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Auto accidents are a major public safety problem in Seattle and throughout the state of Washington. Indeed, in 2014, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) reported that 13,971 accidents occurred in the city of Seattle alone, with these crashes resulting in more than 4,300 injuries, and tragically, 17 fatalities. If you were injured in a Seattle auto accident, due to the negligence of another party, you are entitled to full and fair compensation for your damages. Unfortunately, in far too many cases, that compensation can be very difficult to obtain. Most auto accident injury claims involve large insurance companies, and those companies are always looking for ways to limit a victim’s recovery, sometimes even outright denying valid claims. To protect their rights, highway accident victims should always work with an experienced Seattle car accident lawyer. Your lawyer will be able to review the facts of your case, assess your damages and then determine exactly what needs to be done to help you recover every penny that you rightfully deserve under the law. Common Car Accident Injuries Car accident injuries vary tremendously, both in their kind and in their level of severity. Thankfully, in some cases, injuries are relatively minor, perhaps nothing more than a mild bruise. However, in many other cases, car accident injuries can be debilitating and even life altering. Some examples of serious injuries that are frequently seen in Washington car accidents include:
To hold another party legally liable for your car accident injuries, you must be able to prove that they were at fault for your crash. Under Chapter 4.22 of the Revised Code of Washington, fault for a Seattle car accident is controlled by the state’s comparative negligence standard. Under this standard, victims must prove that another party’s negligence, in some manner, contributed to their accident. What is Negligence? Negligence is defined as the failure to take due care. What actually constitutes due care will always depend on the specific facts of the case. Indeed, assessing negligence requires a highly fact intensive and context specific review of the individual circumstances of each accident. That being said, all motorists are held to a high standard of care. If another driver did something unsafe, and that unsafe action at least partially contributed to your accident, you can hold that driver liable for your injuries. Unique Considerations for Shared Fault Accidents Notably, Washington state is a comparative negligence jurisdiction. This means that two parties can share liability for the same accident. In fact, the victim of the crash can even share partial liability for their own accident. In these cases, a victim’s financial recovery will be reduced in direct proportion to their percentage of liability. For example, if you were found to be 20 percent at fault for your own injuries, then your recovery would be reduced by a corresponding 20 percent. This highlights the importance of protecting yourself from an unfair share of the blame for a crash, as being unfairly held at fault will take money directly out of your pocket. Compensation Available for Car Accident Victims
Injured car accident victims have a legal right to recover compensation for the full value of their damages. However, doing so can be extremely challenging in many cases. To obtain the full recovery that they rightfully deserve, victims must be able to properly document their losses. If damages are not properly established, then the insurance company may attempt to undervalue the claim or even deny it outright. Specific types of losses that Seattle car accident victims can seek financial relief for include:
Following a car accident, injured victims need to be prepared for any conversations they might have with insurance adjusters. You may receive a phone call from an insurance company very soon after your crash, sometimes even within a few days. To help you prepare for this important interaction, please consider the following list of five tips for handling insurance adjusters:
Many victims worry about the cost of legal representation. As the common misconception goes, lawyers are expensive. In reality, nothing could be further from the truth. At the Khan Law Firm, PLLC, our top-rated Seattle auto accident lawyers take on all claims on a contingency fee basis. This means that there are never any out-of-pocket costs for our clients. Instead, we will recoup our legal fees as a percentage of your settlement offer or court judgment. If we do not win your case, we do not get paid. It is as simple as that. Request a Free Legal Consultation Today from a Car Accident Lawyer in Seattle If you or a loved one was injured in an auto accident, you need to take immediate action. To protect your legal rights and financial interests, contact the experienced Seattle car accident lawyers at the Khan Law Firm, PLLC today to set up a free, fully confidential review of your claim.
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