Losing a loved one is devastating in any circumstance, but it’s particularly devastating when it happens because of someone else’s mistakes. Whether you lost a loved one due to medical malpractice, a workplace error, or another reason, consulting with a Houston wrongful death lawyer can be a crucial step in seeking justice for what happened.
Steinger, Greene & Feiner is the Houston wrongful death attorney you can trust to get the results you want. We’ll hold the responsible party accountable for their actions and secure compensation on your loved one’s behalf. These things won’t change what happened, but they can bring a sense of closure and ease the financial burden of losing a loved one. Keep reading to see how we can help you during this difficult time.
Why Choose Us as Your Houston Wrongful Death Lawyer
Track Record of Success
We specialize in wrongful death cases and have a 25+ year track record of winning them for our clients. This track record demonstrates our ability to navigate the complexities of wrongful death cases and secure justice for grieving families.
Maximum Compensation
We’re dedicated to ensuring clients like you receive maximum compensation for your losses. We will assess the full scope of economic and non-economic damages, leveraging our expertise to negotiate or litigate for fair compensation.
Affordable Services
We offer our legal services on a contingency fee basis, meaning clients only pay legal fees if we win their case. This affordability ensures families seeking justice in wrongful death cases can access quality legal representation without upfront financial burdens.
Convenient Communication
We prioritize transparent and convenient communication with every client. We keep clients informed about case developments, answer questions promptly, and provide a supportive and compassionate approach during the difficult process of pursuing a wrongful death claim. We can even handle your entire case online if that’s what you prefer.
24/7 Availability
We understand legal emergencies can arise at inconvenient times. That’s why we have team members available 24/7 to answer any questions and address any concerns you may have outside of normal business hours.
Comprehensive Representation
We’ll handle every aspect of your wrongful death case, from the initial investigation to settlement negotiations or trial. This allows clients to focus on their emotional healing while we help secure their financial future.
Hear From Satisfied Clients
“I was hurt and scared at the beginning of my ordeal. Mostly confused and didn’t know where to turn for a lawyer to help me navigate my case. My attorneys have been an absolute pleasure! I couldn’t have asked for a less painless process. They worked so hard and took all the guesswork out of my case. What truly stood out above everything was how nice, sweet, polite, and understanding they both were. If I ever need representation in the future, I will definitely be reaching out to the SGF team. Thank you for everything! It has been a pleasure to get to work with you. I couldn’t be happier with how things turned out.”
-Dawn Cheek
“I had the best experience with my attorney. He was always available to answer any questions I had. He is kind, thoughtful, and has the best personality, even if a question I had was silly. He always reassured me everything was going to be alright, and it was. I will be referring him and your law firm to anyone who needs an excellent personal injury attorney.”
-Denise Morales
“Steinger, Greene & Feiner is the firm you will truly be happy with. My attorneys kept me informed of my case every step of the way and in a very timely manner. They made me feel confident and treated me with such kindness. I am a very happy & satisfied customer. THANK YOU!”
-Jennifer Ellison
“I went to one attorney with my case and I didn’t hear anything from them via text, phone, or email—nothing. Within a couple of hours, I got a text letting me know the lawyers were working on my case and would be in touch with me. I love that because you need to know what’s going on with your case without you having to call them and see what’s going on.”
-Sheila Stokes
“They all really exceeded all my expectations! They handled my case in a very professional and timely manner. I never had to worry or handle anything! If it wasn’t for this team of professionals, I fear the insurance company would’ve beaten me out of the care and money I deserved. I highly recommend this law office. They’re dedicated to getting you the money and care you deserve after a life-changing experience like the car accident I was in. Thanks so much!!”
-April Scarffol
What Is Wrongful Death?
The phrase “wrongful death” describes a tragic circumstance in which a person’s life is lost as a result of the carelessness, recklessness, or deliberate wrongdoing of another. These situations can manifest in different settings, including automobile accidents, workplace incidents, medical errors, and more. In the event a wrongful death occurs, a family member of the deceased person can file a lawsuit against the liable party.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Houston
Wrongful death lawsuits differ from other personal injury lawsuits in many ways, including who can file them. Since the deceased person can’t file for themselves, a family member or legal representative must file on their behalf. These are the individuals who can file a wrongful death lawsuit in Houston.
- Surviving Spouse: Typically, the initial eligibility to initiate a wrongful death lawsuit in Texas falls upon the surviving spouse of the deceased individual. The spouse has the option to file the lawsuit either individually or as a representative of any eligible beneficiaries, including children.
