Skip to content
Malpractice Center

Best Wrongful Death Lawyers in San Antonio, TX (2026)

For this evidence-based 2026 list of San Antonio wrongful death lawyers, we checked published results and client reviews against the kinds of cases each firm handles.

Sources checked

5 lawyers and firms

View from the highest point in the San Antonio Botanical Garden, San Antonio, Texas
Photo: Jouaienttoi, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The short answer

Wayne Wright comes first on this list. Clients have left many reviews since the firm opened in 1996, often describing how clearly its lawyers communicate. Ask who would handle your family's file when you call, and whether they've handled deaths with the same cause as your loved one's. If your loved one's death involved medical care, our Texas law guide explains the deadlines to check.

At a glance

  1. 1Wayne WrightFree consultation4.7 out of 5
  2. 2Miller Medical MalpracticeFree consultation4.9 out of 5
  3. 3JRE INJURY LAWFree consultation5.0 out of 5
  4. 4Snapka Law FirmFree consultation4.3 out of 5
  5. 5Military Medical MalpracticeFree consultationNo rating

Best Wrongful Death Lawyers in San Antonio

  1. Open spot. Feature your firm in San AntonioFor lawyers
  2. Wayne Wright logo1

    Wayne Wright

    4.7786 Google reviewsRated 4.7 out of 5 on Google from 786 reviews

    Best for: Families seeking regular case updates

    Wayne Wright's client reviews put communication front and center: people describe getting answers to their questions and regular updates as their cases progressed. The firm has 786 Google reviews and a 4.7 rating. That's substantial feedback for families to read, though the reviews aren't limited to wrongful death claims.

    CallWebsiteFree case reviewIs this your firm?
    How they were picked

    Stood out in our review for its years of experience and the recognition it has earned.

    We order firms by how much of their work is medical malpractice, the results they publish, what their clients say, their experience, their standing with the regulator and the recognition they have earned, all from public records and the firms' own sites. How lists are made

  3. Miller Medical Malpractice logo2

    Miller Medical Malpractice

    4.946 Google reviewsRated 4.9 out of 5 on Google from 46 reviews

    Best for: Deaths involving surgical complications

    On Miller Medical Malpractice's own site, you can read about a $2,750,000 settlement for failure to treat surgical complications; another settlement, for failure to diagnose stroke, was $2,158,307.01. Neither settlement is labeled a wrongful death recovery, though both show medical negligence cases the firm has handled. You'll also find wrongful death listed separately on the firm's site.

    CallWebsiteFree case reviewIs this your firm?
    How they were picked

    Stood out in our review for the results it publishes and how much of its work is medical malpractice.

    We order firms by how much of their work is medical malpractice, the results they publish, what their clients say, their experience, their standing with the regulator and the recognition they have earned, all from public records and the firms' own sites. How lists are made

  4. JRE INJURY LAW logo3

    JRE INJURY LAW

    5.0419 Google reviewsRated 5.0 out of 5 on Google from 419 reviews

    Best for: English- and Spanish-speaking families

    JRE INJURY LAW identifies Odle v. Arroyo, a confidential settlement involving a death caused by medical negligence, with Ethan L. Shaw as lead counsel. It's a directly relevant result, but confidentiality leaves no recovery amount to evaluate. Shaw is listed as of counsel to the firm and a partner at Shaw Cowart, LLP; Joseph R. Echavarria is JRE INJURY LAW's founder.

    CallWebsiteFree case reviewIs this your firm?
    How they were picked

    Stood out in our review for the recognition it has earned and what its clients say.

    We order firms by how much of their work is medical malpractice, the results they publish, what their clients say, their experience, their standing with the regulator and the recognition they have earned, all from public records and the firms' own sites. How lists are made

  5. Not sure who to call first?

    Tell us what happened. A malpractice lawyer who serves San Antonio can look at it with you, and it costs nothing.

