If you experience a catastrophic injury, it is possible that you will be responsible for any medical costs or damages associated with your injury. This is in addition to the trauma of your physical injuries and the extreme emotional distress that follows a serious accident. If another party or entity was responsible for your injuries, they could be held accountable.
A Seattle personal injury lawyer from Puget Law Group can aid you in pursuing reimbursement for your injuries. Our firm has 150+ years of combined experience, a 97% success rate, and over 400 5-star Google reviews. Take advantage of our no-win, no-fee guarantee when you contact our office to request a free consultation.
How a Seattle Personal Injury Is Defined
Personal injuries are often a result of negligence. An individual may act negligently when operating an automobile, for example, leading to a personal injury. But, someone else could also suffer a personal injury because the driver was behaving carelessly.
At Puget Law Group, a talented personal injury lawyer in Seattle can help you receive the compensation you are due. Consider your legal options, which could include negotiating with the insurance company or filing a personal injury claim. Reach out today for a free consultation to discuss the specific circumstances of your case.
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Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle in Seattle
We represent clients with serious, life-disrupting injuries. Whether you were hurt in a crash, struck as a pedestrian, or injured by a dangerous condition, our firm is here to help. We treat every case like it matters because it does. Here are some of the most common types of cases your Seattle personal injury attorney takes on:
- Seattle car accident lawyer – Car crashes in King County often involve distracted driving, speeding, or uninsured motorists. We handle claims with serious injuries and work to recover the full value of your losses. You may even have grounds for a diminished value claim.
- Seattle truck accident lawyer – Semi-truck collisions frequently cause catastrophic injuries or death. We take on complex liability cases involving commercial carriers, freight companies, and their insurers.
- Seattle motorcycle accident lawyer – Riders are exposed to greater risk in collisions with cars, buses, or poorly maintained roads. We represent clients with life-changing injuries and stand up to biased insurers. We will do everything in our power to get the most out of your claim.
- Seattle pedestrian accident lawyer – Crosswalks and intersections throughout the city pose a real danger for people on foot. We represent pedestrians who were hit by impatient or inattentive drivers.
- Seattle bicycle accident lawyer – Cyclists in Seattle face heavy traffic, dangerous lane merges, and limited shoulder space. We build cases that account for head trauma, fractures, and long-term disability.
- Seattle catastrophic injury lawyer – Catastrophic injuries like brain trauma, paralysis, or limb loss can permanently alter your life. We work with medical experts to assess long-term costs and fight for the full compensation you deserve.
- Seattle bus accident lawyer – Whether the bus is public or private, passengers are entitled to safe travel. We investigate multi-passenger crashes and hold transit agencies accountable for safety failures.
- Seattle rideshare accident lawyer – Uber and Lyft collisions often involve insurance disputes and unclear liability. We represent injured passengers and rideshare drivers with serious injury claims. Our team can help you protect your right to maximum compensation.
- Seattle product liability lawyer – Defective or dangerous products can cause serious injuries. We hold manufacturers, distributors, and retailers accountable when unsafe products reach consumers and cause harm.
- Seattle boating accident lawyer – Recreational boating injuries often result from operator error, alcohol use, or mechanical failure. We pursue claims against negligent drivers and vessel owners on Puget Sound and nearby lakes.
- Seattle wrongful death lawyer – When negligence results in the death of a loved one, surviving family members deserve answers. We fight to recover compensation for funeral expenses, lost income, and the emotional cost of that loss, while also helping you understand what the wrongful death statute of limitations in Washington is and how it may affect your ability to file a claim.
No two accidents are alike, and neither are the people involved. We build strategies based on the facts, your goals, and the outcome that will truly make a difference in your life. Our trial team is ready when you are.
Statute of Limitations on Personal Injury Cases in Seattle, WA
The statute of limitations for personal injury cases varies by state, making it important to understand what the personal injury statute of limitations in Washington is before moving forward with a claim. In Washington, you generally have three years from the date of the incident to file a personal injury lawsuit, as outlined in RCW § 4.16.080. However, some exceptions may extend this deadline, including:
- The injury was not immediately apparent, such as in surgical malpractice or delayed drug reaction cases.
- The injured individual was legally incapacitated after the accident, in which case the clock may pause until they regain capacity.
If you miss this deadline, your ability to pursue your case as a trial could be limited. Do not risk it. Get started on your claim with your personal injury lawyer in Seattle as soon as possible so you can maximize your financial relief.
Seattle Personal Injury Lawyer Near Me 253-627-4696
Economic and Non-Economic Damages in Seattle Personal Injury Lawsuits
When compensatory damages are awarded to injury victims across Seattle, they typically include both economic and non-economic damages. If you have suffered an injury due to someone else’s negligence, you are entitled to pursue both types of compensation as outlined under RCW § 19.86.090.
While some of these damages may be recovered through an insurance claim, any remaining losses can be pursued through a civil lawsuit. It is also important to note whether there is a cap on personal injury settlements in Washington for non-economic damages in certain types of cases, which may affect your total recovery.