- Children: In cases where there is no surviving spouse or the surviving spouse opts not to pursue a wrongful death lawsuit, the decedent’s children can initiate the lawsuit. This includes biological children, adopted children, and stepchildren.
- Parents: In situations where the deceased individual was unmarried and did not have any children, the parents of the deceased person may meet the criteria for filing a wrongful death lawsuit.
- Personal Representative or Executor of the Estate: In some cases, there are no surviving family members to file a wrongful death lawsuit. In these scenarios, the personal representative or executor of the decedent’s estate can file a lawsuit on behalf of the estate.
Statute of Limitations
The statute of limitations in Texas for wrongful death claims is two years. This means you have two years from the date of your loved one’s death to file a lawsuit against the responsible party.
We know legal battles are the last thing you want to deal with after losing a loved one. But acting promptly after this tragedy is the best way to get justice and financial compensation on their behalf. If you wait to file a lawsuit until after the two-year mark, you risk losing out on rightful compensation. While compensation can’t heal your pain or bring back your loved one, it does help ease the financial burden of paying for medical bills, funeral costs, and other expenses.
The Process of filing a Wrongful Death Lawsuit
Filing a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of your loved one involves a series of steps.
- Initial Consultation: We start every case with a free evaluation. This is a time for us to get to know you, discuss the details of your case, and determine whether you have grounds to file a claim against the at-fault party. It’s also a time for you to ask questions and address initial concerns before moving forward.
- Gathering Evidence: Sufficient evidence is necessary in any wrongful death case. You must establish negligence to recover damages, and you can’t establish negligence without evidence. The more evidence you have, the stronger your case will be. Here are some examples of evidence you might need.
- Medical records
- Accident report
- Witness statements
- Expert opinions
- Surveillance footage
- Photos
- Autopsy report
- Safety inspection report
The evidence you need varies depending on what caused the death of your loved one.
- Calculating Damages: Your Houston wrongful death lawyer will use the evidence you provide to determine who is at fault and calculate the damages resulting from the wrongful death. This process helps your lawyer determine how much compensation to demand in settlements and any litigation. Our goal is to ensure you’re compensated fairly.
- Filing the Lawsuit: Now it’s time to file the lawsuit. This step involves submitting a written document—often called a complaint or petition—outlining the details of your dispute and demanding compensation. You don’t have to worry about what to include in the document or where to send it. Your attorney will take care of everything for you.
- Negotiation and Settlement: After filing the lawsuit, your attorney will engage in a series of negotiations to secure compensation on your behalf. Other parties who might be involved in this process include other legal counsel and insurance providers. Your lawyer will try to reach a fair settlement to avoid lengthy litigation.
- Litigation: If a settlement can’t be reached, your Houston wrongful death lawyer will pursue litigation, which involves court proceedings. Your attorney will present the evidence, argue for your case, and seek maximum compensation.
How a Wrongful Death Attorney Can Help
Filing a wrongful death lawsuit is complicated, especially if you don’t have legal expertise on your side. There’s evidence to gather, deadlines to meet, and negligence to prove. Unless you have a solid understanding of the legal landscape surrounding wrongful death cases, you’re bound to run into roadblocks.
Thankfully, Steinger, Greene & Feiner has the skills and resources required to get the job done the right way. Our team of Houston wrongful death lawyers will support you from the initial consultation to litigation, ensuring justice is achieved, and rightful compensation is awarded. You don’t have to worry about a thing because we’ll handle it all for you.
Damages Available in a Wrongful Death Lawsuit
There are two types of damages you can recover in a wrongful death case: economic and non-economic. Here’s a breakdown of each type, along with common examples.
Economic Damages
Economic damages compensate for the financial losses incurred as a direct result of the wrongful death. These may include:
- Medical expenses
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Loss of future earnings
- Loss of benefits
- Property damage
- Loss of inheritance
- Loss of support
- Loss of Household Services
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are more subjective and are intended to compensate for the emotional and intangible losses experienced by surviving family members. They may include:
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of companionship
- Emotional distress
- Mental anguish
- Grief and bereavement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Let Us Fight for You Every Step of the Way
When you need a wrongful death lawyer in Houston, Steinger, Greene & Feiner is the name you can trust. We’ll hold the person responsible for your loved one’s death accountable for their actions so you can have some peace of mind. We’ll also secure maximum financial compensation on your behalf so you don’t have to pay any expenses out of pocket. Contact our team today to start the process.