Personal Injury Law in Spokane, WA

Were you hurt due to another’s negligence in Spokane? If so, it may have far-reaching consequences such as a loss of wages or extensive medical treatment. Personal injury law allows an injured person to get damages if the responsible person acted recklessly. A personal injury attorney in Spokane, WA can help navigate the lawsuit to make sure you receive all of the compensation you deserve.

What Is Personal Injury Law?

Personal injury law in Spokane relates to the legal process of getting compensation for an injury caused by someone else’s negligent behavior. These cases involve one party, the plaintiff, trying to seek financial compensation for expenses incurred and money lost as a result of the defendant’s reckless behavior. These cases involve both parties’ insurance companies and may even settle before proceeding to litigation.

Examples of Personal Injury Claims in Spokane, WA

Some personal injury claims are more common than others. However, almost any incident that ends with a physical or mental injury could qualify, depending on the circumstances.

A few of the most common personal injury claims are:

• Car Accidents
• Slip and Fall
• Dog Bites
• Medical Malpractice
• Workplace Accidents
• Burn Injuries

Most Common Injuries in Spokane 

The Spokane Regional Health District reports that accidents or unintentional injuries are the leading cause of death among individuals 1 to 44 years of age. Moreover, Spokane County’s death rate from injuries and rate of non-fatal hospitalizations from injuries are higher than statewide rates. 83% of hospitalizations in Spokane County were from accidents, 48% of which were from falls and 7% from motor vehicle accidents.

Steps in a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Spokane, WA

Once you determine that you wish to proceed forward with a personal injury action in Washington

A lawsuit begins when a complaint is filed with the court and served on the defendant. The complaint alleges your assertion as the plaintiff that the defendant’s negligent behavior resulted in damage to your body or mental state. As the process proceeds forward, you may have to go through depositions, independent medical evaluations and document production. This discovery process is lengthy and ends in either settlement or a court appearance.

The vast majority of personal injury suits filed in Spokane County settle out of court and do not go to trial. If you fail to settle, most personal injury trials are heard before a jury but can also be heard before a judge, known as a bench trial. After the case is decided, each side may have a chance to appeal both the verdict and the award.

Washington Personal Injury Settlement

With most personal injury cases, insurance companies and injured parties prefer settlement negotiations rather than going to court for a trial. You may wonder how much you should seek in your settlement and factors that impact the final amount.

Spokane County had the second highest average injury award of $303,147 according to a survey of Washington Injury Settlements. However, it is difficult to find a predictable personal injury settlement amount because there are so many variables like medical bills and injury severity that can influence a settlement. Generally, most cases settle outside of court for between $3,000 – $75,000.

If the other party has insurance, the insurance company likely wants to settle out of court to avoid leaving the final settlement decision to a jury. Settlements benefit injured parties as much as they do insurance companies. This is because accepting a settlement means you receive compensation sooner rather than later. Also, by going to court in WA, that means you risk not receiving any compensation at all.

Damage Awards in Washington

If your Washington personal injury lawsuit goes before a judge or jury, your legal team will be ready with a request for damages. In personal injury cases, there are three types of damage awards a court may order the defendant to pay. In order to compensate you for the damage he or she inflicted.

Special compensatory damages reimburse you for things such as lost income, medical bills and insurance deductibles. You submit receipts proving these losses.

General compensatory damages are subjective. If you receive special compensatory damages, you may also collect general damages. If your injury was particularly painful, you might request that the judge order the defendant compensate you for the pain and anguish.

Punitive damages are the most rarely awarded and are up to the court. The judge or jury may determine that the defendant’s negligence was particularly heinous and the resulting injury to you was equally horrific. 

Washington state does not place caps on non-economic damages in personal injury cases, as they were deemed unconstitutional by the State Court. Reinstitution of caps through new legislation has not yet occurred.

Statute of Limitations in Spokane, WA Personal Injury Law?

The injured party may have a set amount of time to file suit for a personal injury case. State law establishes statutes of limitation. Commonly, the plaintiff’s injury or discovery of the injury begins the statute of limitations. However, the latter factor is trickier, as the plaintiff will have to prove when the injury was first realized.

The statute of limitations for a personal injury suit in Washington state is three years. If you live in Spokane, this means you only have three years from the date of your injury to file a suit.

We recommend you speak with a personal injury lawyer for this matter. Don’t wait too long and miss out on receiving the compensation you deserve for your injury. 

Work With an Experienced Spokane, WA Lawyer

Pursue a personal injury claim in Spokane against the responsible person if you are dealing with an injury caused by someone else. One of our experienced lawyers can help you navigate your personal injury claim. We can even help you connect with an attorney across Washington state lines.

Submit a request online or call us today at (866) 345-6784 to get in touch with an experienced lawyer in your area!