Construction is a dangerous industry, and sadly, it sees more than its fair share of fatal accidents. If you’ve lost a loved one in a jobsite accident, find out what your next step should be by working with a Spokane construction accident wrongful death lawyer.

It’s impossible to imagine anything worse than losing your loved one to a construction accident. If this has happened to you, call Craig Swapp & Associates to speak with a Spokane construction accident wrongful death lawyer.

Because construction accidents are a type of workplace accident, there are special considerations that need to be accounted for, making these cases more complicated than other wrongful death cases.

 

Who Can Sue for Wrongful Death in Washington State?

Bringing a wrongful death lawsuit is typically reserved for close family members. In Washington, this includes the following relatives of the deceased:

  • Spouse or domestic partner
  • Children and stepchildren
  • Personal representative of the deceased’s estate

Parents and siblings can also sue in certain situations. To find out if you qualify, speak with a Spokane construction accident wrongful death lawyer.

 

Proving Negligence in Fatal Construction Accidents

Someone else needs to have been responsible for the accident in order for you to have a case. To determine negligence, we will investigate the accident and perform all of the following tasks:

  • Speak with eyewitnesses
  • Review accident and hospital reports
  • View pictures and video footage
  • Work with the physicians who treated your loved one
  • Conduct depositions and ask the employer questions while under oath

The information gathered will help us identify if the employer or a third party was negligent and therefore responsible for your family member’s wrongful death. If more than one party was to blame, such as the employer and an equipment manufacturer, we can name both in your lawsuit.

 

Calculating Compensation for a Wrongful Death Claim

The value of your wrongful death claim will be partly based on tangible factors like lost wages, medical bills, and accident-related expenses.

For example, if your loved one passed at age forty and made $70,000 per year, we would multiply these wages by the number of years left until reaching retirement age. This number can then be increased by calculating likely wage increases.

Lost benefits, retirement income, and other financial contributions will be included in these calculations as well. Direct expenses such as medical bills, funeral costs, and caregiver expenses will be factored in to reach an estimated claim value.

Your settlement should also include compensation for your family’s pain and suffering and the lost companionship and guidance that your family member’s death has caused.

 

Contact a Spokane Wrongful Death Construction Accident Attorney

Craig Swapp & Associates is here to assist you. We know that this is a difficult time, and we will do what we can to make life easier by handling all of the investigations, negotiations, and trial preparations on your behalf.

While money will not bring back your deceased loved one, it can help to ease your financial burdens and secure your family’s future wellbeing. To get started with a free, no-pressure case evaluation, simply call 1-800-404-9000 or complete the form below to meet with an experienced and compassionate attorney.