With the shores of beautiful Grapevine Lake in our backyard, the city of Southlake offers an abundance of activities for our families and friends. Unfortunately, accidents happen.
Most of the time, these accidents are relatively minor. But serious accidents that lead to the death of a loved one can also occur.
The Southlake wrongful death lawsuit lawyer at Hartley Law Firm can help you make the best out of a terrible situation. Our Southlake wrongful death claim lawyer has the experience, knowledge, and skill to make sure you and your family are protected. We can help you stabilize your financial future and ensure that your family has the resources they need. Whatever your family’s specific needs are, Hartley Law Firm’s Southlake wrongful death attorney is here to meet them.
Types of Cases
Since fatal injuries can occur in just about any sort of accident, our Southlake wrongful death lawsuit attorney is ready to help you regardless of the type of accident. Some of the more common types of accidents we help people recover from include:
- Car, truck, and motorcycle accidents;
- Boating accidents;
- Slip and falls; and
- Product liability.
If you don’t see the relevant type of accident in this list, don’t worry. Just give our Southlake wrongful death claim attorney a call, and we will see how we can help you through these difficult times.
Do I Have a Claim?
Most of the time, individuals base their wrongful death actions on either negligence liability or strict liability. We’ll go over the basics of both. For a typical negligence liability claim there are four elements:
- The existence of a duty of care,
- A breach of that duty of care,
- Subsequent real damages, and
- A causal link between the damages and the breach of the duty of care.
Negligence liability applies to many different types of civil claims. Car and boating accidents, for example, are based on negligence liability. In a car accident, a duty of care exists between all users of the road to drive carefully while following the relevant rules. A driver breaches that duty when they hit another car and they are at fault for it. The existence of personal injury or property damage fulfills the damage element. In this case, the causal link is pretty clear.
Other wrongful death claims can be brought on the basis of strict liability. Strict liability applies in cases where the law assumes a duty of care. If a person suffers injury in that context, the law also assumes a breach of that duty. Strict liability applies, for example, in cases of product liability. If your loved one dies due to a certain product, like tainted medicine, all you need to show is that your loved one used the medicine.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim?
Texas law allows certain immediate family members to file a wrongful death claim with respect to the death of their loved one. This includes spouses, parents, and children. If one of these family members doesn’t file within three months, the personal representative may file a wrongful death suit.
Statute of Limitations for Wrongful Death Claims in Texas
Texas, like all other states, subjects wrongful death claims to a statute of limitations. A statute of limitations limits the amount of time you have after a given incident to file a related legal claim.
The statute of limitations for most wrongful death claims in Texas is two years from the date of the death. While there are a few exceptions to this rule, it is always best to ask your Southlake wrongful death lawsuit attorney about the statute of limitations as soon as possible to avoid losing your opportunity file.
Go with the Southlake Wrongful Death Law Firm That Cares: Hartley Law Firm
Regardless of the facts and circumstances surrounding your loved one’s death, the Southlake wrongful death lawyer at Hartley Law Firm is on standby to help you and your family through this tough time. The results of your wrongful death claim could determine you and your children’s financial future for years to come. Because the implications of your case run so deep, you can’t afford to take a risk. Go with the safe option when it comes to hiring a wrongful death lawyer.
Our experienced legal practitioner also handles other types of injury cases, including:
At Hartley Law Firm, our Southlake wrongful death attorney has the right combination of experience, compassion, and skill to get you the settlement you deserve. Either visit us in person or contact us today for your free consultation. We’ll take it from there.
