Wrongful Death Attorney Spokane

Spokane wrongful death attorneys at Parke Gordon Law Firm have decades of experience handling wrongful death cases. What is wrongful death? Wrongful death is a legal term to describe a claim that certain individuals can make against a person who wrongfully or negligently causes the death of another. Each state legislature has enacted wrongful death statutes that govern who can bring a wrongful death claim.

The wrongful death attorneys of Parke Gordon Law Firm have helped clients recover substantial monetary settlements from the negligent persons who caused the wrongful death. Let us handle the stress of your wrongful death case and get you the compensation deserved.

Wrongful Death Claim

When a person is killed due to the negligence of another, including in a car accident, the surviving members of the victim’s family may file a wrongful death claim. Each state legislature has enacted wrongful death statutes that govern who can bring a wrongful death claim. Usually, immediate family members of the deceased seek a wrongful death claim to compensate for financial and emotional damage.

Why Do I Need to Hire a Wrongful Death Attorney?

Losing a loved one can often bring a lot of stress and turmoil to family members. Working with a wrongful death attorney can help take away some of the stress and burden. Your attorney will work hard to help the family receive the financial compensation they deserve.

Wrongful death suits can be filed against an individual or a corporation. For example, if a person was killed in a semi truck accident caused by the negligence of the semi truck driver, a wrongful death suit can be brought against the semi trucking company. When such negligence occurs, the responsible party is liable to provide compensation for the death of the victim. An experienced wrongful death attorney will fight to compensate the loss of the victim’s medical expenses, funeral expenses, pain and suffering, future wages, court fees, lawyer fees, and any other related expenses.

Typically, benefits are paid out to the victim’s closest relative such as a spouse, child, or parent. Your wrongful death attorney will work with you to ensure your family receives the full value they are entitled to.

Tips for How to Hire a Wrongful Death Attorney

Here are tips for how to hire a wrongful death attorney.

• How much experience does he or she have as a wrongful death attorney in the specific area of your case? For example, if your family member died in a car accident, you’ll want an experienced car accident lawyer who can handle your wrongful death suit.
• Who will be working on your case? At Parke Gordon, your assigned wrongful death attorney will handle the majority of your case. However, staff members will also be helping to gather any medical bills or other parts of the case to ensure all things are in proper order.
• What do online reviews say about this lawyer?
• Are there any disciplinary actions against this lawyer? You can check the relevant state bar association website.

What Kind of Incidents Qualify as Wrongful Death?

Not all deaths caused by another qualify as wrongful death. The death must have occurred due to the negligence of another to be considered wrongful death. Incidentally, many incidents could be considered negligent behavior that leads to the death of another. Here are some examples of wrongful death claims:

Fatal Car Accident

Many wrongful death cases are filed after a fatal car accident. There are many ways the other driver can be found negligent for the victim’s death following a car accident. For instance, a distracted driver who caused a car crash can be held responsible for their negligent behavior through a wrongful death case if they killed the other driver. Anyone operating a motor vehicle is under oath to act responsibly and drive safely. When a negligent driver chose to do otherwise and harms another, they should be held accountable.

Drunk Driver

A driver under the influence of drugs or alcohol is a prime candidate for being held responsible for a fatality. Clearly, it is easy to see the negligence of a drunk driver.

Premises Liability

Incidents such as a slip and fall accident where the owner of the property should have known of the hazardous circumstances that caused a death make the owner liable for negligence. It is rare for a person to die from a slip and fall accident or other common premise liability scenarios. However, situations such as an accidental drowning, also fall under this category.

Depending on the circumstances, you may qualify to claim wrongful death. Be sure to contact the experienced attorneys of Parke Gordon law Firm to determine if you have a legitimate wrongful death case. Call (509) 482-7274 for a free consultation.

Rural Roads are Deadliest

According to federal highway data, the roads least traveled are the nation’s deadliest. More drivers in America die on rural highways than on urban freeways and streets. There may be several different reasons for the high number of deaths on rural roads. Here are some examples:

• More people are said to drive faster on rural roads and take more risks such as not wearing a seatbelt.
• Many drivers drive drunk on rural roads.
• Emergency medical care takes longer to get to a car accident victim on a rural road.
• Animals dart out in front of vehicles and cause a car accident
• Careless driving is more apparent on rural roads.

Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim?

Even so, if your case does qualify, only certain individuals can make the claim for the damages and loss of their loved ones.

In most cases, the following individuals may file a wrongful death claim:

• Spouses or life partners
• Children
• Siblings
• Parents
• Other dependents

By and large, to receive justice for wrongful death you must have some substantial evidence. Ultimately, there are some key factors you must have to prove your claim is valid. For instance, you must include the fact that the party you are suing owes your loved one duty of care, they breached that duty to care and as a result, they caused the death. Extensive evidence, expert opinions, witness testimony, a thorough legal investigation, and much more could be required.

How to File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit

Since wrongful death claims are governed by the statute enacted by the legislature, the persons who are entitled to recover claims are set by statute. In addition, the types of damages a person may recover are also set by statute. Contact an attorney at Parke Gordon Law Firm in Spokane to take the stress off of you and handle your case. Our experienced wrongful death attorneys understand the ins and outs. Let us fight the big insurance companies to get you the best settlement possible.

Example of a Wrongful Death Claim

Car Accident: If your loved one was killed in a car accident, you may be able to file a wrongful death claim. For example, if a drunk driver hit their car, you could possibly file against the drunk driver for negligence. Another example would be if the airbag did not deploy in a car accident. You could possibly make a product liability claim against the airbag or car manufacturer.

Four Main Elements of a Wrongful Death Case

Negligence: It must be proven that the individual being sued was reckless, careless, or negligent.

Causation: It must be shown how the defendant’s negligence caused the death of their loved one.

Breach of Duty: Proof that the defendant in a wrongful death owed a duty to the deceased. For example, in the story from above, the driver had a duty to the pedestrian to drive a reasonable speed and to be aware of pedestrians.

Damages: There can be many damages occurred from the death of a wrongful death victim. For instance, medical expenses, funeral and burial costs, loss of income and potential earnings, etc.

Proving these elements to the court during a wrongful death lawsuit requires strong evidence. The experienced wrongful death attorneys at Parke Gordon Law Firm can help to gather this evidence and make a strong claim on your behalf. Call our Spokane law office today at (509) 482-7274 for a free consultation.

Contact a Wrongful Death Lawyer in Spokane, WA Immediately

Contact the Spokane wrongful death lawyers at Parke Gordon Law Firm to find out if you are entitled under the statute to bring a claim and if so, what types of damages you are entitled to recover. We are aggressive, experienced, and trusted and will fight to ensure you get a fair settlement. Call the law office of Parke Gordon Law Firm in Spokane for a free consultation. Our attorneys can usually tell you over the phone if you have a good case. Or if you prefer, we can also meet in person. This is your opportunity to discuss your potential wrongful death case with an experienced and knowledgeable attorney. Call our Spokane law office now at (509) 482-7274 to get started on your wrongful death case.