Everett, WA Wrongful Death Lawyers

Why Choose Our Wrongful Death Lawyers in Everett?

Those who act recklessly or negligently should be held accountable for poor choices or misdeeds that have led to preventable death. However, navigating the Washington legal system is complicated enough without having to simultaneously work through the grief, shock, and trauma created by an unexpected loss of a loved one.

A lawsuit is not something that should be managed alone or without professional guidance.

Remember, not all law firms are the same; some offer specialty practice areas and experience, so the wrongful death lawyer you select should be thoroughly researched to ensure you find the most suitable representation.

About Strong Law

The founder Attorney Jed Strong has previous professional experience working for the national insurance company GEICO. This offers Attorney Strong a unique and insightful perspective as to how to counter the typical insurance techniques used to limit the settlement offers for victims.

Strong Law:

• Is licensed to practice in Washington, Oregon, and Utah.
• Has proven results – a 98% for cases, we conclude.
• Has successfully won millions of dollars for clients – including a $1.5 million premises liability case for wrongful death.
• Offers free initial consultations.

At Strong Law, our clients are a part of our family. Check out our client testimonials.

The Everett wrongful death attorneys at Strong Law are ready to support you every step of the way. Our professional services offer a customized approach to best meet your case’s unique needs. Your wrongful death attorney’s guidance will include the following –

• Evaluating the facts surrounding the incident that led to the death to see a) if a wrongful death case is warranted, b) the value of the case based on its facts, and c) who of the parties involved may be responsible.
• Conducting investigations to gather evidence –
  • Videos from surveillance cameras, police, ambulance,
  • Medical reports and documents,
  • Interviews with witnesses and first responders, etc.
• Finding/hiring experts to reconstruct the accident and provide expert testimony regarding who was at fault.
• Filing the legal paperwork and managing legal procedures and court appearances in accordance with Washington law.
• Handling communications and negotiations with insurance companies and opposing counsel.
• Building your Everett wrongful death lawsuit and taking it to trial – should it be necessary.

The attorneys at Strong Law communicate and work alongside you throughout the entire legal process, answering questions and keeping you apprised of the case’s progress. Give us an opportunity to show you how we can help with a free, no-obligation consultation. Call today at 206-741-1053.

Types of Wrongful Death Cases

Negligent actions can be caused by the actions of an individual or a business entity. They may be the result of an unsafe product/service and happen in a variety of settings, including medical settings and business premises. Common examples include:

• Nursing Home Abuse. Negligence and mistreatment of nursing homes and long-term residential residents are both tragic and all too common. Wrongful death cases may be caused by –
  • Purposeful Actions may include the use of excessive restraint.
  • Inaction that may lead to poor nutrition to deadly infections.
• Car, Truck, and Motorcycle Accidents. If a wrongful death is caused by reckless behaviors – speeding or drinking while driving, the driver may be held responsible due to their negligence. Additionally, a wrongful death lawsuit may also involve a car manufacturer – case in point – the infamous case against the Ford Pinto.
• Slip and Falls. Many kinds of businesses needlessly expose their customers to considerable danger when they fail to maintain safe surfaces to minimize the risk of tripping or slipping. When these problems lead to broken hips or concussions, they can prove deadly. Common examples of preventable causes of slips and falls include –
  • Puddles and standing water.
  • Uneven floorboards.
  • Torn carpet.
  • Ice/snow, to name a few.
• Medical Malpractice. Wrongful death is a tragically common event within medical facilities. When vulnerable patients are involved, even seemingly minor errors may lead to preventable Negligence in these settings may include –
  • Misdiagnosis
  • Improper prescriptions
  • Surgical errors
  • Hospital-acquired infections.

Damages Our Everett Wrongful Death Attorneys May Recover

Who Can Sue for Wrongful Death Damages?

In Washington, wrongful death is defined as that which occurs when a person’s death is caused by the neglect, wrongful acts, or default of another individual. (Wash. Rev. Code § 4.20.010 (2021))

In those cases where it is possible to show another’s negligence caused the wrongful death, Washington law allows for the deceased’s personal representative to file an action seeking economic and non-economic damages sustained by the beneficiaries listed in RCW 4.20.020.

• Spouse
• State-registered domestic partner.
• Child or children, including stepchildren.

In cases where there are no beneficiaries, as noted above, the wrongful death action may be brought for the benefit of the parents or siblings of the deceased.

