Wrongful Death
If someone's negligence caused the loss of your loved one, we can file a wrongful death lawsuit on your behalf.
No amount of money can make up for the loss of your loved one, but financial compensation can help you cope with your loss.
Reed & Terry, LLP's wrongful death lawyers have earned widespread recognition for their work. Let us help you achieve justice.
Book a Free Consultation Now With Our Attorneys
Both of our wrongful death attorneys, Jackson R. Reed and Travis B. Terry, are fellows of the Texas Bar Foundation. This distinction is considered one of the highest honors a Texas attorney can achieve. Every year, just one-third of 1% of all Texas attorneys are invited to become fellows. We believe your case deserves the advocacy of leading attorneys.
Dealing with a wrongful death claim can add stress and pain on top of the emotional suffering that follows a loved one's passing. Our compassionate attorneys are here to handle your wrongful death claim for you and maximize the compensation you receive. Call or write to us today to request your free consultation. If you are unable to make it to our Katy location, we are happy to come to you.
(281) 491-5008
Katy Can Depend on Us
Lexus Sparks
2022
Reed and the team is great. I didn’t have to worry about anything they made it super easy for me.
View on GoogleSteve Rivera
2022
Glad that I chose Reed and Terry for my case. They are very professional and constantly updating me on my case despite the delays due to COVID. They genuinely care and try to give you the best outcome.
View on GoogleWhat Is a Wrongful Death Lawsuit?
A wrongful death lawsuit is the type of lawsuit that is filed when someone's death was caused by another party's negligence. In Texas, wrongful death claims can be filed for the death of a person of any age, including unborn children. The bereaved have two years from the date of their loved one's death to file a claim.
Wrongful death is an area of personal injury law. In other words, this is a civil case, not a criminal case. The responsible party may not be subject to jail time or other criminal punishment as a result of their negligent actions, but with an attorney's help, they can be held liable for your tangible losses (like medical bills and funeral expenses) and intangible losses (like emotional pain and suffering).
Causes of Wrongful Death
Deadly car accidents are tragically common. In 2020, there were nearly 4,000 motor vehicle traffic fatalities in Texas. A clear example of a fatal car accident that would warrant a wrongful death claim is a car accident caused by a driver who lost control of their vehicle.
Medical malpractice in Texas is governed by the state's medical liability laws. Medical malpractice occurs when a healthcare provider does not meet the standard of care. Examples include surgical errors, misdiagnosing a medical condition and dangerous administration of medication.
Many people who live in Katy travel to Houston every day for work. Houston is home to one-third of manufacturers statewide and nearly 40% of all publicly traded oil and gas companies in America. If a third party (such as an equipment manufacturer) is responsible for your loss, it could justify a wrongful death claim rather than workers' compensation.
Defective products like faulty medical devices, auto parts, prescription drugs and home appliances can cause severe injury and death. Design, manufacturing and marketing defects can be considered a form of negligence. It can be difficult to identify exactly who is at fault in these cases, but our attorneys can identify the responsible party and prove liability.
Some people may not know that homicide can be prosecuted civilly. Civil lawsuits require a lower level of proof than criminal lawsuits. In some cases, victims' families have received significant verdicts and settlements in wrongful death claims for homicides in which the defendant was not found guilty in criminal court.
Why Katy Relies on Reed & Terry
Credentials & Honors
Our attorneys have earned many honors in addition to being Texas Bar Foundation Fellows. They have earned national recognition for their advocacy on behalf of clients in Katy and beyond. Mr. Terry is board-certified in personal injury trial law. He and Mr. Reed have handled thousands of cases.
Witness Network
Proving wrongful death and earning maximum compensation often requires the use of expert witnesses. We have built an extensive network of experts that we call upon since founding our law firm in 1994. We know who to reach out to and how they can help us pursue justice on your behalf.
Community Care
It is important to know that your attorneys truly care about you. We treat our clients with respect and have repeatedly demonstrated our dedication to the communities of Katy and Greater Houston. For example, we offer free legal assistance and provide free legal advice to those in need through Fort Bend Lawyers Care.
Hablamos Español
We are a bilingual law firm that strives to serve all who need our legal help. This is especially helpful here in Katy, where nearly a quarter of the population speaks Spanish. Being able to communicate in Spanish allows us to build a strong relationship of trust with those who are suffering from a loved one's wrongful death.
"Los recomiendo."
carmen belen guarata alfaro
2022
Los recomiendo, son excelentes asesores l el grupo de Abogados, están preparados y conocen la materia y solucionaron mi caso en tiempo récord,, su personal muy profesional, amable y dispuesto ayudar.
