Wrongful Death Attorney

Your Injury Just Became Our Mission

Losing a family member because someone else made a careless decision leaves you with questions no one should have to ask: why did this happen, who caused it, and what happens now.

A Spokane wrongful death lawyer at Fannin Litigation Group can answer those questions plainly, explain what a claim actually involves, and start gathering evidence while you focus on your family.

If you lost a loved one in an accident someone else caused, call us at 509-328-8204 for a free consultation. We’re available 24×7 with an appointment. 

Attorney Pat Fannin makes finding claims his priority, so he’s genuinely eager to hear about your case. We’ll listen to what happened, explain your options in plain language, and tell you honestly whether you have a claim worth pursuing.

What Causes Fatal Accidents in Spokane?

Preventable deaths in Spokane usually trace back to someone else’s decision behind the wheel, on the water, or with an animal they failed to control. We build wrongful death claims from:

• Auto collisions along corridors like North Division Street and I-90
• Motorcycle accidents and bicycle crashes near downtown intersections
• Pedestrian deaths along Sprague Avenue
• DUI collisions
• Truck accidents on freight routes through the valley
• Boating accidents on the Spokane River
• Bus accidents
• Dog bite fatalities

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Medical Evidence Often Plays a Key Role

Victims of these crashes often arrive at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center or MultiCare Deaconess Hospital, where trauma teams treat the kind of catastrophic injuries that these accidents cause.

When those injuries prove fatal, families are left sorting through funeral arrangements, insurance calls, and paperwork within days of the worst news of their lives.

Evidence Should Be Preserved as Soon as Possible

Timing matters because evidence like skid marks, surveillance footage, and witness memory fades fast, sometimes, within hours of a crash.

Weather Does Not Excuse Negligence

Spokane’s weather adds another layer families don’t always think about until it’s too late. Black ice on the South Hill, sudden fog in the valley, and drivers unfamiliar with winter conditions on I-90 all contribute to crashes that a careful driver could have avoided.

When a preventable weather-related decision, like speeding on an icy on-ramp, costs a life, that choice still counts as negligence under Washington law, and it doesn’t matter whether the at-fault driver meant any harm; carelessness is enough to establish liability.

What Compensation Can a Wrongful Death Claim Recover?

Washington law allows surviving families to recover several categories of loss, and a full claim accounts for more than just the bills already sitting on the kitchen table:

• Funeral and burial costs: this includes cremation or burial expenses, and any related services your family has already paid for or still owes.
• Lost income and financial support: this reflects what your loved one would have earned and contributed to the household over their working years.
• Loss of companionship and guidance: spouses, children, and parents can recover for the relationship, mentorship, and daily presence they lost.
• Pain and suffering before death: when medical records document conscious pain the victim experienced, that suffering has its own value in a claim.
• Loss of household contributions: this covers the value of childcare, home repairs, or caregiving your loved one provided that your family now has to pay someone else to do.

Every case looks different depending on the victim’s age, income, and family situation, so we calculate these figures individually rather than relying on a formula that treats every family the same. An insurance company’s initial offer rarely reflects that distinction unless someone pushes back on their math.

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Why Do You Need a Spokane Wrongful Death Attorney?

You need a Spokane wrongful death attorney because insurance companies and at-fault parties won’t pay full value for your loss unless someone forces them to. Adjusters are trained to settle fast and cheap, often before your family understands what the claim is truly worth.

What an Attorney Handles for You

Our attorney and team take on the tasks that pile up fastest after a death:

• Gathering police reports, medical records, and witness statements before an insurer can shape the narrative.
• Calculating long-term losses, including income your loved one would have earned over decades of work.
• Identifying every available insurance policy, including umbrella coverage that families often overlook.
• Sorting out who legally qualifies to file the claim under Washington law, so the case isn’t delayed or dismissed on a technicality.

Why Timing Matters

Waiting to hire an attorney gives insurers more time to gather their own version of events while evidence like surveillance footage and witness memory fades.

Some claims, like those involving a government vehicle, carry notice deadlines measured in months, not years, making early legal guidance especially valuable.

Talk to Us Before You Talk to an Adjuster

Call Fannin Litigation Group at 509-328-8204 for a free case evaluation. We’ll review what happened, explain your options in plain language, and tell you honestly where your case stands, at no cost and no obligation.

How Long Do You Have to File a Wrongful Death Claim in Washington?

Washington gives families three years from the date of death to file a wrongful death claim under state law. Missing that deadline typically ends your family’s right to recover no matter how strong the case looks on paper, so reaching out early lets us start preserving evidence, camera footage, and witness accounts while they still exist.

Some cases, like those involving a government vehicle or a city road defect, carry much shorter notice requirements, sometimes, just a matter of months, which is another reason to talk to a lawyer soon after a death rather than waiting.

Waiting even a few extra weeks can eliminate options your family didn’t know existed, particularly when a government entity, a trucking company, or an out-of-state insurer is involved.

What Should You Do in the Days After a Fatal Accident?

The decisions your family makes in the first week after a death shape the claim for months afterward.

