Wrongful Death Lawyers in Washington

Helping a Victim’s Family Receive the Justice and Maximum Compensation They Deserve

Losing a loved one due to someone else’s carelessness is an unimaginable tragedy for any family. If you have lost a family member due to another person’s negligence, you are probably feeling overwhelmed and frightened about the future.

Surviving family members are often left to try and pick up the pieces of their lives and figure out how they will pay for funeral expenses and other accident-related costs. Additionally, many families face a financial crisis if their loved one is the primary source of income.

As a result, Washington law allows family members to seek financial compensation for their loved one’s death by filing a wrongful death claim.

However, even if a victim dies due to negligence, proving liability can be challenging to prove. For this reason, it is always in a family’s best interests to hire an experienced wrongful death attorney who can file a wrongful death claim to try and recover death benefits on their behalf.

Contact Buckley & Associates and ask to schedule a free consultation with a qualified legal team member.

What are the Most Common Factors that Lead to Wrongful Death Cases?

Any number of factors can cause a victim’s death. However, Washington state law stipulates that a wrongful death occurs when an intentional act, neglect, or reckless indifference results in a fatal accident that causes an individual’s death.

Some common factors that contribute to wrongful death cases include:

• Motor vehicle collisions, with car accidents being the most common
• Drunk driver
• Bicycle accidents
• Medical malpractice
• Construction and other work-related accidents
• Criminal acts
• Defective products

Regardless of how the fatal incident occurred, families are entitled to try and obtain compensation for their loss. You need an experienced attorney to analyze your case to determine the correct legal options to help your family seek the justice it deserves.

If your loved one died due to an intentional act or another person’s carelessness, contact our law office to schedule a meeting with a wrongful death lawyer who can help you file a claim.

Who is Entitled to File a Washington Wrongful Death Claim?

Washington law dictates that the estate’s “personal representative must file wrongful death claims.” If the victim dies and leaves behind a will, whoever is named the estate administrator may act as the personal representative. However, if the victim does not have a will, an administrator will be appointed by the probate court and act as the representative.

Washington wrongful death claims are filed on behalf of the closest surviving family members. Individuals who may be entitled to receive compensation from a Washington wrongful death claim include:

• Surviving spouse or state-registered domestic partner
• Children, including stepchildren

If wrongful death victims have no spouse or children, then a claim may be pursued on behalf of their parents or siblings.

It should be noted that any personal representative who wishes to pursue a wrongful death action for surviving family members must file a claim within three years of the date of the victim’s death.

Generally, once the Washington state three-year statute of limitations expires, surviving family members will lose their right to file wrongful death suits and recover any form of compensation.

However, wrongful death claims can be challenging, depending on the circumstances involved. Anyone who has lost a family member to wrongful death must hire an experienced attorney who will assist them in seeking compensation from the responsible parties.

Contact our Seattle wrongful death attorneys to schedule a free case evaluation to learn more.

What Type of Financial Compensation Can Families Recover in Wrongful Death Cases?

A wrongful death claim may be brought if the victim suffered an injury that would have allowed them to bring a personal injury claim to claim damages had they lived.

Some of the damages that may be obtained in a wrongful death settlement include:

• Funeral costs
• Burial expenses
• Lost wages the deceased could have earned had they survived the fatal incident
• Compensation to pay for the victim’s medical bills due to their accident
• Loss of financial support the victim would have contributed to their family members
• Loss of household services contributed by the deceased
• Loss of the deceased’s companionship, care, love, and affection

Additionally, parents or guardians of a minor child who died as a result of wrongful death may also be able to recover similar damages.

Because the circumstances surrounding every wrongful death suit vary, it is always wise to speak with an experienced attorney who can determine what damages you may be entitled to recover.

Why Do I Need Your Law Firm’s Wrongful Death Attorney to Assist Me With Filing a Claim?

Buckley & Associates is a law firm with a proven track record of helping clients seek justice and recover fair compensation in wrongful death actions.

We recognize this is a painful and traumatic situation for you and your family. No one ever likes the idea of having to file a wrongful death lawsuit to try and recover damages for the loss of their loved one.

Although our legal team realizes that filing a wrongful death claim will not bring back your loved one, it will hold the responsible party accountable for their actions and hopefully prevent further wrongdoing.

Our Seattle wrongful death attorneys can help ease the financial burden of tragically losing your family member by working to help you obtain fair compensation to cover expenses and other economic damages.

If you have tragically lost your family member due to a wrongful death case, contact Buckley & Associates Washington law office at 206-558-8441 and ask to schedule a free no-obligation consultation to discuss your legal options.