Jim Adler & Associates, The Texas Hammer®, has spent decades helping grieving families in Dallas and North Texas pursue wrongful death claims. Our firm investigates what happened, identifies every responsible party, and pushes insurance companies for full and fair compensation, not just a quick settlement that suits their bottom line.
With a Dallas office and additional locations across Texas, Jim Adler & Associates is positioned to respond quickly when your family needs help. Your first step is a FREE wrongful death case review with a Dallas attorney who will listen to your story and explain your options.
Call 1-800-505-1414 now or fill out our online form to get started. You pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for your family.*
Our client’s wife and mother of the family was sitting in stop-and-go traffic on a Texas interstate when everything changed in an instant. Cars ahead had already slowed for congestion. Behind her, a commercial tractor-trailer kept its speed, closing the distance far too quickly. The truck driver never slowed in time and slammed into the line of vehicles, triggering a chain-reaction crash that crushed her car and took her life.
As the investigation unfolded, evidence showed the truck driver was inexperienced, finishing his shift at the time of the wreck, and tested positive for illegal drugs immediately afterward. The collision was not a random accident; it was the result of choices that put everyone on that highway in danger.
Jim Adler & Associates pursued the case on behalf of her surviving family. Working with crash reconstruction experts, medical professionals, and eyewitnesses, we demonstrated how the driver’s conduct and the company’s failures led directly to her wrongful death and the losses her husband and children will carry for the rest of their lives.
Result: $15,000,000 recovery for the victim’s family.
This compensation helped replace lost income and household support, cover final expenses, and acknowledge the profound grief and disruption caused by this preventable crash.
Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Every case is different, and the value of your claim will depend on the specific facts of your wrongful death case.
No amount of money can ever replace the person you lost or undo the pain your family is experiencing. We understand that, and we would never suggest otherwise. What a wrongful death claim can do is hold the responsible parties accountable for their actions and provide your family with the financial resources to move forward without the added burden of mounting bills and lost income.
At Jim Adler & Associates, we guide families through the legal process with honesty, transparency, and genuine care for what you are going through. Our team handles the investigation, the paperwork, the negotiations, and the fight with insurance companies so that you can focus on your family and your grief. We keep you informed every step of the way, and we make sure you understand your options before making any decisions about your case. Your family deserves a legal team that treats you like people, not just another file, and that is exactly what you will find with The Texas Hammer®.
When a loved one dies because of someone else’s actions or negligence, the grief can feel overwhelming. Understanding what wrongful death means and what options are available to your family can help you make informed decisions during an incredibly difficult time. The following sections explain how Texas statutes define wrongful death, the types of situations that commonly lead to these claims, and how wrongful death differs from a related legal action known as a survival claim.
Wrongful death claims arise from many different types of preventable tragedies, and each situation brings its own unique challenges for grieving families. The following are some of the most common circumstances that lead to wrongful death claims in Dallas and throughout Texas.
After losing someone you love, the last thing you want to think about is legal paperwork, insurance adjusters, and court deadlines. You need time to grieve and to be there for your family. A Dallas wrongful death lawyer can take on the legal burden so that you do not have to face it alone, handling everything from the initial investigation to negotiations with insurance companies and, if necessary, representing your family at trial.
Wrongful death cases require a thorough investigation to uncover what happened and who is responsible. Our team works quickly to secure critical evidence before it disappears, including accident reports, medical records, witness statements, photographs, and video footage. We also hire experts when necessary, such as accident reconstruction specialists, medical professionals, and economists who can calculate the full financial impact of your loss. The insurance company will have its own team of investigators working to protect its money, and you deserve a legal team that will fight just as hard to uncover the truth and build a strong case on your behalf.
The legal system involves strict deadlines, complex paperwork, and procedural requirements that can be overwhelming for anyone, especially a grieving family. Our attorneys handle all filings, motions, and court appearances so you do not have to worry about missing a deadline or making a costly mistake. We keep you informed about what is happening with your case and explain your options in plain language, while we handle the heavy lifting so you can focus on your family and your own healing during this difficult time.
Insurance companies are not on your side, even when their policyholder is clearly at fault for your loved one’s death. Their adjusters are trained to minimize payouts, and they may use tactics like delaying your claim, disputing the value of your losses, or trying to shift blame onto your loved one. Our attorneys know how insurance companies operate, and we fight to pursue the full compensation your family deserves rather than accepting a lowball offer designed to make you go away. We handle all communications with the insurance company so that you do not have to worry about saying something that could hurt your case.
Most wrongful death cases settle before reaching trial, but some insurance companies refuse to offer fair compensation unless they know you are prepared to go to court. At Jim Adler & Associates, we prepare every case as if it is going to trial, and we are not afraid to stand before a jury and fight for your family if that is what it takes. Our track record of courtroom success gives insurance companies a strong incentive to offer fair settlements, because they know we are not bluffing when we reject inadequate offers.
