Attorneys in Washington are effective for a victim’s recovery of accident injury damages.
Accident attorneys in Washington initiate legal action to support victims’ rights to compensation for injuries and property damage loss under the State laws that provide for payment when an injured party was harmed through no, or partial fault of their own, referred to as “damages.” Experienced personal injury attorneys understand an insurance company’s desire to close out claims quickly, and are aware of imposed time constraints under Washington’s statutes of limitations.
It is important to contact legal counsel shortly after an accident to avoid aggressive actions from insurance representatives with low settlement offers, and to assure legal action is not dismissed by the court because of missed filing timelines depending based on the type of action.
Utilizing experts in various fields, a lawyer will build a strong case by:
- sending investigators to an accident scene,
- reviewing police reports, witness testimony and medical reports,
- hiring appropriate financial experts to make valuations of loss,
- assessing initial cause of the accident, and
- drafting and filing complicated insurance and legal documents.
Damages.
A Washington accident lawyer can explain valuation determinations for auto insurance claims, and other accidents requiring damage compensation. Legal counsel is instrumental in determining the financial responsibility for economic losses, including lost wages, medical bills, medical care, and treatment, plus household expenses; and non-economic harms, including pain and suffering, loss of consortium, or companionship. Punitive damages are meant to punish the individual who caused harm, or injury and loss to the victim and are not commonly awarded in Washington, but an attorney can apprise accident victims of exceptions.
Motor vehicle.
In Washington, individuals have a duty to stop after an accident occurs involving personal injury, or property damage and must report the accident within four days to the Department of Transportation if the police have not prepared a report. Drivers should exchange pertinent information regarding licenses, insurance and registration of vehicles and share that information with law enforcement. Auto accident attorneys can explain Washington’s car insurance requirements and how they affect the recovery of compensation after an accident, utilizing the contributory fault rule where individuals may only recover diminished compensation for damages if they share any fault in the accident. Personal injury claims must be filed within three years of the accident.
Personal injury.
If a person is hurt because of the action, or inaction of another individual, they may recover compensation when fault and/or liability is proven for the resultant harm. Recovery of damages is contingent upon a personal injury lawyer proving that the individual, or entity was negligent, caused the injury and owed a duty of care to the victim. When personal injury is caused by another’s actions in Washington, the statute of limitations is three years to file a lawsuit from the date the injury occurred, was discovered, or should have been discovered through reasonable care. An attorney can apprise individuals of deviations from that timeline.
Premises liability.
When an individual is hurt on another person’s property, the victim may take legal action if the injury was caused by poor property conditions, poor construction, including improper maintenance, upkeep, or unforeseen interactions with occupants on the premises. An invitee may be owed a duty of care, but a trespasser may not be owed that same duty. Homeowners’ insurance may cover these types of injuries in many cases.
Medical malpractice.
Washington medical malpractice actions occur when a person is injured while under the care of a licensed health care professional. Legal action must be filed within three years of the date of the incident, or one year from the date of knowledge of the injury, including requirements regarding foreign bodies left inside victims where action must be commenced within one year. All malpractice actions against medical professionals must be commenced no more than eight years from knowledge of the harms inflicted by them. Consultation is necessary with a medical malpractice attorney to ascertain specific time limitations for each individual case.
Washington does not have a cap on medical malpractice damages and they are awarded based on a case specific formula that includes reasonable attorneys’ fees. If more than one health care provider caused the medical malpractice, the injured party can collect the full amount of damages from any one of the liable parties.
Individuals who are contemplating malpractice legal action in Washington should certify the action with a qualified medical expert who believes the medical treatment in dispute fell below the applicable standard of care based on a “reasonable understanding of the facts and that the deviation was the proximate cause of the medical malpractice injury, or harm. Certification is not required by state statute.
Workers’ compensation.
When a person becomes injured on the job, or contracts an illness that is job-related, they should hire the services of an experienced workers’ compensation attorney, who can assist with a claim for monetary damages. Injuries may be caused by an accident, or event that results in a physical injury, a medical condition caused by repetitious use of a body part, or conditions associated with the workplace environment itself. A lawyer can deal with the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries Workers’ Compensation Claims Division on a client’s behalf.
Wrongful death.
In Washington, family members, or legal representatives must file a wrongful death legal action within three years from the date of the incident that caused an untimely death, in order to secure compensation when a loved one dies because of the negligent, reckless, or deliberate act of another. A Washington wrongful death attorney can assist with damage valuations and timelines relevant to a case. Compensation may cover:
- Medical bills and treatment during final illness, or injury,
- Funeral and burial expenses,
- Lost wages relevant to life expectancy compensation, and household services,
- Compensation for loss of love, companionship, protection, and parent-child relationship.
Accident victims should attempt to minimize additional stress by hiring competent legal counsel who can objectively speak on their behalf in a courtroom, and work toward damage recovery.
Therefore, if you are interested in learning how a chiropractor may be able to help you if you were recently involved in an accident in the state of Washington, below are some chiropractors located in some of the most populated cities in the state. The mentioned health care professionals have all received a five out of five-rating based on Google reviews.