  6. Snapka Law Firm logo4

    Snapka Law Firm

    4.319 Google reviewsRated 4.3 out of 5 on Google from 19 reviews

    Best for: Deaths involving hospital negligence

    Because medical malpractice accounts for most of Snapka Law Firm's work, its site addresses hospital negligence specifically, along with wrongful death. For families questioning hospital care, that work supports including the firm here. Kathy Snapka and Kathryn Snapka appear among the firm's attorneys; it has a San Antonio office and offices in other cities as well.

    CallWebsiteFree case reviewIs this your firm?
    How they were picked

    Stood out in our review for the recognition it has earned and how much of its work is medical malpractice.

    We order firms by how much of their work is medical malpractice, the results they publish, what their clients say, their experience, their standing with the regulator and the recognition they have earned, all from public records and the firms' own sites. How lists are made

  7. 5

    Military Medical Malpractice

    Best for: Military and VA care claims

    Military Medical Malpractice reports a $1,800,000 result in Carroll; that wrongful death case involved a failure to diagnose breast cancer in time. You can also read published results involving birth injuries or surgical errors. The firm also handles federal tort claims, including malpractice at VA hospitals.

    CallWebsiteFree case reviewIs this your firm?
    How they were picked

    Stood out in our review for the results it publishes and how much of its work is medical malpractice.

    We order firms by how much of their work is medical malpractice, the results they publish, what their clients say, their experience, their standing with the regulator and the recognition they have earned, all from public records and the firms' own sites. How lists are made

Where they are in San Antonio

A few minutes that might help

Questions about your own case?
How a malpractice claim usually moves in Texas

  1. 1.Something went wrong

    Write down dates and names while they're fresh.

  2. 2.Get your records

    Ask for your full chart and test results.

  3. 3.Free case review

    A lawyer looks at what happened, free.

  4. 4.Medical opinion

    A doctor checks whether the care fell short.

  5. 5.Notice before suing

    Some places need a notice before a claim.

  6. 6.File before the deadline

    Your lawyer starts the claim before the deadline.

  7. 7.Settlement or trial

    Many claims settle. Some go to a judge or jury.

Your deadline: 2 years from the treatmentRead the Texas law guide

Each step in more detail

  1. Review the circumstances

    Using the dates you know, explain the treatment and death to a lawyer. Based on that account, the lawyer can assess whether Texas health care liability rules apply, or whether the death falls under another kind of claim, including a federal claim.

  2. Check the filing clock

    You generally have 2 years under Texas law from the breach or completion of treatment or hospitalization to file. No general discovery rule applies. If a child is under 12, the deadline is the fourteenth birthday; otherwise, age doesn't change the 2-year rule.

  3. Review records and file

    Before filing a complaint, discuss the medical chart's contents and what the lawyer still needs to review. What filing deadline does the lawyer identify for you? A 10-year outer limit also applies under Texas law.

  4. Serve the expert report

    After each defendant files an answer, Texas gives you 120 days to provide that defendant's required expert report and CV. You find the expert's qualifications in the CV. If you fail, fees follow along with dismissal with prejudice (you can't refile the claim).

  5. Evaluate the claim's resolution

    How do the medical findings and losses you're claiming affect possible resolution, according to your lawyer? Under Texas law, health care liability claims face caps on non-economic damages; death cases also have a separate inflation-indexed cap on total damages. Don't use published settlements to predict your outcome.

Malpractice claims in San Antonio: the rules that matter

The filing deadline in Texas
  1. The clock startsOn the day of the treatment
  2. Time to start a claim2 yearsMiss it and the claim is usually lost.
  3. At the very most10 yearsafter the treatment, with a few exceptions
Limits on damages in Texas
  • Pain and sufferingCapped at $250,000
  • All damages togetherNo overall cap
  • Expert paperworkServe an expert report and CV for each defendant within 120 days after that defendant's answer is filed; failure leads to dismissal with prejudice and fees.

