DID YOUR LOVED ONE SUFFER AN ACCIDENTAL DEATH?
NO FEES UNLESS YOU COLLECT
In the last four years, our firm made Top Verdict’s “Top 50” Personal Injury Settlements in Texas list 44 times, and the “Top 100” list 70 times.
YOU CAN TRUST OUR FAMILY TO FIGHT FOR YOURS™
If your loved suffered a wrongful death due to the negligence or recklessness of another person or company, our skilled Frisco attorneys are ready to assist. Obviously, no amount of money can ever undo the ultimate injustice. Rest assured, however, that we will hold the wrongdoer accountable, get the answers you deserve, and seek the maximum financial compensation available.
Mullen & Mullen is consistently recognized by TopVerdict for obtaining some of the largest recoveries in the entire state of Texas. In the last 4 years our firm made the Texas “Top 50 Personal Injury Settlements” list 44 times, and the “Top 100” list 70 times. Our stellar results allow us to offer a below industry standard 29% pre-suit contingency fee which means more money in your pocket.
Our experienced local team has an incredibly strong work ethic and truly cares. We’ve been privileged to serve North Texas for over 40 years. This is our backyard. Call (214) 529-3476 now for a free consultation and some excellent advice.
In times of unimaginable loss, grieving families seek answers and justice. For decades, our firm has been dedicated to obtaining the truth and delivering rightful compensation to those who have suffered the untimely death of a loved one.
While the details of most of our firm’s successful wrongful death cases remain confidential, there is one particular case that exemplifies our commitment and tenacity.
We were approached by the family of a man who tragically lost his life in a pedestrian accident on a highway shoulder. Although the motorist’s insurance revealed their policy limits, they denied liability, citing our deceased client’s alleged fault based on a police report.
Upon thorough investigation, we ordered a toxicology report which proved our client was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the incident, debunking the motorist’s claim. Additionally, we obtained crucial body-worn camera footage from the investigating officer. This footage captured a brief interaction where the motorist admitted seeing our client before the accident, establishing that there was ample time for the motorist to react and prevent the tragedy. It was evident that the motorist had failed to take necessary precautions, despite having the opportunity to do so.
Armed with this compelling evidence, we included it in our settlement demand. Faced with the undeniable truth, the insurance carrier swiftly reversed its decision. More importantly, the grieving family finally had a clear understanding of the circumstances surrounding their loved one’s passing, providing them with some solace amidst their profound grief.
Our commitment to this case illustrates our unwavering dedication. We refused to accept the initial police report’s verdict and persevered despite the motorist’s insurance denial. We delved deeper, unearthing the truth and ensuring that this grieving family received the justice they deserved. Just as we fought for them, we are prepared to fight for your family with the same determination and resolve.
Gross Settlements Before Fees & Expenses
We have achieved numerous multimillion-dollar settlements across all practice areas, but we are restricted from displaying some very large results due to settlement confidentiality. Here are a few recent results without confidentiality agreements:
$6,150,000.00
Work Accident
$4,000,000.00
Wrongful Death
$2,978,104.95
Vehicle Accident
$2,550,000.00
Vehicle Accident
$2,550,000.00
Vehicle Accident
$2,250,000.00
Premises Liability
According to TopVerdict.com, our Dallas attorneys consistently achieve some of the highest recoveries in the state of Texas. As a matter of fact, in the last four years, we’ve made their Texas “Top 50” Personal Injury Settlements list 43 times, and their “Top 100” list 70 times. For example, in 2021 one of our claims made the Top 10 list, eight made the Top 11-20 list, and ten made the Top 21-50 list. When you factor in our reduced 29% contingency fee, we are confident we will help you recover more. At Mullen & Mullen, we pride ourselves on routinely recovering full policy limits for our clients without the necessity of costly and time-consuming litigation.
According to TopVerdict.com, our Dallas attorneys consistently achieve some of the highest recoveries in the state of Texas. As a matter of fact, in the last three years we’ve made their “Texas Top 50 Personal Injury Settlements” list 43 times. For example, in 2021 one of our claims made the Top 10 list, eight made the Top 11-20 list, and ten made the Top 21-50 list. When you factor in our reduced 29% contingency fee, we are confident we will help you recover more. At Mullen & Mullen, we pride ourselves on routinely recovering full policy limits for our clients without the necessity of costly and time-consuming litigation.
