Algona, WA Injury Lawyer

Filing a personal injury claim is a big undertaking. Indeed, even if your claim is solid, it can be difficult to prove the various elements of a personal injury claim, recover the amount of compensation that you need and deserve, and stand up against insurance adjusters who offer you too little. When you choose to work with an Algona, WA injury lawyer from the Khan Injury Law, though, you’ll immediately improve your chances of recovering the settlement that you deserve, and you’ll be able to take comfort in the fact that you have a trained and experienced legal advocate on your side. Please reach out to us today for a free consultation about how to get started.

Statute of Limitations in a Personal Injury Claim

The first thing that you should know about filing a personal injury claim is that time matters. The longer that you wait to file a claim, the further you’ll get away from your best chances of recovering your maximum compensation amount. This is largely because the more time that passes, the more evidence that is destroyed. While it can be emotionally challenging to do so, it is best to start the claim’s process while the accident is fresh in everyone’s minds and evidence is accessible.

The other reason that you should start the injury process sooner rather than later is based on the state’s statute of limitations. The statute of limitations puts a cap on the amount of time that you have to file a claim after being involved in an accident. This cap is three years from the date of your injury (or the date that you discover your injury). If you wait longer than three years to file a lawsuit, per RCW 4.16.080, you will be barred from recovery. (Note that many claims settle out of court, and therefore you may not need to file a lawsuit).

Damages Recoverable

When you file a personal injury claim against another party whose negligence caused your injuries, you can seek compensation for the full value of your damages. This includes compensation for your:

Economic damages. Economic damages are those actual, economic losses that you have suffered as a result of your accident. For example, medical bills, rehabilitation costs, property damage expenses, and lost wages are all types of recoverable economic damages in an Algona injury suit.
Noneconomic damages. Noneconomic damages, on the other hand, are damages that are paid for the value of your pain, suffering, emotional distress, or any other intangible losses that you suffer.
Punitive damages. Finally, while rare, punitive damages may also be available in your personal injury suit. Punitive damages are damages that are paid for to punish the defendant rather than to compensate you for your harm.

Washington recognizes the rule of contributory fault. This means that if you contribute to your injuries in any way, you can’t hold the defendant liable for this percentage of your contribution. For example, if you’re found to be 10 percent to blame in a car accident, you can only file a claim for 90 percent of your damages against the other driver. While you won’t be barred from recovery if you contributed to your injuries, your damages will be reduced in proportion to your degree of fault.

If you’ve been injured, even if you’re initially unsure of whether or not you have a personal injury claim, there are certain steps that you should take to preserve your right to compensation. These steps include:

File a police report. Depending on the type of accident you’re in, filing a police report is a must. This includes any accidents involving motor vehicles. If you don’t need to file a police report, you should file an official report documenting your accident with the appropriate party. For example, if you slip and fall in a grocery store, you should file a report with the grocery store manager.
Get medical care. One of the most important things that you can do after suffering a serious injury is to get medical care. Make sure you document all care receive and follow your doctor’s orders – if you don’t, this could be used against you to reduce the value of your claim.
Collect evidence. You should start collecting evidence as early in the claims process as possible. We recommend writing down witnesses’ names and contact information, taking photos of the accident scene, and documenting your injuries immediately.

Call a lawyer. If you haven’t already done so, getting a lawyer to start working on your case as soon as possible can be very advantageous. Even if you’re unsure about working with a lawyer or whether or not you have a case, you should schedule a consultation. Consultations are offered free of charge and can provide you with the information you need to make a decision.

Why Work With Khan Injury Law?

Our Washington injury lawyers have years of experience and a positive reputation in our community. We know how important it is that you receive the high-quality counsel you’re expecting, and how much is riding on your personal injury claim. When you call our lawyers, we’ll work hard to prioritize your needs. We have worked on numerous types of injury claims, ranging from wrongful death actions to motor vehicle claims to dog bite claims and more, and we are ready to sit down with you and review your claim for free.

Call Our Algona Injury Lawyers Today

If you’ve been injured, you deserve compensation. Our Algona injury attorneys want to help you get it. Because we work on a contingency fee basis, you can take confidence in the fact that there’s no fee unless we win and that we have the motivation to work hard for you. Please contact us today to schedule your free consultation and learn more.