Tacoma Personal Injury Attorneys
People get hurt every day in accidents. Sometimes it is truly nobody’s fault. But we all know there are many cases where negligent or reckless conduct led to what should have been a preventable accident.
If you have been injured due to such negligence, an experienced lawyer can help you in seeking compensation for your losses. Emerald Law Group serves clients throughout the Tacoma area who have been injured as the result of a motor vehicle crash, slip and fall accident, defective consumer product, or similar event. We can advocate on your behalf when dealing with insurance companies or filing a lawsuit to vindicate your rights under the law.
What You Need to Know About Filing a Personal Injury Claim in Washington
There are a number of laws and rules governing personal injury claims in Washington. The first rule that you need to be aware of is the statute of limitations. This is a time limit for filing a lawsuit based on a personal injury. In Washington, the statute of limitations is normally three years, starting on the date of your accident or injury.
On paper, three years sounds like more than enough time. But personal injury claims often involve a complicated set of facts. It often takes a substantial amount of time to conduct a proper investigation into what happened and who might be legally responsible. So it is crucial that you engage a Tacoma personal injury lawyer as soon as possible following an accident.
Washington also follows a pure comparative negligence rule in personal injury cases. In simple terms, if you file a personal injury lawsuit against a defendant, they can turn around and try to blame you for the accident or injury. A court must then sort out the comparative fault of each side.
To give a simple example, say you are injured in a car accident. You sue the other driver. The other driver argues you caused the accident. A jury ultimately decides you are both equally at-fault. If your total damages arising from the accident came to $100,000, the defendant would only be liable for half that amount, or $50,000.
At the same time, when a defendant is liable for causing your injury, there are no limits on the amount of damages you can seek as compensation. Damages in personal injury cases are usually broken down into two categories:
- Economic damages include your out-of-pocket expenses, such as your medical bills, lost wages if you missed time from your job, and the costs of repairing any damage to your property.
- Non-economic damages include losses that are difficult to measure but still exist, such as your pain and suffering and mental anguish following an accident or injury.
Contact Emerald Law Group Today
After an accident or injury, an insurance company representing the negligent party will often try and pressure you into accepting a settlement offer. In most cases, this first offer is far below the full measure of losses that you suffered. That is why you should deal with an insurance company without first speaking to a skilled Tacoma personal injury lawyer who will put your interests first. Contact Emerald Law Group today to schedule a free initial consultation.