We have access to state-of-the-art diagnostic technology through well-established relationships with medical doctors, surgeons, physical therapists, chiropractors, neurologists, counselors, and other healthcare providers in the entire DFW Metroplex. You receive the quality medical attention you need from local providers near where you live or work. These providers specialize in treating people hurt in accidents of all kinds and they know how to properly document injuries to meet the legal burden of proof in your personal injury case. These providers are also willing to delay billing collections until after your case is resolved so you can focus on recovering without additional stress. Physicians that don’t routinely treat accident victims as part of their practice usually turn away patients over fear of being involved in the legal process or fear of health insurance companies refusing to pay accident-related healthcare bills. Please call us at 214-747-5240 for a free consultation and some advice.
Even if you don’t have health insurance or can’t afford your deductible, Mullen & Mullen will secure you the quality healthcare and state-of-the art diagnostics you deserve with no upfront out of pocket costs.
Shane, Joseph and Regis have almost 100 years of combined experience practicing personal injury law. That doesn’t even include the combined experience of the attorneys that serve as of-counsel to Mullen & Mullen at no additional cost to our clients. Our firm continues to evolve, but we never forget our Core Values. We do the right thing, handle cases the way we would want our own case handled, and we truly listen to clients. We have over 40 years of local knowledge, and that matters!
Some lawyers forget that they represent the client, but we never have. Our legal team will make YOU the priority. You are the boss, and we will respond quickly to your requests for case updates and assistance. We guarantee that when you need to speak to your counsel, you will speak directly to your counsel, not to a paralegal or secretary, because that’s the way it should be.
Most firms hire an investigator to help develop evidence on your case and charge you back for that service. Our firm, however, has 2 full-time accident investigators on staff and we offer their services to you for free. This is another way we will maximize your compensation.
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Video footage is worth a lot more. Our in-house videographer allows us to capture the true impact the accident has on your life beyond mere words on a piece of paper.
When necessary, Mullen & Mullen Law Firm uses cutting edge technology like 3D imaging videos to fully demonstrate the extent of our clients’ injuries to the insurance companies. This also helps maximize the value of your claim.
Mullen & Mullen’s attorneys live and work right here in Dallas, and always have. We believe in paying our success forward by helping people in the North Texas community, and are dedicated to supporting these local charities.
Our Managing Partner, Shane V. Mullen, has been handling personal injury cases for 21 years. He is “Top-rated” by Thompson Reuters who named him as a Texas Super Lawyer 3 consecutive years. Shane is also a lifetime member of both the Million & Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forums, solidifying his expertise in handling significant cases. He is also an esteemed member of Rue Ratings’ Best Attorneys of America, further attesting to his exceptional legal prowess. Shane brings hard-won, battle born knowledge to your case.
With 18 years of personal injury experience, Attorney Joseph R. Morrison has established himself as a highly skilled legal professional. Notably, he served as counsel of record in a case that garnered recognition from VerdictSearch.com as a top 5 Premises liability (slip and fall) verdict in Texas. The defendant in this case was a Fortune 500 company with an annual revenue exceeding 11 billion. The specific case, Jeffrey Young v. ConAgra Foods, Inc., showcased Joe’s exceptional abilities in achieving favorable outcomes.
Joe is a distinguished member of The National Trial Lawyers: Top 100 Civil Plaintiff Trial Lawyers, solidifying his standing among the nation’s most esteemed legal practitioners. Furthermore, his membership in both the Million & Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forums further attests to his expertise in handling substantial cases.
Both Shane and Joseph are lifetime members of the Million & Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forums, meaning they have each settled cases in excess of two million. This solidifies their expertise in handling significant personal injury cases.
Our Founder, Attorney Regis L. Mullen, has 56 years of personal injury experience. Regis received his Admission to practice law in 1967. Previously a Litigation Supervisor at Allstate Insurance Company, he knows all the tactics liability carriers use to deny or reduce personal injury settlements. Drawing upon his profound comprehension of the inner workings of the insurance industry, Regis established a law firm dedicated to meeting the legal needs of injured individuals in North Texas.
