Maple Valley Car Accident Lawyer
Personal Injury Attorney in Maple Valley Serving Clients Injured in Car Accidents
Traffic accidents impact every community in our region. According to data provided by the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), there were 186 accidents in Maple Valley, WA in 2015; 68 of those crashes are reported to have resulted in injuries, several of which were classified as ‘serious’. Sadly, for the victims of major car accidents, there can be a long road to physical and psychological recovery.
Injured auto accident victims need full and fair compensation to pay for their medical care, any lost income, and their pain and suffering. Yet, the large insurance companies are not always willing to cooperate. The sad reality is that many innocent victims get significantly less than they actually deserve. Far too often, insurers severely undervalue settlement offers, sometimes even outright denying valid personal injury claims.
At Khan Injury Law, PLLC, our dedicated car accident attorneys in Maple Valley have the skills and legal experience needed to hold the large insurance companies accountable. We can help you get the fair settlement offer that you rightfully deserve. If you or a loved one was hurt in a crash in Maple Valley, WA, please contact our law firm today for immediate assistance.
Common Causes Of Auto Accidents
Most motor vehicle accidents could have been prevented. In fact, the overwhelming majority of American car accidents are caused by driver error. The National Motor Vehicle Crash Causation Survey indicates that driver mistakes are responsible for more than 90 percent of all car crashes. When drivers make dangerous errors that lead to accidents, they must be held legally liable for any resulting injuries. Driver carelessness and recklessness come in many different forms. Some of the most common examples include:
- Running red lights;
- Running stop signs;
- Failure to yield;
- Speeding;
- Driving too fast for road conditions;
- Failure to conduct proper vehicle maintenance;
- Distracted driving;
- Texting while driving;
- Drugged driving; and
- Drunk driving.
How to Establish Liability for a Traffic Collision in Washington
For accidents that occur in Maple Valley, liability must be established under Chapter 4.22 of the Revised Code of Washington. This is Washington’s comparative negligence statute. To actually hold another party legally liable for an auto accident under the law, you and your car accident lawyer will need to present strong evidence that proves the defendant’s negligence actually contributed to the crash. More specifically, car accident victims will need to prove the following elements of negligence:
- The defendant owed the victim a duty of care;
- The defendant breached their duty of care through some form of unsafe conduct;
- The defendant’s unsafe conduct contributed to the car accident; and
- The victim sustained compensable damages in the crash.
Notably, due to the fact that Washington is a comparative negligence jurisdiction, car accident victims can still recover compensation even if they were partially to blame for their own crash. Though, in these cases, the available compensation will be reduced in accordance with the victim’s level of fault. For example, if you were found to be at fault for 30 percent of an accident, then your settlement offer will also be reduced by 30 percent of its total value. Shared fault accident claims are incredibly complex. If the insurance company claims that you are partially to blame for the accident, you must speak to a Maple Valley car accident attorney immediately.
Car Accident Victims Need to Take Immediate Action
Under Washington state law (RCW 4.16.08) injured car accident victims have three years from the date of their crash to file a legal claim. If action is not taken in time, then the lawsuit will be dismissed as a matter of law. Please do not let this happen to your Maple Valley car accident case. Be sure to take action immediately after your crash. The sooner you speak to an attorney, the more likely it is that you will get full compensation for losses. No matter the circumstances you are facing, your car accident lawyer can ensure that your legal claim is being handled properly.
Compensation Available to Injured Victims
Once you establish that another party, whether a driver or a vehicle manufacturer, is legally responsible for your car accident injuries, there are still additional steps you need to take before you can get full and fair compensation for your damages. To collect compensation, you will be required to prove your damages. This is one of the most important, and often overlooked, aspects of the car accident claims process. The big insurance companies work aggressively to try to limit the value of settlement offers. Victims need to be able to hold the liable party accountable. Our Maple Valley car accident attorneys can help you get the money that you deserve. You may be legally entitled to financial relief for:
- Vehicle repairs;
- Emergency medical treatment;
- All medical bills;
- Required rehabilitative care;
- Mental health therapy;
- Long-term disability;
- Lost wages;
- Reduced earning potential;
- Pain and suffering;
- Mental anguish;
- Disfigurement; and
- Wrongful death.
You Can Afford a Top-Quality Maple Valley Car Accident Attorney
If you were injured in a traffic accident in Maple Valley, WA, it is normal to have concerns about the cost of legal representation. After all, hiring a good car accident attorney is expensive, right? This is not true with the top-rated car accident injury lawyers at the Khan Injury Law, PLLC. We take on Washington car accident injury cases on contingency. When you work with our Maple Valley car accident attorneys, there will never be any upfront costs or out-of-pocket expenses for you. We only get paid when we win your personal injury case and get you compensation. We will take on all of the financial risks involving in pursuing your claim.
Were You Injured in an Auto Accident in Maple Valley, Washington
Let us help. At Khan Injury Law, PLLC, our Maple Valley car accident attorneys represent injured victims in Maple Valley and throughout the surrounding communities. We have helped many car accident victims get full settlement offers. For a free claim evaluation, please call our legal team today at 206-472-1255.