Dedicated Wrongful Death Attorneys in Longview, Texas

In Need of a Wrongful Death Lawyer?

At the Carlile Law Firm, LLP, our Longview wrongful death lawyers know how devastating it is to lose a loved one to negligence in Texas. These cases strike with a profound sense of injustice, knowing that their death was not due to fate or chance but could have been prevented with simple care and responsibility.

The grief is compounded by the anger and frustration of knowing that a loved one’s life was cut short because someone failed to uphold a basic duty of care. It’s not just the loss of a person but the shattering of what could have been—the moments, milestones, and memories that will never happen.

The Carlile Law Firm, LLP handles crucial wrongful death cases, large and small. We don’t focus on the size of a case but solely on helping Gregg County residents recover physically, emotionally, and financially after another person or party’s negligence has changed their lives. Contact our compassionate wrongful death attorneys in Texas today to learn how we can help you and your family with your unique case by putting our 100 years of combined experience to work for you and your family.

What Types of Wrongful Death Claims Does the Carlile Law Firm Take?

In Texas, wrongful death is defined as a death caused by the wrongful act, neglect, carelessness, unskillfulness, or default of another person or entity. The kind of loss associated with wrongful death reverberates through families and communities, leaving scars that are not just emotional but deeply rooted in the knowledge that it didn’t have to happen.

Our Longview wrongful death attorneys handle all types of cases to help ensure our clients can seek justice on behalf of those they loved and lost.

That includes those tragically taken in:

• Car Wrecks.
• Construction Incidents.
• Motorcycle Crashes.
• Oil and Gas Industry Incidents.
• Product Liability Cases.
• Rideshare Collisions.
• Truck Collisions.

If you have lost a loved one in a tragic incident caused by another person or party’s negligence, contact our dedicated wrongful death attorneys in Longview to discuss your eligibility to file a claim during a free consultation.

How Do I Know If I Have a Viable Texas Wrongful Death Claim?

A wrongful death claim in Texas hinges on several crucial elements that must be proven to establish liability and secure compensation for the surviving family members.

These elements include:

• Death of a Person: The most essential element is that a person has died. The death must be the result of an event or incident and not due to natural causes or old age.
• Negligence or Wrongful Act: The death must have been caused by another person or entity’s negligence, wrongful act, or default. This can include actions such as reckless driving, defective products, criminal acts, or any other form of negligence that leads to death.
• Causation: A direct causal link between the defendant’s actions (or inactions) and the individual’s death must exist. This means that the wrongful act or negligence must be shown to have directly caused the death, and without this act, the death would not have occurred.
• Eligible Beneficiaries: The claim must be brought by eligible beneficiaries, who, according to the Texas wrongful death statute, include the deceased person’s surviving spouse, children, and parents. If these parties do not file a claim within three months of the death, the executor or administrator of the deceased’s estate may file unless the beneficiaries request otherwise.
• Damages: The wrongful death claim must involve quantifiable damages that the surviving family members have suffered as a result of the death. These damages can include loss of financial support, loss of companionship, mental anguish, loss of inheritance, and funeral and burial expenses.
• Statute of Limitations: The wrongful death claim must be filed within the legal time frame, known as the statute of limitations. In Texas, the statute of limitations for wrongful death claims is generally two years from the date of death. Failing to file within this period can result in the claim being barred.

These elements are essential to a successful wrongful death claim in Texas. Proving each of these elements typically requires gathering substantial evidence, such as medical records, eyewitness testimonies, expert opinions, and other relevant documentation, often with the assistance of a skilled wrongful death attorney. We can help. Contact our compassionate wrongful death lawyers in Longview today to learn how we can put our over 100 years of combined experience to work for your family.

The Carlile Law Firm’s Longview Wrongful Death Attorneys Work Tirelessly to Achieve Change

In 2015, two of the Carlile Law Firm’s partners, Scott and Casey Carlile, tried the wrongful death civil case of Kari Hunt Dunn, who was fatally stabbed at the Baymont Inn in Marshall by her husband in December 2013. The couple’s then-9-year-old daughter made four attempts to dial 911 to no avail because she didn’t realize she had to dial an extra “9” to reach an outside line.

Our law firm represented Kari’s three children and Kari’s father, Henry “Hank” Hunt. The lawsuit was filed against the hotel’s owner, OM Lodging LLC, and Kari’s husband, Brad Dunn.  In 2018, a Marshall jury found the hotel’s negligence for failing to properly hire, train, and supervise hotel employees contributed to Kari’s death. A 12-person jury awarded our clients $41.55 million in damages for losses, including pain and suffering, mental anguish and emotional distress, wrongful death, and loss of companionship as a result of Kari’s death.

More importantly, because of Hunt’s efforts, states enacted Kari’s Law, named after his daughter, which President Donald Trump later signed into law. The real change is that the law now requires all businesses to enable direct-dial access to 911, so no one will have to experience Kari’s daughter’s struggle as she tried to call for help. To learn more about Kari Hunt Dunn, visit her foundation’s website.

Our Longview Personal Injury Attorneys Also Represent Clients In The Following Practice Areas:

• Auto Accident
• Truck Collision
• Construction Accident
• Rideshare Accident
• Product Liability
• Oil and Gas Industry Injury

Contact Our Longview Wrongful Death Attorneys at the Carlile Law Firm for Help Today

At the Carlile Law Firm, LLP, our dedicated wrongful death lawyers in Longview help our clients navigate the complex legal process, ensure their rights are protected, and secure the maximum compensation they deserve for their tragic loss.

Contact our experienced Gregg County wrongful death attorneys today to discuss your case with trusted Longview, Texas community members and learn how we can use our over 100 combined years of experience to help you.