Paris, Texas Wrongful Death Lawyers

Finding out that a loved one has died in a sudden and unexpected accident is a traumatizing experience that no one should have to go through. Texas law recognizes how unfair situations like these can be, and so, certain surviving family members can submit a claim to recover compensation for damages if someone else was at fault. For help filing a wrongful death claim, contact a Paris, TX wrongful death attorney today.

At Burress Injury Law, we are here to provide grieving families with steadfast advocacy in wrongful death claims. When you work with our firm, we will take on the burden of investigating your claim and handling the paperwork to help you seek payment for your loss. We have earned over $500 million from past verdicts and settlements, so you can trust that your claim will be in good hands from the start.

Firm History

No case tests a law firm's commitment and compassion quite like representing a family after the sudden loss of someone they love. Burress Injury Law has taken on that responsibility for Texas families since 2008, growing into a statewide practice with multiple offices that now serves clients in Paris and throughout North Texas. Wrongful death claims, alongside catastrophic injury and complex personal injury litigation, have remained a cornerstone of our practice, shaping how our attorneys approach every case involving a family's loss.

Grief does not pause for paperwork, insurance calls, or legal deadlines, yet families pursuing a wrongful death claim are often forced to manage all three at once during an already overwhelming time. Our attorneys take on that burden so families can focus on healing, conducting a thorough investigation into the circumstances of the death and pursuing every dollar of compensation a family is owed. We remain prepared to take a claim to trial whenever an insurer or corporate defendant refuses to accept fair responsibility for the loss they have caused.

What Is a Wrongful Death Claim?

A wrongful death lets certain surviving family members seek payment when a loved one dies due to a third party's negligence, recklessness, or intentional misconduct. Texas law permits a spouse, children, and parents of the deceased to bring this type of claim, either individually or together, within a specific window following the death, and the law establishes a clear order of priority among these family members.

These claims can address a range of losses, including the financial support the deceased would have provided, the value of lost companionship and guidance, and funeral and burial expenses already incurred by the family. Unlike a personal injury claim, which belongs to the injured person, a wrongful death claim belongs to the surviving family members named under Texas law, making it distinct from any separate survival action pursued by the deceased's estate on behalf of losses the deceased suffered before passing.

Investigating Fatal Car Accident Claims in Paris, TX

Fatal car wrecks remain one of the most common sources of wrongful death claims our firm handles throughout Lamar County and the surrounding area. Speeding, distracted driving, failure to yield, and impaired driving all contribute to collisions severe enough to take a life, often on rural highways where speeds are higher and emergency response times can be longer than in more densely populated parts of the state.

Investigating a fatal wreck requires urgency, since much of the evidence needed to establish fault can disappear within days of the collision. Delays in preserving this evidence can weaken an otherwise strong claim considerably. Our firm works to secure the police report, physical evidence from the scene, and witness statements before memories fade, and we review toxicology results whenever impairment is suspected as a contributing factor. When alcohol played a role, we also consider whether a dram shop claim against an establishment that over-served the driver may provide an additional source of compensation for the family left behind.

Wrongful Death Cases Involving Premises Liability

A death caused by a hazardous condition on someone else's property can support a wrongful death claim against the property owner responsible for maintaining safe conditions. Inadequate security, unaddressed structural hazards, poorly maintained walkways, and other dangerous conditions can all lead to a fatal injury when a property owner fails to meet their legal obligations to visitors. We also investigate fatal amusement park accidents and swimming pool drownings caused by a property owner's negligence.

Successfully pursuing this type of claim generally requires establishing that the property owner knew or should have known about the hazard and failed to correct it or provide adequate warning within a reasonable amount of time.

Our firm gathers maintenance records, prior incident reports, and any available surveillance footage to build a clear picture of how long a hazardous condition existed before it caused a fatal injury, and whether the property owner had any prior notice of the danger. This documentation often becomes central to establishing liability when a property owner disputes responsibility for the death.

Deaths Caused by Defective Products

A death caused by a defective product can arise from a design flaw affecting an entire product line, a manufacturing error limited to a specific batch, or a failure to warn consumers about a known danger associated with normal use. Texas law often permits strict liability in these cases, meaning a family does not always need to demonstrate the manufacturer was negligent. Instead, they only must show that the product was defective and that the defect caused the death.

Because product liability claims frequently involve large, well-resourced corporations with substantial legal teams, building a persuasive case often requires input from engineers or safety experts who can explain precisely how and why a product failed. Our firm traces responsibility through the full chain of distribution, from the original manufacturer to the retailer that ultimately sold the defective product to the deceased, reviewing prior complaints and recall history whenever available.

Representation in Survival Action Claims in Texas

A survival action allows the deceased's estate to recover payment for damages the deceased experienced between the initial injury and the moment of death. These losses can include pain, medical expenses, and lost income during that period leading up to their passing. Unlike a wrongful death claim, which belongs to surviving family members, a survival action falls to the deceased person's estate and is typically pursued by the estate's appointed representative on behalf of all interested parties.

Families often pursue a survival action alongside a wrongful death claim, since the two address distinctly different categories of loss and can be brought together as part of the same overall case. Our attorneys can review the circumstances surrounding a death carefully to determine whether a survival action applies and how it may add to the total compensation available to a grieving family, ensuring no available claim is left unpursued.

Frequently Asked Questions About Paris, TX Wrongful Death Claims

Successful Case Results in Wrongful Death Claims and More

Burress Injury Law has maintained a case win rate above 99.9 percent and earned more than 900 five-star reviews from clients and families who have placed their trust in our firm during some of the most difficult moments of their lives. Among our notable case results is a gross settlement of $1,010,000 secured for a family whose loved one died in a motorcycle wreck caused by a careless driver.

Reaching that outcome required a detailed investigation into the driver's conduct leading up to the collision, along with careful documentation of the financial and emotional impact the loss had on the surviving family.

Insurance companies often attempt to minimize wrongful death claims involving motorcyclists by suggesting the rider shared blame for the wreck, and overcoming that tactic required strong evidence establishing the other driver's negligence beyond dispute. While no past result can predict future outcomes, this settlement shows the thoroughness our firm brings to every wrongful death claim.

Burress Injury Law and Community Engagement

Supporting the communities we serve remains a priority for our firm well beyond the cases we handle in court. Through the Underdog Scholarship, we award funding several times a year to students continuing their education despite financial hardship, work obligations, or other significant challenges standing in the way of their goals.

We also host a yearly charity picnic that brings together small business owners, neighbors, and local non-profit organizations for a day centered on generosity and connection, reflecting our belief that giving back should be a consistent practice rather than an occasional gesture reserved for special occasions.

Our Fee Structure in Wrongful Death Cases

Families pursuing a wrongful death claim often face funeral costs, lost household income, and financial uncertainty on top of an already devastating and life-altering loss. Burress Injury Law represents families in wrongful death cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning we only collect a fee if we secure payment through a verdict or settlement. This billing structure allows families in Paris to pursue accountability without adding legal costs to an already difficult situation, regardless of how much time and preparation the case ultimately requires.

Local Court Information for Wrongful Death Cases in Paris, Texas

While some wrongful death claims are handled through direct negotiations, others require a lawsuit when a defendant or insurer refuses to accept financial responsibility for a death. Paris is the county seat of Lamar County, and wrongful death lawsuits arising from incidents in the area are typically filed at the Lamar County Courthouse, which can be found at: