Busy corridors like Westheimer Road and Navigation Boulevard see frequent and fatal pedestrian strikes, often involving speeding or distracted drivers.
• Workplace accidents: Houston’s active construction sites and petrochemical plants along the Ship Channel expose workers to explosions, falls, and equipment failures that can prove fatal.
• Premises liability accidents: Dangerous property conditions, including unmarked hazards, inadequate security, and structural failures, cause fatal injuries at commercial properties throughout the Houston metro area.

It is not uncommon for multiple parties to be named in a wrongful death lawsuit. For instance, with a car accident that resulted in wrongful death, it’s possible for the auto parts manufacturer that made a faulty airbag and the municipality that neglected roadway maintenance to be sued.

Identifying every party responsible for your loved one’s death is critical. In many Houston wrongful death cases, multiple defendants share liability, which means more potential sources of compensation for your family.

Houston Wrongful Death FAQs

Can a Wrongful Death Claim Be Filed if the Deceased Had a Pre-Existing Condition?

Yes. A pre-existing condition does not disqualify your family from filing a claim. If the at-fault party’s negligence caused or accelerated the death, you still have the right to pursue compensation.

Can We File a Wrongful Death Claim if Our Loved One Was Partially at Fault?

Yes. Texas follows a modified comparative negligence rule. Your family can still recover damages as long as your loved one was less than 51% responsible for the accident, though the total recovery is reduced by their percentage of fault.

Will a Criminal Case Against the At-Fault Party Help Our Civil Claim?

The criminal and civil cases are separate proceedings, but a guilty plea or criminal conviction can serve as strong supporting evidence in your wrongful death lawsuit.

Are Wrongful Death Settlements Taxable?

Compensation received for a wrongful death claim is generally not considered taxable income by the IRS. Damages awarded through a survival claim or for punitive damages may be treated differently, and we recommend consulting a tax professional.

Can We File a Wrongful Death Claim if Our Loved One Was Undocumented?

Yes. Immigration status does not affect your family’s right to file a wrongful death claim in Texas. All individuals are entitled to the same protections under Texas personal injury law.

How Long Does a Wrongful Death Lawsuit Take to Resolve?

The timeline depends on the complexity of the case and whether it settles or goes to trial. Cases with clear liability may resolve in several months, while those involving multiple defendants or disputed facts can take longer.

Can Stepchildren File a Wrongful Death Claim in Texas?

Only legally adopted children are recognized as eligible claimants under Texas wrongful death law. Stepchildren who were not formally adopted are not permitted to file.

Contact DeHoyos Accident Attorneys

Most wrongful death lawsuits are highly complex and should not be attempted without the assistance of an experienced personal injury lawyer.

Ryan DeHoyos and his team help the families of victims claim what they deserve.

You have been through enough, let us handle the rest. If a loved one has suffered a wrongful death in the Houston area, get the support you need from a compassionate, knowledgeable, and experienced attorney.

Contact DeHoyos Accident Attorneys, PLLC today via our online form or call (832) 745-4878 for a free and confidential consultation about your case.