Were You Involved in a Coupeville Wrongful Death?

With over 1,000+ cases successfully resolved, Rico Tessandore is the Coupeville wrongful death attorney for you.

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Wrongful Death Lawyer in Coupeville, WA

COUPEVILLE WRONGFUL DEATH LAWYER

We’ve Received Compensation For Hundreds Of People. We Can Help You Too.

No one should ever go through the pain of losing a loved one. Although we may not be able to bring your loved one back, we can help you get the settlement you deserve

Here’s what you need to know when looking for a wrongful death attorney
  • Don’t settle for less than you deserve

  • What you need to know about car accidents in Coupeville

  • Why should I hire Rico Tessandore for my case?
  • How Rico Tessandore will help you in your wrongful death case

  • Understanding the law of negligence
  • How does a wrongful death lawsuit work?

sullen on a bench after a wrongful death
Don't Settle For An Insurance Company's Offer
You deserve fair compensation for your injury.
A wrongful death represents one of the worst tragedies that can befall a family. While nothing can undo the pain that arises from such situations, a quality wrongful death lawyer can help smooth the road to recovery.

Wrongful death occurs whenever the negligence or misconduct of a person or entity leads to a fatality. Wrongful death cases constitute a civil action, meaning they need not necessarily involve criminality. For this reason, the standard of proof may be lower.

But that does not take away from the importance of quality legal representation in a wrongful death case.

distraught man after a wrongful death
How A Wrongful Death Attorney Can Help
A wrongful death attorney at Rico Tessandore can help navigate the legal ins-and-outs of a wrongful death case. A lawyer with a thorough understanding of Washington’s statutes can make sure the case resolves with appropriate compensation and legal action.

Typically, a family member or dependent will need to bring a wrongful death case. A Coupeville wrongful death attorney can help determine which party would have the best standing to bring the case. They can help with the paperwork necessary to establish the appropriate representation, even when the deceased left no will.

A wrongful death attorney can also help to understand the damages available, and which should be pursued on a case-by-case basis. They will also help figure out the proper division of settlements or judgment to ensure that all the affected parties get their due.

Woman sitting alone after a wrongful death
Proof of Negligence

The most significant burden for a wrongful death case involves proving negligence on the part of the defendant. Acquiring damages in the case of wrongful death will require proof on a few different fronts.

  • The defendant had a duty of care for the deceased. This duty of care pertains to everything from workplace safety to product manufacturing and observance of the law for things like firearms handling or motor vehicle operation.
  • The defendant breached that duty. This may include knowingly or unknowingly violating workplace safety regulations, manufacturing a dangerous product, or failing to act reasonably in a situation that threatened the deceased’s safety.
  • The unreasonable or unsafe action directly led to the fatality.
  • The affected party incurred damages due to the fatality.
With those parameters met, a party may successfully level a wrongful death charge.
sad man in hallway after a wrongful death
Types of Scenarios
A wide variety of preventable deaths can lead to a wrongful death lawsuit, including but not limited to
  • Impaired drivers causing an accident
  • A workplace supervisor failing to remedy a known safety hazard
  • A medical care provider performing a procedure in an unsafe manner
  • A manufacturer putting a dangerous or faulty product on the market
  • An animal caretaker failing to control their animal safely
  • Nursing home or elder abuse or neglect
  • A lack of maintenance leading to an unsafe situation for visitors
Essentially, any time the affected party lost a loved one due to preventable circumstances, wrongful death may have occurred. Anything from traffic accidents to drowning to malfunctioning equipment can trigger a wrongful death suit.

A successful case will require teasing out the fatality’s details to determine what went wrong and what fallout became of circumstances afterward.

Woman discussing case with documents
Damages
Wrongful death cases can generate damages to cover the costs associated with the incident. The damages will vary depending on the case. A good lawyer can help ascertain the damages and determine the exact figures. Damages may cover
  • Medical bills incurred from the fatal injury
  • Burial and funeral costs
  • Loss of services like security, childcare, accounting, or caretaking
  • Loss of benefits like health insurance or pension
  • Loss of financial support like future wages or household income
  • Loss of companionship
Some loss may have easy calculations. A pay stub will show the loss of income or wages, while a tax statement may speak to the benefits or financial contributions the deceased brought to the relationship. Medical bills and funeral costs speak for themselves.

