In Fort Worth, 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 Fort Worth 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 Fort Worth
Where do Fort Worth fatal crashes happen?
Tarrant County fatal crashes cluster on I-35W, I-20, and Loop 820 at night.
Tarrant County fatal crashes cluster on I-35W, I-20, and Loop 820 at night, and a large share involve commercial trucks from the Alliance corridor. The firm’s Fort Worth wrongful death cases most often begin on I-35W or Loop 820 after midnight. Fort Worth Police’s Traffic Investigation Unit investigates, and the family’s claim is filed at the Tom Vandergriff Civil Courts Building.
Corridors where Fort Worth wrongful death cluster
- I-35W and I-30 interchange downtown
- I-35W north through the Alliance freight corridor
- Loop 820 at I-35W on the north side
- I-20 and I-35W interchange on the south side
- US-287 through Kennedale and southeast Fort Worth
- Camp Bowie Boulevard and University Drive on the west side
What to do now
What should you do after a fatal crash in Fort Worth?
- Get examined the same day. JPS Health Network, John Peter Smith Hospital (Level I trauma) and Texas Health Harris Methodist Fort Worth handle the serious wrongful death injuries from Fort Worth; 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-35W and I-30, where scenes are cleared within minutes.
- Get the Fort Worth crash report. Fort Worth 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. Fort Worth wrongful death suits are filed in the Tarrant County Civil District Courts, Tom Vandergriff Civil Courts Building, or Tarrant County Courts at Law depending on the crash location.
- Call the firm. Fort Worth clients are handled from Houston by phone, video, and mail, and the firm travels to Fort Worth for meetings, depositions, and court. The consultation is free.
Go deeper
More on wrongful death claims in Fort Worth and Texas.
Common questions
Fort Worth wrongful death questions
Who investigates a fatal crash in Fort Worth?
The Fort Worth Police Department’s Traffic Investigation Unit inside the city, and the Tarrant County Sheriff or DPS outside it.
Where is a Fort Worth wrongful death case filed?
In the Tarrant County Civil District Courts, with the estate’s survival claim.
Who handles the autopsy after a fatal Fort Worth crash?
The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office, which also serves several nearby counties. Its autopsy and toxicology reports document the cause of death and any alcohol or drugs involved. Those reports are often central to a wrongful death claim, and the family can request them once they are final.
Can a stepchild bring a wrongful death claim in Tarrant County?
Only if the stepparent legally adopted them. Texas wrongful death claims belong to the surviving spouse, children, and parents, and a stepchild who was never adopted does not count as a child under that law, however close the relationship was. The surviving spouse’s claim can still reflect what the loss means to the household.