Seattle Couple Killed in Crash by Drunk Driver, Leaving Children Orphans

Posted Friday, April 16, 2021 by Chris Thayer

An intoxicated 26-year-old Seattle woman is blamed for causing a violent crash that claimed the lives of a beloved Seattle couple and left their children orphans. According to police, the woman was allegedly driving erratically and under the influence of alcohol with her own 3-year-old son in her car with her when she side-swiped a vehicle, fled the scene, and then crashed into the West Seattle couple’s car, killing them both instantly. She then again fled the scene.

The couple, who were both artists, are now being fondly remembered as the community rallies around their now-orphaned children. The drunk driver now awaits arraignment on a slew of charges, including vehicular homicide.

*Recovering for Wrongful Death in Washington State * If you have lost a loved one due to a tragic accident that could have been avoided if not for someone else’s negligent, reckless, or malicious behavior, you may feel that nothing could help remedy the loss. While civil lawsuits cannot keep the accident from happening or mitigate the pain, they can repair the financial damages caused by the loss. While the criminal justice system aims to punish and rehabilitate the offender, the civil law system aims to restore the victims financially by putting them back in the position they would have been in had the accident never occurred. This can include compensation for all costs related to the treatment, death, and funeral, as well as for lost wages/economic support, and non-economic damages, like loss of companionship, consortium, enjoyment of life, loss of services, and pain and suffering.

Punitive damages, rather than purely serving to reimburse the victim’s family, are also intended to punish the offender. For this reason, they often apply in cases where the conduct was particularly egregious or malicious. Punitive damages would be likely if the case above were to go to trial.

*Statute of Limitations for Wrongful Death Claims in Washington State * If you are considering bringing a wrongful death claim on behalf of a loved one, it is important first, to know if you have standing, and second, not to wait too long. In order to bring a wrongful death claim on behalf of another, you must have standing. This means that you must share a special relationship with the decedent such that you have the right to represent their best interests in court. In Washington state, spouses, domestic partners, children, and stepchildren of a decedent have standing to pursue a wrongful death claim on the decedent’s behalf. The next question is whether they still have time to file the claim. Washington state has a time limit on how long you have to bring wrongful death claims, known as the statute of limitations. In most cases in Washington state, a wrongful death claim must be brought within three years of the date of death. However, if someone is injured in an accident and later passes away as a result of their injuries, it is possible that the statute of limitations will run from the accident, rather than from the date of death.

*Talk to a Seattle Personal Injury Lawyer * If you have lost a loved one due to someone else’s negligence or recklessness, you are entitled to compensation for your loss, and the experienced Personal Injury Lawyers at Pivotal Law are prepared to zealously advocate on your behalf to ensure you get the support and compensation you deserve. Contact Pivotal Law Firm today to schedule a consultation.