Vancouver, Washington, Wrongful Death Attorney
"Wrongful death" is a legal term for any death that is caused by the negligent or reckless actions of another person. Wrongful death can result from a fatal car or boating accident, from a job site injury, a fatal fire, from surgical errors, or from any number of other causes.
A wrongful death lawsuit is brought by the personal representative or executor of the decedent's estate, on behalf of the decedent's surviving dependents or beneficiaries, including spouses, children or dependent parents.
The purpose of a wrongful death lawsuit is to compensate surviving dependents, who are entitled to compensation from the responsible party. In a wrongful death action, the Harlan Law Firm uses a team of economic experts to calculate the financial value of such losses as:
- loss of love, companionship and emotional support
- anticipated earnings until the expected time of retirement
- loss of anticipated inheritance
- medical bills
- funeral expenses
Wrongful Death Action After Death of 18-Year-Old Girl
Result: $217,000 Settlement
The Harlan Law Firm represented the estate of an 18-year-old girl who was killed in a fatal car accident involving a drunk driver. The girl was unemployed and had no children. We worked with a team of economic experts to calculate her likely earnings over the course of a normal lifespan. The eventual settlement of $217,000 was distributed to her parents according to state probate law.
The Harlan Law Firm — a small and friendly firm located just 10 minutes from downtown Portland, Oregon — has substantial experience with accidental death actions. We are led by attorney Beau Harlan, a successful trial lawyer who uses his experience in front of juries as a primary negotiating tactic when representing personal injury clients. With a well-earned reputation as a skilled trial lawyer, Mr. Harlan has the confidence and experience to negotiate or litigate for the best possible financial result for his clients in wrongful death actions.
If an unreasonable settlement is the final offer, the Harlan Law Firm is always prepared to go to trial to tell our client's story to a jury and obtain a more just result.
Get Legal Advice After a Fatal Accident
We handle personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis. This means that our clients pay no legal fees unless and until we recover for them the compensation they deserve.
If you are seeking legal advice after a fatal accident, contact our office today to schedule an initial consultation. Call 360.735.8200 or send us an e-mail.
