Bremerton Wrongful Death Lawyer

Letting go of a loved one is a pain that never goes away, but in the case of a wrongful death, when a loved one is taken away prematurely, the pain is even greater. The loss of someone dear is a profound event that changes the lives of survivors forever. When someone’s reckless disregard for human life, negligence, or even intentional act causes the death of a loved one, that’s a hard pill to swallow. A loved one is taken away, and with them, their love, advice, consortium, and companionship. To make things even harder, survivors also miss out on the financial contributions the decedent would have made in their lives if he or she had not been taken too soon. A wrongful death looks to help families recoup some of those losses to lessen the difficulty of facing life without the departed.

Russell and Hill and our staff of wrongful death attorneys offer compassionate representation for wrongful death claimants. Talk with our expert attorneys as son as possible following your loved one’s death to preserve your right to file a claim and determine what your legal options are.

Who Can File a Wrongful Death Action?

Usually, wrongful death lawsuits are filed by a representative of the deceased’s estate, on behalf of the surviving family members or other affected parties. These can include:

• The deceased’s spouse
• The deceased’s children
• The deceased’s parents
• The deceased’s siblings
• An appointed power of attorney

Wrongful Death Scenarios

Surviving family members can file a wrongful death claim when a victim who would have qualified for a personal injury claim is killed as a result of another party’s negligence or an intentional harmful act. Some wrongful death scenarios include:

• A victim intentionally being killed. An example of this would be how OJ Simpson was sued for wrongful death for the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman.
• Car accident fatalities involving negligence. When a victim dies as a result of injuries sustained in a car accident, the deceased’s survivors may sue for wrongful death. This can include an accident brought on by equipment malfunctioning (in which the vehicle’s manufacturer would be held accountable,) or when an accident is caused by negligent or irresponsible driving by another party, including if the responsible party was driving under the influence.

Filing Your Claim

Time is of the essence when filing a claim of wrongful death. Washington State allows families just three years in most instances to file a wrongful death claim. Outside those parameters, you may lose your right to collect damages. See our personal injury attorneys in Bremerton as soon as possible to discuss your particular case.