For families after a preventable loss
Honoring your loss
with the seriousness it deserves.
No legal proceeding restores who has been taken. What it can do is hold the responsible party accountable, secure the financial future of those left behind, and create a record that says publicly: this should not have happened.
- $22.4M+Recovered for surviving families
- 3 yrsWashington statute of limitations
- 0%Up-front cost — contingency fee
- 100%Confidential, family-paced consultations
What the Law Recognizes
The losses Washington allows you to recover.
Wrongful death damages in Washington fall into two categories: economic losses (measurable, future-projected) and non-economic losses (the human cost of absence). Both matter and both must be proven.
Lost financial support
Future earnings the deceased would have provided to their family — calculated by economists.
Loss of consortium
The companionship, guidance, and love a spouse, child, or parent will no longer experience.
Funeral & burial expenses
Final costs, memorial services, and transportation reimbursed in full.
Medical bills before death
Treatment costs incurred between the injury and the passing.
Standing to File
Who Washington recognizes.
Washington's wrongful death statute (RCW 4.20) sets a specific hierarchy of beneficiaries. The personal representative of the estate files the claim on their behalf — but the recovery flows to the family the law identifies.
- 01Surviving spouse or registered domestic partner
- 02Children — biological, adopted, or stepchildren the decedent was supporting
- 03Parents — if the decedent was unmarried and without children
- 04Personal representative of the estate, on behalf of the family
Case Spotlight
Family of four — surviving spouse and minor children.
We represented a young widow and her two children after their husband and father was killed by a commercial driver running a red light. Beyond the wage replacement and loss-of-consortium components, we built the case to ensure the children's college and care needs were funded into adulthood. Settled with the carrier and the trucking company before suit was filed.
Walking Through It Together
What the first nine months look like.
Wrongful death cases move at a different pace than other claims. There is grief work happening alongside legal work — and we let the family set the tempo wherever the law allows.
- 1Week 1
We listen first
An initial conversation, in person or by phone, on your terms. No paperwork. No pressure to retain. We answer questions and explain whether a claim is likely viable.
- 2Weeks 1–4
We gather quietly
Police reports, autopsy findings, employment records, witness statements. Our work happens in the background so the family can focus on the memorial and the children.
- 3Months 1–3
We retain experts
An economist projects the lifetime financial loss. A vocational expert addresses the decedent's career trajectory. A grief counselor or family therapist may consult on non-economic damages.
- 4Months 3–9
We negotiate from strength
Most wrongful death cases resolve through pre-suit demand or mediation once the carrier sees a complete file. Trial is the alternative — never the goal — when the offer is inadequate.
Practical First Steps
What to gather, when you're ready.
There is no rush. We can begin without any of these. But when you are able to gather them, the case moves faster — and a faster case means a faster resolution for the family.
If you don't know where something is, we can help locate it. This is part of what we do.
- 01Letters of administration or testamentary appointing a personal representative
- 02Death certificate (multiple certified copies — banks, insurers, and courts each require originals)
- 03Decedent's W-2s, 1099s, or last three years of tax returns for wage-loss calculations
- 04List of dependents — biological, adopted, or stepchildren the decedent supported
- 05Funeral and burial invoices, plus any pre-death medical bills tied to the incident
- 06Marriage certificate or registered domestic partnership documentation
Confidential · 60 seconds
Working estimate of recovery.
We share this as a tool — not a measure of what was lost. The figure is illustrative; the conversation that follows is what matters.
Wrongful Death Estimator
Brackets reflect typical Washington wrongful death resolutions, depending on the decedent's age, earnings, and family.
Step 1 of 3
How serious were the injuries?
Common Questions
What families ask first.
Who can file a wrongful death claim in Washington?
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Washington's wrongful death statute identifies a specific hierarchy of beneficiaries — spouse and children first, then parents, then other dependents. The personal representative of the estate files on their behalf.
How long do we have to file?
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Three years from the date of death for most wrongful death claims. Shorter deadlines may apply if a governmental entity is involved. We move quickly so deadlines don't foreclose recovery.
Will we have to relive the loss in court?
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Most wrongful death cases resolve through negotiation. When trial is necessary, we shoulder the procedural and evidentiary work and prepare the family carefully. Your role is to share who your loved one was, not to litigate.
What does it cost?
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Nothing up front. Wrongful death cases are taken on contingency. We advance all litigation costs.
When you're ready