A car accident can change everything in an instant. If you have recently been in a car wreck, you likely know all too well the havoc it can wreak on your life. You are injured and in pain, dealing with medical appointments and maybe even trying to return to work so that you’ll have income coming into your home. Medical bills and other financial obligations continue to pile up, even if you have no money coming in. Dealing with insurance companies can be frustrating, since their number one goal when working with claimants is to get rid of them for the least amount of money possible. You have a right to collect compensation for your injuries if someone else caused you harm due to their negligence or poor decisions on the roadway. Contact Russell and Hill as soon as possible after your accident to speak with our Bremerton car accident attorney who can advise you of the legal options available to you.
According to 2017 data provided by the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) there were:
The number of car accidents by type include:
Also according to 2017 WSDOT data, there is a car accident every 4 minutes, with a person dying from injuries sustained in a car crash every 20 hours. The number of fatal car crashes has remained relatively steady over the past decade, with the highest number of crashes occurring on Saturdays, and the most number of crashes occurring in November when compared to the rest of the year. Young drivers between the ages of 16 and 25 are the most at risk for being killed in a car accident.
Identifying the party responsible for a car accident isn’t always easy. There is a difference between who caused an accident and who legally is at fault. Typically, the driver who is responsible for an accident and their insurance will have to pay for all damages resulting from the accident. However, sometimes fault can be shared by or shifted to the injured party for contributing to or failing to avoid the accident.
Washington follows the Pure Comparative Fault Rule, in which the damaged party is allowed to recover, even when they are 99 percent at fault; the court or adjuster will diminish the award in proportion to how much at fault the injured party was for the accident; i.e., their recovery is reduced by their degree of fault.
While some minor accidents that result in very slight injuries may not require the assistance of an attorney, if you have been in a serious accident, you need serious representation for your car accident claim. Russell and Hill has a long history of helping accident victims reclaim their lives by holding those responsible for their injuries accountable financially. Consult with our car accident attorney now to determine the best way to move forward with your claim. Schedule your no-obligation case review today.
