What is a wrongful death suit for wrongful death by criminal acts?

In Washington, a wrongful death suit is a civil action brought by a surviving family member or estate of a deceased person against the responsible party for loss due to the wrongful death of their loved one. The purpose of a wrongful death suit is to discover, name, and hold accountable the responsible party for the criminal act which caused the death and to seek financial compensation for those directly affected by the loss. The wrongful death must be caused by the negligence, recklessness, or intentional act of another person or entity. Generally, criminal acts such as murder, manslaughter, and vehicular homicide are the types of causes for which a wrongful death suit is applicable. In a wrongful death suit, the person or entity responsible for the wrongful death is held responsible for the loss suffered by the decedent’s family, including burial and funeral expenses, medical and legal expenses, loss of future income, and pain and suffering for the survivors. The wrongful death suit is a separate action from the criminal case against the wrongdoer. Although the criminal trial may affect the wrongful death suit, it is a civil action, and the court can award compensation to the plaintiff in the form of money damages. If a wrongful death lawsuit is successful, the wrongdoer is financially responsible for all costs resulting from the death.

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What is a wrongful death suit for wrongful death by criminal acts?

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