Washington Car Accident Lawyer
Committed to protecting the legal rights of victims everywhere
Committed to protecting the legal rights of victims everywhere
A car accident can happen at any time. In many cases, car accidents result in serious, even deadly, injuries to the drivers and passengers involved. When this happens, an injured victim can seek compensation for his or her damages through a personal injury claim. If a victim dies as a result of injuries sustained in a car accident, his or her loved ones may file a wrongful death claim to recover compensation for the damages associated with his or her death.
If you are involved in a car accident, knowing what to do afterward can have a significant impact on your ability to recover from the injury physically and financially. Always put your health and safety first, then worry about recovering compensation later.
Injuries sustained in a car accident can be fairly minor or they can be severe, leading to life-altering complications or even death. A few examples of injuries that can be sustained in a car accident include:
Immediately after the collision, pull off the roadway to a safe spot if you are able to do so. If not, remain where you are. Call 911 to have an ambulance sent to the scene if anybody involved in the accident is in need of emergency medical care.
Then, have a local police officer sent to the scene to fill out an official police report. This report, along with photographs of the scene and eyewitness testimonies, is an important piece of evidence to support your personal injury claim.
Take as many photographs of the accident that you feel are necessary to convey how the accident occurred and which party was at fault. Do not leave the scene without exchanging contact and insurance information with all other parties involved in the accident. If there were witnesses, take down their contact information too. If the insurance provider contacts you for a statement, do not make one without first speaking with a lawyer about your case.
Then, seek appropriate medical attention as soon as possible. Documentation showing that you received medical care is also a critical piece of evidence to support a personal injury claim.
Although you cannot completely eliminate your risk of being involved in a car accident, you can reduce your risk by taking certain precautions while driving. These include:
In Washington, the statute of limitations for filing a personal injury claim is three years from the date of the accident. Once three years pass, you cannot recover compensation for your damages through a personal injury claim. This is why you should be proactive and start working on your claim with an experienced lawyer as soon as you can after receiving medical care.
Through a personal injury claim, you can recover compensation for the following damages:
In Washington, an injury victim must seek compensation from the at-fault party’s insurance provider, rather than his or her own. Injury victims may seek compensation regardless of their level of fault in the accident, but the total compensation amount they may recover is reduced according to their level of fault. For example, a victim who seeks $100,000 in compensation may only recover up to $80,000 if he or she is deemed to be 20 percent at fault for the accident. Unlike other states, Washington does not impose a limit on the level of fault a claimant may hold and still recover compensation – even if you are found to be 90 percent at fault for your accident, you can still recover some compensation for your damages.
In any personal injury claim, the claimant must prove the following:
Because of the injury, the victim suffered specific monetary damages.
If you have been injured in a car accident, consider working with an experienced car accident lawyer to pursue a personal injury claim. But first, get the medical attention you need to ensure that you are on the right path toward recovering from your injury. Then, contact a member of our team of experienced personal injury lawyers at Khan Law Firm PLLC to schedule your free legal consultation with us. We can answer any questions you have and work with you to determine the most effective way to seek compensation for your damages.