PERSONAL INJURY
GOAL
Washington
State law provides compensation for loss due to
personal injury. If you have been injured
in an accident caused by another person you may
have a right to be compensated for your total
loss. This includes much more than
reimbursement for medical bills, lost time from
work, or property damage. The laws primary
goals include: (1) restoration of an injured
person to a position equivalent to that prior to
the accident; and (2) compensation in money for
all damages caused by the accident.
Washington
law permits recovery even in cases where you may
be partially at fault. Comparative
negligence statutes provide reduction of the
value of a claim by the amount of your fault when
compared to the negligence of the other
party. All losses due to your injury must
be well documented. Medical attention
should be sought immediately following your
accident. You should keep all bills and
receipts so that your can document your claim in
a demand to the opposing party or his insurer.
INSURANCE
COVERAGE
Soon
after your accident, you may be contacted by an
insurance adjuster representing the opposing
party who was involved in your accident.
The adjuster's goals include an initial
investigation of the facts of the incident and an
assessment of your potential claim for
injuries. The adjuster may offer you a sum
for early settlement. You should not sign
the required release from liability and accept
early settlement until you have talked to an
attorney.
Often
it takes many months to assess your injury and
the consequential loss due to pain and suffering,
mental anguish, temporary or permanent
disability, lost wages, loss of services to your
spouse, and medical expenses. The adjuster
wants to settle the claim in the best interest of
his insurance company. Premature settlement
may not compensate you for additional
complications or loss which may occur after you
sign the release form as well as any existing
"general damages." You must be
reasonably assured by your physician of his
prognosis before any settlement should occur.
Our firm consist of three lawyers,
Peter W. Mogren, Ronald E. Glessner, and Ruth
A. Roti. Our emphasis is in family law,
wills and probate, and personal injury.
Please click on the topics above for details
about these areas of practice, including
divorce, legal separation, property division,
child support, spousal maintenance, parenting
plans, modifications, paternity, adoption,
wills, Community Property Agreements, Durable
Power of Attorney, and probate.
Our firm is conveniently located in
Renton, King County, Washington, just off the
freeway at the intersection of I-405 and
I-167. Our attorneys represent clients
throughout the State of Washington, including
the communities of Renton, Kent, Tukwila,
Seattle, Bellevue, Auburn, Maple Valley,
Federal Way, Des Moines, Burien, SeaTac,
Enumclaw and most of south King County.
The free information contained in
these pages is not
intended to be legal advice, and does not
create an attorney-client relationship. You
should always consult with an attorney before
taking any action.
