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Seattle Wrongful Death Lawyers
Compassionate Seattle Wrongful Death Attorneys Ready To Help You
When someone’s life is cut short because another person or entity failed to act responsibly, the loss reaches far beyond a single moment or incident. Families are left grieving while also facing unanswered questions about how the death occurred, who may be responsible, and what legal options exist under Washington law.
At Brett McCandlis Brown & Conner, our Seattle wrongful death lawyers represent families who are seeking clarity and accountability after the death of a loved one. With decades of experience handling complex wrongful death cases throughout Washington, we help families understand their rights, the legal process ahead, and how a wrongful death claim may move forward. Our goal is to provide steady guidance during an overwhelming time, while pursuing answers through the civil justice system.
The traffic on major highways such as Interstate 90, Interstate 5, Interstate 405, and Interstate 705 can get frightening at times, and for good reason: Seattle roads claim at least a dozen lives every year. This is only the tip of the iceberg, however.
Occupational injuries, slip and fall accidents, medical malpractice, and a whole host of other dangers kill Seattle residents every year. No legal system is perfectly equipped to deal with such tragedies.
However, Washington’s wrongful death statute law can provide a remedy– at least to the extent that money damages are capable of compensating for the tragic death of a loved one.
Our legal team and our Seattle wrongful death lawyers will help you in your case. We are passionate about helping those who live in Seattle and in the surrounding areas seek the compensation they deserve following tragic accidents that are understandably shocking and overwhelming in many ways.
Our Seattle main office:
- Location: Columbia Tower, 701 5th Ave 42nd Floor, Seattle, WA 98104
- Open hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30am – 5pm
- Phone number: 206-985-9600
- Map Directions
What Is Wrongful Death?
A wrongful death occurs when a person dies as a result of another party’s wrongful act, neglect, or failure to act. In these situations, the law allows the deceased person’s estate to pursue a civil claim against the party responsible for causing the death.
These cases are civil matters and are separate from any criminal charges. Wrongful death may arise in situations such as:
- Fatal motor vehicle collisions,
- Medical errors or failures that result in a patient’s death,
- Unsafe property conditions that lead to fatal falls or injuries, and
- Acts of violence or other criminal behavior.
In each of these situations, a wrongful death claim centers on whether another party failed to act with reasonable care and that failure led to the loss of life.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim?
Under Washington law, a wrongful death claim must be initiated by the personal representative of the deceased person’s estate.
The personal representative is commonly named in a will or appointed by the court and is responsible for asserting the claim against the individual or entity whose conduct caused the death.
Who Benefits from a Wrongful Death Claim?
Only certain family members are legally recognized as beneficiaries, based on the deceased person’s family relationships at the time of death.
The primary beneficiaries under Washington law are the deceased person’s spouse or state-registered domestic partner and the deceased person’s children, including stepchildren.
If the deceased person is not survived by a spouse, domestic partner, or children, the law allows the claim to benefit the deceased person’s parents or siblings.
How Can a Seattle Wrongful Death Lawyer Help Me?
A wrongful death attorney can guide you through the process, explain your options under Washington law, and handle the legal work while you focus on your family. They can:
- Evaluate whether a wrongful death claim applies to your situation,
- Investigate the circumstances surrounding the death,
- Identify all potentially responsible parties,
- Manage communication with insurance companies,
- File and manage court documents and deadlines, and
- Prepare the case for settlement or trial.
Having an experienced Seattle wrongful death attorney involved can help you handle your claim carefully, accurately, and in accordance with Washington law.
Speak with Our Seattle Wrongful Death Attorneys Today
When a loved one’s death may have been caused by negligence or misconduct, having experienced legal guidance matters. A wrongful death claim can provide a path toward accountability while helping families better understand what happened and what options exist under Washington law.
Brett McCandlis Brown & Conner has represented injured individuals and families across Washington State since 1972. We approach every case with careful preparation, honest evaluation, and respect for the families we represent.
If you are considering a wrongful death claim, our Seattle wrongful death lawyers are available to discuss your situation during a free consultation. We are here to answer your questions and help you decide what steps make sense for you and your family.
Legal References Used to Inform This Page
To ensure the accuracy and clarity of this page, we referenced official legal and other resources during the content development process:
- Revised Code of Washington, Section 4.20.010
- Revised Code of Washington, Section 4.20.020
- Revised Code of Washington, Section 4.16.080
Some of Our Other Practice Areas
You don’t have to wait until someone dies from their injuries to contact us. Even if the injuries are not fatal, an injury claim may very well be available. We frequently handle the following types of injury claims, among others:
- Auto crash accidents: Just about everyone has seen the immediate aftermath of a serious auto accident at some point or another. What most people don’t see, until they become auto vehicle accident victims, is the financial difficulties that sometimes result. Washington’s personal injury compensation system is designed to remedy this problem.
