Seattle Wrongful Death Lawyer

Losing a loved one is the worst feeling a person can endure, but if the death is due to the action or inaction of someone else, it may become an even more horrible and unacceptable tragedy. It may help to contact a Seattle wrongful death lawyer who can help you.

At Bungay Law, we can represent your family in wrongful death action. We can conduct a full investigation and pursue justice on your behalf.

Learn more about a Seattle wrongful death by reading this article. You can also call us today to schedule a free case consultation to discuss what a wrongful death lawsuit entails.

Why Hire Bungay Law Wrongful Death Lawyers

Even though you may think you can tackle this situation alone, it is always better to work with a legal professional who can help you.

At Bungay Law, representing you is always our pleasure and honor. It would be best if you worked with our Seattle wrongful death lawyers for several reasons. They include:

• We have significant experience representing individuals and families of all backgrounds.
• We have an intricate understanding of Seattle laws concerning wrongful death situations.
• We have a thorough knowledge of the people in the justice system, and we can hire the best expert witnesses to support your case if required.
• We have an objective perspective for all the cases we handle, and we know how much compensation you are entitled to in a wrongful death case.

With these things in mind, contacting us for a consultation is your best bet in winning your case and ensuring that you achieve justice.

About Wrongful Death Claims

What does pursuing Seattle wrongful death cases require? One can pursue wrongful death claim when someone has passed away due to the action or inaction of someone else. But, this also means you must have the legal standing or personality to bring forth this lawsuit.

In general, you are only allowed to pursue wrongful death lawsuits in Seattle if you are the child, spouse, or domestic partner of the individual who has passed away. You may also be able to file a wrongful death claim if you represent the estate of the person who has passed away.

Common Situations Leading To Wrongful Death Claims

Unfortunately, wrongful death situations are far more common than many people realize. Some of the most common examples of circumstances that could lead to a wrongful death include the following:

Car Accidents

If you are involved in a motor vehicle collision, and your loved one was killed, a wrongful death case may arise in specific circumstances. If the other driver is the at-fault part of the collision, you may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the driver or the driver's insurance company.

Every motor vehicle accident is different, so you must contact us for a case consultation as soon as possible. We can discuss your case in detail to ensure that you have the legal standing and adequate proof to file a lawsuit in court.

Truck Accidents

Similarly, a truck accident could also result in a wrongful death situation. Because of the sheer size of tractor-trailers, every accident involving a truck will lead to grave consequences.

If the truck driver is at-fault for the collision, you can bring a wrongful death claim against not only the driver and their insurance company but, also the at fault driver’s employer.

Product Liability

When you purchase a product, you expect it to have been tested thoroughly. If the product is not working as expected and someone dies as a result, the aggrieved party may file a wrongful death claim. You may be able to bring a wrongful death lawsuit against the company that designed the product or the one that manufactured it.

Medical Malpractice

While the overwhelming majority of doctors are very dedicated people who will always go the extra mile for their patients, there are some situations where medical malpractice can result in a wrongful death case.

Just because the medical case doesn't turn out as expected doesn't mean you can immediately file a wrongful death claim. Still, we can investigate the situation to see if the physician, medical facility, or any of their medical staff committed medical malpractice.

Premises Liability/Slip and Fall

When you visit someone else's property, you expect them to have properly maintained it for safety and security. If you slip and fall within their property, it could result in a severe injury.

A situation may arise in which the slip and fall injury is fatal. If a premises liability case results in a wrongful death, you can file a wrongful death suit before the court.

Proving a Wrongful Death Claim

If you want to prove a wrongful death claim in Seattle, there are several steps to follow. At this point, we understand that you're mourning a loss of a loved one. However, it's important to remember that not all cases necessarily involve wrongful death.

Some of the prerequisites that you need to prove a wrongful death claim include the following:

• You must show that the other party was required to provide your loved one with a duty of care.
• You must prove that the duty of care was somehow breached, violated, or not upheld.
• You must also prove that your loved one has died due to that breach of duty of care.
• Finally, you must prove that you have suffered damages at some point, such as emotional distress after losing a loved one.

If you can prove these elements, you may have all that is necessary to file a successful wrongful death claim.

