SeaTac Wrongful Death Lawyer

There is nothing more shocking, nor more emotional, than losing a family member in a preventable accident. When an accident occurs that takes your love one’s life, you may be faced with a number of questions and feelings, wondering why this has happened to you, and how you will move forward in life, both financially and emotionally. At the Khan Injury Law, our SeaTac wrongful death lawyer knows what you are going through, and is here to provide you with the legal support that you require during this difficult time. Our lawyers know that nothing can replace your loved one, but are confident that by filing a wrongful death claim, you and your family may be able to recover the financial compensation you need to support yourselves.

A wrongful death claim is a type of civil action that is filed when the negligent actions of one party lead to the wrongful death of another. These types of claims are filed after a variety of fatal accident types, including:

• Car accidents;
• Truck and commercial vehicle accidents;
• Motorcycle, bicycle, and pedestrian accidents;
• Defective product accidents;
• Defective pharmaceutical and medical device accidents;
• Slip and falls;
• Dog bites;
• Workplace accidents;
• Medical malpractice; and
• Nursing home abuse.

Nearly any type of accident has the potential to be deadly depending upon the health of the victim, the type of accident, and the amount of force involved. A wrongful death claim may be filed against an individual, a business owner, a corporation, a property owner, or even a government employee or entity. As a note, claims against the government require a unique approach and are governed by a separate set of regulations, and should not be pursued without legal counsel.

Causes Of Wrongful Death & Proving Negligence

A surviving family member can file a wrongful death claim for damages when their loved one’s death was caused by the wrongful act or neglect of another party. The elements of a wrongful death claim are:

• Duty of care. In order to hold the defendant liable for damages, you must be able to prove that the defendant owed the deceased a duty of care. In many cases, this duty is implied. For example, doctors owe a duty of care to their patients; drivers owe a duty of care to other drivers; and property owners owe a duty of care to those who enter their properties legally.
• Breach of duty of care. The second element that must be established is that the defendant breached the duty of care owed to the decedent. Using the same examples of duty of care above, examples might include a doctor leaving an object within a patient during surgery; a driver operating their vehicle while intoxicated; or a property owner failing to correct a known hazard, such as a broken elevator, on the property. A breach of duty of care is referred to as an act of negligence.
• Causation. The third element in a wrongful death claim is proving that the negligent act was the direct cause of your loved one’s death. For example, you must prove that your loved one would not have suffered an accident and fatal injuries had the defendant not operated their vehicle while intoxicated.
• Damages. Fourth and finally, you must prove that actual damages have been suffered. Clearly, the loss of life is a significant damage in itself. In addition to loss of life, you will need to prove any other losses for which you are seeking compensation, such as the accumulation of medical bills related to the fatal injuries, funeral and burial expenses, loss of the deceased’s wages, loss of consortium and guidance, and more.

Our lawyer can help you to prove negligence, causation, and damages in order to recover the settlement award that you deserve.

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