Injuries after a serious accident can cause you extreme pain and financial hardship. The expenses can begin to pile up and your life may seem completely different from before. If your injuries were caused by the negligent actions of another person, you could seek compensation to help you recuperate and get back to normal.
A dedicated Yakima personal injury lawyer could look at the facts of your case and prepare a comprehensive strategy towards success. Let our team of experienced attorneys get to work for you.
Defining Negligence in Yakima
In a personal injury case, it is an injured party’s responsibility to prove that negligence caused the accident in question. Negligence happens when another individual breaches their legal duty towards the injured person. When this occurs—and injuries result—a claim for negligence may permit financial recovery.
In order to win the claim successfully, the injured person, with the help of their attorney, must prove another’s fault in the incident. When doing so, they must look into potential evidence, such as:
- Audio or video recordings that captured the accident
- Witness statements and testimony
- Police officer narratives, reports, and testimony
- Medical records and invoices
- Research into applicable case and statutory law
- Accident reports
- Insurance information and claims reports
These and numerous other forms of evidence may help the injured person prove that they were harmed by another’s reckless or careless actions. This could result in a successful personal injury claim and a significant financial award.
Forms of Personal Injury Cases
Personal injury is a broad category encompassing many different individual claims. Each claim is specific to the type of harm, the situation, or even based on the parties involved in the accident. With the right attorney, the injured individual is able to choose the proper approach to handle their unique situation.
Types of personal injury lawsuits include:
- Car, truck, and motorcycle accidents
- Burn injury lawsuits
- Bicycle and pedestrian accidents
- Wrongful death cases
- Medical malpractice claims
- Defective product lawsuits
- Child injury cases
- Birth trauma
- Slip and fall claims
These, along with several other forms of personal injury cases, may apply to a particular person’s situation. To determine what type of claim suits them best, the injured party should address their case with a knowledgeable personal injury attorney in Yakima.
Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Claims
An injured person is required to file a personal injury claim within a set time frame. For most cases the claim is filed with a complaint, and it is this document that must initiate the lawsuit within the statute of limitations. Revised Code of Washington § 4.16.080 obligates most injured people to file their claim by three years from the date the accident occurred.
In most situations, the claim will be dismissed by the trial court if it is not filed in the appropriate timeframe. Cases filed even a day late could be kept out of court—even if they otherwise could have been successful. To avoid this problem, reach out to a Yakima personal injury attorney soon after an accident.
File Your Claim with a Yakima Personal Injury Attorney
Filing a personal injury claim is a complicated process to attempt on your own but could be properly handled with the right assistance. If you were injured by another person’s wrongful actions, bad choices, or negligent conduct, you may be owed a major financial award.
Speak with a seasoned Yakima personal injury lawyer to get started on your case. Contact us today to schedule your initial consultation.