Personal Injury Lawyer in Washington State

Yes, there is limited time for you to file a personal injury claim. In Washington State, the statute of limitations for filing a personal injury claim is generally three years from the date of the injury. If you miss the deadline, you may not be able to recover any damages for your suffering.

However, there are some exceptions and specific rules that may apply depending on the nature of the injury and the circumstances of the case. For example, if the injured party is a minor, the statute of limitations can be paused until the minor is an adult. The statute of limitations could also be different if the case involved intentional acts or a wrongful death. To ensure you don’t miss any deadlines related to your case, please consult with an attorney.

Typically, an insurance company’s first offer is not their best offer, and you should be careful when accepting such an offer. Many insurance companies try to minimize their payout by offering unreasonably low settlements early in the process to entice plaintiffs into accepting them.

Insurance companies often take advantage of the fact that after an accident, victims are stressed and possibly facing financial difficulties due to medical bills and lost wages. By offering a quick but low settlement, they hope to resolve the claim quickly and save money. Accepting this initial offer can result in insufficient compensation for your injuries, treatment costs, and other damages.

Before accepting any settlement offer, it’s essential to fully understand the extent of your injuries and the impact they will have on your life, both now and in the future. Consulting with a personal injury lawyer is highly recommended in these situations. A lawyer can help evaluate the fair value of your claim and negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf.

Whether you can file a claim if you are partially at fault depends on the state laws. For example, Washington State follows a pure comparative negligence rule, according to which you can recover damage even if you share some responsibility for the accident. However, a key component of this rule is that your compensation will be adjusted according to your share of fault in the accident. So, if you were 40% at fault for the accident, the total damage amounts to $10,000. You can only recover $6000.

The percentage of fault in an accident is determined by evaluating the actions and behaviors of all parties involved. This process relies heavily on evidence such as police reports, photos from the accident scene, and witness statements. Experts, such as accident reconstruction specialists, may also analyze the evidence.

Initially, insurance adjusters from the involved parties’ insurance companies will review the evidence and assign a percentage of fault for the accident. They will also conduct an investigation to determine the fault. If the parties cannot agree on the percentages of fault, the matter may proceed to a legal setting. If the case goes to court, a judge or jury will review the evidence presented by both sides and make the final determination of fault.