Tacoma Personal Injury Attorneys
Tacoma Wrongful
Death Attorneys
Losing someone you love to another’s carelessness is a pain no family should bear. We can’t undo what happened — but we can carry the legal weight, so you can grieve and your family’s future is protected.
“They truly were the only ones that looked at me as a person, not just an easy case. They actually care. Any question, no matter how small, was answered. Even though they have many clients, I never felt like I was not a priority.”
Get a Free Case Evaluation
When a Family Loses Someone to Negligence
Nothing prepares you for the sudden loss of a parent, a spouse, or a child. In the days that follow, grief comes first — and it should. But when that loss was caused by someone else’s carelessness, your family also faces hard realities: funeral costs, lost income, and a future that looks very different than it did.
A wrongful death claim cannot bring your loved one back. What it can do is hold the responsible party accountable and provide for the people who depended on the person you lost. Our Tacoma attorneys handle the legal process with care and discretion, so your family has the room — and the resources — to heal. The first conversation is free, confidential, and without obligation.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim in Washington
Washington law sets out both who files the claim and who it is filed for. Under RCW 4.20.010 the personal representative of the estate brings the action, and under RCW 4.20.020 it is brought for the closest surviving family members.
The Personal Representative of the Estate
In Washington the action is filed by the personal representative of the deceased person’s estate, who brings it on behalf of the surviving family members the law recognizes.
Spouse, Domestic Partner & Children
A surviving spouse, a state registered domestic partner, and the deceased person’s children — including stepchildren — are the first beneficiaries of a Washington wrongful death claim.
Parents or Siblings
If there is no surviving spouse, state registered domestic partner, or child, the deceased person’s parents or siblings may be the beneficiaries of the claim.
Eligibility isn’t always obvious — blended families, estranged relatives, and financial dependents can all raise questions. If you’re unsure whether you have the right to file, we can help you understand where you stand.
We Carry the Legal Burden So You Can Grieve
You should not have to fight an insurance company while you’re mourning. Here is how we take that weight off your family’s shoulders.
Take the time you need
There is no pressure and no obligation. Reach out when you’re ready — by phone or from home — and we’ll listen first.
We investigate
We gather the evidence — police reports, medical records, witness accounts, and surveillance footage — to establish exactly what happened and who is responsible.
We handle the paperwork
Deadlines, filings, and insurance calls are our job, not yours. We deal with the at-fault parties so your family doesn’t have to.
We pursue full accountability
No amount of money replaces the person you lost. But we fight for the maximum recovery the law allows, so your family’s future is protected.
A History of Holding Negligent Parties Accountable
No settlement can measure what your family has lost. But the resources and resolve behind your case matter. Across two decades of personal-injury work, our firm has recovered more than $500 million for clients — including some of the largest results in the region.
$6.25M
Confidential settlement
One of the largest personal-injury settlements in the firm’s history.
$5M
Motor-vehicle accident
Brachial plexus injury in a motor-vehicle collision.
$4.4M
Car accident — neck injury
The insurer’s prior best offer was just $410,000.
These results reflect the firm’s overall personal-injury track record, not wrongful-death cases specifically. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case is different.
How Wrongful Deaths Happen in Pierce County
A wrongful death claim can arise any time a preventable act of negligence takes a life. In Tacoma and across Pierce County, these are some of the most common circumstances we see.
Auto & Truck Crashes
Fatal collisions and rollovers on I-5, SR-16, SR-167, and surface streets across Pierce County — especially those involving big rigs and high speeds.
Workplace Accidents
Work around the Port of Tacoma’s marine terminals, warehousing and logistics yards, and construction sites carries real dangers — falls, equipment failures, and exposure to hazardous materials can turn deadly.
Medical Negligence
Misdiagnosis, surgical errors, and medication mistakes can cost a life that should have been saved.
Pedestrian & Cyclist Deaths
A person on foot or on a bicycle has little protection when a careless driver fails to yield or watch the road.
Defective Products
Faulty machinery, unsafe vehicles, and dangerous consumer products can cause fatal injuries the victim could not have foreseen.
Unsafe Premises
When a property owner ignores a known hazard, a fall, a fire, or a security failure can have tragic, permanent consequences.
Proving that someone’s negligence caused your loved one’s death takes a careful, professional investigation. We gather the records, footage, and expert testimony needed to establish responsibility — and we do it with sensitivity to what your family is going through.
