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Car Accidents
Seattle Car Accident ATTORNEY
Representing Car Accident Victims in West Seattle, Tacoma, Everett, Renton and beyond
If you have been involved in a car accident, seeking justice may not immediately be on your radar. However, it’s imperative that you carefully document your experience and seek capable legal representation from a car accident lawyer in Seattle as soon as possible.
Kode Law Firm is Washington’s go-to ally for car accident victims. Our Seattle car accident lawyer has a decade of experience, is committed to providing customer-focused service, and values communication, speed, and results.
Our car accident lawyers in Seattle are skilled litigators who know how to handle complex claims. You will work directly with our attorney throughout our handling of your case, and we will always fight to secure the compensation you deserve.
Schedule a free initial consultation with our auto accident lawyers in Seattle by calling (206) 312-4320 or contacting us online. We offer services in English, Spanish, Arabic, Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu, Tigrinya, Pashto, and Dari.
Statistics on Car Accidents in Washington
According to the Washington State Department of Transportation’s 2017 report, a car accident occurs every four minutes. Individuals aged between 16 and 25 were among the most likely to be killed in a car accident.
Several other key statistics were gathered, including:
- Saturdays yielded the highest number of accidents
- Car crashes were most likely to occur during the month of November
- A person dies due to a car accident every 20 hours
- A person is seriously injured in a car accident every 15 minutes
The bottom line is car accidents can happen to anyone, at any time, and the consequences can be life-changing. If you or someone you love suffers serious injuries in an accident caused by another driver’s negligence, you deserve compensation for your losses. Our auto accident lawyers in Seattle can help you explore your recovery options.
What Are the Common Causes of Car Accidents?
Car accidents happen for a variety of reasons, many of which involve driver error. You likely have a personal injury claim if another driver’s negligence led to a crash.
Examples of driver negligence include:
- Distracted driving (such as texting while driving)
- Driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Excessive speeding
- Failing to follow traffic rules or signals
- Driving while fatigued
Some car accidents are not the result of driver error, including collisions caused by the physical condition of the roads, weather conditions, and mechanical malfunctions. You may not necessarily have a personal injury claim if the other driver was not at fault. Our Seattle car accident attorney can evaluate the circumstances of your accident and advise whether you have a strong case.
What Type of Injuries Do Car Accidents Cause?
The type and severity of injuries sustained following a car accident will depend on a wide range of factors, including whether seatbelts were worn, the speed of the collision, the point of impact, and whether airbags activated. Common injuries that result from car accidents include:
- Soft tissue injuries
- Scrapes and cuts
- Head injuries
- Chest injuries
- Shoulder and leg injuries
- Spinal injuries
You should always get a full medical evaluation after a car accident, even if you do not believe you were seriously injured. Your doctor may be able to diagnose conditions that are not visible to the naked eye, and establishing a direct link between the accident and your injuries is extremely important. If you suffered injuries of any kind, you may be able to recover compensation for medical bills and other losses through a personal injury claim. Our auto accident lawyers in Seattle can help you achieve that end.
Get the legal support you need after suffering an auto accident injury. Contact us or call (206) 312-4320 for the support of an experienced car accident attorney in Seattle.
What Is the Statute of Limitations on Washington Car Accidents?
You will only have three years from the date of the accident to take legal action, so do not wait to seek legal representation. Should a car accident result in death, you will have three years from the date of your loved one’s passing to file a wrongful death claim.
What Damages Can Be Claimed During Car Accident Litigation in Washington?
You will in many cases be able to claim both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages are calculable and meant to cover monetary losses related to the accident, while non-economic damages are meant to compensate you for non-monetary losses that have no obvious dollar amount attached to them.
Examples of economic damages you can recover in a Washington car accident lawsuit include:
- Past, current, and future medical bills
- Lost income
- Loss of earning capacity
- Property damage
Examples of non-economic damages you can claim in a Washington car accident lawsuit include:
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
- Disfigurement
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How Do Washington Courts Determine Fault in Car Accident Lawsuits?
Washington State applies a comparative negligence rule for car accident lawsuits. This means that individuals injured in a car accident may claim damages, but they will only be awarded based on the percentage of fault they are found to share with the defendant. In other words, if the court finds you are partially responsible for causing the accident, you will only recover a commensurate percentage of your damages.
For example, say you claim $100,000 in damages. The court decides you share 30% of the blame with the defendant, so you will only receive $70,000.
Can Passengers in a Car Accident File Personal Injury Claims in Washington?
If you were the passenger in a car accident that occurred in Washington State, you may also be able to file a lawsuit and recover compensation from the negligent driver or drivers. Passengers and drivers are held to different standards when it comes to pursuing a claim after an accident takes place. Typically, passengers who have been injured in a car accident will have an easier time than most other personal injury claimants, in large part because they do not usually have to worry about proving liability.
Passenger injury claims proceed in the same manner as other car accident claims, and they can recover many of the same types of damages. Passengers may submit claims against both drivers unless only one driver was at fault.
If a passenger was injured in an accident with no at-fault driver, the passenger will likely be covered under the no-fault/personal injury protection (PIP) insurance policy of the driver who was operating the vehicle at the time the accident occurred. In such cases, the injured passenger’s medical expenses and other losses will generally be covered by the driver’s insurance provider. These damages will need to be submitted to the driver's insurance company, and litigation will most likely not be necessary.
Get Legal Advice from a Skilled Attorney Today!
If you have recently suffered injuries in a car accident, you are not alone. Our team at Kode Law Firm is ready to relieve your stress and get to work on your case. Because you only have a limited time to file a personal injury lawsuit, you should not wait to get in touch with our Seattle car accident lawyer. We will walk you through your legal options, the next steps for litigating your case, and the types of compensation we can help you recover.
Our firm also handles personal injury claims involving Uber and Lyft accidents, bicycle accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, and more. Call (206) 312-4320 or contact us online today!