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Seattle Wrongful Death Lawyer

Losing a loved one due to another party’s negligence or wrongdoing is devastating. You are likely heartbroken, confused, and angry. 

In Washington, when a person’s death is caused by another party’s wrongful action or negligence, their beneficiaries may be able to recover compensation for their damages by filing a wrongful death claim. At Seattle Injury Law, we understand that no amount of money can ever compensate for the death of someone you loved. 

However, pursuing justice and recovering financial compensation can help ease some of the burdens caused by their death. Our Seattle personal injury attorneys have the experience, skills, and resources to help you recover maximum compensation in a wrongful death claim. 

Call (800) 928-5486 or visit our contact page and schedule a free consultation. We will listen to you, answer your questions, and explain your rights. If we represent you, our Seattle wrongful death lawyers will fight tirelessly to get the justice and full available damages you deserve. 

Why Choose Seattle Injury Law?

When you’re grieving the loss of someone you love, choosing the right legal team may feel like just another impossible task. At Seattle Injury Law, we’re not just here to handle paperwork, we’re here to walk beside you, advocate for you, and fight for the justice your loved one deserves. Here’s what sets our law firm apart:

  • Our Seattle wrongful death lawyers are compassionate. We understand that you are hurting, and we want to listen to you, answer your questions, and support you through the legal process of a wrongful death action.
  • You are our number one priority. Our team genuinely cares about your well-being and customizes our legal services to meet the needs of your specific circumstances. 
  • We have a proven record of recovering maximum client compensation, having recovered over $300 million in settlements and verdicts for our clients. Our Seattle wrongful death lawyers fight tirelessly to collect every dollar you are owed. 

What Is A Wrongful Death Claim?

A wrongful death action is a civil suit to recover damages when your loved one dies because of another person or entity’s negligence or wrongful conduct. 

Revised Code of Washington §4.20.010 states:

“Wrongful death – Right of action,

  1. When the death of a person is caused by the wrongful act, neglect, or default of another person, his or her personal representative may maintain an action against the person causing the death for the economic and noneconomic damages sustained by the beneficiaries listed in RCW 4.20.020 as a result of the decedent’s death, in such amounts as determined by a trier of fact to be just under all circumstances of the case.
  2. This section applies regardless of whether or not the death was caused under such circumstances as amount, in law, to a felony.”

The civil right of action for the beneficiaries to recover damages is entirely separate and distinct from any criminal action that may or may not be brought against the defendant. If the defendant is charged with a crime, that legal proceeding has nothing to do with this civil right of action.

Who Can File A Seattle Wrongful Death Claim?

In Washington, the decedent’s personal representative can file a wrongful death action to recover damages sustained by the beneficiaries of the decedent. 

The beneficiaries of the decedent are outlined in Revised Code of Washington §4.20.020, which states:

“Wrongful death – Beneficiaries of action.

Every action under RCW 4.20.010 shall be for the benefit or the spouse, state registered domestic partner, child or children, including stepchildren, of the person whose death shall have been so caused. If there is no spouse, state registered cosmetic partner, or such child or children, such action may be maintained for the benefit of the parents or siblings of the deceased.”

So, the persons who will receive the compensation recovered through a wrongful death claim are the spouse or domestic partner and children of the deceased. If there is no spouse, domestic partner, or children, then the parents or siblings may receive the damages recovered. 

What Causes Most Seattle Wrongful Deaths?

Wrongful death can happen for numerous reasons. Some of the most common causes of wrongful deaths in Seattle include:

The attorneys and investigators at Seattle Injury Law will scrutinize the facts of each accident or incident that caused the death of your loved one to help identify all possible causes and potentially liable parties. 

What Compensation Can Be Recovered in a Seattle Wrongful Death Claim?

The compensation you can recover in a Seattle wrongful death action varies based on the specific facts of your case. Some types of compensation you may be able to recover include economic and non-economic damages.

Economic damages include verifiable financial losses such as medical expenses related to the decedent’s injury or illness that led to death, funeral and burial costs, loss of income and support, and other tangible losses and costs incurred because of the wrongful death of your loved one.

Non-economic damages are subjective, non-monetary losses such as pain and suffering, loss of consortium, and other intangible losses and costs suffered due to your loved one’s death. 

Can I Afford a Seattle Wrongful Death Attorney?

At Seattle Injury Law, we handle wrongful death claims on a contingency fee basis. This means our attorney fees are contingent on our recovering compensation for you. If our Seattle wrongful death attorneys don’t recover your compensation, you pay us nothing. 

We will pay all expenses of pursuing your claim upfront, and you do not pay for anything until we have collected your compensation. 

When we take your case, we will enter into a written agreement that outlines how we will work together. This contract will state exactly what percentage of your compensation we will be paid for our attorney fees.

Contingency fee agreements help level the playing field for you and other injury victims, giving you the resources needed to aggressively pursue the damages you are owed without risking your own assets. 

Why Do I Need a Seattle Wrongful Death Attorney?

Insurance companies and defense attorneys will fight to deny liability and try to settle your claim for as little as possible. An experienced Seattle wrongful death attorney can investigate the accident or incident that caused your loved one’s death to help identify all causes and all liable parties.

Your attorney will conduct discovery, which may include depositions, interrogatories, and requests and subpoenas for pthe roduction of documents, to uncover evidence to build your strongest case. They will tailor a customized legal strategy based on the specific facts of your loved one’s death.

A wrongful death attorney in Seattle can help establish the existence and value of all damages sustained by the beneficiaries and work to reach a fair settlement as quickly as possible. When a fair settlement is not reached, they can take your case to trial to recover the damages due. 

Your chances of recovering maximum compensation are much greater when you are represented by a skilled Seattle wrongful death attorney. 

Contact Our Seattle Wrongful Death Attorneys Today

At Seattle Injury Law, we understand that you are grieving. We know that no amount of money will mend your broken heart. We want to help recover the financial compensation you deserve so you can focus on your grieving and healing without worrying about the monetary burdens caused by your loved one’s death. Call (800) 928-5486 or complete the short form on our contact page to schedule a free consultation with one of our Seattle wrongful death attorneys to discuss your rights.