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Did you recently lose a loved one in a fatal accident in Seattle, WA? Your family deserves to hold the at-fault parties accountable for your losses. The experienced Seattle wrongful death lawyers at Davis Law Group Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers can help during this difficult time. Call us at 206-727-4000 today.
Our lawyers have committed our entire practice to helping injured parties and their families hold people accountable for their actions. We’ve been handling cases like yours since we founded our law firm in 1994.
We’re dedicated to helping grieving families recover full compensation for medical bills, loss of financial support, pain, suffering, and more. Contact our law offices in Seattle, Washington, to schedule your free consultation with a Seattle wrongful death attorney today.
After the death of a loved one, you deserve a lawyer who understands how high the stakes are. You’re dealing with an overwhelming loss. Your family’s future financial stability may be on the line. You deserve just compensation from the people who are responsible for your suffering after an accident in Seattle, WA.
Insurance adjusters will seem sympathetic. When it comes down to it, however, they’ll go to great lengths to pay less than you deserve. Their settlement offer may seem fair, but having an experienced Seattle personal injury lawyers in your corner is critical.
Some ways that our lawyers at Davis Law Group Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers can help with your Seattle, WA wrongful death case include:
Our Seattle wrongful death lawyers have been listed among the top high-stakes litigators in America. To learn more about legal representation, call for a free case review.
Under Washington state wrongful death laws, a “wrongful death” is one that is caused by someone else’s “wrongful act, neglect or default”. Wrongful death cases are brought when the victim could have filed a personal injury case but did not survive the injuries.
Wrongful death cases can involve criminal offenses. However, most are based on accidents. Regardless of the facts, wrongful death cases are handled in civil court. The remedy in these civil cases is financial compensation–although in criminal cases, the defendant can face both criminal charges and civil penalties.
For example, when a drunk driver causes a fatal accident, they can be charged with a DUI. The surviving family can also sue for damages in civil court. You can also pursue financial compensation even if the at-fault party did not commit a crime.
In Washington, the decedent’s personal representative actually files the action for wrongful death. When a decedent has a will, the personal representative is typically named in the will. If the decedent did not have a will or did not name a representative, the courts will appoint one.
That said, the damages in a wrongful death case are for the benefit of certain surviving family members, including:
There are some exceptions for children if the decedent has no surviving spouse, partner, or children. If the child was under age 18, the parent or guardian can file a lawsuit if they regularly contributed to the child’s support. If the child was over age 18, there are also circumstances where the parent is entitled to sue for damages.
Do you have questions about Washington’s wrongful death laws? Our lawyers in Seattle are here to provide answers. We offer free case reviews, so there’s no financial risk in seeking quality legal advice. Contact us today to get started.
Cases involving fatal injuries are slightly different from your typical personal injury case. The victim has no hope of making a recovery. That means your settlement or verdict is likely to be much higher than the ordinary personal injury claim.
That makes it especially important to have an experienced lawyer assess your case value before you take a settlement deal.
Relevant factors to consider include:
Our Seattle wrongful death attorneys will carefully analyze these and other factors when calculating your case value. We’ll also work with your family to fully understand how the loss has impacted your lives.
In a successful wrongful death case, survivors can seek compensation for economic and non-economic damages.
Some examples of the types of damages that may be available include:
If the victim had no surviving spouse, partner, or children, parents can pursue compensation for:
If the defendant’s acts were intentional, malicious, or especially shocking, the court may also award punitive damages. These damages are awarded only to punish the defendant. As such, they’re relatively rare.
Washington has a pure comparative negligence law. Even if your loved one shared some fault for the accident that caused their death, your family won’t lose the right to compensation. That only happens if your loved one was 100% responsible. Instead, your compensation will be reduced in proportion to your lost loved one’s percentage of fault.
You don’t have to let the insurance company blame your family member. They can’t defend themselves–but our team at Davis Law Group Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers has the tools to fight back.
Our lawyers in Seattle always anticipate the insurance company’s attempt to blame the victim. We’ll work hard to limit the impact these allegations have on your case. We will also work to gather enough evidence to prove your loved one was in no way responsible for their own death.
Fatal accidents happen every day, unfortunately. You can pursue a Seattle wrongful death claim after the same types of accidents that create valid personal injury cases.
Some of the most common causes of wrongful death include:
If you’re wondering whether you have a valid wrongful death case, contact our team today. We’ll make sure you understand your legal rights and do everything possible to protect your family’s right to compensation.
Most wrongful death actions are based on negligence. Wrongful deaths typically happen because someone failed to exercise reasonable caution under the circumstances.
Surviving family members typically must prove the following:
Our lawyers will collect and review all of the evidence that can be used to support your case. Depending on the situation, that may include police reports, medical records, statements from witnesses, and testimony from experts.
Under Washington law, the statute of limitations for wrongful death cases is three years. You have three years from the date of death to file a lawsuit for damages. After three years, you lose your right to sue the at-fault parties for damages.
Your family is already dealing with enough after the loss of a loved one in Seattle, WA. You shouldn’t have to bear the financial costs of someone else’s mistake. For help fighting for justice, call Davis Law Group Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation with a trusted Seattle wrongful death lawyer today.
Our Personal Injury law firm in Seattle, WA also provides:
Davis Law Group Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers
2101 4th Ave #1030, Seattle, WA 98121
Hours: 24 hours, 7 days a week
2101 4th Ave #1030,
Seattle, WA 98121
Phone: 206-727-4000
Complete this CONFIDENTIAL form or call 206-539-0939 for a FREE consultation.
Complete this CONFIDENTIAL form or call 206-727-4000 for a FREE consultation.
