Can a Car Accident Lawyer Help you in Washington State?
There is a good chance that you or someone you know has been involved in a car accident. There may very well have been injuries to one or both parties. Car accidents are all too common, no matter where you live.
A vehicle accident occurs somewhere in the United States every 60 seconds, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. That translates into around 6 million accidents every year, nationwide. As recently as 2020, there were more than 35,700 fatal motor vehicle crashes in the U.S.
An auto accident can be a traumatic experience. It’s during this stressful time when you’re most vulnerable to being taken advantage of by insurance companies and other parties in a collision. That is why if you are ever involved in an accident, you are advised to seek the services of a car accident lawyer.
We will present six ways that a qualified attorney can assist you in getting the best outcome for your personal injury case when it involves an auto accident.
6 Ways a Car Accident Lawyer Will Help You Reach a Favorable Settlement
Secure Evidence of Liability
Your car accident lawyer will be responsible for obtaining all of the necessary evidence in order to prove liability in your vehicle accident claim. He will be diligent in gathering all the relevant information – including going back to the accident scene to see what it looks like – and pulling the incident and/or police report to make sure nothing is overlooked.
Secure Evidence of Damages
A car accident lawyer could prove invaluable for your case, and this is especially true if you have suffered major injuries.
Gathering documentation related to your injuries is crucial to building a strong case against the other parties. Your lawyer will obtain all records and bills from your healthcare providers in order to prove your need for medical care. The objective of this is to ensure you receive adequate compensation for your accident-related injuries.
Another benefit of having a lawyer is his ability to determine if the doctors used the “right words” in their medical reports when it comes to causation, prognosis, and disability in his notes.
Doctors will not necessarily cite causation and the full extent of the injury or disability in their medical records. That is when your car accident lawyer requests from your medical practitioners that a special letter be written. This letter will include the doctor’s opinion that the auto accident caused your injuries or disability, and that because of the accident, you will be hindered or disabled for a certain amount of time.
For you to have a good chance of winning your personal injury case, you have to be able to prove, with medical evidence, the following:
- The accident was caused by the defendant’s negligence;
- Medical reports describe exactly what your injury, disability, or physical limitation is;
Make Sure You Understand Your Rights
If you’re like most people, you may not be aware of all your rights in a personal injury case.
Did you know that if you were not at fault in the vehicle accident, you should not have to pay for damages resulting from the crash?
Your car accident lawyer will know all the relevant laws that pertain to your case so your rights are not infringed. He will make sure you understand your rights and explain how you can protect yourself legally.
Negotiating on Your Behalf with Insurers
Your car accident attorney has the specific skill of effectively negotiating with insurers and defendants. He will work closely with the insurance companies and use his knowledge of how the process works to come up with favorable terms for your settlement.
Your lawyer will also know how much your case is potentially worth.
Knows About Statute of Limitations
Your attorney will know about the statute of limitations for your specific case. Every state has statutes of limitations with established deadlines for plaintiffs to file a lawsuit against another party. Under Washington’s civil statute of limitations laws, personal injury claims have a three-year limit for filing.
The statute of limitations varies, not just based on your location, but also based on the opposing party whom you’re bringing a claim. Your car accident lawyer will help you understand that the statute of limitations is different from the time-period within which you must file an insurance claim. For example, you need to file a claim or, at minimum, inform your insurance company, as quickly as possible.
There are certain medical providers who request that you notify them within a “reasonable time” for your personal injury claim to be valid.
Represents You in Court
The vast majority of personal injury cases are settled before going to trial.
However, if your case makes it to trial, you can rest assured that your car accident lawyer will be at your side throughout the whole process. He has the expertise and experience to know how to effectively interview witnesses, opposing parties and others during a trial.
Your lawyer’s advocacy in court will go a long way toward you receiving a fair and just compensation.
Look to Roberts Jones Law to Help You Reach a Favorable Settlement for Your Auto Accident Case
We at Roberts Jones Law will not rest until you obtain the maximum recovery possible from your car accident, and that includes reimbursement for medical expenses, lost wages and money damages for your pain and suffering.
At Roberts Jones Law, our car accident attorneys are with you every step of the way. We meet with you from the very first consultation and will be the same attorneys with you in the event that your auto accident case goes to trial.
Be assured that Roberts Jones Law is on your team and will be your advocate, not that of the insurance companies.
We invite you to contact Roberts Jones Law for a free consultation today.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not contain legal advice.
