Wrongful Death Attorney in Washington

How to Find a Wrongful Death Attorney

The Goldwater Law Firm can help you find a lawyer in your area who has the right skills and background to manage your case:

• Since you have lost a loved one, you want a lawyer who knows how to manage wrongful death cases with both compassion and strength.
• We can ensure your representative has experience with the specific kind of accident your loved one was involved in, whether that was a car accident, truck accident, or something else.
• Hiring a local lawyer means getting a representative who is familiar with the courts, judges, and laws in your area.

Our law firm has been assisting clients like you for over 20 years. Trust us to assess your situation and pair you with a wrongful death lawyer who can fight for you while you focus on other things. Call today to learn more for free.

How to File a Wrongful Death Case

Once you have a lawyer on your side, our co-counsel can figure out the best way to handle your case. No two legal actions are exactly alike, so our law firm partners do not rely on “one-size-fits-all” solutions. Instead, your attorney will:

• Listen closely to your story
• Ask follow-up questions to ensure they understand what happened
• Collect evidence to prove your loved one’s death was preventable and that your family has suffered harm
• Decide whether to file an insurance claim or take the liable party to trial

This last point can be especially complex for families to contend with. You and your lawyer will have to weigh various factors before determining which course of action is right for you, including:

• What your immediate and long-term needs and goals are
• How the liable party’s insurance company has responded to the accident
• Whether you receive any appropriate settlement offers
• What evidence is or is not available in your case

Whatever you decide to do, your lawyer can take all necessary actions on your behalf, from filing paperwork and fielding phone calls to presenting your case in civil court. They will also be available to answer all legal questions throughout your case. You never have to make decisions alone, and you will not be left in the dark about your case’s progress.

Filing a Case Versus Benefiting From a Case

In Washington State, the deceased’s “personal representative” is allowed to take legal action after a wrongful death. This person may be identified in the deceased’s will, or they may be appointed by a court if the deceased did not name a representative.

Does this mean that only the personal representative is allowed to collect compensation from a wrongful death action? Absolutely not. The main beneficiaries of wrongful death cases are the deceased’s:

• Spouse or registered domestic partner
• Children (including stepchildren)

If the deceased had neither spouse nor children, their parents and siblings can receive compensation instead.

Compensation Our Co-Counsel Can Seek for You

A wrongful death could entitle you to a variety of different damages, including but not limited to:

• Final medical expenses
• Funeral costs and other end-of-life expenses
• Loss of financial support
• Loss of society and companionship
• Loss of services (e.g., tasks your loved one performed around the house)

Insurance Companies Do Not Always Handle Wrongful Death Cases Fairly

Like every company, the insurer’s primary goal is to generate profits. They do not want to pay large amounts of money to claimants, no matter how much you need compensation or how strong your case is. It is important that you stay alert for any signs that the insurer is acting in bad faith, such as:

• They push you to record a statement about the case
• They pressure you to accept a settlement offer before you have hired a lawyer
• They take a long time to reply to your communications
• They ask for information that does not seem relevant to your case

The Goldwater Law Firm can help you find a Washington wrongful death lawyer who knows how to deal with insurance companies. Your representative will communicate with the insurer on your behalf and act quickly if they do not respect your rights.

Who Is Responsible for Your Loved One’s Accident?

This is not always an easy question to answer or even think about. It is, however, critical to your case: you need to know who the liable party is before you can contact their insurance company and ask for damages.

Anyone whose negligent behavior caused or contributed to your loved one’s fatal accident might owe you damages. Some of the most common liable parties our law firm partners deal with are:

• Drivers who exceed the speed limit, drive while drunk or distracted, or ignore traffic signs
• Employers of drivers who were on the job at the time of the crash (for example, if your loved one was hit by a delivery truck driver)
• Auto part manufacturers, if any of the vehicles involved malfunctioned in a way that caused or worsened the crash
• Mechanics who failed to address a clear issue with any of the vehicles involved
• A local government agency, if a lack of proper road maintenance caused the crash

In some cases, multiple parties share liability. When this happens, your lawyer may need extra time to determine how each specific act of negligence contributed to your loved one’s accident.

Our law firm partners include some of the largest and most successful firms in the nation, so they do not back down from a challenge. Let The Goldwater Law Firm and our co-counsel work closely with your family to seek justice for your deceased loved one.