Yakima Wrongful Death Lawyer

Most wrongful death attorneys, including those at Abeyta Nelson Injury Law, work on a contingency fee basis, which is common in the legal field.  Our attorney fees are contingent upon whether or not we win a client’s case or secure a favorable monetary settlement.  In other words, clients pay no attorney fees unless we win your case, nor do we ever charge any fee for an initial client meeting with our attorneys.  A contingency fee typically ranges from 33% to 40% of the recovered settlement or amount awarded by the court.

A contingency fee arrangement makes legal representation affordable and accessible to every client, since our fee is deducted at the end of the case, and only if we win.  Additionally, payment via contingency fee provides an incentive for attorneys to work hard for their clients and to secure the best financial outcome for the client.  

In Washington state, the closest living relative to a wrongfully deceased person is typically the person responsible for filing a wrongful death lawsuit, but filing rules vary from state to state.  For example, some states only allow a surviving spouse, parents, or children to file a wrongful death lawsuit.  If the wrongfully deceased person does not have children, parents can file suit.  In some cases, siblings can file a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of their loved one if they can show they were dependent upon the deceased person for financial support.

Wrongful death cases can be some of the most complex types of personal injury cases, so it’s important to hire an experienced team of attorneys like those at Abeyta Nelson Injury Law.  Since 1982, we’ve successfully resolved hundreds of wrongful death cases for Washington families.

A wrongful death case can take several months to several years to resolve, depending on the specific circumstances involved in handling the case.  As with every personal injury case, Abeyta Nelson Injury Law wrongful death attorneys take a thorough and thoughtful approach in reviewing the unique and often complex aspects of these types of cases.  

Hiring an experienced legal team is crucial in ensuring the proper investigation of a wrongful death case.  At Abeyta Nelson, our attorneys know what to look for when reviewing the details of medical records, which may reveal existing or underlying medical conditions important to a case.  Accessing and interpreting autopsy reports and witness reports are also critical aspects of building a winning case.

Prior to hiring our team, Abeyta Nelson Injury Law attorneys ensure potential clients are provided with a clear understanding of the time and resources that will be required to resolve their case.  

Although every wrongful death case is different, there are a variety of wrongful death damages a client may seek to recover.  Some of the more typical types of damages clients may choose to recover fall into two categories:  economic or non-economic damages.  Economic damages are defined as those that have a direct impact on a family’s pocketbook, or financial losses, which may include medical expenses incurred prior to the loved one’s passing, funeral expenses, burial expenses, lost wages, and other direct expenses.  Non-economic damages, while no less important, may include emotional distress, loss of companionship, and pain and suffering.  Additionally, some families choose to file punitive damages, seeking additional compensation from the individual (or individuals) who caused their loved one’s wrongful and untimely death.  

The types and amount of damages a family or loved one chooses to pursue in a wrongful death case will be dictated by the specific details of their case.  Hiring a trusted and experienced wrongful death attorney, like those at Abeyta Nelson Injury Law, can provide peace of mind in navigating the process of seeking wrongful death economic damages and successfully resolving the case.