206-727-4000 If your loved one has been the victim of wrongful death in Washington call award-winning attorney Chris Davis in Seattle for help. Free private consultations and great client care for almost 20 years. One of the best attorneys in Bellevue, Kirkland and Renton. Straight talk about your legal needs.
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Washington Wrongful Death Attorneys

Wrongful Death Lawyers in Seattle, Bellevue and Renton

Losing a loved one due to accidental or wrongful death is a devastating experience. When a family member’s life is suddenly cut short as a result of the carelessness or negligence of another, the grief and feelings of loss can be overwhelming. If this has happened in your family, you may be going through a complex array of emotions, including sadness, denial, anger, and hopelessness. No one is ever prepared for such a tragic event.

When the spouse, parent, sibling or other relative of a wrongful death victim contacts our Seattle wrongful death attorneys, we see their pain and know this is an emotionally challenging time. There are so many questions:
  • How could this have happened? 
  • Why wasn’t something done to prevent our loved one’s death?
  • How can we survive emotionally and financially after this tragedy?
  • How will we pay the medical bills and funeral costs?


Webinar: Understanding Wrongful Death Law in Washington State

If a loved one has been killed in Washington state, you may be entitled to significant compensation under the law.  To get outstanding assistance with your wrongful death case, call Davis Law Group now now toll free at 206-727-4000. 

Washington State Wrongful Death Law - Free Information

wrongful death book FREE BOOK - Wrongful Death in Washington State by Seattle Wrongful Death Attorney, Chris Davis

FREE REPORT - Understanding Wrongful Death In Washington State (pdf) by Seattle Wrongful Death Lawyer, Chris Davis

 

Recognizing the Value of Family

In most wrongful death cases, the estate and certain surviving family members will have a claim for damages. The estate is typically allowed to claim damages for the decedent’s lost earnings, medical expenses, funeral expenses, and conscious “pain and suffering” experienced by the decedent before death. Certain surviving family members may also have individual claims for damages as a result of the decedent’s death, including loss of consortium (i.e., destruction of the relationship) and emotional distress.

An accidental death, unintentional death, or 
wrongful death claim may arise when a person dies as a result of the negligent, careless, intentional or reckless acts of another person or entity (including a corporation or governmental agency). The death could occur because of a car accident, medical malpractice, an on-the-job injury, nursing home abuse or neglect, or from any other careless conduct. 

Many people are surprised to learn that Washington wrongful death law only allows certain family members to recover for a wrongful death of a loved one. In most fatal accident cases, recovery is limited to a surviving spouse and children. In some death cases the decedent’s surviving siblings and parents may also have separate claims if they are financially dependent on the decedent at the time of death.

A wrongful death or survival action is one of the more complex types of cases in the field of personal injury law. These cases require a thorough knowledge and understanding of Washington’s complex wrongful death and survival laws and the numerous appellate decisions that interpret and define them. These cases almost always involve complex legal issues or questions where the outcomes are heavily, if not completely, influenced by the individual facts of the case. In most cases, a wrongful death action requires urgent investigation and preparation to increase the chances of a favorable outcome. Furthermore, this type of case often requires a substantial outlay of financial resources (many times exceeding six figures) to hire appropriate experts, properly prepare and successfully present the case either to an insurance company or a jury. 

FREE Wrongful Death Legal Consultationfree consultation seattle attorney

Call 206-727-4000 now for a FREE legal consultation regarding your wrongful death case.  We have meeting space in Seattle, Bellevue, Mercer Island and Renton to serve accident victims all over Washington State. 

Yes, we can arrange to have someone come to you if you are unable to visit one of our our offices. 

Wrongful Death Attorneys in the State of Washington 

We can help whether you live in Auburn, Bellevue, Bellingham, Bremerton, Cascade, Edmonds, Everett, Federal Way, Kennewick, Kent, Kirkland, Lakewood, Longview, Olympia, Redmond, Renton, Richland, Seattle, Shoreline, Spokane, Tacoma, Vancouver, Yakima or the greater Seattle area. Having substantial experience with wrongful death claims and often trying these kinds of cases in court, the Davis Law Group has the skill and expertise necessary to help you.


