Wrongful Death Attorney Bellevue, WA

Are you suffering from the untimely death of a loved one? If their passing was caused by the negligence of another person—also known as a personal injury— then you may have the legal right to pursue damages in order to hold the perpetrator responsible for their misdeed.

Beginning this difficult legal process requires the trusted counsel of an expert wrongful death attorney. A wrongful death attorney will know how to find and orchestrate evidence in order to demonstrate that the death of your loved one happened was not their own fault and that another party is to blame.

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What is Wrongful Death?

Wrongful death is a death that is caused by the negligence or intentional misconduct of another individual or company. Losing a loved one to wrongful and premature death is devastating and can lead to extended financial challenges for the family members of the deceased.

For this reason, any type of personal injury that results in death can also be the basis of a wrongful death claim and potentially, a lawsuit. Wrongful death claims may arise out of a number of circumstances. Listed below are several situations which could result in a wrongful death claim.

  • Medical malpractice on the part of a doctor or nurse could be the basis of a wrongful death claim.
  • Criminal activity that results in death.
  • Occupational exposure to hazardous conditions. For example, the death of a firefighter from breathing toxic fumes.
  • Automobile or airplane accidents
  • A death that occurs during a supervised activity or sport.

With more than 20 years of experience working with cases of wrongful death in Bellevue, Dax Jones of The Jones Firm strives to help his clients reach the best possible outcome for their wrongful death lawsuits.

Types of Damages in a Bellevue Wrongful Death Case

The loss of a loved one due to someone else’s negligence is devastating, both emotionally and financially. If you are an immediate family member of the victim, you may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit and seek compensation for the damages you suffered. Our experienced Bellevue wrongful death lawyers understand the complexities of these wrongful death cases and will fight for the compensation you deserve. This may include:

Medical Expenses

Costs incurred for medical treatment related to the incident that caused your loved one’s death. This may include hospital bills, surgery costs, medication, and other expenses.

Funeral and Burial Expenses

Helping to offset the significant costs associated with honoring your loved one’s memory. This may include funeral home fees, casket or urn, burial plot, headstone, and other expenses.

Loss of Income and Future Earnings

Compensation for lost wages and the earning potential taken from both you and your family. This may include the income your loved one would have earned if they had lived, as well as the benefits, pension, and inheritance they would have provided.

Pain and Suffering

Recognizing the emotional anguish and mental trauma surviving family members endure. This may include the grief, sorrow, anxiety, depression, and loss of enjoyment of life caused by your loved one’s death.

Loss of Companionship and Support

Damages related to the loss of the unique relationship and support your loved one provided. This may include the loss of love, affection, guidance, care, protection, and companionship you shared with your loved one.

Understanding Wrongful Death: Common Causes in Our Community

Losing a loved one due to another person’s negligence is devastating. If you’re facing this heartbreaking situation, a wrongful death lawsuit may be an option to seek justice and compensation. Our skilled Bellevue wrongful death lawyers understand these complex cases and will fight to protect your rights.

Some common scenarios that can lead to wrongful death claims in our Bellevue community include:

  • Accidents, Workplace Hazards, & Defective Products: Fatal car crashes, construction site accidents, and injuries caused by unsafe products can all have tragic consequences. Bellevue has seen [insert statistic if available] fatal car accidents in the past year.
  • Medical Errors: When healthcare providers fail to uphold the proper standard of care, patients can suffer severe, even fatal, harm. Medical malpractice can include surgical errors, misdiagnoses, medication errors, and other forms of negligence.

Please Note: This is not an exhaustive list of causes for wrongful death lawsuits. If you believe your loved one’s death was preventable, please contact our wrongful death attorneys for a free consultation. We’ll carefully assess your case and advise you on your legal options.

Don’t Delay: Understanding the Time Limit for Wrongful Death Claims

Washington law has strict deadlines, called the statute of limitations, for filing wrongful death claims. In most cases, you have three years from the date of your loved one’s death to take legal action. There may be exceptions to this rule in certain circumstances. It’s crucial to seek legal counsel as soon as possible to ensure you don’t miss this important deadline.

Important

If you fail to act within the timeframe set by the statute of limitations, you risk losing your right to hold the negligent party accountable and obtain compensation for your losses. This includes medical expenses, funeral and burial costs, lost income, pain and suffering, and more.

Taking Action

If you suspect that your loved one’s death was caused by someone else’s negligence, don’t hesitate to contact our experienced and compassionate Bellevue wrongful death attorneys. We can help you understand the statute of limitations, gather evidence, negotiate with insurance companies, and fight for you in court.

What Does a Wrongful Death Attorney Do?

It is the job of a wrongful death attorney to pursue legal action against the individual or company held at fault for the decedent’s death. Specific areas that a wrongful death lawyer could pursue legal action and financial compensation for include:

  1. Lost future earnings
  2. Medical expenses
  3. Pain and suffering compensation
  4. Economic damages
  5. Non-economic damages
  6. Punitive damages
  7. Loss of enjoyment of life
  8. Funeral and burial expenses

Pursuing legal action by working with a wrongful death law firm, following the death of a family member is essential to receiving just compensation for the financial and future financial loss that you are likely to suffer.

Who May Pursue Legal Action for a Wrongful Death?

In most cases, the immediate family can pursue legal action for wrongful death. Spouses, life partners, financial dependents (such as children or wards), and other close family members who will suffer financial loss as a result of the wrongful death can all pursue legal action against the individual or company responsible.

The laws regarding how close of a kinship is required to pursue legal action for wrongful death may vary depending on your state and region, so it is wise to talk with a wrongful death lawyer to determine your best course of action.

Who May be Sued for a Wrongful Death?

To pursue legal action based on a wrongful death charge, certain elements must apply to your case.

Firstly, the death of a human being must have occurred to make a wrongful death charge.

Secondly, that death must have been caused by an individual or company’s negligence or through intentional harm.

Thirdly, there must be family members who will, as a consequence of the death, suffer monetary loss or extreme emotional loss.

Who Can Be Sued?

  • The designer or builder of a faulty product (including vehicles) or of a faulty roadway.
  • The driver was at fault in the automobile accident that caused the wrongful death.
  • Any person who served sold, or gave alcohol to an already impaired driver (this includes restaurant staff, store employees, etc.).
  • The owner of the house or establishment where alcohol was served to an impaired driver.
  • A government employee who failed to competently warn drivers about hazardous road conditions that could lead to an accident.
  • There is some immunity provided to certain government employees against wrongful death lawsuits. To determine whether or not the individual or company who caused the wrongful death is protected, it is best to seek the counsel of an expert wrongful death attorney.

Contact a Wrongful Death Attorney Today

The Jones Firm faithfully assists families in Bellevue and the surrounding areas who have lost a loved one due to a wrongful death situation. Dax Jones takes immediate action, pursuing justice for living family members of the decedent and ensuring the best possible outcome for each clients’ case.

We will thoroughly investigate all the implications of the wrongful death claim and builds a strong case around it. We are committed to assisting our clients in every way possible and are very knowledgeable of the complexities of wrongful death cases and the specific laws Washington state has regarding them.

Contact the Bellevue Jones Firm today to speak to a legal professional or to receive a free consultation.

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