A wrongful death claim is a civil lawsuit brought when someone dies because of another party's wrongful conduct. The people the law recognizes as survivors ask a court to order the responsible party to pay for the losses the death caused them.
This section covers claims brought after a death caused by someone else’s negligence in Louisiana or Texas: who may bring the claim, what losses it covers, how it differs from a criminal case, and how insurance responds. The laws pages cover the filing deadlines in each state and recent changes to them. The process page covers how a wrongful death settlement is valued.
laws1 page
The filing deadlines for wrongful death and survival claims in each state and recent changes to them.
process2 pages
How a wrongful death settlement is valued and the factors that move it.
Average Wrongful Death Settlement and Factors That Impact Compensation
What is the average payout for wrongful death cases? Discover the key factors that affect settlement amounts and why hiring an attorney is essential.Wrongful Death Process
A wrongful death claim is a civil lawsuit brought by surviving family members when a person dies because of someone else's negligence or wrongful act. It is the survivors' own claim for the losses they suffer from the death, and it exists only because the law creates it.
general10 pages
Can You File a Wrongful Death Claim for a Suicide?
A suicide may be considered wrongful death under limited circumstances. Learn how wrongful death claims are affected by suicide.Can You Sue on Behalf of an Unborn Person?
Rights of action for an unborn person differ depending on the state where the injury occurred. Parents may be able to sue for the loss of an unborn child, but methods vary.How Is Wrongful Death Legally Defined?
Explore the legal definition of wrongful death, its implications, and how it differs across states like Texas and Louisiana.How to Prevent Hot Car Child Fatalities
This article explains why children die in hot vehicles and how to prevent it. It covers the greenhouse effect that rapidly heats a car's interior, the patterns behind these tragedies, such as caregivers unknowingly leaving children or children gaining access on their own, and the national and regional toll, noting Texas and Louisiana rank high due to Gulf Coast heat and humidity. It frames prevention, science, and the law around vehicular heatstroke.Understanding Wrongful Death Claims in Probate: A Guide for Families
Losing someone you love changes everything. When that loss happens because of someone else’s negligence, you face overwhelming grief while navigating complex legal processes. We understand the weight of making legal decisions during such a difficult time. Your loved one’s wrongful death claim intersects with probate law, and understanding this connection helps you protect your […]Unintentional Injury as a Cause of Death
Unintentional injury is the leading cause of death in the United States for people ages 1 through 44, according to the CDC, and kills more than 173,000 people each year. The category covers unplanned harm such as motor vehicle crashes, falls, drownings, and poisonings. Public health agencies use the term "unintentional injury" rather than "accident" because most of these deaths are predictable and preventable.Who Can File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit?
Learn who can bring a wrongful death lawsuit or survivor action, grounds for filing a claim, and steps to recover compensation after the death of a loved one.Will Insurance Cover Wrongful Death Losses?
Learn how a wrongful death claim can affect insurance coverage and whether insurance will cover losses due to wrongful death.Wrongful Death Lawsuit vs. Survival Action
The death of a loved one is always heartbreaking, but it is even more painful if someone else’s actions lead to their death. Regardless of whether your loved one died due to a motor vehicle accident, medical malpractice, defective products, or an offshore accident, their unexpected and untimely demise is more difficult to bear if […]Wrongful Death Lawsuits: Rights of Surviving Spouses
The untimely passing of a spouse is an emotionally trying and damaging situation, there is no doubting that. But just how damaging is it in the eyes of the law? As a surviving spouse filing a wrongful death case against the negligent, reckless, or malicious party that caused the passing of your spouse, what are your rights? […]