Can more than one person be held liable for a wrongful death?

Yes, more than one person can be held liable for a wrongful death in Washington. This is known as joint and several liability, where multiple defendants are liable for the same amount of damages. Generally, when wrongful death occurs due to negligence or a wrongful act, each party can be held liable for the full amount of damages as determined by a court. For example, if a car accident involves a driver who was negligent and a car manufacturer who made a defective part, both parties may be liable for any wrongful death that occurs as a result of the accident. The court would determine the amount of damages that each party is responsible for and both parties would be held jointly and severally liable for any damages awarded by the court. In Washington, joint and several liability is restricted to cases of negligence or wrongful acts. If a wrongful death occurs due to a criminal act, then the criminal who caused the death would be solely liable for damages. Thus, in these cases, there would not be joint and several liability for a wrongful death. Overall, when a wrongful death occurs in Washington, more than one person can be held liable depending upon the circumstances. In cases of negligence or wrongful acts, joint and several liability can be imposed on the parties responsible for the death, allowing the court to determine the amount of damages to be awarded.

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