Personal Injury Attorney FAQs
What is Negligence?
Negligence is an essential aspect of most personal injury cases. Negligence refers to the failure of a person or entity to act with the care and concern that another reasonable person or entity would in the same circumstances. If you can prove that a person or entity’s actions were negligent and caused your losses, you may be able to obtain compensation for the harm they caused.
How Do I Know If I Have a Personal Injury Claim?
You may have a personal injury case if you have suffered harm due to someone’s negligence, recklessness, or intentional actions. In Washington, you must prove the following:
- Duty of Care – The other party had a duty to act reasonably toward you.
- Breach of Duty of Care – The other party breached their duty.
- Cause – The other party’s negligent, reckless, or intentional acts caused your injury.
- Damages – Your injury led to damages such as medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Do Personal Injury Claims Have Time Limits?
In Washington, the statute of limitations in personal injury cases is three years. This means you generally only have three years to file a claim for your accident. If you file after three years, you could be barred from recovering any compensation.
Should I Speak to the Insurance Company Without a Lawyer?
No! Always consult a personal injury attorney before discussing your case with insurance agents. Insurance adjusters are not on your side. They might try to minimize your compensation or deny your claim.
Will My Personal Injury Case Go to Trial?
Most personal injury cases settle before trial. However, some cases are tried before a judge or jury because they involve questions of liability or an insurance company will not settle them fairly.
How Long Will It Take to Settle My Case?
How long it takes to settle your personal injury case will depend on the circumstances. Claims can take anywhere from months to years to settle. Emerald City Law Group works hard to negotiate and obtain the most compensation possible in every case.
Investigating, interviewing witnesses, and presenting information to insurance companies who often make low-ball offers before presenting a reasonable amount can take time. If we cannot settle your case for a fair amount, we will be ready to take your case to court.
Should I Wait to Get Medical Treatment?
You should seek medical care immediately if you’ve been hurt in an accident. You could put your health in jeopardy if you wait.. In addition, if you see a doctor as soon as possible, you can better document your injury and reduce the risk of an insurance company arguing that your injury was unrelated to the accident.
Should I Accept the Insurance Company’s Offer?
Insurance companies are profit-driven businesses. An insurance company will likely contact you quickly after an accident to convince you to accept a settlement. But these are often low-ball amounts, designed to make more valuable cases go away. You should avoid answering any of their questions and immediately contact a Seattle personal injury attorney.
If a Family Member Died, Can I Sue the Person or Entity Responsible?
If you have lost a family member due to someone else’s negligent, reckless, or intentional acts, you may be able to file a wrongful death claim. Although no amount of money can bring back your loved one, a wrongful death claim can compensate you for funeral expenses and help replace lost wages so your family can grieve without worrying about finances.
What if I was Partially At Fault in the Accident?
Under Washington law, you can still file a personal injury lawsuit if you were partially responsible for the accident and your injuries. However, the possible compensation would be reduced by the percentage of fault attributed to you.
How Much Does a Personal Injury Attorney Cost?
We typically work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we recover the compensation in your case. During the initial consultation, we’ll clarify our fees so there are no surprises.
Your Lawyer & Ally is Close By
Emerald City Law Group provides Seattle and the greater Washington area with high-caliber legal representation for those injured by negligence. If you’ve been hurt, call Emerald City Law Group right away.
Seattle – Local Areas Served
- King County – Bellevue, Auburn, Kent, Renton, Federal Way, Kirkland, Redmond, Bothell, Carnation, Duvall, Issaquah, Maple Valley, Mercer Island, Sammamish, Seattle, & Woodinville
- Snohomish County – Everett, Lynnwood, and Marysville.
- Pierce County – Tacoma, Puyallup, Gig Harbor, and Lakewood
Greater Washington
- Grays Harbor
- Kittitas County
- Spokane County
- Cowlitz County
- Douglas County
- Mason County
- Skagit County
- Thurston County
- Island County
- Mason County
- Grays County
- Kitsap County
- Lewis County
- Whatcom County
- Whitman County
- San Juan County