You are not required to hire a lawyer after a car accident, but legal guidance can make it easier to understand your options and protect your rights. A lawyer can help you handle insurance companies, gather important evidence, and pursue compensation for your injuries and losses.
Teaming up with a Tacoma car accident lawyer can help you build a strong personal injury claim. They will fight for the fair compensation you need to move forward with your life after injuries.
How Does a Lawyer Determine Who is Liable for Your Car Accident?
One reason you may need a lawyer for a car accident is when liability is complicated. Your lawyer will carefully investigate the accident. If multiple parties were at fault, it’s essential to determine them all. Your lawyer must show that each party met the following four elements of negligence:
- Duty of care: They had a responsibility to keep you safe. For example, other drivers must follow traffic laws.
- Breach of duty of care: They breached their duty of care through a careless or reckless action. For example, speeding or driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
- Causation: The breach directly led to the accident. For example, a driver runs a red light and collides with your vehicle.
- Damages: You had losses as a direct result of the accident. For example, you have medical bills for your accident injuries.
Potentially liable parties include:
- Other drivers.
- A commercial company, if a commercial vehicle was involved.
- Government entities, if poor road conditions led to the accident.
- Mechanics.
Helpful Evidence for Proving Fault
To prove fault, your lawyer may gather evidence like:
- Witness interviews.
- Video footage from traffic cameras, dash cams, or nearby security cameras.
- Photos of the accident scene.
- Physical evidence, such as debris patterns and skid marks.
- Police reports.
- Phone records.
- Blood alcohol content test results.
- Driver or maintenance logs, if a company vehicle was involved.
- Black box data, if a commercial vehicle was involved.
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How Does a Lawyer Fight for Fair Compensation in Car Accident Cases?
Many insurance companies will offer quick but low offers in hopes that an injury victim will take them. A lawyer combats that by advising you on any settlement offers you receive. They also:
- Investigate the full scope of your losses.
- Consult with medical and financial experts to determine how your losses will continue to affect you in the future.
- Handle communication with insurance adjusters.
- Negotiate for fair compensation.
- Represent you in court if a fair settlement cannot be reached.
- Handle appeals if a car accident claim is rejected by the insurance company.
What is Fair Compensation After a Car Accident?
Initial insurance offers may cover the immediate effects of an accident, like emergency medical services, but often don’t account for the long-term effects of an injury. Fair compensation can cover losses like:
- Immediate and future medical expenses: These can include doctor appointments, diagnostic testing, surgeries, hospital stays, long-term medical care at a living facility, in-home medical services, prescription medications, and physical therapy.
- Job losses: Lost income while recovering, loss of job benefits like PTO, and reduced earning capacity.
- Property damage: For the repair or replacement of your vehicle or other personal belongings damaged in the accident.
- Other expenses: This can include housekeeping or childcare costs if you are no longer able to do these, transportation to and from medical appointments, and home or vehicle modifications.
- Non–economic losses: These include pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and lowered quality of life.
The Importance of Filing Your Car Accident Case in a Timely Manner
In Washington, you generally have three years to file a personal injury lawsuit. However, there are instances when this timeframe can be shorter. Your lawyer can ensure that your case stays on track and is filed on time.
In addition to timely filing, getting started on your case as soon as possible is also essential for evidence preservation. For example:
- Over time, witness memories may become less reliable.
- Skid marks and physical evidence can fade or disappear.
- Video footage can be overwritten after a certain period of time.
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How Much Does a Car Accident Lawyer Cost?
In Washington, many personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. What is a contingency fee? It means that instead of paying upfront costs or paying for services as your case progresses, you only pay fees when a lawyer is able to recover compensation for you.
Your lawyer will go over their fees and any other potential costs during your initial consultation. Once you recover compensation, their fee is typically taken as a percentage of the settlement.
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Contact a Tacoma Car Accident Attorney Today
If you’re wondering, “Do I need a lawyer for a car accident?” then you’re likely facing the complexities of recovering compensation. Our Tacoma car accident lawyers will help you at every stage of the recovery process.
The legal team at NextLaw has 100 years of combined experience. Our client testimonials speak to our dedication to injury victims and their families, while our case results speak to our dedication to recovering fair compensation.
Call Dan Next to get started on your case with a free initial consultation. We work on contingency, so you won’t owe us anything unless we win your case.
Call or text (253) 238-2558 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form