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Library for Wrongful Death:

  • 5 Dead, 2 Injured in Anacortes Oil Refinery Blast
    Description: 5 people were killed and 2 were injured as a result of an oil refinery explosion on Friday April 2, at 12:30 am. Maintenance crews were working the get the bank of boilers ready to resume operation when the blast occurred.
  • The Evolution of the Obituary: Classic traditions and new trends in memorializing your loved one. [PDF]
    Description: Classic traditions and new trends in memorializing your loved one.
  • Funeral Homes, Funeral Services, Mortuaries in Seattle, Washington
    Description: Planning a funeral in Seattle after a tragic accident? Here is a quick list of funeral homes in the Seattle Washington area.
  • The Benefits of Hiring a Lawyer in a Wrongful Death Case
    Description: No wrongful death case should ever be filed or pursued without the assistance of a qualified wrongful death attorney.
  • Preparing for a Wrongful Death Trial
    Description: If the case does not settle after discovery and ADR or mediation has failed, then the case may proceed to trial. Each side has the option of trying the case before a judge or jury. Depending on the jurisdiction, a jury trial may not happen automatically.
  • Alternative Dispute Resolution or Mediation in Wrongful Death Cases
    Description: Depending on the jurisdiction and the complexity of a wrongful death case, the discovery phase in litigation may take many months or sometimes even years. When discovery is finally completed, and each side generally knows what evidence will likely be offered at trial, the parties may then begin to conduct settlement discussions.
  • Wrongful Death Expert Witnesses
    Description: After a wrongful death case has been filed in court, it will often require the assistance of expert testimony to help the attorney prove one or more elements of the action. Since wrongful death cases can involve many different issues that are often complex and difficult to prove, an experienced wrongful death attorney will usually want to engage the assistance of one or more experts early on in the case.
  • Wrongful Death Lawsuit: The Discovery Process
    Description: After the wrongful death lawsuit is filed and the defendant is properly and timely served, both sides participate in a process of exchanging information about the case. This process is known as discovery. There are many different forms of discovery, or different ways to request or obtain information from the other side in a case. In Washington state, the rules governing the discovery process are quite broad and allow each side to investigate what evidence and witnesses may be introduced at trial. Even if the requested information does not appear directly relevant to the case, it may still be a proper request if it may lead to the discovery of relevant information.
  • Wrongful Death Suit Against a Governmental Entity in Washington State
    Description: Sometimes a wrongful death claim may exist against a governmental entity, like a town or city, municipality, county, or the state. It may not be immediately apparent that the defendant is a governmental entity (e.g., a transit or utility company) but it is very important to understand that many jurisdictions, including the state of Washington, have specific pre-filing laws for when a claim or lawsuit may be brought against a governmental entity.
  • Damage Factors in Common Wrongful Death Claims
    Description: Let’s now look at different family relationships to help you get a feel for the interaction between the family relationship each claimant had with the deceased along with the elements of compensation which might be available under Washington law. Keep in mind the application of the other seven factors in determining the value of your case. As always, consulting with an experienced wrongful death attorney will help you determine how these factors may impact your claim.
  • Wrongful Death Damages Recoverable by the Beneficiaries in Washingon
    Description: Only certain designated surviving relatives may recover individual damages for the death of a loved one. In Washington, those relatives will include a surviving spouse or registered domestic partner, a child or stepchild, or a financially dependent sibling or parent.
  • The Specific Damages Recoverable in a Washington Wrongful Death Case
    Description: Washington law states that only certain types of damages may be recoverable in a wrongful death case. The deceased’s estate may recover damages. Certain designated beneficiaries of the estate (e.g., a surviving spouse or child, or a sibling or parent financially dependent on the deceased) may also recover damages. Generally, the damages are divided into two categories: economic and non-economic. Economic damages usually refer to those damages that are easier to calculate, like lost earnings, medical expenses, and other forms of compensatory damages. Non-economic damages usually refer to the subjective losses, like pain, suffering, grief, mental anguish, and the loss of the relationship with the deceased.
