A Montgomery County family lost someone when a driver chose to flee instead of stop, and Texas law gives surviving families the right to seek accountability in civil court.
Get Connected Now →Losing a family member in any traffic collision is devastating. Losing one because a driver made the choice to flee the scene rather than call for help adds a profound layer of injustice to an already unbearable situation. Families in Splendora and across Montgomery County who are living through this right now face grief, financial uncertainty, and unanswered questions all at the same time.
The criminal case against the arrested suspect is handled by the state, but that process does not compensate your family directly. A separate civil wrongful death claim is the legal path that exists specifically for families seeking financial accountability from the person or parties responsible for the loss of their loved one.
A criminal case is brought by the state to punish the at-fault driver. A wrongful death civil claim is brought by the surviving family to seek financial compensation for their losses, including funeral expenses, lost income, and loss of companionship. The two cases proceed independently, and a criminal conviction is not required to pursue a civil claim.
Under Texas law, the surviving spouse, children, and parents of the deceased are eligible to bring a wrongful death action. If none of those individuals file within three months of the death, the executor or administrator of the estate may file on behalf of the estate.
In most cases, Texas law provides a two-year statute of limitations for wrongful death claims, beginning on the date of the fatal incident. Missing this deadline can bar your family from recovering compensation entirely, which is why speaking with an attorney as early as possible is important.
Yes. An arrest and criminal charges do not prevent a family from filing a separate civil wrongful death lawsuit against the same individual. In some cases, evidence gathered during the criminal investigation can also be relevant to the civil proceeding.
HurtMatch is a free referral service. The attorneys in our network handle wrongful death cases on a contingency fee basis, which means your family pays no legal fees unless and until there is a financial recovery in your case.