A serious auto collision can result in grave and long-lasting consequences for the victims involved. Car crashes frequently inflict injuries that affect a person’s quality of life and ability to care for or support their family. If you have been injured in an auto collision due to another driver’s negligence, you need to hire an attorney right away to fight on your behalf to recover all monetary damages owed for the losses you have suffered.
A variety of factors cause car wrecks. Usually, driver negligence is the single most significant cause of severe and deadly crashes. Speeding, drunk driving, drug-impaired driving, texting while driving, talking on the phone while driving, and aggressive driving are common examples of driver negligence. Other factors besides the carelessness of a driver can also lead to a serious wreck, such as defective vehicle manufacturing, inclement weather, and badly maintained roads. This can mean that in some cases, there are multiple parties liable for a car accident victim’s damages.
To recover damages in an auto collision claim, the injured party has to prove the other driver’s negligence. Negligence is shown by establishing four factors—duty, breach, causation, and damages. A driver has an obligation to their fellow motorists, cyclists, motorcyclists, pedestrians, and others on the roadway to use reasonable care when operating their vehicle. If a driver breaches their duty by neglecting to drive with reasonable care and causes a wreck that harms someone, they can be legally liable.
The state of Washington also has specific rules for cases where the court determines that the injured victim bears some fault for the wreck along with the defendant driver. Washington courts follow the doctrine of pure comparative negligence in cases involving shared fault. This means that an injured person can still collect auto accident damages while being partially responsible for what happened, but the court will lessen their compensation based on their percentage of fault. An attorney who is well-versed in the state’s negligence laws will work hard to establish liability in a car collision case and get the injured client all compensation available to them.
Under the RCW 4.16.080, someone who is injured in an auto collision has up to three years to get their claim filed with the court. The 3-year timeline begins on the date of the crash. If a collision causes a person to suffer fatal injuries, their family has three years from the date of the victim’s death to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the at-fault driver. A lawyer could help the victim of a car wreck file their lawsuit by the deadline applicable to their case.
If you were recently injured in an auto collision, you likely have many questions. We can review your case, explain your legal options, and help you determine how to best proceed with your injury claim. If a negligent motorist caused your injuries, you could be entitled to damages for your lost wages, medical bills, pain, and suffering. Contact us today at 253.858.5434 for a free initial case consultation.