Losing a loved one can be one of the hardest things to recover from and one of the most life-altering tragedies you experience.  Prior to the enactment of the Washington wrongful death statutes.  A victim of a negligent act who dies while their case was pending or who died as a result of the negligent act did not have standing to bring a claim against the at fault party. Following the enactment of RCW 4.20, these victims and their Estates are now allowed to bring claims in limited situations. In addition to economic damages, Family members, including spouses and children, and also including parents and siblings in certain circumstances, can bring claims for noneconomic damages, including loss of love, relationship, and companionship.  If your loved one died while a personal injury case was pending, but the death was not caused by the subject negligent act, please see the Survival Actions section. 

Determining whether you have a wrongful death case is not always straightforward, which is why the attorneys at McNeese and Trotsky are here to help. If an individual or business acts negligently, reckless, or fails to meet a standard of care there could be grounds for a lawsuit and furthermore, for compensation.

If someone you loved has passed as a result of wrongful death and you have any legal related questions, please feel free to reach out to Charles McNeese and Adam Trotsky for a free phone, video, or in-person consultation. We look forward to answering any of your questions.