Spokane Wrongful Death Lawyer

Our Spokane personal injury law firm has been serving the surrounding Washington and Idaho communities for decades. Let us zealously represent you in your wrongful death claim.

$2,025,00.00
Pedestrian Injury
$1,010,000.00
Pedestrian Accident
$750,000.00
Motor Vehicle Collision
$732,000.00
Underinsured Motorist Claim
$463,000.00
Motor Vehicle Collision
$450,000.00
Pedestrian vs Motor Vehicle
$425,000.00
Motor Vehicle Accident

There may be no event more devastating than losing your loved one in a fatal auto collision or other type of accident. Our experienced and compassionate lawyers at Crary, Clark, Domanico, & Chuang, P.S., may never truly understand the loss that you suffered from the death of your family member, but we will strive to help you move past this difficult time by pursuing compensation on your behalf.

Compassionate Spokane Valley Fatal Accident Attorneys Pursuing Justice

Whether your loved one lost his or her life as a result of a car accident, medical malpractice,product defect or other personal injury, we fully believe in holding negligent parties legally accountable for the damage they have caused.

A wrongful death claim not only allows you to pursue financial compensation for the physical, emotional and property damages, it also places responsibility on the party whose careless actions caused the death of your loved one.

wrongfuldeathattorney

Damages in a wrongful death lawsuit often include:

Death and funeral expenses
Loss of future earnings
Medical bills
Physical pain and mental suffering
Property damages
Punitive damages

We want to help you get past the tragedy of losing your loved one. We can help you handle all the paperwork necessary to pursue a wrongful death claim. Working closely with you, our Spokane wrongful death attorneys will try to understand the impact the death of your loved one had on your family. Our firm may work with an economist or financial specialist to understand the financial burdens you face.

The legal issues surrounding wrongful death cases can be complicated. Our attorneys at Crary, Clark, Domanico, & Chuang, P.S., have extensive experience litigating a variety of wrongful death cases. Contact our firm today for more information about how we can help you.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a wrongful death?

An action for wrongful death is brought when a person’s death is caused by the negligence or wrongful act of another. A wrongful death action is brought by family members who have lost the support and company of the person who passed away.

Who can bring a wrongful death claim?

Washington law designates certain individuals who may bring a wrongful death action for a loved one. Beneficiaries are a spouse or domestic partner, and children (including stepchildren) of the person who passed away. If none of the above listed beneficiaries are then surviving, an action may be maintained by the parents and siblings who were dependent on the deceased person who were residents of the United States when the person passed away.

Can I bring a wrongful death action for the death of a child?

Parents can bring a wrongful death claim for the loss of a minor child and are entitled to damages for the loss of the love and affection of the child and for the destruction of the parent child relationship. Unfortunately Washington limits this parental claim to children under 18 years. If the child is 18 year old or older at the time of the wrongful death, parents do not have a claim. There is one exception to this, where the parents were “substantially financially dependent” on the child for support. Otherwise, Washington State, which is generally favorable to most Plaintiff’s claims, does not allow for a parent to bring a claim for a child over 18.

How are damages calculated in a wrongful death action?

In Washington State, there are two ways that a court can award damages for wrongful death. One type of damages are lost wages for the remainder of a person’s life. To do this, a court must consider how much money a person would make during their life and decide what amount would be available in a person’s estate when the person passed. A second type of damages is loss of support, comfort and society. This second method is based upon the deceased person’s relationship with the beneficiaries.

Are there limits on the amount of damages?

Unlike some states, such as Idaho, Washington law does not put a limit on the amount of damages recoverable in a wrongful death action. Thus, whether damages are calculated using lost income (economic) or loss of support and companionship (non-economic), the court or a jury is not limited in the amount of damages it may award.

Does Washington State have punitive damages?

Punitive damages are awarded when a wrongdoer’s conduct is malicious, outrageous, or even intentional. While most States, such as Idaho, allow for punitive damages, Washington State is one of the few that does not.

What is the time limit for bringing a wrongful death action?

The statute of limitations for a wrongful death action in Washington state is three years.

How do you bring a wrongful death action?

As the decedent is no longer alive to bring an action for the wrong committed to him or her, it is his or her estate that maintains a wrongful death action. In order to bring an action through the estate, a probate needs to be started and a personal representative is appointed. The personal representative will maintain the action for the benefit of the estate and heirs.

How does a lawyer help with a wrongful death action?

A lawyer serves many functions in a wrongful death claim. A lawyer can get the probate filed and have a personal representative appointed. Your lawyer will then make sure any claim is filed within the appropriate time limits, evaluate the claim as to possible damages and limits of liability, and work to resolve a favorable outcome in the case. If you have questions prior to hiring a lawyer, many lawyers, including us, will offer a free consultation.

Fatal Car Accidents

Featured Notable Case

Our client was riding his moped along a road when the defendant crossed the centerline. Unfortunately, our client passed away due the severe head injuries he sustained in the collision. We settled the claim for $183,000.00, which was all insurance benefits available plus additional funds paid by the defendant. An additional $200,000.00 was paid by the local homeowners association for failure to properly maintain the roadway.

Wrongful Death | Settlement $383,000.00

More Notable Cases

Featured Client Testimonial

I was in a car crash while at work. My employer’s worker’s compensation carrier got nasty and I needed a law firm that would fight for me. They successfully negotiated with my employer’s worker’s compensation carrier and I received a large settlement from the at-fault driver. I highly recommend this firm.

Patrick

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