- Motor vehicle accidents: Motor vehicle crash accidents, although not as common as auto accidents, are far more likely to be fatal. It is possible to be compensated for a motor crash even if you do not possess a motorcycle license. Partial compensation may be available even if you shared fault for the accident.
- DUI Accidents: You don’t need to wait for a criminal conviction to file an injury or wrongful death claim over a DUI accident. You can win even if the driver is never convicted of a criminal offense, and in some cases, you can even file a claim against the bar that sold him alcohol.
- Commercial and semi-truck accidents: The harsh reality is semi-truck accidents are frequently catastrophic. One mitigating factor, however, is that commercial truckers typically carry more than enough insurance to fully compensate just about any claimant. Commercial truck crash accident claims can get technically complex, requiring the assistance of an experienced truck accident law firm in Seattle.
- Bicycle Accidents: Bicyclists are incredibly vulnerable on public roads. In many cases, an accident will occur because a motorist did not even see the bicyclist until it was too late. We can help you reconstruct the accident and establish fault on the part of the motorist.
- Pedestrian Accidents: About eight pedestrian accidents occur every day in Seattle, and a fatality occurs about once a week. Most of these accidents occur in downtown areas or student zones where people are forced to walk to their destination. Damage awards for pedestrian accidents are typically high because of the seriousness of these types of accidents.
- Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI): Just about any accident can cause a traumatic brain injury – in fact, this condition can even result from medical malpractice. TBI claims often lead to scientifically complex cases that require expert witnesses to resolve.
- Medical negligence and malpractice: It is frightening to ponder a simple but unavoidable fact – doctors are human, too. While not every mistake amounts to medical negligence and malpractice, some of them do. And when they happen, full compensation is in order.
We also handle dog attacks, product liability, defective drugs, slip and fall accidents, and more.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How Long Do I Have to Bring a Wrongful Death Claim in Seattle?
In Washington, wrongful death claims are generally subject to a three-year statute of limitations. This means the claim must be filed within three years of the date of the person’s death, not necessarily the date of the incident that caused it.
Failing to file within this time frame can result in the claim being barred entirely, regardless of its merits.
What Is the Difference Between a Criminal Homicide Prosecution and a Wrongful Death Lawsuit?
A criminal case is brought by the government and focuses on whether a defendant should be punished for violating criminal statutes, with penalties such as imprisonment or fines.
A wrongful death lawsuit is a civil action brought by the deceased person’s estate. Its purpose is to determine legal responsibility for the death and address the losses suffered by surviving family members.
A wrongful death claim can proceed regardless of whether criminal charges are filed or a conviction occurs. Importantly, criminal charges and wrongful death lawsuits have different evidentiary standards.
What Compensation Can I Recover in a Wrongful Death Claim?
A wrongful death claim may allow recovery for losses resulting from a loved one’s death, depending on the circumstances of the case and the relationship between the deceased and the beneficiaries. Under Washington law, recoverable compensation may include:
Funeral and burial expenses;
Loss of the deceased person’s income and financial support;
Loss of benefits the deceased would have provided;
Loss of companionship, care, and guidance; and
Emotional suffering experienced by surviving family members.
The types and amount of compensation available depend on the specific facts of the case. Every wrongful death claim is different, and recovery is determined based on the evidence presented and the requirements of Washington law.
Example of Wrongful Death
The driver is willing to settle with Jack for the limits of his insurance policy, but the nightclub refuses to settle easily. The nightclub presents evidence that Eileen’s bicycle had no reflectors, which is particularly significant because the accident took place at night in an area with no street lights. The nightclub also claims that the car’s brakes were partly malfunctioning due to faulty repair. In response, Jack files a claim against the repair shop.
Eventually, the case goes to trial. No persuasive evidence is submitted to back the claim that the repair shop negligently repaired the brakes, and consequently, the repair shop is not held liable. Eileen is determined to have been 25 percent at fault for the accident. The court holds the nightclub liable for $400,000 in wrongful death damages.
Here are some of the verdicts of which our Seattle wrongful death lawyers are proud:
- $2.5 million in compensation for the death of a teenage boy in a Jet-Ski accident
- $2.3 million in compensation for the deaths of four people in a landslide accident on an abandoned logging road
- $1 million in compensation for a pedestrian killed by a truck
- $2.5 million in compensation was awarded by a jury for death caused when a motorcycle hit a freight train
- $800,000 in compensation for a truck accident fatality
All told, we have won over $100,000,000 in damages for our injury and wrongful death claim clients over the years. Our Seattle wrongful death lawyer would welcome the opportunity to try to do the same for you on behalf of the person you love.
