WRONGFUL DEATH

If you are reading this, you have probably lost someone. And while the legal process ahead of you is real and time-sensitive, we want to start by saying that how you are feeling right now matters more than any of what follows. Take your time with this page. None of it has to be figured out today.

When you are ready, here is what you need to know.

Your Right to File a Claim

Oregon and Washington law give surviving family members the right to seek compensation when a loved one dies because of someone else’s negligence or wrongdoing. This is called a wrongful death claim, and it exists separately from any criminal proceedings that may be happening at the same time.

A wrongful death claim is a civil matter, which means the standard of proof is lower than in a criminal case and the outcome is financial rather than punitive. It does not require a criminal conviction, and it can proceed even if no charges are ever filed.

Who Can Bring a Wrongful Death Claim?

In Oregon, the claim is filed by the personal representative of the deceased person’s estate, typically on behalf of the surviving spouse, children, or parents. Washington follows similar rules.

If there is no estate open yet, that process often needs to happen first. It sounds complicated but it is manageable, and we can walk you through what that looks like for your specific situation.

What a Claim Can Cover

Wrongful death claims can seek compensation for both the financial and the personal impact of losing someone.

On the financial side, that typically includes:

• Funeral and burial costs
• Medical bills from the injury or illness that led to the death
• Income and financial support the deceased would have provided over their lifetime
• Loss of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions

On the personal side, that includes things that are harder to quantify but no less real:

• The loss of companionship, love, and relationship
• The grief and emotional suffering of surviving family members
• Pain and suffering the deceased experienced before death

What Happened to Your Loved One Matters

Wrongful death claims can arise from many different circumstances. Car and truck accidents are among the most common, but we also handle cases involving workplace accidents, defective products, and situations where medical care fell below an acceptable standard.

What matters is not the category your situation falls into. What matters is whether someone else’s failure to act responsibly caused this death. If the answer is yes, there is a path forward.

The Timeline Is Important

Oregon and Washington both have a three-year statute of limitations for wrongful death claims, measured from the date of death. Three years sounds like a long time, but evidence fades, witnesses become harder to locate, and certain records have retention limits. Starting earlier gives your case a better foundation.

There are also situations where the window is shorter, particularly if a government agency or employee was involved. If that applies to your situation, the deadline could be significantly sooner.

What Working With Us Looks Like

Adam handles every wrongful death case personally. You will not be assigned to a case manager or have to re-explain your situation to a new person every time you call.

His job is to handle everything on the legal side so that your family does not have to. That means investigating what happened, dealing with the insurance companies, keeping you informed without overwhelming you, and fighting for an outcome that reflects the full weight of what your family has lost.