Compensation in a Wrongful Death Case
Washington law recognizes that losing a loved one costs a family in two ways — financially, and in ways that money can never truly measure. Both kinds of loss can be part of a wrongful death claim.
Economic Losses
The financial support and services your family has lost.
- Funeral and burial expenses
- The income and financial support your loved one would have provided
- The reasonable value of household services they performed
- Loss of gifts or benefits the heirs could have expected to receive
Personal, Non-Economic Losses
The human relationships no settlement can replace — but that the law still values.
- Loss of love, companionship, comfort, and affection
- Loss of the deceased’s moral support and guidance
- Loss of the enjoyment of sexual relations (for a spouse or partner)
- Loss of training and nurturing a parent would have given
Depending on the circumstances, the estate itself may also have claims separate from the family’s. We review every avenue so that no part of your family’s claim is overlooked.
There Is a Time Limit — but No Rush to Decide
Washington generally gives families three years to file a wrongful death lawsuit under RCW 4.16.080(2). That may feel like a long time, but evidence fades and witnesses move on.
Some claims carry extra steps — a case against a city, county, or other local government requires a tort claim form under RCW 4.96.020, followed by a 60-calendar-day waiting period before suit can be filed. Reaching out early does not commit you to anything. It simply protects your family’s rights while you decide what feels right.
Why Acting Sooner Helps Your Case
- Physical evidence at the scene can be cleaned up or lost within days
- Surveillance and dash-cam footage is often erased on a schedule
- Witnesses’ memories fade, and people relocate or lose touch
- Claims against a city, county, or state agency require extra presuit steps
You can call simply to ask questions. There is never any pressure, and the consultation is always free and confidential.
Why Families Trust Valero Law Group
We Treat You Like Family
You are a person to us, not a case file. We handle every conversation with care, patience, and respect.
No Fee Unless We Win
You pay nothing up front. We are only paid if we recover compensation for your family.
We Speak Spanish
Hablamos Español. Your family will always understand your rights and your options.
Available 24/7
Grief doesn’t keep business hours. A real person is here whenever you need us.
We Come to You
If it’s hard to travel right now, we’ll meet you at home or wherever is comfortable.
$500M+ Recovered
Over 20 years holding negligent parties accountable, including one of the largest PI settlements in the firm’s history.
See What Our Clients Are Saying...
“The first time I came into the office they welcomed me like I was family, and made sure to go over the whole process slowly and with great detail. My experience with this law firm was truly incredible and I can guarantee any client who decides to hire them will see exactly what I experienced.”
Jacob D.
Auto Accident
“Valero injury law firm made me feel comfortable like family and answered my questions no matter how small. They are completely committed to making sure you are taken care of. They are honest, they communicate with you, and they treat you like family.”
Elizabeth M.
Auto Accident
“After searching for an attorney, they truly were the only ones that looked at me as a person not just an easy case. Any question, no matter how small was answered. Any missed call was quickly returned. Even though they have many clients I never felt like I was not a priority.”
Nathan J.
Personal Injury
Serving Grieving Families Across Tacoma & Pierce County
From I-5 and the Tacoma Narrows Bridge to the Port of Tacoma terminals and the freight routes of Pierce County — and in Lakewood, Puyallup, Federal Way, University Place, Fife, Gig Harbor, Bonney Lake, Spanaway, and Parkland — we stand with families who have lost a loved one to negligence — wherever they are, and whenever they need us.
24/7 Line
(800) 985-9565Wrongful Death FAQ
Who can file a wrongful death claim in Washington?
How long do we have to file a wrongful death lawsuit?
What compensation can our family recover?
What is the difference between a wrongful death claim and a criminal case?
How much does a wrongful death lawyer cost?
Do we have to go to court?
Sources: RCW 4.20.010 (personal representative brings the action) · RCW 4.20.020 (beneficiaries) · RCW 4.16.080(2) (3-year deadline) · RCW 4.96.020 (local government claims).
We’re Here When Your Family Is Ready
Whenever you feel able, our Tacoma wrongful death attorneys will listen, answer your questions, and explain your family’s options — gently and clearly. The conversation is free, confidential, and carries no obligation.
This page provides general information about Washington wrongful death law and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. For advice about your specific situation, speak with a licensed attorney.