Read the Texas law guideWork out your own deadline

Local hospitals

Star ratings from CMS Care Compare. Look up a hospital

Filing deadline for most malpractice claims in Texas
2 years
Source
Outer limit (statute of repose)
10 years
Source
Hospitals near San Antonio with a CMS star rating
6
Source

What a malpractice lawyer costs in San Antonio

  1. The first callOften free. Ask before you book.
  2. A written agreementThe share the lawyer takes, set out before work starts.
  3. If you recover moneyThe agreed share and the case costs come out of it.
  4. If the claim failsNo legal fee on a contingency agreement. Ask about costs.
With contingency fees, which four listed firms confirm, the lawyer takes a share of the recovery; if the claim fails, there's no lawyer's fee. You can consult all five firms for free. Costs aren't lawyer's fees. Obtaining records and medical opinions costs money, and court fees are part of those expenses too. Who advances those expenses, and who ultimately pays them, isn't established by the terms the firms have published. While your claim is pending, will the firm carry those costs, and what could you owe if you don't recover anything? Get the fee explained in writing before signing, including how the firm deducts expenses from a recovery.

You can get a free consultation, according to all five listed firms. Contingency fees are also confirmed by four of those firms.

What to bring to your first call

  • The treatment and death set out in a written timeline
  • Dates of hospital stays, together with your appointment and procedure dates
  • Treating clinicians and hospitals, listed by name
  • Discharge or delivery notes and any other records you have
  • Bills and receipts for care
  • Hospital or insurer letters you've received
  • Anything you think explains what happened, such as photos or documents
  • Your questions about the fees and the attorney handling your case

Questions to ask a lawyer

  1. 1Do your past death claims involve care or circumstances like ours?
  2. 2Who would be the attorney handling our file?
  3. 3To review the records and prepare any required expert report, who would you use?
  4. 4When do we have to file in our situation?
  5. 5What's your method for calculating the contingency fee?
  6. 6If we recover nothing, who pays the expenses of the case?
  7. 7When you have updates, how will our family hear them?
  8. 8What could Texas damage caps mean for our claim?

Choosing a wrongful death lawyer in San Antonio

Think about what caused your loved one's death before looking at a firm's advertising. You wouldn't ask the same questions after a death following hospital care as you would after a fatal truck crash. Each firm here says it handles wrongful death claims. You can read surgical-error results at Miller Medical Malpractice, for instance; Military Medical Malpractice handles federal claims, so their work isn't interchangeable. Ask whether the lawyer has handled a death after care or an event like your family's.

Ask who will review the medical care

Write down what happened to your loved one and bring that short account. You don't need the full chart to write down treatment dates and the names of facilities involved. Would the firm seek a medical opinion about the care, and who would read your loved one's records? You have to file an expert report in a Texas health care liability claim; it's not just something to ease your concerns.

  • Which attorney would take your file, and who would you contact with day-to-day questions?
  • A lawyer discussing similar claims may not be allowed to share much about a settlement if its terms are confidential.
  • How often should you expect an update from the team if there's nothing new to report?
  • What would the lawyer need to learn before agreeing to take your case?

Ask plainly about money during the consultation. All five listed firms say consultations are free, but only four confirm that they charge contingency fees, which tie the lawyer's payment to money recovered. A free conversation doesn't mean you won't owe expenses down the road. Ask for written terms before agreeing to hire the firm, so you know who pays for medical records and expert opinions if your claim fails.

Be wary of hiring someone who won't explain the fees before asking you to sign, or who promises a recovery. How a firm communicates can show up in reviews. But reviews don't tell you whether the lawyer has handled claims like yours, and you should read the unfavorable feedback as well. A published result tells you about a past case, not your family's possible recovery. You're reading general information here, not legal advice. To understand how these rules fit your situation, talk with a Texas lawyer.

