Car accidents in Everett can happen in the blink of an eye, but the consequences can last a lifetime. From mounting medical bills to time off work and ongoing pain and suffering, the aftermath of a crash can be overwhelming. When the negligence of another driver causes your injuries and losses, you shouldn’t be left to carry the financial burden alone.
At Jacobs and Jacobs, our auto accident attorneys provide strong, compassionate legal representation to injured victims. If you or someone you love has been injured in a car accident, our Everett car crash lawyers can aggressively pursue personal injury claims against the negligent parties and fight for maximum compensation on your behalf.
Washington Is an At-Fault State for Car Accidents
Washington follows an at-fault or tort-based system for car accidents. This means that the party that caused the accident is responsible for compensating those who suffered injuries or damages. In practical terms, victims of car accidents have three main options:
- File a claim with their own insurance company (who may then seek reimbursement from the at-fault driver’s insurer)
- File a third-party claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company
- File a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault driver directly
Under Washington’s pure comparative negligence rule (RCW 4.22.005), even if you’re partially at fault for the crash, you can still recover compensation. However, your recovery will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For instance, if you’re awarded $100,000 but found to be 20% at fault, you would receive $80,000.
Being aware of your rights under Washington’s at-fault system is critical to pursuing a successful personal injury claim. Our experienced personal injury attorneys in Everett, WA, can strongly represent you through this legal process from start to finish.
Minimum Liability Insurance for Car Accidents in Everett, WA
Drivers in Everett and throughout Washington are required by law to carry minimum liability insurance coverage. As outlined under RCW 46.29.090, the current minimums are:
- $25,000 for bodily injury or death of one person in an accident
- $50,000 for bodily injury or death of two or more people
- $10,000 for property damage
While these minimums provide a basic safety net, they’re often insufficient to cover the full cost of injuries, especially in serious accidents. For this reason, many drivers carry additional coverage such as:
- Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) coverage
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage
- Collision and comprehensive coverage
Unfortunately, not all drivers comply with the law, and not all insurance policies are enough to cover catastrophic injuries. When this happens, our Everett car crash lawyers will explore all available avenues, including UM/UIM claims and third-party liability, to ensure our clients receive the compensation they’re entitled to.
Common Causes of Car Accidents in Everett
In the experience of our personal injury lawyers, some of the most common causes of motor vehicle accidents include:
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of motor vehicle accidents in Everett and across Washington. Despite legislation prohibiting texting and handheld phone use while driving, drivers continue to engage in risky behaviors behind the wheel.
Distractions can include texting, talking on the phone, using navigation systems, eating, adjusting the radio, or conversing with passengers. Even a momentary distraction, such as glancing at a notification, can result in a devastating crash, particularly at high speeds or in congested traffic.
Speeding
Speeding is a factor in a high percentage of fatal and injury-causing accidents in Everett. Driving over the posted speed limit or too fast for conditions such as rain, fog, or heavy traffic greatly increases the risk of losing control.
High-speed collisions result in greater impact forces, which may translate to more severe injuries for drivers and passengers. In school zones and residential neighborhoods, speeding is particularly dangerous because it reduces a driver’s ability to see and react to pedestrians or children at play.
Driving Under the Influence (DUI)
Despite widespread public awareness and strict legal enforcement, driving under the influence remains a serious and persistent cause of car accidents in Everett. Alcohol, marijuana, and prescription or illicit drugs all impair judgment, slow reaction time, and affect coordination.
Unfortunately, DUI crashes usually occur late at night or on weekends when impaired drivers are most likely to be on the road. Victims of DUI-related accidents frequently suffer severe injuries or death.
Failure to Yield
Failure to yield is a frequent cause of intersection collisions in Everett. Common scenarios include a driver turning left across traffic, merging without checking blind spots, or ignoring a yield sign.
These types of crashes sometimes result in T-bone collisions, which can cause serious injuries to occupants on the struck side of the vehicle. In many failure-to-yield cases, liability is hotly contested, as both drivers may claim they had the right of way.
Running Red Lights or Stop Signs
Disregarding red lights and stop signs is a form of reckless driving that endangers all road users. These violations frequently occur at high-speed intersections and may result in T-bone or side-impact crashes, especially when unsuspecting motorists are proceeding lawfully through the intersection.
Red-light running is sometimes caused by driver impatience, distraction, or misjudging the time remaining on a yellow light. The severity of injuries in red-light accidents can be high, particularly for occupants hit on the side of their vehicle.
Tailgating
Following another vehicle too closely, also known as tailgating, is a dangerous and aggressive driving behavior that leads to many rear-end collisions in Everett. Tailgating reduces a driver’s ability to react in time if the vehicle ahead stops suddenly.
Even at low speeds, rear-end crashes can cause injuries such as whiplash, spinal disc herniation, and head trauma. In foggy, rainy, or icy conditions, the safe following distance should be increased.
Poor Weather Conditions
Weather-related accidents are common in Everett, where drivers frequently face rain, fog, ice, and slick roadways. While the weather itself isn’t a liable party, drivers are expected to adjust their speed and driving behavior to accommodate these hazardous conditions.
This includes slowing down, increasing following distance, using headlights, and avoiding sudden maneuvers. When drivers fail to adapt and cause an accident, they may be found negligent under Washington law.
Inexperienced Drivers
Newly licensed and teenage drivers generally lack the practical driving experience needed to navigate complex traffic situations safely. Inexperience can lead to overcorrection, poor decision-making, failure to scan for hazards, and difficulty handling emergencies.