Other calculations do not come easily. Putting a dollar figure on a personal relationship presents real challenges, but a skilled attorney can help determine the appropriate compensation. During a traumatic period in one’s life, having a professional deal with the more challenging legal elements makes the process much more manageable.

man visiting graveyard after wrongful death
Defense
A variety of defenses exist for defendants in a wrongful death suit. Successful defense in a wrongful death suit requires a lawyer who understands the situation, the assumptions of risk, and the law surrounding wrongful death statutes.

Waivers and Assumption of Risk

In some cases, the affected party may have knowingly assumed some risk in undertaking the activity that led to their fatality. The party may have signed a document stating their understanding that a given activity had a chance of injury or death.

A waiver does not automatically free the defendant from responsibility. Knowingly ignoring a safety hazard or intentionally increasing the risk still carries exposure in the case of wrongful death.

Rico Tessandore is a top notch personal injury attorney. Highly professional and extremely friendly and open. Always answered all of my calls, answered any and all of my questions. Rico is extremely knowledgeable and I would not want anyone else to handle my case. I have and will continue to recommend Rico Tessandore to all friends and family.

Artem D

I would highly recommend Rico Tessandore. He's responsive, knowledgeable, professional, ethical, and a pleasure to work with. Rico genuinely cares about his clients, and he works hard to get them the best possible outcome. I consulted with Rico after a tripping-and-falling incident. I had some medical expenses and wanted some advice. Rico listened to what I had to say and went to work for me. I can't thank him enough for all the work he did. He went way above and beyond my expectations. I can't say enough good things about him and his staff.

Becky S

Rico is amazing. Such an honest and down to earth guy. Tells you like it is and is fair. Give him a call and schedule a meeting, you wont be disappointed.

Lacey F

Rico represented me in a motor vehicle accident, which occurred just weeks before my wedding. I was injured, stressed, and felt like my life was unraveling. Rico listened to me, and was not just a wonderful attorney, but also a great friend throughout the process. Rico was a tremendous help to me and my family, and I am forever grateful. I could not have asked for a better attorney.

Sonya G

Understanding The Law Of Negligence

Laws can be tricky to understand, but we’re here to help. When it comes to auto accidents, the person bringing the lawsuit (aka the plaintiff) must show that the defendant (the person they’re suing) was negligent. In order to prove this, the plaintiff has to demonstrate all of the following:

The law required the defendant to be reasonably careful.
Drivers, by law, must always be mindful of their vehicle, passengers, and surroundings. So, in auto accident cases, this is a given. All drivers have to act in a reasonable and careful manner; that’s the law.

The defendant wasn’t careful.
The plaintiff must show that the defendant breached, or violated, their duty of care. The law asks, “What would a reasonable and prudent person do in the given situation?” If the defendant failed to act the way a reasonable person would, they’ve violated their duty of care.

The defendant’s conduct was the reason behind the plaintiff’s injuries.
If you’re the plaintiff, you have to show the injuries you received were from the defendant’s lack of reasonable care and not some other circumstance.

The plaintiff suffered losses, was injured, or both.
If there aren’t any injuries or financial losses, there’s nothing for the plaintiff to recover from the defendant. That’s why plaintiffs must keep a detailed record of their injuries, expenses, and any property damage.

Understanding The Driver's Duty Of Reasonable Care

The law requires drivers to use “reasonable care.” But that’s a little vague. What exactly does it mean?

In the past, the law has shown “reasonable care” to mean the following. If a driver fails to meet these requirements, he or she may have violated the “reasonable care” standard.

Drivers have to drive at a reasonable speed. A person who drives at an excessive speed in light of the existing traffic, road, visibility, and weather conditions may be negligent. Even driving at the speed limit can be considered negligent in certain situations, like bad weather, low visibility, or large amounts of pedestrian traffic.
Drivers have a duty to be alert and aware of their surroundings. They must always watch for potential hazards, pedestrian traffic, and construction zones. The law expects drivers to notice anything an average person would. Failure to notice one’s surroundings by, say, flying through a construction or school zone may be considered negligent.
Drivers must control their vehicle and respond reasonably to hazardous situations. They should be able to break or swerve quickly and safely to avoid accidents if needed. If a car loses control, and runs right off the road, or overturns, negligence may be inferred.
Drivers must maintain and correctly use their car’s equipment. A car’s lights and brakes, as well as everything else, need to be working properly. If a driver fails to maintain their vehicle or cannot operate certain functions, it can be seen as negligent.

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Reasons Why People Choose Rico Tessandore Law