East Texas Wrongful Death Lawyer
East Texas Wrongful Death Lawyer
Losing someone you love because of negligence is a burden no family should face. Recognized as one of the Top Law Firms in the Metroplex, we understand the grief and disruption that follow a preventable loss. Your East Texas wrongful death lawyer from Goff Law, PLLC can discuss what options the law allows your family to pursue. Your East Texas personal injury lawyer can explain how the state’s wrongful death claims process works and provide guidance on what that may mean for your family.
What Wrongful Death Means for Your Family in East Texas
Losing someone in a preventable accident changes everything for a family. A wrongful death claim gives you a way to step in and seek answers when the law alone does not feel like enough. Texas treats these claims separately from criminal cases, so you still have the chance to act even if no charges are filed.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim in East Texas
Texas law allows certain family members to take action. A spouse can file after the loss of a partner. Parents can file after the loss of a child. Children can file after the death of a parent. These rights exist so the people closest to the one who died can speak for them in court. It is a system designed to make sure the people most directly affected have the ability to act.
Your East Texas wrongful death attorney from Goff Law, PLLC will walk your family through who has the legal right to file. This step keeps you from getting lost in legal questions and makes it easier to decide how to move forward together. With clarity about who can take action, your family can focus on honoring your loved one while still protecting your legal rights.
How These Claims Can Be Influenced by Criminal Cases
In Texas, civil cases are completely separate from criminal prosecutions. A criminal trial may punish the person responsible, but it does not decide your family’s right to seek compensation in civil court. Even when prosecutors choose not to file charges, you can still bring a wrongful death claim. This separation gives your family the chance to keep control over your case instead of waiting for what happens in criminal court.
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) reported that in 2021, more than 4,400 deaths in Texas were tied to motor vehicle crashes, many of which led to wrongful death claims. In East Texas, this means the civil process is still available even if the criminal courts fall short. Awareness of this difference helps you see why action on the civil side can be critical for protecting your family’s future.
Situations That Can Lead to a Wrongful Death Claim in East Texas
In rural East Texas, fatal accidents often happen in industries and settings where risks are high. Fatal truck accidents on highways and oilfield explosions are frequent, while logging incidents add another danger that can claim lives without warning. Our founding attorney, a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, has seen how often these tragedies give rise to wrongful death claims, and families encounter them in places like these:
- Oilfield explosions caused by unsafe practices or faulty equipment.
- Logging incidents where falling timber or machinery malfunctions cause fatal injuries.
- Commercial truck collisions on highways and rural roads.
- Farm equipment accidents involving tractors or heavy machinery.
- Small-town workplace deaths in factories or construction sites.
- Fatal crashes on poorly maintained rural roads.
- Pedestrian deaths at unmarked crossings or poorly lit streets.
- Dangerous conditions at community events where traffic and crowds intersect.
These events often result in wrongful death claims because the risks involved are severe and the consequences immediate. The Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code § 16.003(b) sets time limits for filing these cases. When you know what kinds of accidents most often lead to wrongful death, it becomes easier to see how the law may apply to your family’s situation and what steps could matter most if you decide to take action.
How East Texas Families Move Through the Wrongful Death Process
Filing a wrongful death claim is often a heavy step for families already dealing with grief. An East Texas catastrophic injury lawyer can explain how the process works while helping you understand what rights belong to your family. Our founding attorney, recognized as one of the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch, uses that background to prepare families for what to expect as their claims develop.
The Emotional Weight of Bringing a Claim in a Small Community
In small East Texas towns, filing a wrongful death claim can feel complicated. Friends and neighbors may know the people involved. Coworkers may also have ties to the situation. That closeness often makes families pause before moving forward. Comparative responsibility is outlined in Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code § 33.001, a rule that allows fault to be divided between parties.
The fact that the law looks at evidence rather than opinions can relieve some of the pressure that comes with living in a close-knit community. Your East Texas wrongful death lawyer with Goff Law, PLLC will take time to explain how comparative responsibility may apply in your case. With that knowledge, you can make decisions without feeling weighed down by what others in your town might think. These claims move forward based on facts, not on rumor or gossip.
The Financial Strain That Can Follow Your Family’s Loss
The financial impact of a wrongful death can begin right away with funeral expenses and burial arrangements. Families often face additional pressure when the loss of income from a spouse or parent makes it harder to keep up with household costs. Over time, the absence of wages can raise difficult questions about how bills will be paid and how long savings will last. You only have two years to file most wrongful death claims, which makes it important to consider the financial changes that follow soon after a loss.
Your East Texas wrongful death attorney with Goff Law, PLLC will look at how your family’s finances have changed since the loss. This may involve missing paychecks or the added cost of hiring outside help. Counseling and other support services can also create new expenses. A detailed picture of these changes helps a jury understand the weight of your loss and shows insurers why fair compensation is justified.
Reach Out to Your Wrongful Death Lawyer in East Texas Today