When your family is facing the unimaginable loss of a loved one, you need a legal team with the experience and resources to take on powerful corporations, insurance companies, and negligent parties. Jim Adler & Associates has been fighting for Texas families since 1973, and we have recovered more than $1 billion for our clients over more than 50 years in practice. Our firm includes more than 30 attorneys and 300 legal professionals across offices in Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, and Channelview, giving us the resources to handle even the most complex wrongful death cases.
Some of our largest recoveries have come from wrongful death lawsuits where we fought to hold negligent parties accountable for the lives they took. These results include a $26 million wrongful death settlement for families who lost two young women in a truck accident caused by a speeding tractor-trailer. While no amount of money can replace the person you lost, these results reflect our commitment to pursuing justice and maximum compensation for every family we represent.
With thousands of car accident lawsuits filed, our numbers speak for themselves.
Winning a wrongful death case requires more than simply showing that someone you loved has died. Your legal team must prove specific elements that establish another person or company is legally responsible for the death and that your family suffered real harm as a result. Understanding what must be proven can help you see why having an experienced Dallas wrongful death lawyer matters and why a thorough investigation is so critical to building a strong case.
Building a strong case requires collecting and preserving evidence that supports each of these elements. This evidence may include police reports and accident reports that document what happened, witness statements from people who saw the incident or can speak to the defendant’s behavior, photographs and video footage from the scene, medical records showing the cause of death, and expert testimony from accident reconstruction specialists or medical professionals. The sooner your family contacts an attorney, the sooner we can begin securing this critical evidence before it disappears or gets destroyed.
At Jim Adler & Associates, our team knows how to investigate these cases thoroughly and build the strongest possible claim on your family’s behalf.
Economic damages compensate your family for the financial losses that resulted from your loved one’s death. These are losses you can calculate and document with bills, records, and financial statements. Medical expenses your loved one incurred before dying, including emergency care, hospital stays, surgeries, and medications, may be recovered through your claim. Funeral and burial costs are also recoverable, helping to ease the immediate financial burden your family faces during an already difficult time.
Your family may also recover compensation for the income and financial support your loved one would have provided if they had lived. This includes wages they earned at the time of death, the value of employment benefits such as health insurance and retirement contributions, and their future earning capacity over the remainder of their expected working life. If your loved one provided valuable household services such as childcare, home maintenance, or other contributions that would now need to be replaced, those losses may also be included in your claim.
Non-economic damages recognize that the loss of a loved one causes harm that goes far beyond financial losses. These damages compensate surviving family members for the emotional and relational impact of the death, even though these losses cannot be easily measured in dollars. Mental anguish and grief are among the most significant non-economic damages, acknowledging the profound emotional suffering that comes with losing someone you love.
Surviving spouses may recover damages for loss of consortium, which includes the loss of companionship, comfort, intimacy, and support provided by the marriage. Parents who lose a child and children who lose a parent may recover damages for the lost love, affection, companionship, guidance, and parental training they would have received. These damages also account for the loss of inheritance that family members would have received if their loved one had lived a full life. The Texas Hammer® fights to make sure every aspect of your family’s loss is accounted for when pursuing compensation from the responsible parties.
Our Dallas car accident lawyers help Texans get the financial compensation they deserve. We only get paid if you win.* And we fight to win.
The days and weeks following the death of someone you love are overwhelming, and it can be difficult to think clearly when you are consumed by grief. While your first priority should always be taking care of yourself and your family, there are certain steps that may help protect your ability to seek justice and compensation later. The following suggestions are general guidelines only, and your specific situation may require different actions.
Every wrongful death situation is different, and you should never feel pressured to take legal action before you are ready. When you are prepared to explore your options, Jim Adler & Associates is here to answer your questions and help your family understand the path forward.
When your family is facing the devastating loss of a loved one, you need a legal team that combines experience, resources, and genuine compassion. Not every law firm has what it takes to go up against powerful insurance companies and corporations, and not every firm will treat you like a person rather than just another case number. At Jim Adler & Associates, we have been fighting for Texas families for more than 50 years, and we bring that same commitment to every wrongful death case we handle.
Our track record speaks for itself, with more than $1 billion recovered for our clients and wrongful death settlements reaching up to $26 million. We have the resources to take on even the most powerful defendants, with more than 30 attorneys and 300 legal professionals working from offices across Texas, including right here in Dallas. When you call our firm, you get direct access to attorneys who will listen to your story, answer your questions, and keep you informed every step of the way.
Your initial consultation is completely free, and there is no obligation to move forward if you are not ready. Call us today or fill out the form on this page to schedule your free case review with a Dallas wrongful death lawyer who will fight for you.
After losing someone you love, you probably have many questions about what comes next and how to protect your family’s future. The answers below address some of the concerns we hear most often from families in your situation. If you have questions that are not covered here, our team at Jim Adler & Associates is always available to speak with you directly.
