How Do You Prove Wrongful Death? By Matt Quick on July 24, 2020

Flowers on a casketThere is perhaps no greater tragedy than losing a loved one in a catastrophic event. If someone loses their life because of another person’s reckless or negligent behavior, surviving family members have the right to seek financial compensation for damages.

wrongful death lawsuit can provide decedents compensation for financial and emotional losses caused by the unexpected loss of their loved one. Unfortunately, proving that a wrongful death occurred can be somewhat complex. It is important for surviving family members to work with a knowledgeable lawyer, such as those at Quick Law Group, PLLC in Bellevue, WA. Our attorneys can gather the evidence necessary to prove the essential aspects of a wrongful death case.

What Needs to Be Proven?

Proving a wrongful death case on behalf of our Bellevue clients goes beyond just demonstrating that a death occurred. It is even more complex than showing that the death was the result of another person’s recklessness or negligence. To prove a wrongful death case in court, several key factors must be conveyed:

  • A person lost their life
  • The death was caused by the defendant’s wrongful or negligent conduct
  • At least one surviving decedent suffered losses as a result of the death
  • Damages were suffered by the deceased’s estate

Evidence to Support a Wrongful Death Claim

To prove all the elements of a wrongful death case, our legal team relies on a variety of supporting evidence. Some aspects of a wrongful death case are easier to prove than others. A simple death certificate is enough to show that a person died. Damages of the estate and surviving loved ones also tend to be easy to prove. Medical bills, income statements, benefit statements, and other similar documents can demonstrate financial losses.

What is most difficult to prove in a wrongful death case is the cause of the death, or the defendant's reckless or negligent conduct. To show that a person’s wrongful actions resulted in a death, our legal team may rely on several different types of evidence, such as:

  • Police reports
  • Witness testimony
  • Expert testimony
  • Photographs or video footage showing the incident/accident or the scene of the accident
  • Medical records
  • Any other records that demonstrate wrongful behavior

When to File Suit

A lawsuit will not be the first thing on a person’s mind after losing a loved one. However, if a family suspects wrongful death, it is important that a wrongful death lawsuit is filed in a timely manner. First, the earlier that a lawsuit is filed, the easier it is for our Bellevue attorneys to gather evidence, while it is still fresh in everyone’s mind. Second, each state has their own statute of limitation laws that dictate the timeframe in which a wrongful death suit needs to be filed. In the state of Washington, the statute of limitations is three years from the date of the incident that caused the death.

Contact Quick Law Group, PLLC

If you have lost a loved one to wrongful death, the lawyers at Quick Law Group, PLLC can help you prove it. To discuss your case with our lawyers, send us a message at your earliest convenience, or call (425) 576-8150 to schedule a consultation.

Related to This

Brad Fulton, Liz Quick, and Matt Quick

Quick Law Group, PLLC

At Quick Law Group, PLLC, our clients are given straightforward, candid advice about their legal situation, and they are always treated with respect as they deal with the legal and medical issues that result from an accident. Our accolades include:

  • Being named among the 20 Best Car Accident Attorneys in Bellevue
  • Being named a Top 100 Lawyer by the American Society of Legal Advocates
  • Having a 10.0 rating by Avvo

Contact us online or call us at (425) 576-8150 to schedule a free initial consultation with a lawyer. If we take your case, we will fight to collect maximum compensation for your injuries.

Contact Our Practice

Rate, Review & Explore

Social Accounts Sprite
Google map image of our location in 1621 114th Ave SE Ste 228 Bellevue, WA

Bellevue Office

1621 114th Ave SE
Ste 228
Bellevue, WA 98004

Open Today 8:00am - 5:00pm

Tell us a bit about yourself...

(425) 576-8150 Send a message