Spokane wrongful death attorneys at Parke Gordon Law Firm have years of experience handling wrongful death cases. What is a 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. There are some recoverable damages in a wrongful death claim described as follows.
Recoverable Damages in a Wrongful Death Claim
There are three types of damages in a wrongful death claim that are often recovered: (1) economic (2) non-economic, and (3) punitive.
Economic Damages
Economic damages of a wrongful death claim include the value of financial contributions. For example, how much money would the victim have made to provide for his or her family had they not died. Other economic damages include the following.
- Loss of benefits such as health insurance coverage or pension plans.
- Services that the victim would have provided.
- Loss of the victim’s expected earnings.
- Loss of inheritance caused by an untimely death.
- Medical and funeral expenses in coordination to the death.
Non-economic Damages
Non-economic damages are less tangible than economic damages. Non-economic damages, however, often have more value than economic damages. Examples of non-econmic damages include the following.
- Loss of love, companionship, and society from the deceased.
- Loss of consortium.
- Loss of protection, guidance, nurturing, advice, care, etc.
- Damages for the survivors’ mental health, anguish, pain and suffering.
Punitive Damages
In extreme cases, punitive damages are awarded to punish the defendant for, especially bad conduct. Many states do not award punitive damages for wrongful death lawsuits or these damages are not recoverable against certain defendants including most governmental agencies.
Contact a Spokane Wrongful Death Lawyer 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. 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 case.
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