A collision on I-90 near the Division Street exit or a fatal accident on a busy Spokane arterial changes your family’s history instantly. The loss of a loved one creates a void that no legal process fills yet holding the responsible party accountable provides a sense of justice and financial security for survivors.
Families facing these circumstances need a Spokane Wrongful Death Lawyer who provides capable assistance. Our firm of Spokane personal injury lawyers represent families throughout Eastern Washington, using a legacy of advocacy that began in 1893 to build a strong case. We provide the steady support your family needs during this difficult legal process.
Frequent Causes for a Spokane Wrongful Death Lawyer Claim
High-speed collisions on the freeway and dangerous conditions on local properties contribute to many fatal accidents in Spokane every year. Identifying the cause of the tragedy helps our firm hold the negligent parties accountable for your family’s loss. We investigate every detail of the incident to build a clear picture of the mistakes that led to the death.
Commercial trucking hazards on I-90
Commercial trucks traveling through Spokane must follow strict federal and state safety standards. Carriers often pressure drivers to ignore rest requirements to speed up delivery times on long I-90 routes. Fatigued drivers lack the reaction time needed to avoid sudden hazards on mountain passes.
We investigate driver logs and electronic data to find violations of these safety rules. Trucking companies face liability for the harm their drivers cause while performing job duties. Proving these violations strengthens your family’s pursuit of a recovery. Learn more about trucking accidents and liability.
Dangerous property and premises liability
Property owners in Spokane must maintain safe environments for visitors and guests. Failing to repair a broken handrail or ignoring a leaking pipe creates an lethal climate in apartment complexes or businesses. We investigate the maintenance history of the location to show the owner neglected their safety duties.
Proving the owner knew about the danger before the accident occurred supports your family’s claim. Our team works to document these physical failures before the owner attempts to repair the hazard.
High-traffic intersections and pedestrian risks
Busy intersections near North Monroe Street or South Hill see high volumes of vehicle and pedestrian traffic. Drivers rushing through downtown Spokane often overlook others, leading to impacts at crosswalks. We recognize the traffic patterns of these areas and how they contribute to accident risks.
This local knowledge helps us investigate your crash and identify driver errors. Our firm has worked in Washington courtrooms for decades, providing a unique perspective on local litigation. Washington State Department of Transportation provides data on these risks and helps us track safety trends in the region.
Survival Actions vs. Wrongful Death Claims
Washington law distinguishes between the damages a family suffers and the damages the deceased person suffered. Combining these two legal pathways often ensures a more complete pursuit of justice. Our team explains the differences to help families choose the best strategy for their case.
Survival of Actions Under RCW 4.20.046
A survival action allows the estate to recover damages for the deceased person’s pain and suffering before they passed. RCW 4.20.046 preserves the deceased person’s right to pursue a claim as if they had survived. This includes medical expenses incurred after the injury and the physical and emotional distress the loved one endured.
These damages often account for a significant portion of the estate’s recovery. We gather medical records and witness testimony to document the loved one’s experience during their final days.
Proving final suffering and distress
Proving the suffering a loved one endured requires a detailed look at the medical treatments and witness accounts from the scene. If a person remained conscious for any period after the impact, the estate pursues compensation for that physical pain.
We consult with medical specialists to explain how the injuries affected the deceased person before they passed. These professional opinions provide the foundation for the non-economic damages we seek. This evidence ensures the negligent party pays for every moment of harm they caused.
Coordination of legal pathways
Survival actions focus on the losses that occurred between the moment of the accident and the moment of death. Wrongful death claims look forward at the family’s future. We coordinate these two claims to build a comprehensive case against the responsible party.
This approach demonstrates the total human cost of the negligence to the insurance company or a jury. Holding the negligent party accountable for both types of damages strengthens the family’s position. For more information, read who can file a wrongful death lawsuit in Washington State.
Why Choose Jacobs and Jacobs for a Spokane Wrongful Death Lawyer
Our family firm provides a legacy of advocacy that spans more than 130 years of Washington history.
- We maintain deep roots in the Puget Sound region, a tradition that began with B.F. Jacobs in the late 1800s.
- Our team of more than 50 members works together to support your pursuit of fair treatment and a successful outcome.
- Tom Jacobs currently handles more injury and death claims than any other attorney in Pierce County, showing the trust our neighbors place in our work.
- Our attorneys bring the experience of representing tens of thousands of people to even the most complex fatal accident cases.
- Our offices in Kent and Puyallup offer flexible meeting options, through Zoom, or via home visits to meet your needs in Spokane.
- Our staff manages the adjusters, the paperwork, and the legal deadlines under our philosophy of “We’ll take it from here.”
This client-focused support reduces stress through consistent communication and personalized legal strategies for every family we represent.
Practical Steps to Support Your Family’s Recovery
The actions you take in the weeks following a loss help preserve your right to seek a recovery. Our team helps you manage the administrative details so you can focus on your family. Specific steps help our team build a more robust argument for your financial recovery.
