Murphy Wrongful Death Lawyer

When someone you love suffers an untimely death, you may have seemingly endless questions. You may wonder how it could have happened, and if there was some way the death might have been prevented. Most of all, you may wonder what you are supposed to do next if you discover a death could have been prevented if only someone had lived up to their responsibilities.

It can be helpful to consult a Murphy wrongful death lawyer for help investigating such a situation. An experienced and compassionate personal injury attorney could provide answers to your questions and inform you of your options for obtaining compensation after a family member’s death. En Español.

Situations That Might Serve as Grounds for a Wrongful Death Lawsuit

Automobile accidents, medical mistakes, maltreatment in a nursing home, and many other causes can provide grounds for a wrongful death claim. Essentially, any time the negligence or deliberate wrongdoing of another directly results in someone’s death, or in an injury that leads to death, the potential exists for a wrongful death lawsuit.

Such legal action may provide compensation for the loss of support and services from the deceased family member. Of course, no amount of money can truly compensate for the loss of a loved one, but a damage award from a wrongful death claim could minimize the financial impact of the loss, and it shifts the burden somewhat away from the family suffering harm onto the party responsible for causing that harm.

A key factor in determining whether a situation may provide grounds for legal recovery rests on the question of whether a death could have been prevented. In many instances, a thorough investigation is necessary to determine the answer, which is just one of many aspects of these cases that a qualified Murphy wrongful death lawyer could help with.

Wrongful Death Laws Applicable to Murphy

Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code §71.002 established that an action may be brought for an injury that causes death if the “wrongful act, neglect, carelessness, unskillfulness, or default” of another person—or that person’s agent or servant—directly caused the injury. A claim may only be brought if the deceased individual would have had a valid claim for personal injury compensation if the injury had not resulted in death.

The definitions applicable to this statute include corporations and other business entities under the definition of a “person.” In other words, if an authorized agent of a company commits an act that leads to liability for wrongful death, the company may also be held liable in addition to that individual person.

Compensation received as a result of a wrongful death lawsuit is intended for the benefit of the deceased person’s spouse, children and parents, and the statute allows any one of these parties to file a lawsuit on behalf of all of them. In most cases, either one of the aforementioned parties or Murphy wrongful death attorneys representing them must file a claim within two years of the death in order to successfully pursue compensation.

Work with a Murphy Wrongful Death Attorney

Although the statute of limitations for Murphy wrongful death suits allows families two years to file a claim, it is generally advisable to talk to an attorney sooner rather than later. Although it may be emotionally strenuous, the evidence needed to support a claim is best obtained as close as possible to the incident causing death, so it is more readily accessible and more easily preserved.

To learn how a Murphy wrongful death lawyer could assist with your case, call our firm today. With our help, you and your family may be able to obtain compensation as well as some semblance of justice for your loved one’s unnecessary passing.