Top Rated Car Accident Lawyers in Seattle, WA
Full Answer
Why You Need To Call A Lawyer If You Get Involved In A Car Accident
When should you hire a lawyer for a car accident?
It can certainly be worth getting a lawyer for a car accident, particularly if the accident was serious and you suffered extensive or permanent injuries. A lawyer can help to protect you from any present as well as future damages related to the accident.
Yes, you can sue for pain and suffering after a car accident. The trick is being able to prove the pain and suffering, which is why having a competent attorney on your side helps.
In Washington, you're required to report a car accident within four days.
Call 911 and inform them of any injuries....Be sure to exchange the following:Name, address, phone numbers of all drivers.Name, address, phone number of all passengers or witnesses.Driver's license numbers and license plate numbers.Insurance companies of all drivers involved.Registered owners of all cars.
The average settlement amount for a car accident is approximately $41,783.00. This figure may be high in comparison to national averages across the United States because the data includes more car accident settlements involving serious injuries.
Avoid using phrases like “it was my fault,” “I'm sorry,” or “I apologize.” Don't apologize to your insurer, the other driver, or law enforcement. Even if you are simply being polite and not intentionally admitting fault, these types of words and phrases will be used against you.
No, Washington state is not a no-fault state. Washington is an “at-fault” or “tort” state. This means when an accident occurs, the person who was “at-fault” will pay for the injuries and damages caused. That is why a personal injury attorney is important.
It can take anywhere from a couple of weeks to several months (or years) for a car accident case to settle. There is plenty to investigate on each party's end, and if you suffered extensive injuries and property damage, this could explain why the settlement process is lengthy.
While rough estimates usually put the amount of time to receive settlement money around four to six weeks after a case it settled, the amount of time leading up to settlement will also vary. There are multiple factors to consider when asking how long it takes to get a settlement check.
For example, if you had $50,000 in medical costs and other hard costs, and your suffering was rated at about a 3, then the pain and suffering damages should come to about $150,000 (3 x $50,000 = $150,000).
within 24 hoursAfter being involved in a car accident, you should report it to your car insurance provider as soon as you can. Many insurers specify that you need to inform them about an accident within 24 hours of the incident.
If you don't tell your insurer about the accident, or if you tell them too late, then they may cancel your policy and refuse to insure you in the future.
three-yearCar accident claim time limit: Car accidents and road traffic accidents in general have a three-year limit from the date of the accident. If you were left incapacitated and unable to claim for some time after your accident, you would have a three-year limit from the date of recovery.
If you drive a vehicle that is required to be registered in Washington State, you must have auto insurance or other proof of financial responsibility. If you drive your car without the required insurance, you could receive a fine of $550 or more.
Talis Abolins is a lifelong Washingtonian with nearly 30 years of experience as an attorney in the Evergreen State. His family hails from Puyallup/Summer Valley.
Ann Thoeny is a Seattle, Washington personal injury lawyer with 30+ years of experience as an attorney. She has represented injured individuals in motor vehicle accidents, slip and falls, work site injuries, skiing and snowboarding accidents, bicycle accidents, assaults, wrongful death, and civil rights violations.
With over 50 years’ experience as a Seattle Trial Lawyer. A graduate and class president of the American University Law School in Washington, D.C., Mr. Mussehl received the Delta Theta Phi Scholarship Award (Upper 7 1/2% of his class) as well as the Lawyers Co-operative Publishing Co. Award for the outstanding student in Torts, which was taught by law school Dean, John Sherman Myers.
Keep in mind that there is a statute of limitations. This is the cut-off date for filing a claim. Usually, you have to file a claim within three years of your car accident, but there are always exceptions and there may be circumstances that change the statute of limitations in your particular situation.
The most important thing is to collect information from other people involved in the accident. This includes their name, address, phone number, and insurance information. It’s also helpful to document the names and phone numbers of witnesses. Take photos of the car accident scene.
Finally, your financial well-being is at stake after a car accident. For example, injuries may be preventing you from working in your chosen field, or performing as you would have had you not been injured. Either of these scenarios may be costing you money. You may have mounting medical expenses and other bills associated with the accident. If injuries have impacted your ability to perform domestic chores, there may be increased costs associated with keeping up your home and quality of life. There are all kinds of ways that mild, moderate, and severe injuries impact your day-to-day financial well-being.
Regardless of how you were injured, your health is now at stake. You probably need resources like time, money, and therapy in order to make the best possible recovery. Typically, insurance is available to help you access these resources.
Car accident injuries include those related to mental and psychological health.
In fact, the compensation they offer when you don’t have a car accident lawyer may not even cover costs associated with making a good recovery. And by the way, it’s hard to know what a good recovery should look like just a couple months after your car accident. This is to say that your emotional well-being is also at stake. Without a car accident lawyer, insurance representatives will pressure you to accept unfair compensation, causing a lot of unnecessary anxiety and frustration.
More Drivers on the Road Increases % of Accidents- An increase of drivers commuting to or from work increases the chances of an accident occurring. When the recession hit, people were out of jobs and had less reason to be on the road, leading to fewer accidents. An improving job market has lead to more people driving which increased the amount of accidentsthat Missouri and Illinois are now experiencing.
When you have a personal injury claim, be aware of the tricks insurance c …
Broken Bones- Broken Bones are very common in car accidents because of the traumatic amount of force that can be applied to the bones. Car Accidents can easily lead to broken bonesdue to the force involved in the accidents. Broken Bones often take months or even in rare cases, years to heal.
Car Crashes are violent events, even at low speeds. When these accidents happen, they can leave broken bones, internal injuries, and even cause death. Here are a list of the most common injuries that can result from a car accident:
On August 27, 2015, Gary Burger tried an uninsured motorist claim for Christopher Smith and his daughter. We won the case, received the decision last week, and Unique Insurance was ordered to pay a total of $49,930.40 plus costs. There has been...
Car Accidents never adhere to one set model, they usually involve several levels of negligence or reckless acts. Our Car Accident Lawyers in Seattle take on a variety of car accident claims, all of which require knowledge of different types of traffic laws and experience in the best methods to recover evidence from the scene of a traffic accident. Here are several facts regarding traffic accidents:
Car Accidents are traumatic events. Knowing what to do when one happens can absolutely make the difference in your case, however, it can be hard to make the right choices when you’re still in shock from the accident. Our team has compiled two books regarding car accidents that you can reference and read through to make sure you’re prepared in the event of an accident.
If you are involved in a car accident, you may benefit from the services of a car accident lawyer, one who knows the dynamics of car crashes and can identify and weigh all the possible factors which may have played a part. For example, you are driving in the rain on an improperly graded road and an approaching car has a blow-out. It suddenly veers out of control and skids into you at 45 mph. Was it the rain, the poorly built road, the other driver (found with beer cans in the car), or the mechanic who installed the bad tire that caused the accident–or a combination of them all? A car accident lawyer discovers who is responsible, whether insurance policies will pay for your losses, and what you can expect to recover in damages if the accident was someone else's fault.
HURT in an AUTO ACCIDENT and NEED HELP NOW? Call Martin for your FREE CONSULTATION (425) 374-1372.
A car crash is not just an accident. Most crashes could have—and should have—been prevented. Now you need to protect your legal rights. Start today with a free...
THE CAR ACCIDENT LAWYER. Millions Recovered! Covering All Of California! Call 855-480-6716 Today!
Erica Buckley is an attorney at Buckley & Associates in Seattle's International District. She has resolved through verdicts, settlements, and/or arbitrations over 300 cases...
A car crash is not just an accident. Most crashes could have—and should have—been prevented. Now you need to protect your legal rights. Start today with a free...