You suffered serious injuries in a car accident in Kent. Washington, as you may know, has very claimant-friendly rules. Even if you had a role in causing the on-road mishap, you could recover a settlement from the other at-fault party. This is also called the pure comparative fault rule, which is followed by a handful of other states. If things are so simple and easy, why do you need a Kent car accident lawyer? Here’s our quick impression.
You cannot win against insurance companies alone
Since Washington is a tort state, you would need to file a claim with the other party’s insurance company. You must also inform your own insurer within a reasonable time. With insurance companies, the least expectations you have, the better it is. Claims adjusters are notorious for their tactics and would do anything possible to deny a claim. They may even pressure you into taking their offer, which wouldn’t justify your losses, and worst still, you could be discouraged from seeking medical care. Get an attorney on your side who can negotiate better and get you a fair settlement.
Your fault share will matter
No matter your share in the blame, you can sue the other at-fault side for their role. However, whatever you win for your car accident claim would be reduced in sync with your fault share. The insurance company would try to push everything on you so that they don’t have to pay a huge settlement. With a lawyer, you have a better chance of defending yourself.
Time is everything
Washington’s statute of limitations gives a window of three years to file a car accident lawsuit in civil court. While that may look like a lot of time, the deadline is not for insurance claims. You are required to file the third-party claim at the earliest and within a reasonable time. Also, if you don’t work on your case and gather evidence immediately, you may lose valuable details that can support your claim. At a time when you are recovering from your injuries, it only makes sense to have an attorney for everything. Lawyers are accomplished in investigation and use their resources to gather information.
Final word
There is no reason why you have to suffer alone after a car accident. Kent law firms take up such cases on a contingency fee, and you don’t have to pay for the first case review either.