Questions people ask

Which San Antonio firm on this list should we call about a death after medical treatment?
Look for work that matches the care your loved one received. For surgical complications and missed diagnoses, Miller Medical Malpractice has published results to read. If you're questioning hospital care, Snapka Law Firm's site addresses hospital negligence; Military Medical Malpractice lists VA and federal claims. Wrongful death work also appears at Wayne Wright and JRE INJURY LAW. Before choosing, have them discuss comparable death claims.
How long do we have to file a medical malpractice death claim in Texas?
To file a Texas health care liability claim, you generally have 2 years from the breach or from when treatment or hospitalization was completed. These claims don't come with a general discovery rule. Learning that something went wrong doesn't necessarily start the clock for your claim. Have a Texas lawyer identify which deadline applies to your family's circumstances.
Does the 10-year outer limit mean we can wait to contact a lawyer?
No. Along with the usual 2-year filing rule, Texas's health care liability statute imposes a 10-year outer limit known as a statute of repose. You still have to meet the earlier deadline, despite that limit. Call a Texas lawyer without delay. If records are missing or the hospital hasn't answered your questions, don't wait for them.
What does a Texas medical malpractice claim need beyond the medical records?
Once a defendant files an answer, Texas requires you to provide an expert report and CV for that defendant within 120 days. The expert's qualifications appear in the CV. If you fail, dismissal with prejudice and fees follow. Who would prepare that report, and how would the firm evaluate the care described in your loved one's chart?
Can we speak with a lawyer without paying for the consultation?
According to all five firms listed here, you can have the consultation for free. If the claim fails, you owe no lawyer's fee under contingency terms, which four firms confirm; otherwise, the lawyer takes a share of recovery. Expenses aren't lawyer's fees. Get written terms explaining what you'd pay before you agree to hire anyone.
How long does a wrongful death malpractice case take?
You won't find a reliable estimate for finishing a case in these firms' published information. Although Texas sets deadlines for filing and expert reports, neither tells you when your claim will come to an end. After the chart review, what work would still need doing, and how would the lawyer keep your family updated while the case remains pending?
Are the rules different when a child is involved?
For Texas health care liability claims, the deadline for a child under 12 is the fourteenth birthday; for everyone else, age doesn't change the 2-year rule. If a child dies, that rule doesn't by itself establish when the family must file a wrongful death claim. Have a Texas lawyer identify which claim you have and explain the clock that applies.
What should we do first if a loved one died and we suspect medical negligence?
Put the treatment dates in writing, along with what you'd like a lawyer to review. While you're waiting for the full chart, gather your available records and call rather than putting it off. Who can bring the claim, and when must it be filed? If any treatment took place at a VA or military facility, mention that right away.
Do Texas damage caps affect compensation after a medical negligence death?
For health care liability claims, Texas limits non-economic damages. In death cases, total damages also face a separate cap that's indexed to inflation. What you can recover may depend on those rules. Rather than estimating your claim's value from a firm's published settlement, have a Texas lawyer explain how the caps apply to your particular claim.

Sources

  1. Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 74.251, Texas Legislature
  2. Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 74.303, Public.Law (official text)
  3. State Enactments of Selected Medical Liability Reforms (as of 8/27/2026), Medical Professional Liability Association
  4. Contributory Negligence/Comparative Fault Laws in All 50 States (updated 6/10/2026), Matthiesen, Wickert & Lehrer, S.C.
  5. Medical Liability/Malpractice Merit Affidavits and Expert Witnesses, National Conference of State Legislatures
  6. Hospital General Information, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
  7. Malpractice Center methodology, Malpractice Center

Nearby cities

Other lists in San Antonio

Hurt by medical care in San Antonio? Let's talk it through.

Most people who reach out aren't sure yet, and that's fine. Share a few lines and a malpractice lawyer near you can look at it with you, at no cost.

  • It's free, and talking to a lawyer doesn't commit you to anything.
  • Where we know the local rules, you'll see your likely filing deadline right away.
  • Your answers are encrypted and never sold or used for ads.

Start with one question

Get the top spot for wrongful death lawyers in San Antonio

The featured spot on this page is open. Whoever takes it is the first lawyer people see when they come here looking for help.

  • One featured spot per list, so you're never one of several
  • Shown first and labeled Featured, for a year
  • Your photo, your bio, a call button and case review requests

From $1,800a year, practice area list

Every plan and market or ask to be considered for the list itself, which is free.

Ask about this spot

  • Best Wrongful Death Lawyers in San Antonio, TX (2026)

A flat yearly fee, labeled Featured on the page. Never a share of any case.

Hurt by medical care?Talk it through with a lawyer, free.