Shoreline Car Accident Attorney
Request Free ConsultationA car accident can cause a significant amount of emotional and physical pain, not to mention the stress of recovering from injuries, contacting insurance companies, and figuring out when you will be able to work again.
If you were injured and need assistance, contact Caffee Accident & Injury Lawyers right away to discuss your options by contacting our Shoreline car accident attorneys at (206) 312-0954 or filling out our online contact form.
Shoreline Car Accident Legal Resources
- Why Choose Our Shoreline Car Accident Attorneys?
- What Are Common Auto Accident Injuries?
- What Are Causes of Car Accidents?
- What is Comparative Negligence in Washington?
- Who Pays for Car Accident Compensation in Washington?
- How Much Is My Car Accident Case Worth?
- Should I Accept an Insurance Offer or Hire an Attorney?
- Contact Us
Why Choose Our Shoreline Car Accident Attorneys?
- We always go the extra mile for our clients. At our award-winning law firm, we will treat your case like our only case, providing undivided attention and personalized legal services.
- We specialize in car accident claims in Washington. We know how to successfully resolve these cases and deal with car insurance companies on behalf of our clients.
- Our experienced car accident attorneys have obtained millions of dollars on behalf of our clients, including a $2.17 million judgment for a motorcycle accident victim.
What Are Common Auto Accident Injuries?
Car, truck, motorcycle, bicycle and pedestrian accidents can cause life-changing bodily injuries. Any part of the human body can sustain an injury in a vehicle collision. Depending on the speeds of the vehicles involved and the force of the impact, these injuries can be catastrophic. This means they affect the victim in a major way, such as permanent disability or the loss of a bodily function.
Some of the most common injuries associated with automobile accidents in Washington are:
- Soft-tissue injuries and pulled muscles
- Cuts and deep lacerations
- Bone fractures
- Head trauma and traumatic brain injuries
- Neck and back injuries, including whiplash
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Burn injuries
- Internal injuries
- Losses of limb
- Fatal injuries
At Caffee Accident & Injury Lawyers, we help car accident victims who are diagnosed with many different types of serious injuries. Our attorneys will prepare your car accident case based on your unique circumstances and needs. If you or a loved one has a catastrophic injury, for example, we will work relentlessly to obtain fair compensation for your foreseeable future medical bills or lifetime care. With our assistance, you can demand the compensation that you deserve for a severe car accident injury.
What are Causes of Car Accidents?
Car accidents can occur for a number of reasons. One of the leading causes of car accidents is distracted driving, which can include texting, talking on the phone, eating, and any other action that leads a driver to pay less attention to the road and their surroundings.
Other causes of auto accidents that can lead to personal injuries include driving under the influence, speeding, reckless driving, inclement weather, driving at night, disobeying traffic laws, not giving another driver the right of way, wrong-way driving, tailgating, road rage, driving while fatigued, vehicle malfunctions and physical issues with the road.
What is Comparative Negligence in Washington?
If you have been involved in a car accident for any reason, you may be wondering if you can receive compensation. Washington is a comparative negligence state, which means that even if the plaintiff is deemed partially at fault for the accident, they may still be able to collect damages.
When the awarded compensation is determined, the amount the plaintiff receives is the original amount minus their percentage of fault. For example, if a plaintiff is awarded $50,000 but deemed 15 percent at fault, they will receive $42,500.
Who Pays for Car Accident Compensation in Washington?
Compensation will typically come from the insurance company of the at-fault driver. Collecting can become complicated if the at-fault driver does not carry insurance.
In the state of Washington, a motorist is not required to carry uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, but every driver should. If you find yourself in an accident with an uninsured motorist, you likely will not be able to get any compensation from them by suing them.
Most drivers that do not carry insurance do not have enough assets to provide damages. If you have coverage for an uninsured motorist, then your insurance company should cover your damages.
How Much Is My Car Accident Case Worth?
If you receive compensation, it will come in the form of economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages are straightforward, typically including medical bills, loss of earning capacity, and lost wages. Loss of earning capacity typically comes into play if you are no longer able to work due to the car crash.
Typically, the more impactful and severe an injury – the higher the amount of damages will be awarded. A case for a broken bone will typically be less compared to a traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury or an auto accident involving a wrongful death.
Non-economic damages are more difficult to calculate, but they include pain, suffering, and mental anguish.
Hiring a lawyer is beneficial if you are seeking non-economic damages, as they will be able to properly calculate those damages on your behalf and ask for an appropriate amount of compensation.
Should I Accept an Insurance Offer or Hire an Attorney?
Car insurance companies do not want to maximize your financial recovery. Insurance companies are mainly concerned with making a profit. They will try many tactics to save money on payouts, including intentionally mishandling claims. This is why it is highly important to at least consult with an attorney before accepting an insurance offer.
Initial settlement offers are almost always lower than the true value of a car accident claim. This is a strategy insurance companies use in the hopes that a claimant will not know the value of his or her claim and jump at the chance to quickly receive a settlement check – even if the amount is significantly lower than the car accident victim deserves.
Rather than rushing into a fast settlement that devalues your losses, negotiate for a higher amount with assistance from an attorney. A car accident lawyer in Shoreline can go up against an insurance company for you to demand fair and full financial compensation for your medical bills, property damage and other losses connected to the crash. A lawyer will have aggressive negotiation strategies to help you receive higher settlement offers.
Car insurance companies recognize that attorneys have the power to take them to court. To avoid the costs of a trial, most car insurance companies offer higher settlements to push for an agreement. In the event that an insurer still doesn’t give an acceptable settlement offer, however, your lawyer can take your car accident case to trial in Washington.
Why Should I Hire a Shoreline Car Accident Lawyer?
In Washington, car crashes are a leading cause of severe injury and death. In 2019, there were over 111,624 motor vehicle crashes, and of these accidents, over 500 were fatal and almost 2,000 resulted in serious injuries.
A Shoreline car accident lawyer can help you win your case. In Washington, the statute of limitations for car accident claims is three years. This may seem like a significant amount of time, but depending on the severity of your injury, it may be difficult to file your claim in time, especially if you were seriously injured. Working with a knowledgeable car accident lawyer will ensure that your claim is filed in a timely manner so you can receive compensation. If your claim is not filed in time, you forfeit the right to any monetary damages.
A Shoreline car accident attorney can help in other ways, such as dealing with the insurance company on your behalf. Insurance companies want to pay the minimum amount that they can get away with, so you can expect some back-and-forth negotiations. A clever attorney can handle these tricky negotiations successfully, so you can focus on your own recovery and not worry about any complications with your claim.
Additionally, a lawyer can gather documents and information. You will need a significant amount of evidence to prove your case, including medical bills, doctor’s reports, photographs of the accident, a police report, and eyewitness testimony. An experienced lawyer can organize all of this important information on your behalf.
Contact Us
You may find it difficult to focus on your recovery if you were injured, so let us file your car accident claim. Caffee Accident & Injury Lawyers can ease your stress by handling every aspect of the case from start to finish. We will deal with pre-litigation, speak with witnesses, collect evidence, and even arrange for an expert to recreate the scene of the accident if necessary. Contact us right away to discuss your options by calling us at (206) 312-0954 or by filling out our online contact form.