Wrongful death and murder are two separate legal concepts that address the same conduct through different areas of the law. Murder is a criminal charge brought by the state or federal government to punish someone for taking another person’s life. If convicted, the defendant may face prison time, fines, or other criminal penalties. The purpose of a criminal case is to hold the wrongdoer accountable to society and to punish them for their actions.
Wrongful death, on the other hand, is a civil action where surviving family members seek financial compensation for the losses they suffered because of their loved one’s death. The purpose of a civil case is not to punish the defendant but to make the family whole by providing money for lost income, medical expenses, funeral costs, and the emotional devastation of losing someone you love. Civil cases also require a lower standard of proof than criminal cases, meaning a family may win a wrongful death lawsuit even if the defendant was found not guilty in criminal court.
The same conduct can lead to both a criminal prosecution and a civil wrongful death lawsuit, and the outcomes of one case do not necessarily affect the other. For example, a drunk driver who kills someone may face criminal charges for intoxication manslaughter while also being sued by the victim’s family for wrongful death. Even if the criminal case results in an acquittal or reduced charges, the family may still recover compensation through the civil system.
If you have questions about how a criminal case might affect your family’s wrongful death claim, Jim Adler & Associates can help you understand your options and pursue justice through the civil courts.
At Jim Adler & Associates, we handle wrongful death cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for your family.* Our standard fee is 35% of the total recovery if the case settles before a lawsuit is filed, and the fee increases to 40% if we must file a lawsuit to fight for your rights in court. We also advance all case costs upfront, and those expenses are repaid from your settlement rather than requiring payment from you along the way. Your initial consultation is completely free with no obligation to move forward.*
We strongly recommend that you speak with an attorney before giving any statements to the insurance company representing the person or company responsible for your loved one’s death. Insurance adjusters are trained professionals whose job is to protect their company’s money, not to help your family. They often reach out to grieving families within hours or days of a death, hoping to get recorded statements or quick settlements before people understand the true value of their claims.
Anything you say to an insurance adjuster can be used against your family later to reduce or deny your claim. Even innocent comments made out of grief, confusion, or politeness can be twisted to suggest that your loved one was at fault, that your damages are not as serious as you claim, or that you have already accepted the outcome. Adjusters are skilled at asking questions designed to get you to say things that hurt your case, and they often record these conversations without making it clear how the recording will be used.
Insurance companies may also try to pressure you into accepting a quick settlement before you fully understand the extent of your losses. These early offers are almost always far less than what your family deserves, and once you sign a release, you give up your right to pursue additional compensation forever. The insurance company knows this, which is why they push for fast settlements while families are still in shock and not thinking clearly about the long-term financial impact of their loss.
Let Jim Adler & Associates handle all communications with the insurance companies so you can focus on your family without worrying about saying the wrong thing. Our team knows insurers’ tactics, and we fight to protect your rights from the start of your case.
If you have lost someone you love because of another person’s negligence or misconduct, you do not have to face the legal process alone. The Texas Hammer® has spent more than 50 years standing up for Texas families during their most difficult moments, and we are ready to fight for yours. Our team will investigate what happened to your loved one, identify every responsible party, and pursue the full compensation your family deserves while you focus on grieving and healing.
We understand that no amount of money can replace the person you lost, but holding the responsible parties accountable can provide a measure of justice and the financial security your family needs to move forward. At Jim Adler & Associates, we handle wrongful death cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for your family.* Your initial consultation is completely free, and our team is available to answer your questions in both English and Spanish.
[1] NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth, “Dallas Traffic Death Rate Worst Among 10 Largest U.S. Cities.” https://www.nbcdfw.com/investigations/driven-to-death-dallas-traffic-death-rate-worst-among-10-largest-u-s-cities/3373511/
[2] U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Fatal Occupational Injuries in Texas,” Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries. https://www.bls.gov/regions/southwest/data/fatalworkplaceinjuries_texas_table.htm
[3] Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, Chapter 71, “Wrongful Death; Survival; Injuries Occurring Out of State.” https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/docviewer?docPath=%2FCP%2Fhtm%2FCP.71.htm
[4] Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, Chapter 41, “Damages.” https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/docviewer?docPath=%2FCP%2Fhtm%2FCP.41.htm
[5] Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, Chapter 16, “Limitations.” https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CP/htm/CP.16.htm
[6] Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, Chapter 33, “Proportionate Responsibility.” https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CP/htm/CP.33.htm
Hurt in an accident? Tell us what happened. We’ll give you straight answers — fast, free, and with no strings attached.*
Address
2711 North Haskell Ave.
Suite 2500
Dallas, TX 75204
Address
1900 W Loop S
20th Floor
Houston, TX 77027
Address
12605 East Freeway
Suite 400
Houston, Texas 77015
Address
7330 San Pedro Ave
Suite 700
San Antonio, TX 78216