A parent or legal guardian is allowed to file a legal claim for the death of a child under certain conditions. According to Wash. Rev. Code § 4.24.010 these acceptable conditions include:

• If a child is not yet 18 – has no surviving spouse, domestic partner, or children, and the parent has regularly contributed to the child’s support.
• If a child is 18+ years of age, and the parent/legal guardian has had “significant involvement” in the adult child’s life – such as giving psychological or financial support – near the time of the incident that caused the wrongful death.

What is Included in a Damage Award?

In a successful Washington lawsuit, wrongful death attorneys have the tools and opportunity to win a lawsuit that awards enough compensation to help ease the surviving family’s financial burdens. Compensation may include damages toward both practical expenses and the emotional burden of losing a loved one. Examples include –

• Funeral and Burial Costs. To ease the burden of burying a loved one, wrongful death damages may include compensation that can be used to pay for funeral and burial costs.
• Lost Wages. Wrongful death victims are often their family’s primary breadwinners. Their death often creates a significant financial burden for family members, who may not have the ability to meet the cost of basic life necessities without the decedent’s income.
• Loss of Consortium. The loss of a loved one/family member is not only the trauma due to financial burdens. There is also significant emotional trauma that comes with losing the support and affection of a loved one. These losses, known as “loss of consortium,” are less tangible than medical or funeral expenses, but they are equally important.
  • The loss of the decedent’s love, care, affection, companionship, and training.
  • The value is attributed to the lost household services that the deceased would have provided.

An Everett Wrongful Death Attorney Must Prove Negligence

To win a wrongful death lawsuit, our experienced Everett wrongful death attorneys will be required to prove that the defendant’s negligence was their fault and it caused the death of your loved one. In other words, a wrongful death lawyer must be able to meet these legal elements:

• The defendant failed to comply with a duty of care they owed your loved one – to not cause harm.
• The defendant breached this required duty by their actions or their failure to act.
• The defendant’s negligent or unlawful behavior led to your loved one’s death.
• The plaintiff’s damages as the result of the above negligent choices and outcomes.

In addition to having a comprehensive and thorough understanding of state and local statutes, meeting the above elements can be challenging because:

• The victim is not available to provide testimony.
• Attorneys must rely on medical records, police reports, and other evidence.

In some instances, there may be multiple parties whose actions/inactions led to the wrongful death. Seasoned Everett wrongful death lawyers are ready to hold those accountable – defendants and insurers – for reckless or negligent choices that led to the loss of life.

FAQs – Common Questions Asked of Everett Wrongful Death Attorneys

Our wrongful death lawyers understand how overwhelming it can be after a loved one’s unexpected death. However, being well informed is the best way to ease your mind – especially during this emotionally trying time and is best managed by finding the answers your need to unanswered questions and serious concerns. The following are answers to frequent questions clients often ask:

Is there a deadline for filing a wrongful death lawsuit in Washington State?

Washington has a deadline, called a statute of limitations, for filing a wrongful death lawsuit, which is generally three years from the date of the person’s death. According to the statute, Wash. Rev. Code § 4.16.080(2) (2021), if the case is not filed within three years, the court will almost certainly refuse to hear it.

Is wrongful death a criminal case?

No. While under some circumstances, the defendant in a wrongful death case may also face criminal charges such as manslaughter or murder, a wrongful death case is a civil case filed for damages or compensation to the deceased person’s surviving heirs.

Are punitive damages available for Everett wrongful death cases?

Punitive damages are available in Washington in rare situations that involve extreme recklessness or malicious intent. The purpose is to punish responsible parties for the suffering caused by their negligence and to deter this type of behavior in the future.

Do I need an attorney to file a wrongful death case?

Laws regarding wrongful death are complicated in Washington, and making mistakes can be costly. The opposition’s attorneys will try to prove that the death was not wrongful, and you are therefore not entitled to compensation. That is why it’s important to have an attorney familiar with the tactics they use and the law to fight for justice and the compensation you and your family deserves.

How much does it cost to hire a wrongful death attorney?

The good news is that our attorneys work on a contingency basis, so you pay nothing up front. Your initial consultation is free, and there are no costs to you unless and until we win your case. At that time, any legal fees are taken out of the settlement you receive.

What is a survival action? How does it differ from a wrongful death lawsuit?

A survival action looks similar to a wrongful death lawsuit in several respects but holds a key difference: it involves the actions a deceased individual could have taken in a personal injury lawsuit, had he or she not died. Often, survival cases center around medical bills that arrived between the time of the accident and the victim’s death. This designation further complicates an already confusing process, making it especially important to seek legal counsel.

Our Everett wrongful death lawyers are ready to answer your questions and address your concerns. Call us today at 206-741-1053 for a free consultation.