When a family loses a loved one due to another party's negligence in New Braunfels, Texas, they may be entitled to pursue economic damages through a wrongful death claim. Economic damages encompass the quantifiable financial losses that surviving family members experience following their loved one's death. These can include lost wages and benefits the deceased would have earned throughout their expected career, medical expenses incurred before death, funeral and burial costs, and the loss of household services the deceased provided. Unlike non-economic damages such as pain and suffering, economic damages can be calculated using concrete evidence like pay stubs, tax returns, and expert testimony from economists who can project future earnings. The process of determining economic damages requires careful documentation and often involves complex calculations that consider factors such as the deceased's age, health, career trajectory, and life expectancy at the time of death.

Legal Rights and Considerations

Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 71, surviving spouses, children, and parents have the legal right to pursue wrongful death claims in New Braunfels. Claims must be filed within two years of the death, though exceptions may apply in specific circumstances. Texas follows modified comparative fault rules, meaning recovery may be reduced if the deceased was partially at fault, and no recovery is possible if they were more than 50% responsible. Insurance considerations typically involve the at-fault party's liability coverage, though uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage may apply in vehicle-related deaths. Recoverable damages can include both actual economic losses and projected future losses, provided they can be proven with reasonable certainty through documented evidence and expert testimony. An experienced New Braunfels wrongful death lawyer will handle all aspects of the legal claim.

A fatal accident can happen in a number of ways. Click the links below to get information about how a personal injury attorney can help the families left behind, including:

• New Braunfels car collision attorney;
• New Braunfels drunk driving accident lawyer;
• New Braunfels distracted driving accident law firm;
• New Braunfels hit-and-run accident lawyer;
• New Braunfels uninsured driver accident attorney;
• New Braunfels reckless driving accident lawyer.

Related Resources

Comal County District Court150 N. Seguin AvenueNew Braunfels, TX 78130

Texas Department of Insurance Consumer Help Line1-800-252-3439

Comal County Victim Services150 N. Seguin AvenueNew Braunfels, TX 78130

Children's Bereavement Center of South Texas402 San Pedro AvenueSan Antonio, TX 78212

Texas State Law Library - Wrongful Death Resourceswww.tsl.texas.gov/law

Texas Department of Transportation - Crash Statisticswww.txdot.gov/safety/crash-statistics.html

Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 71statutes.capitol.texas.gov

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