Developing a detailed record of the tragedy’s impact strengthens your legal position throughout the claim process:
- Keeping all invoices for funeral and burial services in an organized file creates a clear record of expenses.
- Gathering the loved one’s employment records, including recent pay stubs and benefit statements, documents financial loss.
- Saving all medical bills incurred between the accident and the loved one’s death proves economic damage.
- Avoiding any discussion of the accident or the legal claim on social media platforms protects your family’s privacy.
- Referring all calls from insurance adjusters or defense attorneys directly to our office prevents unwanted pressure.
- Writing down the names and contact information of anyone who witnessed the accident helps our investigators.
- Preserving any personal property damaged in the accident, such as a vehicle or bicycle, provides physical evidence.
- Maintaining a record of how the loss has affected the daily lives of the surviving beneficiaries.
Following these steps protects the integrity of your claim and prevents insurance companies from twisting the facts. We use this information to calculate the full financial and personal impact of the death. Your diligence in saving these records helps our team pursue the most suitable outcome for your case. These records create a clear timeline that connects the other party’s negligence to your family’s current challenges.
Automated Bots Lack the Human Perspective for Legal Matters
Relying on digital bots for legal answers carries significant risks for grieving families. These programs lack the human ability to recognize the nuances of Washington statutes or the specifics of your Spokane case.
Always call an attorney from Jacobs and Jacobs Personal Injury Law Group rather than using automated software for legal decisions. Software provides general data points, but it cannot appreciate the emotional weight of your recovery or provide a personalized strategy.
Human advocates provide the seasoned judgment and local experience that automated tools lack entirely. We take the time to recognize the specific challenges you face and how the loss has changed your life. Our team uses human experience and decades of legal knowledge to manage the insurance system on your behalf.
Digital tools cannot represent you in court or stand up to an insurance company during a difficult negotiation. For reliable guidance that accounts for every detail of your case, trust the people who have served this community for over a century. You may also find helpful information in our guide to types of compensation.
FAQ for Spokane Wrongful Death Lawyer
Who has the legal right to file a wrongful death claim in Washington?
Washington law requires the personal representative of the deceased person’s estate to file the wrongful death claim. The personal representative pursues the action for the benefit of the surviving spouse, domestic partner, and children.
If no spouse or children exist, parents or siblings may become beneficiaries under certain conditions. Our team helps families through the probate court process to appoint a personal representative for the estate.
What if my loved one was partially at fault for the accident?
Washington’s pure comparative fault rule allows families to seek a recovery even if the deceased person shared some responsibility. The court decreases the total financial award by the percentage of fault a jury assigns to the loved one’s actions.
If a jury finds the loved one 20 percent responsible, the family still receives 80 percent of the total damages. Our team works to show the full extent of the other party’s negligence to protect your family’s recovery. Learn about Washington’s pedestrian right-of-way laws which may affect fault determinations.
Can I pursue a claim for a death that occurred months after the accident?
You may pursue a wrongful death claim as long as the injuries from the accident directly caused the death. We work with medical specialists to prove the link between the initial trauma and the eventual loss of life.
These cases require a thorough review of medical records to establish the cause of death for the insurance carrier. The three-year statute of limitations generally begins on the date of the death.
What damages are available in a wrongful death case?
Families may seek economic damages for lost future income, funeral expenses, and medical bills incurred before the death. Non-economic damages compensate for the loss of companionship, love, guidance, and emotional support.
In some cases, the estate may also pursue a survival action for the pain and suffering the loved one endured before they passed. Our firm evaluates every available type of damage to ensure the pursuit of a full recovery.
How long will a wrongful death case take to resolve?
The length of a case depends on the complexity of the accident and the willingness of the insurance company to offer a fair settlement. We avoid settling claims until we fully recognize the long-term financial impact on the surviving beneficiaries.
Settling too early may leave the family without the support they need for the future. Our team provides regular updates on the status of your case and work to resolve the matter as efficiently as possible. For additional support, read our article on why choose Jacobs and Jacobs for your family’s case.
A Legacy of Compassion and Strength
The months following a loss involve deep grief, significant logistical challenges, and uncertainty about your family’s financial security. Managing these burdens while trying to honor a loved one’s memory adds unnecessary stress to an already difficult time.
Our firm has provided a pillar of strength for the residents of the Puget Sound for over 130 years, and we extend that same commitment to the Spokane community. We believe that no one should have to face the legal system alone, especially when they are dealing with a tragedy that was not their fault.
Our family-led team at Jacobs and Jacobs Personal Injury Law Group brings a legacy of trial experience and compassionate support to your case. We provide the direct assistance needed to manage the paperwork and the aggressive tactics of insurance adjusters.
We handle the legal complexities so you can devote your energy to your family and your healing process.
If you suffered the loss of a family member and need a way forward, call us at our office to discuss your case and learn how we can help your family move forward.