Wrongful Death Attorney
Wrongful death claims can be fraught with emotion. Finding the right lawyer to help fight your battle is of the utmost importance. If you're looking for a compassionate lawyer who's equipped to handle wrongful death matters in Sherman, TX or elsewhere, the Law Office of David M. Kennedy, P.C. provides the representation you deserve.
Wrongful Death Attorney
Wrongful death claims can be fraught with emotion. Finding the right lawyer to help fight your battle is of the utmost importance. If you're looking for a compassionate lawyer who's equipped to handle wrongful death matters in Sherman, TX or elsewhere, the Law Office of David M. Kennedy, P.C. provides the representation you deserve.
Wrongful Death Law
As a sub-part of Personal Injury litigation is what is recognized as Wrongful Death and Survivorship claims. The prosecution of these claims call for a unique understanding of the statutes and tort laws that apply. The Law Office of David M. Kennedy has a long history of success in representing clients with these rights. Please visit our Litigation History page to judge for yourself.
Financial Compensation
Under the common law, a person’s personal injury claim extinguished when they died. Under the Survival Statute in Texas, an heir or estate representative may either continue that deceased person’s claim or pursue a new one on behalf of the one who has died. In other words, the personal injury claim survives the person’s death. To pursue those claims it may be necessary to probate an estate to establish legal representation rights, in addition to the filing of the survivorship personal injury case. Recoverable damages are typically that pain and anguish experienced by the decedent as a result of the injuries suffered prior to death, as well as those expenses incurred for treatment of those injuries, e.g. medical and healthcare related. The jury is asked to compensate the estate as if the decedent were still alive.
Ordinary Damages
In addition to the survivorship claims, the jury may be asked to consider damages for the wrongful death of the injured person. In other words, not only would the jury hear evidence of the person’s injuries and how he/she suffered prior to death, but how that death was caused by the defendant’s neglect or intentional act and how it has now injured the person’s surviving family who now seek recovery for their unique and individual damages. It may also be that in those cases where there is no evidence of the decedent’s last pain and anguish – such as when the victim is rendered unconscious or death is instantaneous – then a surviving spouse, child, and/or parent can pursue a wrongful death claim only and the jury will not consider the survivorship claims. In these cases, the family can possibly recover for their mental anguish, loss of what the decedent would have contributed financially, consortium, counsel and advice. The focus is on the damages suffered by the family, not the decedent. Funeral expenses are also a possibility for recovery.
Learn More
-
- Wrongful Death Claims: Seeking Justice for Your Loved Ones
- We Should Not Be Surprised To Hear Of Fraud In Covering Up Nursing Home Deaths
- Exploring the Spectrum: Common Types of Medical Malpractice Cases
- Is Your Doctor Being Paid To Turn You Into An Addict?
- Mothers Fight For Justice Against Truck Dangers
- Killer Trucks Without Drivers. Really?
- U.S. Traffic Deaths Rising
Practice Areas
Contact Us
Call Us 903-819-0720
Law Office of David M. Kennedy, P.C.
320 N. Travis St., Suite 207
Sherman, TX 75090
Email: Click Here
Wrongful Death Law
As a sub-part of Personal Injury litigation is what is recognized as Wrongful Death and Survivorship claims. The prosecution of these claims call for a unique understanding of the statutes and tort laws that apply. The Law Office of David M. Kennedy has a long history of success in representing clients with these rights. Please visit our Litigation History page to judge for yourself.
Financial Compensation
Under the common law, a person’s personal injury claim extinguished when they died. Under the Survival Statute in Texas, an heir or estate representative may either continue that deceased person’s claim or pursue a new one on behalf of the one who has died. In other words, the personal injury claim survives the person’s death. To pursue those claims it may be necessary to probate an estate to establish legal representation rights, in addition to the filing of the survivorship personal injury case. Recoverable damages are typically that pain and anguish experienced by the decedent as a result of the injuries suffered prior to death, as well as those expenses incurred for treatment of those injuries, e.g. medical and healthcare related. The jury is asked to compensate the estate as if the decedent were still alive.
Ordinary Damages
In addition to the survivorship claims, the jury may be asked to consider damages for the wrongful death of the injured person. In other words, not only would the jury hear evidence of the person’s injuries and how he/she suffered prior to death, but how that death was caused by the defendant’s neglect or intentional act and how it has now injured the person’s surviving family who now seek recovery for their unique and individual damages. It may also be that in those cases where there is no evidence of the decedent’s last pain and anguish – such as when the victim is rendered unconscious or death is instantaneous – then a surviving spouse, child, and/or parent can pursue a wrongful death claim only and the jury will not consider the survivorship claims. In these cases, the family can possibly recover for their mental anguish, loss of what the decedent would have contributed financially, consortium, counsel and advice. The focus is on the damages suffered by the family, not the decedent. Funeral expenses are also a possibility for recovery.
Learn More
- Wrongful Death Claims: Seeking Justice for Your Loved Ones
- We Should Not Be Surprised To Hear Of Fraud In Covering Up Nursing Home Deaths
- Exploring the Spectrum: Common Types of Medical Malpractice Cases
- Is Your Doctor Being Paid To Turn You Into An Addict?
- Mothers Fight For Justice Against Truck Dangers
- Killer Trucks Without Drivers. Really?
- U.S. Traffic Deaths Rising
Practice Areas
Contact Us
Call Us 903-819-0720
Law Office of David M. Kennedy, P.C.
320 N. Travis St., Suite 207
Sherman, TX 75090
Email: Click Here
Punitive Damages
Under both the Survivorship and Wrongful Death causes of action, exemplary (punitive) damages are recoverable upon specific findings that the actions of the defendant were aggravated or met the heightened standard set forth by statute, but more than mere negligence or inadvertence. Additionally, there will almost always be some sort of ‘cap’ placed by the legislature on the damages a victim’s family may recover, and that will vary from case to case.
On the Litigation History page you will see that the majority of those cases involved a death, and as such, were prosecuted by the Firm as Wrongful Death cases and often a Survivorship claim as well. The Firm is able to distinguish the claims for analysis and evaluation, and you can count on the Firm to be prepared to advise you on how to proceed.