En Civil Practice & Remedies Code §71.002 defines a wrongful death as one caused by another party’s “wrongful act, neglect, carelessness, unskillfulness, or default.” These claims allow families to hold negligent individuals, companies, or institutions accountable for preventable losses.
Wrongful deaths may arise from:
- Car, truck, or accidente de moto cases
- Workplace or construction accidents
- Medical malpractice
- Dangerous or defective products
- Criminal acts, reckless conduct, or intoxicated driving
- Fatal accidents that are the result of negligence or intentional harm
Families often confuse wrongful death claims with survival actions. A wrongful death claim compensates the surviving family for the personal losses they’ve suffered. In contrast, a survival action is filed on behalf of the deceased person’s estate to recover damages the person could have pursued had they survived.
If you have questions about how these cases work, a Dallas personal injury lawyer can walk you through the process and help you determine which claims apply to your situation.