Car Accident Lawyer Seattle
In the wake of a car accident and personal injury, you deserve a champion who will fight by your side with compassion and skill. Our team of accessible Seattle car accident attorneys and legal experts will take on the insurance companies and legal system to get you the outcome you deserve.
car accident lawyer seattle
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Car accidents are one of the most common hazards we all face in daily life. From minor fender-benders to catastrophic, multi-car pileups, getting into an accident in a motor vehicle can end a life or change it forever.
Speeding. Although driver distraction overtook speeding in 2015 as the second-most common factor in fatal car accidents in the state, speeding remains a significant cause of car accidents in the state, playing a role in more than 1 in 5 accidents resulting in a fatality or serious injury in 2018, according to WTSC crash data.
Road conditions. Drivers have an obligation to operate their vehicles in a manner appropriate for road conditions. That is not always an easy task. Wet roads, in particular, contribute to a significant number of Seattle car accidents. These are just a few of the more common ways car accidents occur on Seattle-area roadways. There are lots more.
Every car accident has its own unique facts and circumstances, which is why it is critical for accident victims to retain the services of an experienced Seattle personal injury lawyer with the know-how to investigate and litigate a car accident injury.
Most people suffer through the aftermath of a car accident at some point in their lives, but not everyone knows what they should do about it. If you have questions about your Seattle car accident, these answers can help you moving forward.
After a car crash, many people decide to try to handle their insurance claims on their own. If you suffered severe injuries or significant property damage in your accident, however, calling a Seattle car accident lawyer can help prevent you from missing out on the funds you need after your accident.
The severity of your injuries. Some injuries carry much more significant costs than others. How much your injuries limit you. Often, insurance companies calculate pain and suffering based on the limitations caused by your injuries. If you return to work soon after your accident, for example, you may receive less compensation for pain and suffering than if your injuries prevent you from going back to your everyday activities.
The financial damages you suffered as a result of the accident. Financial damages can include property damage, lost time at work, and lost earning potential due to an inability to return to your previous job. Whether or not you contributed to the accident.
If you contributed to the accident, it may reduce the compensation you receive by a corresponding percentage. For example, if you contributed 10 percent to the accident, your compensation may drop by 10 percent.
At Boohoff Law, we start with a free consultation to discuss the terms of your accident, better understand your injury, and provide valuable legal advice. Often, working with a lawyer actually increases the funds you receive as part of your settlement. Instead of asking whether you can afford to hire a lawyer, carefully consider whether you can afford not to hire a lawyer to help with your claim.
Insurance companies often hurry to issue a settlement offer after an accident with significant injuries. Before accepting the check, especially if that acceptance includes signing paperwork relieving the insurance company of future responsibility, consult with a lawyer.
A lawyer can help evaluate your injuries and the financial damages associated with your accident to determine whether the check offered by the insurance company will adequately cover your financial needs after the accident.
After a car accident, you may need to take a number of important steps to protect your rights. Some of these steps begin at the scene of the accident. Seek medical attention as soon as possible after your accident.
Many victims suffer serious injuries that do not show symptoms immediately. Even if you believe yourself uninjured, visit a doctor for evaluation as soon as possible. If you can, gather evidence at the scene of the accident.
Report the accident to the police and receive a police report. If you do not need to leave the scene of the accident to seek medical attention, wait for the police to arrive and issue a statement about the accident.
Consult a lawyer as soon as possible after your accident. Working with a lawyer can more effectively protect your rights throughout the legal process after your accident. Keep track of all of your records. Start a file immediately after the accident. Put all of your medical information, photos from the accident scene, and witness statements in that file.
Your lawyer can help you more carefully word your statement, avoid admissions of fault, and provide all relevant information about the accident to the insurance company. If possible, you should write down your own statement of events as soon as possible after the accident. The longer you wait, the more events will fade in your mind. You may find your version of events influenced by other witnesses, statements made by your doctor, and even the questions asked by the insurance company.
An admission of fault can work against you as you attempt to claim compensation for your injuries and property damage. You should also avoid any statements about your injuries or your physical status after the accident. If you believe that you contributed to the accident, talk to a lawyer as soon as possible.
In Seattle and throughout the state, you have three years after your accident to file a claim. Ideally, however, you want to file your accident claim as soon as possible. The longer you wait to file an accident claim, the harder you will find it to locate evidence.
Not only that, events may fade in your mind and the minds of your witnesses. If you discovered injuries well after an accident, including traumatic brain injury or another injury that took weeks or months to show up after the accident, you may have three years after identifying that injury to file your claim.
In no-fault states, each party carries a personal injury protection policy that covers the first $10,000 of injuries and lost time at work after a car accident. Washington, however, does not have a no-fault law.
After a car accident, many insurance companies will carefully examine the accident to determine fault, including assigning financial liability. The insurance company will likely evaluate a number of factors, including the police report from the accident.
If fault in your accident remains unclear, working with a lawyer can help ensure that you do not end up taking the fall for an accident you did not cause. By working with an attorney, you can protect your rights throughout the process.
Car accidents result in fatalities far too often, as the statistics cited above bear out. But, even survivors of car accidents can face severe injuries and health complications, and a lifetime of medical and financial needs.
Severe internal and soft tissue damage, which can include chronic neck pain from severe whiplash. Severe injuries from car accidents can heal, but unfortunately full recovery from some injuries leaves accident victims badly impaired or disabled, and in need of a lifetime of care and medical support.
The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) and the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) maintain detailed records of motor vehicle accidents in and around the Seattle metro area. In this blog post, we summarize some of the most important data for Seattle drivers to know about accidents, in the hope it will help them avoid crashes and become safer, more responsible users of Seattle roads.
If a Seattle-area car accident has injured you or tragically taken the life of your loved one, then contact the experienced car accident attorneys at Boohoff Law today to learn about your rights to compensation.
In keeping with the relatively steady rate of collisions per million, the number of accidents resulting in serious injuries has held more-or-less steady at between 150 and 200 accidents per year. Similarly, the number of fatalities has hovered between 10 and 20 per year over that time period.
From our viewpoint, the SDOT and WSDOT data point to a serious and continuing risk for drivers and others on Seattle-area roads. Motor vehicle accidents are to be expected in any major metro area, and of course Seattle and the King County area are not immune to those problems.
Still, as personal injury lawyers, we would vastly prefer our clients to avoid serious injuries and tragedies than to have to come to us seeking help in recovering compensation after a car accident disrupts their lives.
Other drivers. Every driver has a duty to share the road responsibly. Unfortunately, many drivers do not. Distracted driving, impaired driving, aggressive driving, and just-plain careless driving can all cause an accident, and leave the driver with legal liability for the injuries those behaviors caused.
Commercial entities. Not all accidents involve personal vehicles. Many instead involve cars and trucks operated by a business or some other corporate entity. Businesses and other entities that own or operate vehicles that end up in a crash may face liability for the accident.
Car and car part manufacturers. Cars represent a significant purchase for most Washingtonians. If the manufacturer of a car or its component parts puts a defective product on the road, Washington law may hold that manufacturer legally liable an accident the defects cause.
Of course, we mentioned earlier, every car accident is unique. Who has legal liability to a car accident victim may differ substantially from case-to-case. That is why it is so important to have an experienced Seattle car accident attorney on your side to make sure you find every party with potential legal liability for your injuries. 041b061a72