A Trusted Firm for Personal Injury Claims in Edmonds, WA

Every case is different so it is hard to answer this question. Some cases can be resolved quickly because there isn’t a lot of money at stake or the insurance company decides to act reasonably. In other cases, the insurance company may act unfairly to you. In these cases, the case may result in a long process and even trial.

This is impossible to know until we have more facts and an opportunity to review medical records and speak to your doctors. Factors that affect the value of a case include the degree of injury, pre-injury health, the facts of the incident that caused the injury, whether the injured person is likable, whether the at-fault party is likable, where the case happened and more. Consult with an experienced personal injury case manager to see if your case has merit.

The scene of an accident is often chaotic, but it is important to remain as calm as possible and take certain steps to protect your health and your legal rights. If emergency medical personnel advise you to go for emergency care, you should listen to them and seek the necessary medical treatment. If you can remain on the scene, you should do the following:

• Wait for law enforcement and give them your side of the story;
• Collect the names and contact information of witnesses and anyone involved in the collision;
• Take photos of the scene and make notes of any unusual weather or road conditions;
• Seek a medical evaluation to ensure any injuries are timely diagnosed.

Any party that acted negligently and contributed to causing the accident may be held responsible for your medical expenses and other losses. Some examples of negligent parties in collisions include the following:

• Distracted drivers;
• Drunk drivers;
• Aggressive drivers;
• Drivers who violated traffic laws;
• Government entities that failed to maintain, inspect, or repair the roads;
• Auto manufacturers that sold defective brakes, tires, airbags, or other pertinent auto parts.

It is highly important to identify the correct negligent party so that you can seek compensation from them. The action you take to seek recovery can vary based on whether the liable party is a person, a company, or the local government.

When you make a claim with the responsible party’s insurance company, you will likely receive a settlement offer. Many people believe their only option is to accept the offer, however, accepting a settlement that does not fully cover all of your losses can result in financial disaster. Once you accept a settlement, you will have to sign a release that waives your right to file a subsequent lawsuit. Therefore, if the settlement is too low, you will have no other way of obtaining compensation and will be responsible for paying your own medical bills and incurring your other losses with no legal relief. Unfortunately, many insurance companies begin with a low offer, so you should always review settlement offers with an experienced case manager before accepting anything.