What To Do After a Wrongful Death in Seattle

If you believe your loved one has passed away due to the action or inaction of someone else, you need to reach out to a Seattle wrongful death attorney urgently.

You must also collect all evidence and documentation pertinent to the situation. It could include any communications you have had with the insurance company, medical records relating to the case, and communication between yourself and other parties involved in the accident. Then, call us to schedule a free case consultation as quickly as possible.

When To Hire a Seattle Wrongful Death Lawyer

When is it considered urgent to hire a Seattle wrongful death lawyer? Just because your loved one has passed away doesn't necessarily mean there is a wrongful death case; However, if your loved one passed away unexpectedly, and you believe it is due to someone else’s negligence, you should reach out to a Seattle wrongful death lawyer as soon as possible.

A wrongful death attorney can investigate the case and see if you have the legal standing and adequate proof to file a suit.

At a time when you have experienced severe loss, you should be able to focus on mourning and honoring the memory of your loved one; This is why you need to hire a legal professional to handle the other aspects of the case during this difficult time. 

Potential Damages for Wrongful Death

You may be able to pursue several kinds of damages if you file a wrongful death claim. They are divided into economic damages and non-economic damages.

Economic Damages

Economic damages refer to any monetary expenses that can be proven with receipts and calculated precisely.

For example, if your loved one passes away leaving behind unpaid medical bills and funeral expenses, you can pursue compensation for these amounts. 

Non-Economic Damages

You can also pursue a claim for non-economic damages due to a wrongful death case.

For example, you can pursue a claim for non-economic damages for the immense pain and suffering endured due to your loved one's death. You can also pursue a claim for loss of consortium which can be further explained during your consultation. 

Beneficiaries of Wrongful Death Compensation

Each case is different and the beneficiaries in a wrongful death case can vary depending on the situation.  However, the primary beneficiaries will usually be the spouse or domestic partners of the deceased and, their children or stepchildren.

Someone who represents the deceased's estate may also be able to pursue a wrongful death case. Once the estate recovers compensation, it can be equally distributed among the heirs.

Wrongful Death Statute of Limitations

In the State of Washington, which includes Seattle, surviving family members have 3 years from the date someone passes away to bring a wrongful death claim. However, the tasks involved with bringing forth this type of claim take a lot of time and research thus, it is imperative that you hire an attorney to initiate your claim as quickly as possible.

The Job of a Seattle Wrongful Death Attorney

Hiring a wrongful death attorney in Seattle to handle the various tasks on your behalf is imperative to your claim. Some of the ways a Seattle wrongful death lawyer may be able to help you include:

Investigating Facts and Fault

A Seattle wrongful death lawyer understands what it takes to launch a thorough investigation. They can look into the facts of the case and see if anybody should be held liable for the death of your loved one.

Applying the Law

Just because you feel like your loved one was wronged somehow doesn't necessarily mean you will have a successful wrongful death case before the court.

A Seattle wrongful death lawyer understands how to apply the law based on the facts presented to see if you are qualified for compensation.

Negotiating and Litigating

You will want to focus on honoring and remembering your loved one after they pass away; You need an experienced expert on your side to negotiate and litigate while you grieve.

Your Seattle wrongful death lawyer can discuss your options with any insurance company involved. They can also deal with the other party's legal counsel for a speedier disposition of your case.

Communicating and Counseling

Finally, your Seattle wrongful death lawyer can keep you in the loop as the rest of your case unfolds. There is a chance that a Seattle wrongful death lawyer may be able to settle your case out of court, but your case could also go to trial.

If this is the case, a Seattle wrongful death lawyer can prepare you for the trial and ensure you are ready for any questioning you have to endure by opposing counsel in court.

For all of these reasons, you need to reach out to an experienced Seattle wrongful death lawyer to represent you following the passing of your loved one. At Bungay Law, we are willing and honored to help you.

Call Today To Speak to a Wrongful Death Attorney in Seattle

If you believe your loved one has passed away under suspicious circumstances, you need to ascertain if there is a wrongful death case before you.

At Bungay Law, we have the training and experience necessary to thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding the passing of your loved one. If someone else should be held responsible for the passing of your loved one, we can file a wrongful death claim in court.

Give us a call today to schedule a free case consultation with our Seattle wrongful death lawyer.