Wrongful Death

Wrongful Death Attorney in North Texas & Dallas, Texas

Losing someone you love because of another person’s negligence is devastating. You should not have to fight an insurance company while grieving. Ford Law stands beside families across North Texas — in North Texas, Dallas, Plano, McKinney, and throughout Collin and Denton Counties — to hold negligent parties accountable and secure the compensation your family needs to move forward.

Attorney Matthew Ford spent years defending insurance companies. He knows the tactics they use to minimize payouts and delay claims. Now he uses that knowledge to fight for you. When your family is facing a wrongful death claim, you need an attorney who prepares every case for trial — because insurance companies settle for more when they know you are serious.

Free Consultation — No Fee Unless We Win
Call (214) 227-9972 or Request a Free Case Review Online

What Is a Wrongful Death Claim in Texas?

A wrongful death claim arises when someone dies because of another party’s negligence, recklessness, or intentional act. Under Chapter 71 of the Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code, surviving family members have the legal right to seek compensation for the financial and emotional losses caused by their loved one’s death.

Texas wrongful death law exists to do two things: compensate families for their losses and hold negligent parties accountable. Whether your loved one died in a car crash on the Dallas North Tollway, a trucking collision on US-380, a workplace accident, or due to medical negligence at a North Texas hospital, Ford Law can help your family pursue justice.

Who Can File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Texas?

Texas law limits who may file a wrongful death claim. Only these family members have standing:

Surviving Spouse — The husband or wife of the deceased has the right to file regardless of whether there are children. Spousal claims often include loss of companionship, mental anguish, and lost household income.

Children of the Deceased — Both biological and legally adopted children may file, whether they are minors or adults. Children’s claims focus on loss of parental guidance, lost inheritance, and emotional suffering.

Parents of the Deceased — Mothers and fathers may file a wrongful death claim for the loss of their child. These claims include mental anguish and loss of companionship.

Note: Siblings, grandparents, and unmarried partners cannot file a wrongful death claim in Texas. If no eligible family member files within three months of the death, the personal representative of the estate may file on the family’s behalf.

Common Causes of Wrongful Death in Dallas-Fort Worth

Ford Law represents families across North Texas in wrongful death claims arising from:

Car Accidents — Plano, and McKinney see thousands of motor vehicle crashes each year. Distracted driving, speeding, and running red lights cause fatal collisions on US-75, the Sam Rayburn Tollway, and Highway 380.

18-Wheeler & Commercial Truck Crashes — Trucking companies carry $750,000+ in insurance, but they fight hard to avoid paying. Multiple parties may be liable: the driver, the trucking company, the cargo loader, and the vehicle manufacturer.

Medical Malpractice — Surgical errors, misdiagnosis, medication mistakes, and birth injuries at DFW hospitals can result in preventable deaths. These cases require expert medical testimony and strict compliance with Texas procedural deadlines.

Workplace Accidents — Construction site falls, industrial equipment failures, and oil field explosions across North Texas result in worker fatalities. When employer negligence causes a death, the family may have claims beyond workers’ compensation.

Premises Liability — Negligent security at apartment complexes, shopping centers, and parking garages. Dangerous property conditions including unrepaired hazards, inadequate lighting, and swimming pool negligence.

Drunk Driving Deaths — When an intoxicated driver kills your loved one, Texas law allows you to pursue punitive damages with no cap — a powerful tool for holding reckless drivers accountable.

Product Defects — Defective vehicles, faulty medical devices, dangerous consumer products, and recalled items that cause death. Manufacturers, distributors, and retailers may all be held liable.

What Compensation Can Your Family Recover?

Texas places no cap on economic damages in wrongful death cases (outside of medical malpractice). Your family may be entitled to:

Economic Damages (No Cap)
Lost wages and future earning capacity of the deceased. Funeral and burial expenses. Medical bills incurred before death. Loss of benefits (health insurance, retirement, pension). Loss of inheritance and financial support.

Non-Economic Damages
Mental anguish and emotional suffering of surviving family members. Loss of companionship and consortium (spousal claims). Loss of parental guidance and nurturing (children’s claims). Loss of love, comfort, and society.

Punitive (Exemplary) Damages
Available when the death resulted from gross negligence, fraud, or malice. In drunk driving death cases, punitive damage caps are waived entirely — Texas juries can award any amount they believe is appropriate to punish the defendant.

Wrongful Death vs. Survival Action — What Is the Difference?

These are two separate legal claims that families often file together to maximize recovery:

Wrongful death claim: Compensates the surviving family members for their own losses — lost income, lost companionship, mental anguish, and funeral costs.