Economic Damages You May Be Entitled to After a Personal Injury Accident in Seattle
In the state of Washington, there is no cap for economic damages. This means you can seek compensation for everything you have lost. Some of the following economic damages that you may be entitled to as a personal injury victim include:
- Medical costs – You may be entitled to reimbursement for the cost of ambulance travel, airlifting or Life Flight costs, emergency room visits, stays in the hospital or the intensive care unit, medical procedures, surgeries, amputations, prescriptions, medical devices, rehabilitation services, doctor’s appointments, and follow-up medical care.
- Lost Wages – Following an accident, missing work is rather common. If you have lost wages due to the accident, hospital time, attending doctors’ appointments, and recovery, you can seek financial recovery for the time you lost.
- Therapy – After an injury, it may be necessary that you seek physiotherapy, psychological therapy, or occupational therapy. The cost of these services can add up quickly, and compensation may be available.
- Loss of future income – If you are unable to return to the job you once had or were training for due to an injury, you may be able to pursue compensation for the loss of future income.
- Home alterations – Often, when a major injury is suffered, our homes must be restructured to accommodate a personal injury victim’s new circumstances. This might include the addition of a ramp, the widening of doorways, access to handicap-accessible bathrooms, installation of grab bars and handrails, and more.
- Medical devices – Medical devices may be necessary to aid personal injury victims in returning to their lives. This may mean wheelchairs, prosthetics, and handicap-accessible vehicles.
Non-Economic Damages Following a Seattle Personal Injury Accident
There is no cap on non-economic compensatory damages in Seattle, Washington. This entitles personal injury victims to seek restitution for the non-economic damages they have suffered in addition to the more easily calculated economic damages. Some examples of these damages are listed below:
- Pain and suffering – These damages are awarded to compensate personal injury victims for the physical and emotional pain suffered due to their injuries.
- Emotional distress – Personal injury victims can seek damages for the emotional anguish they have suffered as a result of their injuries. This could mean depression, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other difficult psychological impacts suffered due to the accident.
- Loss of enjoyment of life – This is difficult to calculate monetarily, but it is one of the biggest losses a personal injury accident can cause. When the injury victim can no longer participate in the things that made their lives enjoyable because of the injuries they sustained, they are entitled to seek compensation for that loss.
- Loss of consortium – This is damage that is sometimes available to the spouse or partner of the victim when the injury means they have lost companionship, intimacy, protection, and security because of the accident.
- Disfigurement and scarring – This can be painful and require the personal injury victim to go through multiple surgeries and procedures to work towards correcting. The victim may suffer shame and discomfort due to the way they look as a result of the accident.
- Loss of reputation – Sometimes, a personal injury accident has a component caused by rumors or details of the accident that caused the person who suffered the injury to feel ashamed or like their reputation has been compromised. Injury victims and accident survivors can pursue damages for the loss of their reputation.
Your dedicated personal injury attorney in Seattle can educate and inform you about the types of losses that may be available based on the specific details of your case. This may help you understand what a reasonable amount of compensation to pursue would be. Our legal advocates can explain all of the details of possible damages after reviewing your individual situation.
Punitive Damages
While you may be curious about punitive damages, Washington is one of four states that do not allow for them in personal injury cases as described by Washington common law (see Dailey v. North Coast Life Insurance Co., 919 P.2d 589 (Wash. 1996)). In fact, Washington courts have consistently held that punitive damages are not permitted unless expressly authorized. In Washington, there is no option for being awarded punitive damages.
Achieving the Best Results for a Seattle Personal Injury Lawsuit
A personal injury attorney in Seattle is the first person you should talk to when you are considering filing a lawsuit concerning a serious injury. Contact us for a free consultation so you can determine how your interests can best be represented. There are some things you can do to help your legal advocate achieve the best possible outcome.
Collect Evidence to Support Your Claim
The burden of proof in a personal injury case is based on a preponderance of the evidence standard, meaning it is more likely than not that the defendant’s actions caused the plaintiff’s injuries. By gathering evidence we can use to support your case, you arm us with what we need to pursue the best resolution possible on your behalf. This can include the following:
- Photographs and videos documenting the personal injury
- Accident reports from law enforcement
- Security or surveillance videos that may have caught the incident on video
- Medical records and doctors’ reports
- Witness statements from those involved or those who saw the incident occur
- Financial records
Bring all the evidence you have gathered to your appointment with your legal representative so that you can understand where your case stands. By reviewing the evidence with our team, you can better recognize which types of evidence should be submitted during your trial and which pieces are not as valuable. Some of the evidence you collect may be used to dispute allegations that the defendant may make.
Contact Us to Meet with Seattle’s Leading Personal Injury Law Firm
The days and weeks following a personal injury suffered by you or a loved one can be overwhelming. Your compassionate Seattle personal injury attorney from Puget Law Group understands that you have experienced great trauma, and we want nothing more than to help you overcome it.
Our goal is to secure the maximum settlement possible for you, so fill out our quick contact form or call us to get started on your claim as soon as possible.
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