Seek justice for the wrongful death of a loved one
One of life’s greatest tragedies and pain comes from the passing of a loved one, friend, or family member. Often the only comfort is in knowing the person has died of natural causes or suffered from a long-term illness and their suffering has ended. The difficult reality for most to grasp is when someone close dies prematurely, or even worse if the death is caused by a negligent act or carelessness of another person or company. What do you do in the midst of experiencing such a loss — when someone you love is taken due to another person’s careless and negligent actions?
At Soloman Law we can help you and your family with a wrongful death claim, and represent you with a compassionate and careful understanding of your unique and emotional situation. We will be respectful in your family’s time of grief, while also working aggressively to achieve answers and the compensation you rightly deserve for your pain, suffering, and loss.
What makes us different
- Experienced lawyer and attentive team finalize cases.
- 30-day no fee customer satisfaction period.
Bothell, Mill Creek, Edmonds and Lynnwood wrongful death
Washington State defines a wrongful death as an incident “when the death of one is caused by the wrongful act of another.” The “wrongful act,” which leads to the deceased person’s fatality may have been caused by intentional, reckless, or negligent actions or omissions on the part of the defendant. Wrongful death actions are civil claims and separate from criminal charges. So even if a person is acquitted of murder in a criminal trial, the victim’s family can still pursue and sue the defendant in a civil court for wrongful death.
Washington State legislation permits the “personal representative” of the departed person’s estate to submit a wrongful death claim to the court. The personal representative both represents the deceased and also the beneficiaries or heirs of the deceased. This person can be appointed according to the deceased’s will or estate plan or can be appointed by the court. This is the person who will be eligible to file the wrongful death claim.
Damages for wrongful death cases
Wrongful death claims are civil lawsuits. The personal representative of the departed person’s estate must file them, and the responsibility for wrongdoing is measured in terms of financial damages and loss as well as the deprivation of love and affection taken early by the death of the plaintiff.
There are two ways damages can be sought in Washington State. First, there are damages incurred by the deceased, which he or she could have pursued in a personal injury case had death not occurred. These involve:
- Pain and suffering which took place between the time of final injury or illness and the death
- Forfeiture of income or benefits the deceased should have earned if he or she had lived
Secondly, there are damages that can be sought that represent burdens left to loved ones in the deceased’s absence. This may involve damages for losses like grief and loss of companionship and funeral and burial costs.
At Soloman Law we handle each case as if we are preparing to go to trial so we can maximize the money recovered for our clients. This enables us to acquire greater settlements and seek bigger jury verdicts. These cases have the heaviest losses given the emotional turmoil created by the loss of one’s life. But before accepting any settlement or consideration of a settlement, call us and let us help you know your rights and make sure you have an advocate on your side.
Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you.