According to our records, the result obtained by Shane V. Mullen, Joseph R. Morrison in the case Estate of Unborn Child v. Motorist was one of the Top 50 Wrongful Death Settlements in the United States in the year 2021 and has made our list of the Top 50 Wrongful Death Settlements in the Nation in 2021. See the list here.
Case: Estate of Unborn Child v. Motorist
Type: Car Accident, Motor Vehicle Accident, Wrongful Death, Negligent Tort
Attorneys: Shane V. Mullen, Joseph R. Morrison of Mullen & Mullen Law Firm
Amount: $1,510,000.00
State: Texas
When a family member passes away due to someone else’s negligence, recklessness, intentional actions, or misconduct, surviving family members have the right to pursue claims for various losses, including mental anguish, loss of financial support, loss of household services, loss of support, loss of advice, and loss of maintenance provided by the deceased before their untimely death.
Regardless of whether the deceased had a Will, an estate can be established. The legal damages of the deceased are pursued through a survival action case, distinct from the claims of the surviving family members.
Time is of the essence. In Texas, there are two statutes of limitations:
Decisions made promptly and strategic actions are crucial for the outcome of the case. Immediate gathering of evidence and possibly involving experts are necessary.
A Wrongful Death claim is initiated by certain family members who have suffered financial and/or emotional harm due to the unjust loss of a relative caused by someone else’s negligence.
A Survival Action is brought by the deceased’s estate, pursuing damages for harm suffered directly from someone else’s negligence that led to the demise.
The nature of the claim depends on the circumstances of the harm. Whether it is a sudden loss of a supporting father or a prolonged and painful death of a single individual, appropriate legal actions must be taken.
It is often advisable to file both types of claims to cover various damages. However, in situations where resources are limited and there are substantial medical bills, focusing on wrongful death claims may prevent certain lien holders from intervening and claiming a portion of the family’s compensation.
In summary, timely action, careful consideration of the circumstances, and strategic decision-making are pivotal in ensuring the best possible outcome for a wrongful death claim.
In the state of Texas, the eligibility to file a wrongful death claim is legally differentiated between those who can initiate the lawsuit and the beneficiaries entitled to compensation. Texas law specifies the individuals permitted to file a claim:
No, under Texas Law, siblings are not granted this right. However, funds recovered from a survivor action are directed to the estate. If the deceased had a will naming a sibling as a beneficiary, the sibling indirectly benefits financially from the lawsuit.
In Texas, the general rule is that the executor and/or administrator of the decedent’s estate may file a wrongful death claim if not initiated within ninety (90) days following the decedent’s demise by the surviving spouse, children, parent, and/or guardian. An exception arises if one of the referenced parties prohibits the estate from filing a lawsuit.
To file a wrongful death claim in Texas, the decedent’s surviving spouse, parent, or child must initiate the suit. Additionally, it must be proven that a person or corporation committed a wrongful act causing injuries leading to the decedent’s death. The decedent would have been entitled to bring an action if alive, and the surviving spouse, parent, or child must have suffered actual damages.
Recoverable damages include “actual damages.” A surviving spouse or surviving children may potentially recover punitive damages, although this doesn’t apply to parents of a child.
Parents of a child victim in a wrongful death claim can recover damages such as monetary compensation for the child’s demise (before and after the age of 18), damages for the termination of the parent-child relationship (referred to as “companionship and society”), and mental anguish resulting from the child’s demise, expressed as emotional pain, torment, and suffering, often submitted as grief and bereavement.
Parents can recover the same damages as if the child were a minor (refer to the above explanation).
Recoverable damages include monetary losses resulting from the spouse’s demise, damages for the termination of the marital relationship (love, affection, comfort, and sexual relationship), mental anguish stemming from the demise, and the loss of inheritance (pertaining to the loss of future earning capacity or money that would have been added to the estate).
Recoverable damages include future monetary loss resulting from the parent’s passing, damages for the cessation of the parent-child relationship (love, compassion, etc.), mental anguish, and potential loss of inheritance.
Jurors are typically instructed to consider the relationship between the deceased and the party filing the claim, living arrangements, periods of extended absence, family harmony, and shared interests or activities.
Yes, punitive damages can be recovered if the loved one’s demise resulted from willful or grossly negligent conduct. However, the caps on punitive damages outlined in the Tort Reform Act of 1995 apply, and Texas law limits the recovery of punitive damages to the surviving spouse and children. Strangely, parents are not eligible to recover punitive damages for the loss of a child.
