Family of Dead Bellingham Man Who Was Intubated Without Consent Files Personal Injury Claims for more than $15 million
The body of a man who died on the way to the hospital was used for training purposes by 11 Bellingham firefighters on July 31, 2018. Now the family is suing for more than $15.5 million in damages in three separate personal injury claims.
The Bellingham Fire Department employees, including two office workers, admitted to performing “tube checks” (endotracheal intubations) on the body of Bradley Ginn Sr. while he was on the floor of Station 1 waiting to be picked up and taken to a funeral home.
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Common Carrier Injury Claims: Limousine Personal Injury Case
A common carrier is a person or company that transports goods or passengers on regular routes at set rates. People traveling in a rented limousine, sightseeing bus, taxi, train, airport shuttle, cruise ship, airplane or any form of private group transportation are using a common carrier to get where they need to go.
Common carrier injury claims are filed when a passenger is injured while traveling on one of these types of transportation.
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Understanding Wrongful Death in Washington State
No matter the circumstance, losing a loved one is a painful and emotional experience but what happens when the loss could have been prevented? When your loved one was killed as a result of any type of negligence including a workplace injury, car crash or medical malpractice you are talking about a wrongful death.
In your state of loss you may be feeling overwhelmed but still determined to seek justice for this unnecessary loss. You must have so many questions about what evidence you will need to gather, what type of lawyer you should hire and how to prevent this sort of accident from ever happening again in your family. The first thing to do is call an experienced wrongful death attorney in your area.
Definition of a Wrongful Death Lawsuit
A wrongful death lawsuit is filed when a victim dies as a result of negligence (or other type of unjust action) by the person, business, or governmental entity being sued. The suit is filed because the victim’s immediate family is entitled to monetary damages as a result of this improper conduct.
Every state, including Washington, has wrongful death laws on the books to compensate family members who suffer the wrongful death of a loved one. The idea is that those who take care of people’s lives will have an extra incentive to prevent unnecessary death through accidents.
Typically, a wrongful death lawsuit is seeking “pecuniary” or financial injury compensation for the loss of support, services, potential inheritance, medical and funeral expenses of the lost relative. The amount of pecuniary loss is determined by a jury based on the age, character and condition of the decedent, his/her earning capacity, life expectancy, health and intelligence, as well as the circumstances of the beneficiaries of the estate.
In Washington State, the “Wrongful Death” and “Survival” statutes define the permitted actions and permitted beneficiaries in claims on behalf of the deceased, or the “decedent” in legalese. The action is brought by a “personal representative” of the decedent’s estate who is preferably not a beneficiary of the estate. It is the duty of the personal representative to settle the estate as rapidly as possible, collecting and paying all debts of the estate. Along with the family, the personal representative is entrusted to hire the wrongful death lawyer on behalf of the estate.
Statute of Limitations on Wrongful Death Action
The statute of limitations for a wrongful death action is three years and is not delayed if the beneficiaries are minors because the suit is brought by the personal representative not the minor.
Washington State’s Statutory Scheme
1. RCW 4.20.010 This general wrongful death statute creates a cause of action, brought by the personal representative, to compensate a decedent’s surviving family members for “pecuniary,” (monetary) losses they sustain as a result of the decedent’s death.
2. RCW 4.20.020 This statute assigns two tiers of beneficiaries to the statutory wrongful death action. The first tier includes the spouse and children of the decedent and the second includes the parents and siblings of the deceased. The second tier may only recover damages if there are no first tier beneficiaries and if the designated beneficiaries were dependent for support on the deceased.
3. RCW 4.20.060 This special Survival Statute allows for the deceased’s action for personal injury to survive. The decedent’s own action for personal injuries causing death may be brought by the personal representative of the decedent’s estate on behalf of the beneficiaries listed above. If there are no statutory beneficiaries as defined in RCW 4.20.020, no claim can be brought under the Special Survival Statute.
4. RCW 4.20.046 This “General Survival Statute” allows the personal representative of the decedent’s estate to recover economic accumulations minus the personal expenses the estate would reasonably have acquired over their expected life term. This statute says that noneconomic damages such as for the descendents pain and suffering may not be recovered.
5. RCW 4.24.010 This is the action allowing for recovery of pain, suffering and expenses for the wrongful injury or death of a child.
If you have suffered the loss of a loved one and believe it was a wrongful death, you owe it to yourself and your loved one to contact a wrongful death lawyer at Tario & Associates, P.S.. Wrongful death cases are particularly complicated and time consuming; you don’t want to be alone in your fight against the insurance companies.
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How Long Do I Have to File a Wrongful Death Claim in Washington State?
Wrongful death occurs when someone dies as a result of a preventable action caused by another. Wrongful death can occur as a result of reckless behavior, negligence, or a deliberate act. If you believe this may have occurred in the death of someone you love, it is very important to seek legal advice right away as there are limitations on the time you have to file a wrongful death lawsuit.
Each state has its own statutes of limitations for legal action concerning a wrongful death. In the state of Washington that period generally is 3 years after the death has occurred. It is critical to file a legal suit within this timeframe. If an attempt is made after this period to recover damages, the court will not allow pursuance. It is important to note that the time to file does not always begin at the time of death, but can sometimes begin when other pieces of information are discovered. Examples include:
- When an individual’s death is deemed to have occurred from natural causes, but years later, there is evidence of medical malpractice;
- Information as to the cause of death is deliberately hidden; and
- Products used were later found to be defective.
Formulating a strong wrongful death case requires a great deal of planning. Be certain to contact the personal injury attorney’s at Tario & Associates at (360) 671-6500 or complete our Request for Help form as soon as you believe your loved one may have died wrongfully so we can best prepare your case and meet the statutes of limitations requirements.
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