  • The Eight Factors Which Determine The Value Of A Wrongful Death Case
    Description: In reading through the different factors that may affect the expected outcome of your case, you may be disheartened. You may not agree with the factors or wonder why something entirely outside of a family’s control has any relevance at all in a wrongful death case. I understand how you feel and most people who suffer the loss of a family member feel the same way. Unfortunately, we can't change these factors or the law itself. But I can tell you that my goal is to educate Washington citizens about the factors which may influence the value of a wrongful death case.
  • Washington’s Law on the Wrongful Death of a Child
    Description: Washington State authorizes a parent to recover damages for the loss of a minor child, as long as the parent has regularly contributed to the support of the child. The requirement that a parent must regularly contribute to the support of the child has been a recent change to the law. This change was made to prevent a parent (oftentimes, the father) who never or rarely supported the child during the child’s lifetime from profiting financially from the child’s death.
  • The Wrongful Death Settlement Demand Package
    Description: By providing a comprehensive and persuasive settlement demand package, you are helping the insurance adjustor build his or her file so that the company can justify paying out a large settlement. Providing a comprehensive and persuasive settlement demand package gives the insurance company a number of reasons for settling the claim immediately and fairly rather than going to court. Keep in mind that an experienced attorney knows how the present the package in an appropriate way so that the information increases the change of a favorable settlement. A “do it yourself” approach to this step could provide the insurance company with information that can help THEIR case.
  • How Wrongful Death Claims Are Evaluated
    Description: Statistically, more than 95% of all wrongful death claims are settled prior to trial, either during the claims process or during litigation before the trial. A fair and reasonable settlement may be successfully negotiated if your claim is properly documented, presented, and argued to the insurance adjustor.
  • Insurance Benefits and Coverage Available In Wrongful Death Claims
    Description: There are different types of insurance benefits that may be available to you or other surviving family members if the death of your loved one is caused by a motor vehicle accident
  • Children as Wrongful Death Beneficiaries
    Description: If the deceased has minor children, then they are considered beneficiaries of the estate and a wrongful death action is pursued on behalf of the children. When minor children are involved, they will have a claim for expected contributions that the deceased parent would have made to them until age 18 – the age of majority in Washington state.
  • Wrongful Death Action Brought by Personal Representative
    Description: To bring a wrongful death case, a person called a “Personal Representative” (PR) must first be appointed by the court on behalf of the deceased person’s estate. The PR is the only person who can file and prosecute a wrongful death action. A separate document (called a petition) must be filed in court which asks the judge to specifically appoint the PR. Oftentimes, the PR may also be a wrongful death beneficiary, like a surviving spouse or adult child. If the court accepts the person designated as the PR, then an order is entered giving that person all of the rights and obligations that come with this position.
  • Washington State Wrongful Death Law: Civil vs. Criminal Responsibility
    Description: A person who causes a wrongful death in Washington State may be criminally responsible. For this to occur, the wrongdoer’s conduct must be worse than ordinary negligence. Usually, the wrongdoer must act intentionally or recklessly to be guilty of a crime. If criminal liability exists, the wrongdoer is punished with jail time and/or fines.
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FREE Wrongful Death Legal Consultation


Contact us now for a FREE legal consultation regarding your wrongful death case.  We have offices in Seattle, Bellevue, Mercer Island and Renton to serve accident victims all over Washington State.

Yes
,
we can arrange to have someone come to you if you are unable to visit one of our our offices.
  


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2101 Fourth Avenue
Suite 630
Seattle, WA 98121
Phone: (206) 727-4000
Fax: 206-727-4001

Bellevue
11061 NE 2nd Street
Suite 250
Bellevue, WA 98004
Phone: 425-298-3104
(Appointment Only)

Renton/Tukwila
14900 Interurban Avenue South
Tukwila, WA 98168
Phone: 425-298-3104
(Appointment Only)

Mercer Island
2955 80th Ave SE
Mercer Island, WA 98040
Phone: 425-298-3104
(Appointment Only)

Central Washington
Wenatchee, WA 98801
Phone: 509-731-3104
(Appointment Only)

Toll Free: 1-800-4-Accident

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