View on GoogleFrank Villalobos jr
2021
Very good customer service and Mr Reed is very helpful and his employees as well. It was a pleasure of them helping me with my case thank you very much.
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You Can Afford
Our Law Firm's Services
Family members who have suffered a loss due to wrongful death are often forced to deal with many financial issues. These can include medical bills and the loss of a partner's income. That's why our wrongful death attorneys work on a contingency basis. That means you do not have to pay us anything unless and until we win your case. Call (281) 491-5008 or write to our law firm today and request your free consultation.
Exemplary Damages
Exemplary damages (similar to what are called "punitive damages" elsewhere in the United States) are the other form of compensation you and your family may be entitled to. These are much more rarely awarded than compensatory damages, because the death must be shown to have been caused by extremely clear fraud, maliciousness or gross negligence. They are intended to set an example and punish extraordinary misconduct. As your attorneys, you can expect that we will pursue every possible form of compensation on behalf of your family. That includes exemplary damages (punitive damages).
Money Isn't the Only Measure
of Your Loss
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Some people feel that the pain of pursuing a wrongful death lawsuit is not worth the potential financial recovery. This line of thinking is especially prominent among people whose deceased loved one was unemployed. Fortunately, the law recognizes that someone's value to your life reaches well beyond money. For example, a stay-at-home husband or wife adds great value to a family in terms of companionship and guidance. The courts recognize that survivors deserve to be compensated for these intangible losses.
We Have a Track Record of Substantial Verdicts and Settlements
Our attorneys have a long history of collecting major verdicts and settlements for our Katy clients in both personal injury and wrongful death cases. Collectively, our wrongful death lawyers have handled thousands of cases.
Many of their largest financial recoveries are part of confidential settlements. Below are just a few of the victories they can publicize:
Bus rollover caused passenger's death
Estranged parent recovers for their adult child's passing
A worker sustained a severe on-the-job injury
"Determination and drive." Why Katy Chooses Our Law Firm
Traci Garcia
2021
This office is amazing! The staff is very friendly and thorough. I really feel I received everything I could ask for and more. The determination and drive truly shows they offer the highest professional advice.
View on GoogleMarcus Martinez
2021
Staff was very professional. Marta made sure everything was submitted and made everything easy for me. Even during Covid they got everything done as quickly as possible.
View on GoogleWho Can File and When are the Deadlines?
Generally speaking, wrongful death lawsuits in Texas can only be filed by the deceased individual's spouse, parents, children or estate representative. The deceased's family members can have the wrongful death lawsuit filed on behalf of all of them.
If none of the family members begin pursuing a wrongful death case within three months after their loved one's passing, the executor or administrator of the deceased's estate can move forward with the wrongful death case on their own unless specifically asked not to by the family.
Wrongful death lawsuits are also subject to a statute of limitations. If your lawsuit is not filed within two years of your loved one's death, you will very likely lose the right to any compensation whatsoever. There are some rare exceptions to these laws that our wrongful death attorneys can look into if necessary.
We Are Here for You
Pursuing a wrongful death case can be incredibly complicated without a team of knowledgeable wrongful death attorneys on your side. Following your loved one's tragic passing, you should be able to grieve and work on rebuilding your life instead of dealing with complex legal obstacles.
Our lawyers have successfully handled many kinds of wrongful death cases and are ready to do the same for you. We offer free initial consultations and are willing to come to you if you can't make it to our Katy, Richmond or Sugar Land offices.
(281) 491-5008
The Attorneys Katy Trusts
Luke Prentiss
2021
Reed and Terry were extremely professional and kept us informed and educated during our entire case so we always knew what to expect next and a time frame for every step. I felt like a valued client instead of just a number. I highly recommend to anyone who wants to be treated with dignity and respect throughout the process of a legal case. We received more from our settlement than we thought possible. I am so thankful we turned to them for help. Excellent.
View on GoogleCleveland Baker
2020
I take great pleasure in expressing my appreciation for there outstanding performance while assigned as my attorney. Though busy with the administration of other clients. They took time out to reach out to me by email or by phone to keep me updated on my situation. Jackson R. Reed perform his assigned duties work on my case in a truly efficient reliable and professional manner. By using this company they save me $7,000.00 Mr. Reed on his own initiative, and became of his profound concern for other, he has made himself available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week to assist me with my case.
View on GoogleWhy You Need an Attorney
The desire to avoid confronting a traumatic situation is natural. It can be tempting to want to put the incident that caused your loved one's passing behind you as soon as possible. However, deciding not to pursue a wrongful death lawsuit when you have the right could allow whoever caused the death to walk away from the situation unscathed, and can make you and your family lose out on the money you need and deserve to help you cope with your loss.
