Tacoma Attorneys Fight for Wrongful Death Compensation
Skilled trial lawyers help grieving Washington families recover
The sudden and untimely death of a loved one can cause immeasurable grief. At Rush, Hannula, Harkins & Kyler, L.L.P., we’re attentive to the emotional needs of individuals and families who’ve suffered such a loss. We’re also aware of the financial hardship families experience when a provider passes. While this is a wrong we can never make completely right, we make every effort to obtain maximum compensation and hold accountable those responsible. Since 1959, Rush, Hannula, Harkins & Kyler, L.L.P. has fought to make overwhelming circumstances that much easier to manage so families can heal.
Who can file a wrongful death claim in Washington State?
Not everyone affected by the loss of a loved one is eligible to file a wrongful death claim. Washington law limits beneficiaries to:
- Surviving spouse
- Surviving registered domestic partner
- Child or children, including stepchildren
If no individuals fit that description, an action may go forward benefiting relatives who were financially dependent on the deceased and who were residents of the United States at the time of death, including:
- Parents
- Siblings
The law allows a jury to award damages that, considering all circumstances of the case, seem just. Besides economic damages, these include noneconomic damages, such as:
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In cases of gross negligence, a court may also award punitive damages. Your wrongful death attorney is tasked with helping the jury understand the depth of your loss. Finally, there may be an opportunity for a personal representative of the deceased to pursue a survival lawsuit.
Special considerations for Jones Act seamen and others killed at sea
Certain survivors of persons killed at sea may recover damages from those who caused the death. Those who may be eligible to sue include surviving spouses, children, parents, and next of kin and/or dependent relatives. There are competing laws, the application of which depends on who was killed, where they were killed, how they were killed and who killed them. Eligible survivors of those killed at sea may have differing rights to recover damages under the Death on the High Seas Act, general maritime law, the Jones Act, the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act, or the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, depending on which laws apply and in what combinations they apply.
Contact our Tacoma wrongful death attorneys to learn about your rights
If someone’s negligence claimed the life of your loved one, you may be eligible for compensation. Talk to an experienced wrongful death attorney at Rush, Hannula, Harkins & Kyler, L.L.P. To schedule a free consultation and case evaluation, call us at 253.250.4516 or contact our office online.
