Motor vehicle collisions cause more personal injuries than any other single type of accident in Washington, and many incidents of this nature stem entirely from one person’s irresponsible behavior. In situations like this, seeking financial restitution through a personal injury claim can fill gaps that auto insurance may not cover and ensure that injured people are protected from the long-term effects of someone else’s misconduct.
If you were injured in a wreck that you were not responsible for causing, a conversation with a Moses Lake car accident lawyer could be in your best interest. Between preserving relevant evidence and addressing various procedural roadblocks that might otherwise complicate your claim, a dedicated personal injury attorney at our firm could prove an essential ally from beginning to end of your legal proceedings.
Establishing Car Accident Fault in Moses Lake
Civil fault for a car crash around Moses Lake or anywhere in Washington is generally based around negligence. In legal terms, negligence is defined as a reckless or careless violation of the duty every driver owes to act responsibly on the road which directly caused or contributed to a collision resulting in harm to another person.
With that in mind, negligence can be an overt violation of traffic laws like running a red light, prolonged recklessness like driving while distracted or fatigued, or simply a momentary loss of concentration. By the same token, though, an injured individual filing suit over a wreck may be found partially responsible for causing their own injuries if they too were reckless or careless in some way.
If a court assigns an injured person a percentage of fault for causing or worsening their own damages, Revised Code of Washington §4.22.005 grants the court authority to reduce that person’s final damage award by that same percentage. Assistance from a skilled Moses Lake auto accident attorney could be vital both to proving someone else is to blame for an incident and disproving allegations of comparative fault made against an injured person.
Recovering Comprehensively Within Filing Deadlines
Through a successful civil claim, a person injured in a car crash could potentially recover for both economic and non-economic—as well as short-term and long-term—losses stemming directly from their injuries. These could include:
- Emergency medical bills and future care costs
- Vehicle replacement/repair expenses
- Lost wages/salary
- Lost working capacity
- Physical pain and suffering
- Lost consortium
- Lost enjoyment of life
Importantly, though, R.C.W. §4.16.080 sets a three-year filing period—beginning on the date an accident actually occurred, in most situations—within which an injured individual must file suit. Anyone who fails to file before this deadline or have a car accident lawyer in Moses Lake do so on their behalf, will almost always be barred from ever recovering compensation for that particular incident.
Talk with a Moses Lake Car Accident Attorney About Your Legal Options
Car wrecks cause severe injuries every day in Washington, sometimes causing harm that lasts for years or even decades afterwards. After a traumatic incident like this, assistance from knowledgeable legal counsel could be crucial to preserving your rights and protecting your future prospects.
A Moses Lake car accident lawyer could work diligently on your behalf to pursue the fair compensation you deserve. Learn more by calling today.