In Dallas, 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 Dallas 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 Dallas
Where do Dallas fatal crashes happen?
Fatal crashes in Dallas County cluster on I-20, I-30, and I-635 at night. The family’s claim is filed at the George Allen courthouse downtown.
Dallas County fatal crashes cluster on I-20, I-30, and I-635 at night, and on the Loop 12 and Northwest Highway arterials where speeds are high and pedestrians are common. The firm’s Dallas wrongful death cases most often begin on I-20 or I-30 after midnight, and a large share involve alcohol. Dallas Police’s Vehicular Crimes Unit investigates, and the family’s claim is filed at the George Allen courthouse downtown.
Corridors where Dallas wrongful death cluster
- The High Five interchange at US-75 and I-635
- The Mixmaster at I-30 and I-35E downtown
- I-635 LBJ Freeway between the Dallas North Tollway and US-75
- I-30 East through Mesquite and Garland
- Loop 12 and Northwest Highway at Harry Hines
- I-20 at I-45 and US-175 in southern Dallas County
What to do now
What should you do after a fatal crash in Dallas?
- Get examined the same day. Parkland Memorial Hospital (Level I trauma) and Baylor University Medical Center (Level I trauma) handle the serious wrongful death injuries from Dallas; 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-35E (Stemmons Freeway) and I-30, where scenes are cleared within minutes.
- Get the Dallas crash report. Dallas 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. Dallas wrongful death suits are filed in the Dallas County Civil District Courts, George L. Allen Sr. Courts Building, or Dallas County Courts at Law depending on the crash location.
- Call the firm. Dallas clients are handled from Houston by phone, video, and mail, and the firm travels to Dallas for meetings, depositions, and court. The consultation is free.
Go deeper
More on wrongful death claims in Dallas and Texas.
Common questions
Dallas wrongful death questions
Who investigates a fatal crash in Dallas?
The Dallas Police Department’s Vehicular Crimes Unit inside the city, and the county sheriff or DPS outside it.
Where is a Dallas wrongful death case filed?
In the Dallas County Civil District Courts at the George L. Allen Sr. Courts Building, with the estate’s survival claim.
How does the Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences affect a Dallas fatal crash claim?
The Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences serves as the Dallas County medical examiner. Its autopsy and toxicology findings document the cause of death and any impairment, which can be key evidence of fault and of the conscious pain that supports a survival claim. The family can request the final reports, which often take weeks.
Can siblings bring a wrongful death claim after a Dallas crash?
No. Texas limits wrongful death claims to the surviving spouse, children, and parents of the person who died. Brothers and sisters, grandparents, and other relatives cannot bring their own wrongful death claims. A sibling may still be involved as the representative of the estate, which brings the separate survival claim.