Possibly. The eligibility for recovery in this scenario is case-specific and depends on the support, if any, received from the decedent during the separation period leading up to their demise.
Yes, but curiously, generally only if the fetus would have been capable of taking at least one breath if removed from the womb just before the tragic event or if the fetus is born alive and subsequently passes away.
A survival action is initiated by or on behalf of an estate to seek compensation for damages suffered by the decedent who fell victim to wrongful death before their demise.
Recoverable damages in a survival action encompass the physical pain and mental anguish experienced by the victim before their death, medical expenses incurred leading up to the passing, funeral and burial expenses, property damages, and punitive damages.
Yes, amounts recovered in a survival action are subject to a hospital lien, whereas wrongful death damages typically are not.
It is unlikely. Recovery of such damages is generally confined to instances where conscious pain and suffering can be demonstrated, even if only for a brief period.
Proving a wrongful death claim in Texas involves establishing four key elements:
The most challenging aspect of any wrongful death claim is proving negligence. While it might be straightforward in cases like drunk driving well over the legal limit, situations involving medical malpractice, for example, are often less clear and may require significant time and resources to determine. This aspect is sometimes referred to as a “breach of duty,” signifying the defendant’s responsibility for due care—a duty to keep the other person safe or refrain from actions that may cause harm.
Establishing causation can range from straightforward to exceptionally challenging. In cases like car accidents, it is relatively simple to determine if the defendant’s vehicle caused the incident.
However, in instances involving medical malpractice, proving negligence becomes intricate. For example, the connection between a negligent act or omission, such as prescribing the wrong medicine, and the subsequent death of a loved one may unfold over months or years.
If you can establish intent or a breach of duty along with causation, damages are presumed due to the loss of the injured person. Yet, in cases where harm occurs without resulting in death, proving both elements may not suffice if the nature and extent of the harm (damages) are not demonstrated.
It is a harsh reality that others’ decisions can lead to the loss of a loved one. If you find yourself in this heartbreaking situation, reach out to our Frisco lawyers for a free consultation and advice.
No, the two are distinct. “Murder” is a criminal charge, and only criminal courts can render convictions for it. In Texas, “Wrongful Death” is a civil action seeking financial damages, not imprisonment or execution. However, in cases involving murder, a wrongful death lawsuit against the perpetrator is possible. This was evident in O.J. Simpson’s case, where he was acquitted in the criminal trial but lost the wrongful death lawsuit filed by the surviving family members.
For example, if prosecutors opt not to pursue a drunk driver for manslaughter due to insufficient evidence, you can still file a “Wrongful Death” claim in Texas to potentially recover financial compensation.
In criminal cases, prosecutors must prove guilt “beyond a reasonable doubt,” whereas in civil wrongful death cases, the burden is to establish guilt by a “preponderance of the evidence” (more likely than not). This distinction explains how O.J. Simpson was acquitted in the criminal trial but lost the wrongful death claim, where the civil court jury found enough evidence to believe it was more likely than not that he caused his wife’s death.
Several avenues exist for financial compensation in Texas. “Actual damages” types of compensation include:
Call (214) 529-3476 to talk to a Frisco accidental death attorney right now. We won’t put any pressure on you to hire us on the spot. Simply learn how we’ll approach your case and get some excellent free advice. Make your decision only when you feel 100% ready. Do remember though, that the Texas statute of limitations gives you just 2 years from the date of your accident to file a claim.
We’ll come to your home or hospital room if it makes it easier on you! Phone and Zoom consultations are also available. You can call us, or use the form or chat feature on this page to request a free consultation now.
Seriously Hurt? We’ll Come to You!
FRISCO OFFICE
Mullen & Mullen Law Firm in Frisco, TX
2770 Main St #258
Frisco, TX 75033
(214) 529-3476
The Mullen & Mullen family is here to address your concerns and make the path to recovery smooth. There are no fees to get started and you pay $0 if we don’t settle your case.
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LICENSED BY THE STATES OF TEXAS & MISSOURI FOR THE GENERAL PRACTICE OF LAW. The information on this website is not intended to be legal advice. That can only come from a qualified personal injury lawyer who is familiar with all the circumstances and facts of your specific case and the law relevant to it.
