Trucking & Commercial Vehicle Accidents
Dallas Wrongful Death Lawyer
Losing someone you love because of another person's negligence is a pain no verdict can undo. When you're ready, McCallum Law Firm can help you hold the people and companies responsible accountable and pursue the compensation your family is owed under Texas law.
ATP-rated commercial pilot with 32+ years of flight experience, a credential no competing Dallas firm can match in aviation cases.
Aviation law requires more than a law degree. When an aircraft goes down, the NTSB investigation can take a year or more to produce an official report, and by then critical evidence can be gone. Ron doesn't wait. As an active pilot, he reads flight data, maintenance logs, and air traffic control transcripts the way other attorneys read case files, and we work with former FAA investigators to reconstruct the crash well before any official report is released.
Avoid Recorded Statements
Don't give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurance company. Adjusters use these statements to shift blame and reduce your payout before you understand the full extent of your injuries.
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Document the Scene
Photograph the vehicles, the accident scene, and your injuries, and get contact information for the other driver and any witnesses.
What to Do After a Car Accident in Dallas
This page covers standard car and auto accidents. If your crash involved a commercial truck, visit our
Dallas truck accident lawyer page, and if it involved a motorcycle, visit our
Dallas motorcycle accident lawyer page. For the full range of cases we handle, see our
Dallas personal injury lawyer hub.
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Contact a Dallas Car Accident Lawyer
The sooner you call, the more evidence we can preserve, including dash cam footage, witness accounts, and traffic camera data that can disappear within days.
Get Medical Attention
See a doctor right away, even if your injuries seem minor. Some of the most serious injuries, like concussions and soft tissue damage, don't show symptoms until days later, and a medical record early on protects your claim.
We've Represented Families in Texas's Highest-Stakes Wrongful Death Cases
$18.6 million
Verdict against Greyhound, including punitive damages. The largest verdict ever awarded against the company and the largest Dallas County accident verdict in 2011.
$4.1 million
Verdict against a major trucking company found grossly negligent.
Accidents don't happen without cause. We investigate every wrongful death case to uncover the negligence, safety violations, and corporate decisions behind the tragedy, things the other side will never voluntarily disclose. See these results and more on our
notable results page. If your loss involved a commercial truck, our
Dallas truck accident lawyer team handles the trucking-specific side of these claims.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim in Texas?
Under Texas law (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 71.004), only certain family members have standing to file a wrongful death claim.
- A surviving spouse.
- Children of the deceased, including adopted children.
- Parents of the deceased.
Siblings, grandchildren, and other extended family members generally cannot file a wrongful death claim directly under Texas law, though the deceased's estate may pursue a claim if no eligible family member files within three months of the death.
Fighting for Families & Survivors After
Life-Altering Tragedies
Losing a loved one due to someone else’s negligence is one of the most painful and life-changing experiences a family can endure. Likewise, catastrophic injuries—such as brain damage, spinal cord injuries, or severe burns—can forever alter a victim’s ability to
work, function, and enjoy life.
At McCallum Law, we fight for families seeking accountability and financial security after the unthinkable. Whether due to a commercial trucking crash, a defective product, a workplace accident, or medical negligence, we hold corporations, negligent individuals, and insurance companies accountable.
Types of Wrongful Death Cases We Handle
A wrongful death lawsuit holds negligent individuals, businesses, and corporations accountable when their actions lead to a fatal accident.
Common wrongful death cases include:
- Trucking and commercial vehicle accidents.
- Aviation crashes and private plane accidents. Our Texas aviation accident lawyer team handles the aviation-specific side of these claims.
- Workplace accidents and explosions, including oilfield and industrial incidents. Our Texas oilfield injury lawyer team handles the workplace-specific side of these claims.
- Defective products and machinery failures.
- Medical malpractice and nursing home neglect.
This page covers wrongful death claims specifically. For the full range of injury cases we handle, visit our
Dallas personal injury lawyer hub.
"Accident" Is Not a Defense. Negligence Is.
Texas wrongful death claims can pursue exemplary, or punitive, damages in cases involving gross negligence or intentional misconduct. This comes up often in cases involving corporate negligence, such as a trucking company that ignored known safety violations or an industrial employer that disregarded OSHA requirements.
Punitive damages go beyond compensating your family. They're designed to punish the responsible party and deter the same conduct in the future. The $18.6 million Greyhound verdict included punitive damages for exactly this reason.
ATP-rated commercial pilot with 32+ years of flight experience, a credential no competing Dallas firm can match in aviation cases.
You Don't Have to Decide Everything Today
Texas law requires wrongful death claims to be filed within two years of the victim's passing. Starting early doesn't mean rushing into a decision. It means preserving evidence and protecting your family's options while they still exist, so you have time to grieve without losing your legal rights.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can file a wrongful death lawsuit in Texas?
Texas law allows a surviving spouse, children (including adopted children), and parents of the deceased to file. If no eligible family member files within three months, the deceased's estate may pursue the claim.
How long do I have to file a wrongful death claim in Texas?
Wrongful death lawsuits must be filed within two years of the victim's passing. Certain exceptions can apply, so it's best to consult an attorney as soon as possible to confirm your deadline.
How long do I have to file a wrongful death or catastrophic injury claim in Texas?
• Wrongful death lawsuits must be filed within 2 years of the victim’s passing.
• Personal injury lawsuits for catastrophic injuries must be filed within 2 years of the accident.
📍 Certain exceptions apply—consult an attorney as soon as possible.
Is a consultation with a Dallas wrongful death attorney free?
Yes, we offer a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss what happened and explain your family's legal options. You pay nothing upfront, and we only get paid if we recover compensation for your family.
