Personal Injury Law in Washington

Were you hurt due to another’s negligence in Washington? 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 Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington

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 Washington 

According to the Washington State Department of Health, fall, jump, and push incidents accounted for a majority of the state’s 38,683 total injuries in 2013. Of this total, 2,869 led to traumatic brain injuries. Transport and poisoning-related events contributed significantly to this total as well with an additional combined 7,358 injuries. From 2013-2017, the top two causes of injury-related deaths for individuals ages 25-44 were unintentional poisoning, followed by motor vehicle crashes.

Steps in a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Washington

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.

If your injuries total less than $5,000, a Washington small claims court will be able to handle your case. There is an exception if the other party is a state-government entity. In these instances, and also cases where your personal injuries exceed $5,000, you’ll need to file with a district court. Under state law, there is a fee of $43 to file.

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.

According to current data from the Washington State Hospital Association, surgical treatment for trauma injuries resulting in upper extremity and lower leg bone fractures costs $75,000 on average. Major joint replacement or reattachment cost more than $60,000 on average. When you’re involved in settlement negotiations, an insurance adjuster may bring up the issue of shared fault in an attempt to show that you were responsible for the damages you’ve suffered. Therefore, it is important to entrust a legal team that can negotiate with the insurance companies on your behalf so you can receive the recovery you deserve.

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 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 most personal injury claims is 3 years in Washington. This time-frame could be longer when the plaintiff is a minor.

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 Washington Lawyer

Pursue a personal injury claim in Washington 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 attorney in your area!