Our law firm is here to protect your rights. We work to ensure you receive the absolute maximum compensation for your loved one's wrongful death. After all, if you collect nothing, neither do we. Meanwhile, you can be absolutely certain that the responsible party will have legal representation working diligently to minimize your claim or completely absolve their client of legal responsibility. After handling thousands of cases, we understand how to create a compelling fact-based case to achieve the justice you deserve.
Allow Our Law Firm
to Help You
Our free consultations mean there is no risk in talking to us. Our attorneys can provide an honest assessment of your case and determine if you have grounds for a wrongful death suit. To receive the compassionate legal advocacy you deserve, you don't need to look any further than our Katy law firm. You can request your free consultation now by phone at (281) 491-5008, or by sending us a message.
We Won't Hesitate to Go to Trial Our Personal Injury Attorneys Are Ready to Go the Distance
In our decades of handling wrongful death lawsuits, we know the difference between a lowball settlement offer and something worth accepting. Although it would be ideal to achieve an acceptable settlement offer as soon as possible, Reed & Terry will not hesitate to take your case to trial if this cannot be achieved.
The fact that Mr. Terry is board-certified in personal injury trial law can be a great benefit to your case. One of the requirements for this certification is qualified, vetted references from both judges and lawyers.
Our attorneys have won many significant cases and are not happy until they have maximized compensation for their clients. We only get paid if we win your case, so you can rest assured knowing that our lawyers will work as hard as they can to get you the greatest amount of compensation possible, even if that means investing resources in a trial.
You Can Help Win
Your Own Case
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Hard proof is an invaluable tool that can help our attorneys build a winning case. If you happen to have any evidence that you believe may help, you should digitize it and back it up. This is as simple as taking a picture of paperwork, emailing it to yourself and forwarding it to our attorneys. Medical bills, pictures of an accident site and images of damage caused by defective products can all be used to strengthen your case.
Dealing With Insurance Companies
Insurance companies may reach out and offer you quick money to try and convince you not to pursue a wrongful death claim. They may also reach out and simply ask questions related to your loss. We can't overstate the importance of speaking to a lawyer before accepting any settlement offers, and declining to discuss your case with anyone but your own attorney.
Insurance companies are not on your side. Their job is to minimize your claim and protect their bottom line. If that means convincing you to accept far less than your claim is worth, or twisting your words to escape responsibility for your loss, they will. Don't let a corporation's profits prevail over justice for your lost loved one.
If you don't have a wrongful death lawyer yet, and an aggressive insurance company representative contacts you:
- Do not give them any personal details other than contact information.
- Do not speak about the incident that caused the wrongful death.
- Don't accept any settlement offer.
- Take note of what they say to you.
What Is Negligence?
Negligence means acting in a way that creates an unreasonable risk of harm. An example is the owner of a property failing to maintain their property, creating dangerous conditions that could injure others.
Generally speaking, attorneys have to prove that the negligent individual had a duty to act responsibly, but neglected that duty, which resulted in the wrongful death. Mr. Reed and Mr. Terry have handled many wrongful death and other personal injury cases since 1994. Acting as personal injury attorneys and wrongful death attorneys on behalf of many victims, they have demonstrated time and again that they know how to build a case that can either result in a maximum settlement or convince a jury of the defendant's negligence.
What About Out-of-State Wrongful Deaths?
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There are some instances in which the wrongful death of a Texan that was caused out-of-state or even in a foreign country can be pursued in Texas courts. A wrongful death lawyer with our firm can explore and explain your wrongful death claim options if your loved one died due to an accident that occurred outside of Texas.
Happy Clients Recommend Our Personal Injury Attorneys
Jeni Clark
2019
Splendid service. Reed and Terry, along with the staff, were very easy and pleasant to work with. They handled my case with so much poise and kept me informed every step of the way, while explaining everything thoroughly. I most definitely recommend their services.
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Qi P.
June 2022
Mr. Reed is such a wonderful attorney. He generously gave me advice and instructions on how to handle my total loss case on my own. He is so kind, genuine and dependable. I highly recommend him!
View On GoogleFinding Our Katy Office
The address for our Katy office is 702 South Mason Rd, Katy, TX 77450. We are open in-person Monday-Friday from 8:00am - 6:00pm and open virtually 24/7. You can easily get to us from both I-10 and Texas Highway 99. We are just 1.4 miles from James E. Taylor High School and less than 5 miles from the Texas Children's Hospital West Campus.
Since our founding in 1994, we have opened a total of three locations. In addition to our Katy office, our personal injury attorneys have offices in Sugar Land and Richmond. Our personal injury attorneys are also willing to meet you at the location of your choice to discuss your wrongful death case.