• Request a copy of the police report as soon as it’s available, since it documents the officer’s initial assessment of fault.
• Keep any correspondence from insurance companies.
• Avoid giving a recorded statement to the at-fault driver’s insurer before speaking with a lawyer. Adjusters often ask questions designed to shift blame onto the victim.
• Photograph the accident scene and any property damage if you’re able to access it.
• Hold onto the deceased’s pay stubs, tax returns, and work schedule, since those documents help calculate lost financial support.
• Save receipts related to funeral costs, and write down the names of anyone who witnessed the crash while their memory is still fresh.

None of this replaces medical or legal guidance, but it protects the evidence your claim will eventually depend on, and it gives your attorney a stronger starting point once you’re ready to move forward.

What Sets Fannin Litigation Group Apart?

Fannin Litigation Group stands apart because Attorney Pat Fannin has spent 29 years — since 1996 — preparing cases in Spokane courtrooms, not just settling them from behind a desk. 

The phrase “Your Injury Just Became Our Mission” isn’t a slogan we picked for marketing; it’s the reason clients work directly with Pat himself instead of being passed off to whoever answers the phone.

That trial-ready approach shapes how insurance companies respond from the first phone call.

Recognition That Reflects Real Casework

Our attorney and team have earned recognition that comes from handled cases, not marketing:

• A 99% win ratio. Pat has lost just one case at trial in 29 years of practice
• Super Lawyer selection, 2020–present, and a Rising Star honor from Washington Law and Politics Magazine
• AVVO rating of 9.6 out of 10
• 20 years as an Adjunct Professor of Law at Gonzaga University
• Tens of millions of dollars recovered for clients

Those honors reflect years spent building cases as if they’re headed to trial, which is often the exact leverage that pushes an insurer to negotiate seriously instead of stalling.

A Firm That Prepares Every Case for Court

Few firms in Spokane have prepared as many catastrophic injury cases for trial as our attorney and team, and that record shows up in how quickly insurance companies take a claim seriously once they know who’s representing your family.

Our attorney and team coordinate directly with you throughout the process, so you’re never left guessing where your case stands or waiting days for a returned call.

What Families Say About Working with Us

Families who’ve worked with us describe what that approach feels like in practice.

T.P. told us, “Pat was very timely and guided us through a difficult year. Pat was great answering all our questions and concerns. I would hire him again.“

A.G. shared a similar experience, saying, “Pat Fannin and his paralegals were compassionate and caring from start to finish. His law firm worked hard for us and made it easy for us to understand the law and our situation.“

A wrongful death claim won’t undo what happened, but it can keep your family from carrying the financial weight of someone else’s mistake.

Fannin Litigation Group has built its practice around cases exactly like this, and we bring the same preparation to every claim, whether it resolves at the negotiating table or in front of a jury.

Frequently Asked Questions About Wrongful Death Claims in Spokane

What if the driver responsible for my loved one’s death didn’t have insurance?

Washington requires insurers to offer uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, so your own policy, or a policy held by the deceased, often provides a source of recovery.

We review every available policy, including umbrella coverage and any policy tied to a vehicle your loved one was a passenger in, before telling a family what their claim is realistically worth.

Do I have to pay anything upfront to hire a wrongful death lawyer?

No, we take wrongful death cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you owe us nothing upfront and nothing at all unless we recover compensation for your family. Case costs, like expert fees and record requests, are typically advanced by our firm and repaid only out of a successful settlement or verdict.

Can more than one family member file a wrongful death claim in Washington?

Washington law designates specific beneficiaries, usually a surviving spouse, domestic partner, or children, who can recover through a single claim filed by the estate’s personal representative.

If no spouse, partner, or children survive, parents may qualify, and we can explain exactly where your family fits, and how any recovery gets divided among beneficiaries, once we review the details of your case.

What happens if a commercial truck or bus company caused the accident?

Commercial carriers carry higher insurance limits and often have their own legal teams working to limit what they pay, sometimes, within hours of a crash. We send preservation letters immediately to lock in driver logs, maintenance records, and black box data before a company’s attorneys have a chance to lose or alter them.

How long does a wrongful death claim take to resolve in Spokane?

Straightforward claims with clear liability sometimes resolve in several months, while cases involving disputed fault or a lawsuit filed in Spokane County Superior Court can take a year or longer.

Cases against a commercial trucking company or government entity tend to move slower, since those defendants typically fight harder before agreeing to a fair number.

We give every client a realistic timeline based on the specific facts of their case rather than a generic estimate, and we update you whenever that timeline shifts instead of leaving you to guess.

Contact a Spokane Wrongful Death Lawyer Today

You don’t have to figure out insurance forms, legal deadlines, or settlement offers while you’re still absorbing the loss of someone you loved.

Call Fannin Litigation Group at 509-328-8204 for a free case evaluation. We’re available 24×7 with an appointment. 

Attorney Pat Fannin makes finding claims his priority, so he’s eager to hear about your case and help you figure out plainly what your family’s options look like.

Fannin Litigation Group 1312 N. Monroe St. Spokane, Washington 99201

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Fannin Litigation Group, P.S. – Spokane office Location

Address: 1312 N. Monroe Street, Spokane, Washington 99201

Contact No: 509-328-8204

 

ATTORNEY PATRICK K. FANNIN

Patrick K. Fannin brings a unique combination of legal excellence, practical business experience, and genuine community connection to every case he handles. As the owner of Fannin Litigation Group, he has built a reputation for aggressive advocacy and superior results in complex personal injury matters throughout Washington State and beyond. [ATTORNEY BIO]