Abstract

In contribution to the series on economic damages in personal injury and wrongful death cases by state, this article presents the legal framework for calculating economic damages in personal injury and wrongful death actions in the State of Washington. Topics covered include the Washington State court system, expert testimony and discovery, survival and wrongful death statutes, dependency, life expectancy, earning capacity, household services, taxes, consumption and present value. Also briefly discussed are investment income, lost inheritance, post-injury death, mitigation, collateral sources, and punitive damages.