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Washington wrongful death lawyer
No family should ever have to go through the emotional devastation of losing a loved one in an avoidable accident. Yet, sadly, fatal accidents still happen far too frequently in Washington State. Many of these accidents could have been prevented, if only proper care had been taken by the defendants.
If your loved one was killed due to the negligence of another party, our compassionate Washington wrongful death lawyers are ready to help. While we fully understand that no amount of money can ever come close to making up for your tremendous loss, we here to help you exercise your legal rights so that you can hold the responsible party accountable and so that you are able to recover compensation to support your family.
At Khan Law Firm, PLLC, our Seattle personal injury attorneys have the skills and experience required to take on any type of wrongful death claim. Fatal accidents can have many different causes, and though the underlying cause will not have an impact on your ability to bring a legal claim, it could affect the manner in which your lawsuit will proceed. It is important that you work with the right legal team. Our compassionate attorneys have helped families of victims recover compensation for cases involving:
- Auto accidents;
- Drunk driving and drugged driving accidents;
- Tractor trailer accidents;
- Motorcycle accidents;
- Pedestrian collisions;
- Medical errors and medical negligence;
- Nursing home abuse;
- Premises liability claims, including animal attacks;
- Drowning accidents, including pools and boats;
- Workplace accidents; and
- Defective products claims.
Washington wrongful death lawsuits: eligible parties
ll wrongful death lawsuits must be brought under Chapter 4.20 of the Revised Code of Washington (RCW). Unfortunately, under this state statute, not all loved ones of the victim are eligible to bring a wrongful death claim. Indeed, to initiate this type of legal action, you must be a close relative of the deceased. More specifically, you must be a:
- Spouse;
- Child (including stepchildren);
- Parent;
- Grandparent or grandchild; or Sibling.
Though, it should be noted that not all wrongful death claim rights are equal. The victim spouse and children will have the primary right to file a legal claim. Their other close relatives may only take legal action if there is no spouse or child to bring the claim, or if the eligible spouse or children simply decline to take any legal action. Further, in the event that there are no eligible family members around to bring a claim, the estate of the deceased can step in and initiate legal action.
- The Timeline to File a Claim in Washington Under the Revised Code of Washington, eligible parties have three years to initiate a wrongful death lawsuit. If your case is not filed within the appropriate timeframe, then you and your family could simply lose out on your legal rights. In fact, waiting too long to take action could result in your claiming being barred by law. Do not let this happen to you; take action as soon as possible.Ultimately, the best way to protect your rights is to reach out to an attorney immediately after a fatal accident happens. When you do this, your attorney will be able to launch a comprehensive investigation without any delay. Quick action is especially important in wrongful death lawsuits, as so much is at stake.
- Proving Liability in a Wrongful Death Case From a legal perspective, wrongful death lawsuits share many key characteristics with more conventional personal injury cases. For these claims, liability is still typically established under Washington’s comparative fault statute. To hold another party liable for your loved one’s death, you will need to prove that their negligence played a part in the accident. Negligence can sometimes be difficult to define. In the most general terms, negligence is simply the failure to take due care in the course of a particular situation. Of course, as that definition is notably broad, what actually qualifies as negligence can vary dramatically in different situations. Indeed, negligence in a fatal car accident claim will look much different than it will in a medical malpractice claim.While liability will be straightforward in some cases, in many wrongful death claims that will simply not be the case. The defendant or their insurance company may try to deny part, or all, of the liability for the accident. They may even try to pin some of the accident blame on your deceased loved one. This is another reason why it is critically important to get a lawyer by your family’s side as soon as possible after an accident. Your lawyer will be able to help your family fight back against any illegitimate attempts to deny liability.
We are here to help
Our Team Can Help You Obtain the Compensation You Deserve
Upon establishing liability, your Washington state wrongful death lawsuit will then advance onto the issue of compensation. Similar to all other personal injury claims, you can only recover wrongful death damages to the extent that you can properly document those losses. This can be particularly challenging in wrongful death cases, as the majority of your family’s damages will likely be intangible. To ensure that you and your family are able to recover the full compensation that you rightfully deserve under the law, you should work with our experienced Washington wrongful death lawyers. At Khan Law Firm, PLLC, our team can help you seek recovery for any of the following:
- Out-of-pocket medical costs;
- Funeral expenses;
- All other incidental economic damages;
- Loss of earnings or other financial support;
- Loss of benefits, including health insurance; and
- Loss of love, companionship and consortium.
We know how to recover damages
Request Your Free Case Evaluation Today
At Khan Law Firm, PLLC, our compassionate Washington wrongful death attorneys understand that filing this type of legal claim can be heartbreaking. We also know that it is something that you and your family must do. Let us take care of all of your legal issues, while you focus on yourself and your family. To schedule a free, fully confidential review of your case, please do not hesitate to call us today at 206-203-3978.