In Everett, young drivers are statistically more likely to be involved in serious or fatal crashes, especially when driving at night, with passengers, or in adverse weather.
These causes may seem straightforward, but proving them in a car accident claim requires strong evidence such as witness statements, police reports, surveillance footage, and accident reconstruction. Our Everett car accident attorneys at Jacobs and Jacobs Personal Injury Law Group are prepared to investigate every detail to build a strong case and recover fair compensation for car accident victims.
Types of Injuries in Everett Car Accidents
Some car accidents result in life-changing injuries that require long-term medical treatment and rehabilitation following emergency medical care. The following types of car accident injuries can impact the quality of life:
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI): From concussions to severe brain damage, TBIs can cause lasting cognitive and emotional effects.
- Spinal Cord Injuries: Victims may suffer partial or full paralysis, loss of motor function, and require lifelong medical care.
- Multiple Fractures and Broken Bones: Severe fractures often need surgery, physical therapy, and months of recovery.
- Burn Injuries: Especially common in high-impact crashes involving fires or explosions, burn injuries often leave permanent scars.
- Internal Organ Damage: Injuries to organs such as the lungs, liver, or kidneys may not be visible but are often fatal if untreated.
- Amputations: Loss of a limb due to crush injuries or surgical removal changes a person’s life physically, emotionally, and financially.
Our Everett car accident claim attorneys understand the true costs of catastrophic injuries, including current and future medical expenses, lost wages and loss of earning capacity, and loss of enjoyment of life. In a car accident case involving serious injuries, we explore every possible legal avenue to maximize financial recovery for our clients.
How Our Everett Car Accident Lawyers Will Prove Liability
To build a strong case and establish liability of the negligent parties, our Everett car accident attorneys will move fast to collect multiple forms of evidence, such as:
Police Reports
Police reports are one of the first sources of information in any crash investigation. They typically contain the responding officer’s preliminary fault assessment, citations issued to any drivers involved, and diagrams or narratives of the accident scene. While not conclusive, they often play a crucial role in insurance evaluations and courtroom proceedings.
Witness Statements
Independent witnesses can provide critical perspectives, especially when the drivers offer conflicting accounts of what happened. Their testimony can help establish who had the right of way, who was speeding, or whether a driver ignored a traffic signal. Prompt interviews are essential while memories are still fresh.
Dashcam and Surveillance Footage
Video evidence from dashcams or nearby security cameras can show how the accident occurred in real time. It may reveal whether a driver ran a red light, was tailgating, or failed to yield. Such footage is an objective and highly persuasive part of the legal strategy in both settlement talks and trials.
Photographs
Accident scene photos capture important visual evidence such as skid marks, vehicle resting positions, deployed airbags, road debris, environmental conditions, and visible injuries. Photos taken at the time of the crash can later be used to support expert reconstruction of how the collision unfolded.
Vehicle Damage Analysis
Damage to the vehicles involved can help determine angles of impact, speed at the time of collision, and which party likely initiated contact. This information may be used by motor vehicle collision reconstruction experts to back up or challenge statements made by drivers or witnesses.
Accident Reconstruction Reports
In complex or high-stakes cases, engineers may be brought in to perform an accident reconstruction. These experts use physics-based models, scene measurements, vehicle damage, and black box data to assess impact dynamics, speeds, and potential points of negligence. Their findings can be vital in disputed liability cases.
Medical Records
To establish damages, it’s essential to link physical injuries directly to the crash. Medical records serve as objective documentation of diagnoses, treatments, surgeries, medications, and the long-term impact of injuries. They also help calculate medical expenses and forecast future healthcare needs.
Every detail helps our Everett auto accident lawyers to hold negligent drivers accountable and present a compelling claim to insurance companies and juries.
Why Choose Our Car Accident Lawyers Everett, WA?
Exceptional Personal Injury Success Rate
We have obtained over $113 million for injured clients in the past five years alone. Our results reflect our aggressive advocacy and dedication to maximizing client compensation.
100+ Years of Experience and Proven Results
Jacobs and Jacobs has been serving Washington State since 1893. Our Everett team is backed by a history of legal excellence and a proven record of multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements.
Tom Jacobs: A Recognized Leader in Personal Injury Law
Attorney Tom Jacobs is an Eagle Member of the Washington State Association for Justice and a member of the American Trial Lawyers Association. He has served as a trustee of the Pierce County Bar Association and has successfully represented over 20,000 clients in personal injury matters.
Relentless, Evidence-Based Negotiations
Our Everett car accident lawyers don’t back down from insurance companies. By leveraging medical documentation, expert analysis, and client testimony, we push for maximum settlements without compromise.
Trial Preparation from Day One
Every case is prepared as though it’s going to trial. This preparation allows us to negotiate from a position of strength, increasing the likelihood of a favorable settlement without ever stepping into court.
Medical Insight and Expert Resources
Our attorneys understand complex medical terminology and may collaborate with a strong network of expert witnesses, including trauma surgeons, accident reconstructionists, and life care planners.
Tough on Adversaries, Compassionate to Clients
While we’re fierce advocates in the courtroom, we treat our clients like family. We understand your stress and are here to carry the legal burden so you can focus on recovery. To schedule your free consultation with our legal team, call us 24/7 at 253-342-4965 or contact us online.