Fatal car accidents have profound impacts on family members. If you have suffered the loss of a loved one in this type of accident, consult a fatal car accident lawyer in Bothell from Murphy Trial Law to help you navigate this painful time. We can provide counsel, advocacy, financial assistance, and valuable resources to ease your suffering and help offset your losses.
Our team has nearly two decades of combined experience helping clients deal with some of the most difficult challenges in their lives. We are committed to protecting your rights and ensuring you have someone who can handle your case while you grieve your loved one. A Bothell car accident lawyer puts you first.
A Bothell Fatal Car Accident Attorney Helps You Determine What You Can Recover in a Fatal Car Accident Case
Fatal car accidents are both tragic and costly. Surviving family members are forced to face the grief of losing their loved one, as well as expenses they were unprepared to cover. This can be incredibly difficult and put your family in a vulnerable position. However, Murphy Trial Law can help you identify the full scope of your losses and secure compensation to cover the following, as applicable:
- Funeral and burial costs for your loved one
- Final medical expenses you’re responsible for paying on behalf of the decedent
- Vehicle damage costs
- Lost income and services your family has suffered
- Loss of inheritance
- Your pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Lost enjoyment and quality of life
- Loss of consortium, parenting, or general companionship
Our team can help you determine how much your case is worth. This is based on the extent of your losses, their effect on your life, whether your loved one shared fault for the accident, and factors such as insurance policy limits, insurance cooperation, and at-fault parties accepting responsibility. A fatal car accident attorney in Bothell advocates for you in these situations to help you recover full compensation.
For a free legal consultation with a fatal car accident lawyer serving Bothell, call (425) 835-2614
Common Causes That Contribute to Fatal Car Accidents in Bothell
One of the sad truths about a fatal car crash in Bothell is that they’re avoidable. Negligence or recklessness is often the underlying factor in the causes that contribute to these tragic events. Drivers are responsible for following the rules of the road and exercising caution, and carelessness in these responsibilities can have lasting repercussions and endanger the lives of others.
Common factors that contribute to these types of accidents include drunk driving, speeding, and distractions. Additionally, drivers who fail to adjust their driving for bad weather, or vehicles that have defective parts, can also result in vehicle fatalities. The force of the impact or loss of control in these situations can affect the severity of the accident.
Some car accident victims may die on impact or soon after, while others may have a delayed death due to complications from injuries they sustained in the collision. Injuries such as traumatic brain injuries, spinal injuries, internal bleeding, and organ damage are a few conditions that may result in a loss of life after a vehicle accident.
Bothell Fatal Car Accident Lawyer Near Me (425) 835-2614
Filing a Wrongful Death Lawsuit After a Bothell Fatal Car Accident
After a fatal car accident, surviving families are bereft and left to pick up the pieces. This loss can affect every area of your life. A wrongful death lawsuit can be filed in these situations to recover the losses you have suffered as a result of your loved one’s fatal car accident. It’s also designed to hold the other driver civilly liable for the death and damage they caused because of their negligent actions.
To file a wrongful death lawsuit, the decedent’s personal representative must initiate the case, per RCW 4.20.010. However, all compensation recovered in a wrongful death case is for the benefit of the decedent’s spouse or partner and children or stepchildren, according to RCW 4.20.020. If neither of these parties exists, compensation goes to the decedent’s parents or siblings instead.
It’s important to talk with a fatal car accident attorney in Bothell about proceeding with your case as early as possible. Washington imposes a three-year statute of limitations (RCW 4.16.080) on filing a lawsuit, and missing this deadline could leave you without the ability to recover your losses. Waiting too long to start your claim can also impact the strength of your case.
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How Liability Works When Filing a Wrongful Death Lawsuit for a Fatal Car Accident
During a wrongful death lawsuit, a fatal auto accidents attorney must show the negligence of the other driver with evidence and directly connect it to your loved one’s death. This ensures that they can be held liable and your claim is backed up. A driver’s responsibility must be contrasted with their actual actions to demonstrate how they caused the accident and resulting fatality.
This is an important aspect in fatal car accident cases because it shows how the accident occurred and who contributed to it. It also impacts how parties are compensated for losses. For example, another driver could be wholly responsible for your loved one’s death and your family could recover fully. However, if fault is shared between the other driver and the decedent, recovery looks different.
When more than one party is at fault, their level of contribution is assigned a percentage. According to Washington’s comparative negligence laws, parties can recover reduced compensation even if they are 99% at fault. This means that if your loved one was 20% at fault for the accident that resulted in their death, you can only recover 80% of your losses through a wrongful death lawsuit.
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Murphy Trial Law Ensures You Don’t Have to Deal With the Legal Process Alone
Murphy Trial Law stands by you during the aftermath of your loved one’s fatal car accident. Our team takes the lead on your case so you don’t have to, and we aggressively fight for the justice your loved one deserves and the full compensation you need. Whether you’re ready to hire a Bothell fatal car accident lawyer or want to learn about your options before deciding, you can schedule a free case review today.
Call or text (425) 835-2614 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form