Fort Worth Wrongful Death Attorneys

Lawyers for Wrongful Death Claims Serving Texas and New Mexico

Few experiences in life are as painful as losing a loved one because another party was careless about their safety. Knowing that your loved one's death was preventable if the at-fault party had merely been more cautious can cause a great deal of emotional distress, and your family may also be facing significant financial difficulties. If the person you lost was a close relative, you may be able to recover compensation by bringing a wrongful death lawsuit against the party who caused your family member's death. State law varies slightly between Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma as to who can bring this type of suit, so your options may vary depending on where the fatal incident occurred.

Hutchison & Foreman, PLLC takes these cases incredibly seriously. While no amount of money could ever fully make up for the life lost, bringing a wrongful death lawsuit can help you avoid facing financial hardship as a result of your loss. We represent survivors of those who lost their lives in motor vehicle accidents, medical malpractice, workplace accidents, and more.

Who Can Bring a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in New Mexico

In New Mexico, a wrongful death lawsuit must be brought by the decedent's personal representative. Ordinarily, this is the executor or estate administrator named in the decedent's estate plan. If no one was named or if there was no estate plan, the court will appoint someone as the personal representative. New Mexico allows the settlement or award from such a case to be distributed among survivors depending on how the survivors are related to the decedent.

Who Can File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Texas

In Texas, only a few specific close relatives can file a wrongful death suit. The decedent's surviving spouse, children, and parents may file. One individual belonging to one of these classes may file on behalf of all eligible litigants. The personal representative of the decedent's estate may also pursue a wrongful death claim.

Types of Wrongful Death Cases We Take On

Our law firm can represent you in multiple types of wrongful death cases. We regularly serve those who lost a loved one due to:

• Medical malpractice - A healthcare professional may have caused a patient's death because they failed to act as a reasonable member of their profession should have.
• Car accidents - A driver may be held liable for deaths caused because they were negligent in some way, such as by driving drunk.
• Commercial truck accidents - Crashes caused by negligent truck drivers or truck companies can be devastating to all involved, and family members may be able to pursue compensation for deaths that occur in truck wrecks.
• Police misconduct - Reports of police misconduct have been in the national headlines for years. We are here to fight back in situations where misconduct leads to a person's death.
• Prisoner abuse - The mere fact that a person has made a mistake and broken the law is no excuse to neglect them to the point that they pass away for want of medical care or security.
• Work accidents - Everyone deserves to be safe in their workplace. If your family member's employer or a third party on the worksite was careless and caused an accident that claimed the life of your loved one, you may be able to bring a suit against the employer or third party.

Damages Recoverable in Wrongful Death Cases

The goal behind wrongful death compensation is to leave you in the same financial position you would have been if the accident had not happened, in addition to compensating you for your emotional distress. We may be able to help you recover compensation for:

• Your family member's lost future income and the loss of likely inheritance for family members
• Compensation for the loss of your relationship with the decedent
• Emotional distress
• Financial losses stemming from the death, such as medical expenses

The types of damages available and how different aspects of your loss are considered can vary somewhat between Texas and New Mexico. When we assess your case, we will help you understand what types of damages may be available to you.

Contact a Fort Worth Wrongful Death Attorney

Hutchison & Foreman, PLLC will fight for you to recover the highest possible award or settlement to compensate you for your personal tragedy. Our skilled and caring team of wrongful death lawyers makes these cases a very high priority. Contact us at 817-336-5533 or 806-491-4911 to schedule your free consultation. We work on a contingency fee basis, so you will not pay us a dime unless we recover money for you. From our offices in Fort Worth and Lubbock, we represent clients located in Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma.