Did you lose a family member in an accident in Midland, TX?
At Greenberg Streich Injury Lawyers, we represent families in wrongful death claims after a fatal crash, workplace incident, or other act of negligence.
If a family member died in Midland because of someone else’s negligence, the surviving spouse, children, and parents can bring a wrongful death claim against the person or company responsible. A Midland, TX wrongful death lawyer brings that claim and deals with the insurers on the family’s behalf.
Our founding attorneys have obtained wrongful death recoveries that include a $37.5 million verdict in Dallas County. We represent families only, never the companies responsible for the death. The consultation is free, and no attorney fee is owed unless we recover compensation.
Wrongful Death Lawyer Midland, TX
A wrongful death attorney represents the family of a person killed by negligence. The claim belongs to the family, not to the person who died. It covers what the family lost: the income the relative would have earned, the guidance the relative provided, and the loss of the relationship itself. Texas law also allows a separate claim on behalf of the estate for the relative’s own pain and medical expenses before death. We investigate how the death happened, identify every company responsible, and present both claims to the insurers involved.
Unintentional injuries killed 197,449 people in the United States in 2024, according to federal mortality data from the National Center for Health Statistics. That total made unintentional injury the third leading cause of death nationwide. Motor vehicle crashes accounted for 41,241 of those deaths and falls for 48,308.
Types of Wrongful Death Cases We Handle in Midland, TX
Our wrongful death attorneys handle fatal incidents on Midland’s roads, at the well sites around the city, and on commercial property. Different causes of death involve different defendants and different evidence.
- Car accidents. A fatal crash on Interstate 20 or Loop 250 leads to a claim against the at-fault driver’s insurer. When the driver was working at the time, the employer’s policy is part of the claim.
- Truck accidents. Oilfield trucks share the highways around Midland with passenger vehicles. A fatal truck crash brings the carrier, its insurer, and sometimes the shipper into the claim.
- Motorcycle accidents. Riders killed by drivers who failed to yield leave families facing an insurer that often argues the rider was at fault. Physical evidence of speed and lane position answers that argument.
- Oilfield accidents. A death on a well site usually involves an operator and several contractors. The family’s claim can reach every company whose negligence played a part.
- Explosion accidents. Explosions at plants, tank batteries, and compressor stations kill workers as well as bystanders. We retain a fire investigator before the scene is cleared.
- Workplace injuries. A worker killed on the job may have been employed by one company and killed by another company’s negligence. Whether the family can also sue the employer depends on the employer’s workers’ compensation status.
- Pedestrian deaths. People struck in crosswalks, parking lots, and along Midland’s arterial roads are often killed when hit at speed. The driver’s phone records and the vehicle’s data show what the driver was doing.
- Drunk driving deaths. A fatal crash caused by an impaired driver supports a civil claim separate from the criminal case. The arrest report and blood test results are evidence in the civil claim, which does not wait for the criminal case to end.
- Defective products. A death caused by a defective vehicle part, tool, or piece of equipment supports a claim against the manufacturer. Keeping the product for inspection is the first step.
Why Choose Greenberg Streich Injury Lawyers as my Wrongful Death Lawyer in Midland, TX?
Wrongful Death Verdicts and Settlements Across Texas
Our attorneys have recovered more than $348 million for injured clients and families. Their wrongful death results include the following:
- A $37.5 million Dallas County verdict for the family of a truck driver who was killed by a utility truck
- A $35 million settlement in Fort Worth after an 18-wheeler killed a young woman
- An $11 million recovery in a wrongful death case
- A $6 million recovery after a motorcyclist was killed by a negligent driver
Each of those cases was prepared for a jury, which is the preparation a Midland wrongful death attorney at our firm brings to every family’s claim.
Trial Lawyers Who Represent Families Only
Matt Greenberg was lead trial counsel in the Dallas County and Fort Worth cases above. His trial record includes county, state, and federal courts. He belongs to the American Association for Justice, an organization of attorneys who represent injured people and families.
Mike Streich focuses his practice on catastrophic injury cases. Super Lawyers has included him on its Texas Rising Stars list in nine separate years. Both attorneys represent families on a contingency fee, which means the fee comes out of the recovery and is never billed to the family. Wrongful death claims are handled alongside our injury cases as a personal injury lawyer in Midland, TX.
Understanding Wrongful Death Cases
Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Wrongful Death Cases
A wrongful death claim requires proof that the defendant’s negligence caused the death. The standard is the same one that applies to an injury claim: the defendant failed to use reasonable care, and the death resulted. Texas applies its proportionate responsibility rule to these claims as well. If the person who died was more than 50 percent at fault, the family recovers nothing, while a smaller share lowers the recovery by that percentage.
The family’s damages include the financial support the relative would have provided over a working life, which an economist usually calculates. They also include the loss of the relative’s care, counsel, and companionship. The mental anguish of the surviving spouse, children, and parents is recoverable as well. Funeral and burial expenses are recoverable too. The estate’s separate claim covers the medical expenses incurred before death and the pain the relative experienced. A jury may award exemplary damages if clear and convincing evidence shows that the death resulted from gross negligence.
What Is The Wrongful Death Case Timeline?
A wrongful death case begins with the investigation of the death. We obtain the crash report or incident report, the autopsy or inquest findings, and any police or OSHA file. Fatal incidents outside the Midland city limits are investigated by the Midland County Sheriff’s Office, and its report is among the first records we obtain. We send preservation letters to every company involved at the same time, covering vehicles, equipment, video, and company records. A Midland wrongful death lawyer also handles the probate steps the claim requires, such as the appointment of a representative for the estate.
The claim is then presented to each insurer. Insurers in fatal cases often dispute fault rather than the amount of the loss, so the evidence of how the death happened matters most. If the insurers do not pay fair value, we file suit in Midland County. Depositions, document exchanges, and mediation follow. A case that does not settle is decided by a jury. Most wrongful death cases take more than a year, and the family is kept informed at each stage.
What Should You Bring to Your Wrongful Death Consultation?
A wrongful death lawyer in Midland, TX can begin with the documents the family has received since the death. The most useful are the death certificate, the crash or incident report, any letters from an insurer, and the relative’s recent pay records. If the family has not yet received the death certificate or the report, we request them. The consultation is free, and any family member may attend. A spouse, an adult child, or a parent can start the process alone. We explain who can bring the claim, which companies appear to be responsible, and what happens next.
What Are Important Aspects of a Wrongful Death Case?
- Texas law allows the surviving spouse, children, and parents to bring a wrongful death claim. The family members usually bring it together so that one case covers all of them.
- The deadline to file is two years, and under the state limitations statute the two-year period starts on the date of death rather than on the date of the injury.
- A criminal case against the person who caused the death is separate from the civil claim, and the civil claim can proceed whether or not charges are filed.
- Insurers often make an early offer to the family before the full extent of the loss is calculated. An accepted offer closes the claim, so a Midland, TX wrongful death attorney reviews any offer before the family responds.
Reach Out to Greenberg Streich Injury Lawyers to Schedule a Consultation
A wrongful death attorney in Midland, TX will meet with your family at no cost and explain the claim. We represent families only, and our fee comes only from a recovery. Our attorneys respond to new inquiries without delay, and the first meeting can be arranged at the family’s convenience. Contact us to schedule a free consultation about a wrongful death claim in Midland, TX.