Survival action: Compensates the deceased person’s estate for the pain, suffering, and medical expenses the person endured before dying. This includes conscious pain and suffering, disfigurement, and any medical costs incurred between the injury and death.

Filing both claims can significantly increase your family’s total recovery. Ford Law evaluates every wrongful death case for both types of claims.

The Texas Wrongful Death Statute of Limitations — Do Not Wait

You have two years from the date of death to file a wrongful death lawsuit in Texas. If you miss this deadline, you lose your right to compensation — no matter how strong your case is. Evidence disappears, witnesses forget details, and surveillance footage gets erased. The sooner you contact an attorney, the stronger your case will be.

Texas also has a 10-year statute of repose — the outer limit after which no claim can be filed regardless of when the injury or death was discovered.

How a Wrongful Death Lawsuit Works in Texas

Step 1: Free Case Evaluation — We review the facts of your case, identify liable parties, and explain your legal options at no cost.

Step 2: Investigation & Evidence Gathering — We collect police reports, medical records, witness statements, expert opinions, and any available video or electronic evidence. In trucking cases, we move quickly to preserve black box data and driver logs before they are destroyed.

Step 3: Demand & Negotiation — We build a comprehensive demand package documenting every dollar of economic and non-economic loss, then negotiate aggressively with the insurance company.

Step 4: Litigation & Trial — If the insurance company refuses to offer fair compensation, we file suit and prepare for trial. Many cases settle during the litigation phase once the defendant sees how prepared we are. But if trial is necessary, we are ready.

Why Families in North Texas and Dallas Choose Ford Law

Insurance Industry Experience — Matthew Ford previously defended one of the world’s largest insurance companies. He knows how adjusters evaluate claims, what triggers lowball offers, and exactly how to counter their tactics.

Trial-Ready From Day One — We prepare every wrongful death case as if it is going to trial. Insurance companies pay more when they know the attorney across the table will actually take the case to a jury.

Direct Attorney Access — When you hire Ford Law, you work directly with attorney Matthew Ford. Not a paralegal. Not a case manager. Your attorney.

No Fee Unless We Win — We handle every wrongful death case on a contingency fee basis. Your family pays nothing upfront and nothing out of pocket. We only get paid if we recover compensation for you.

Local Presence — Based in North Texas, we serve families throughout Collin County, Denton County, and the entire Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. We know the local courts, judges, and opposing counsel.

Frequently Asked Questions About Texas Wrongful Death Claims

What is the statute of limitations for a wrongful death claim in Texas?

Two years from the date of death. Missing this deadline eliminates your right to file. Contact a wrongful death attorney as soon as possible to protect your family’s claim.

Who has the right to file a wrongful death lawsuit?

Only the surviving spouse, children (biological or adopted), and parents. Siblings and other relatives cannot file under Texas law. If no eligible family member files within three months, the estate representative may file.

What types of compensation are available?

Economic damages (lost wages, funeral costs, medical bills, lost inheritance), non-economic damages (mental anguish, loss of companionship), and punitive damages in cases involving gross negligence or drunk driving.

Can I recover if the deceased was partially at fault?

Yes. Texas uses a modified comparative fault rule. Your family can recover damages as long as the deceased was less than 51% responsible. The recovery amount is reduced by the deceased’s percentage of fault.

How long does a wrongful death case take?

Simple cases with clear liability may settle within 6 to 12 months. Complex cases involving trucking companies, medical providers, or multiple defendants can take 1 to 3 years. We work to resolve your case as quickly as possible without sacrificing fair compensation.

What is a survival action?

A survival action compensates the deceased’s estate for the pain, suffering, and medical expenses experienced before death. It is separate from — and filed alongside — the wrongful death claim to maximize the family’s total recovery.

Are punitive damages available in drunk driving death cases?

Yes, and with no cap. Texas waives punitive damage limits when the death results from intoxication. This means juries can award any amount they believe is appropriate to punish the drunk driver.

Do I have to pay anything upfront?

No. Ford Law works on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing unless we win your case. All costs — investigation, expert witnesses, filing fees — are covered by our firm while the case is active.

Your Family Deserves Justice — Call Ford Law Today

Every day you wait, evidence fades and deadlines approach. Contact Ford Law now for a free, confidential consultation about your wrongful death case. We serve families in North Texas, Dallas, Plano, McKinney, Allen, Prosper, The Colony, and throughout North Texas.

No Fee Unless We Win — Available 24/7
Call (214) 227-9972