In Corpus Christi, when a crash caused by someone else kills a family member, the spouse, children, and parents can bring a wrongful death claim under Texas law for lost support, companionship, and mental anguish. Owsley Law Firm handles Corpus Christi wrongful death from its Houston offices, comes to you, and charges no fee unless it wins. Call before you speak with any insurer.
Wrongful Death in Corpus Christi
Where do Corpus Christi fatal crashes happen?
Nueces County fatal crashes cluster on SPID, I-37, and the island causeway at night.
Nueces County fatal crashes cluster on SPID, I-37, and the JFK Causeway at night, and refinery trucks on I-37 and US-181 add commercial insurance to many of them. The firm’s Corpus Christi wrongful death cases most often begin on SPID or the causeway after midnight, and many involve alcohol. Corpus Christi Police investigates, and the family’s claim is filed at the County Courthouse.
Corridors where Corpus Christi wrongful death cluster
- SH-358 South Padre Island Drive between the Crosstown and Airline Road
- Crosstown Expressway (SH-286) at SPID
- I-37 through Refinery Row and the Harbor Bridge approach
- US-181 across the Harbor Bridge to Portland
- Ocean Drive and Shoreline Boulevard downtown
- SH-44 and Leopard Street on the west side
What to do now
What should you do after a fatal crash in Corpus Christi?
- Get examined the same day. CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital Shoreline (Level II trauma) and Corpus Christi Medical Center, Bay Area handle the serious wrongful death injuries from Corpus Christi; an urgent care visit the same day is enough to start the record if you are not transported.
- Photograph the vehicles, the road, and your injuries where it happened, especially on I-37 and SH-358 (South Padre Island Drive), where scenes are cleared within minutes.
- Get the Corpus Christi crash report. Corpus Christi Police Department reports are available through the TxDOT Crash Report Online Purchase System, usually within 10 days. The firm obtains it for clients at no charge.
- Report the crash to your own insurer, but give no recorded statement to the other driver’s carrier until you have counsel.
- Know where the case goes. Corpus Christi wrongful death suits are filed in the Nueces County Civil District Courts, Nueces County Courthouse, or Nueces County Courts at Law depending on the crash location.
- Call the firm. Corpus Christi clients are handled from Houston by phone, video, and mail, and the firm travels to Corpus Christi for meetings, depositions, and court. The consultation is free.
Go deeper
More on wrongful death claims in Corpus Christi and Texas.
Common questions
Corpus Christi wrongful death questions
Who investigates a fatal crash in Corpus Christi?
The Corpus Christi Police Department inside the city, and the Nueces County Sheriff or DPS outside it.
Where is a Corpus Christi wrongful death case filed?
In the Nueces County Civil District Courts at the County Courthouse, with the estate’s survival claim.
What if a family member was killed in a crash while working near a Corpus Christi refinery?
If the employer carries workers’ compensation, death benefits come through that system, and the family generally cannot sue the employer except for exemplary damages in cases of gross negligence. A negligent driver from another company is a separate defendant who can be sued directly. Many Texas employers do not carry workers’ comp, which opens a direct claim.
Who determines the cause of death after a fatal Nueces County crash?
The Nueces County Medical Examiner’s Office. Its autopsy and toxicology findings document how the person died and whether alcohol or drugs were involved. Those findings become part of the wrongful death and survival claims. The reports can take weeks, but the investigation of fault should not wait for them.