Edmonds, WA, Personal Injury Lawyer

Edmonds, WA, Personal Injury FAQs

If you are facing any personal injury loss, call us for a consultation where we can hear your story and answer your questions. In the meantime, here are some common questions our clients ask about personal injury law:

How do I know I have a case?

Compensation is available if an Edmonds personal injury attorney proves negligence by a preponderance of the evidence.

Negligence is basically a lack of care. Most people in most situations have a duty of reasonable care. That includes most drivers and property owners. A lower, or higher, duty of care applies in some situations. If a property owner, vehicle operator, or other person breached the duty of care, and that breach caused damages, that person was negligent.

So, you only know if you have a case if an Edmonds personal injury lawyer evaluates it. Even if an insurance adjuster, first responder, or other individual said you were at fault, compensation may still be available.

A preponderance of the evidence means that a claim is more likely to be true than not. That is one of the lowest standards of proof in Washington law. Evidence in most personal injury cases includes the police accident report, if any, witness statements, and medical bills. Electronic evidence, such as surveillance camera footage, may also be quite useful.

This evidence must be credible in court. Once again, credibility is a legal question that only a Snohomish County personal injury lawyer can answer.

My insurance agent says I need to settle now. What should I do?

Almost all insurance company adjusters quickly make settlement offers, often when the victim is still in the hospital. It is very tempting to take these offers. Understandably, most victims are anxious to move on with their lives. However, there is simply no way to tell, even for an Edmonds personal injury lawyer, if quick offers are fair offers.

Additionally, it is almost impossible to reopen settled cases. So, even if it turns out the offer was patently unfair, the victim has usually stuck with it anyway.

So, instead of accepting the first offer, ask a Snohomish County personal injury attorney to evaluate your case. At Strong Law, initial injury consultations are always free. After an attorney collects evidence and researches the law, victims are in a much better position to obtain the compensation they need and deserve than a stingy adjuster offers.

When do you need an Edmonds personal injury lawyer to file a case?

A fall, dog bite, car crash, or another personal injury victim without a lawyer is a little like a local Little League team taking on the Seattle Mariners. No matter how hard the Little Leaguers play, they have no chance of winning the game. Almost immediately after a personal injury, an insurance company usually hires a gang of lawyers to protect its interests. Non-lawyers have no chance against lawyers.

This quick hiring is a double-edged sword. Most insurance companies, especially smaller companies, hire outside counsel to handle these claims. These lawyers often charge more than $1,000 per hour. The harder a Snohomish County personal injury attorney makes these lawyers work, the faster the tab runs up. Therefore, in these situations, the insurance company is often motivated to settle the claim quickly and avoid racking up further costs.

On a related note, only personal injury attorneys can connect victims with doctors who charge nothing upfront for their professional services.

What are some examples of personal injury claims?

Some attorneys only handle select kinds of personal injury cases. But at Strong Law, we handle a wide variety of matters, such as:

• Vehicle Collisions: These incidents kill or seriously injure millions of Americans each year. Although they were supposed to have the opposite effect, because of necessary coronavirus lockdowns, the number of fatal collisions surged to a near-record level.
• Pedestrian Accidents: The generally mild, year-round weather in Washington means many pedestrians are on the road. During collisions, these victims have no protection from oncoming cars. Instead, they are completely exposed to danger.
• Falls: Car wrecks are the leading cause of fatal injuries in the United States. Fall injuries, mostly slip-and-fall incidents, are the leading cause of nonfatal injuries. These incidents often cause broken bones, head injuries, and other serious injuries which, in many cases, are permanent.
• Dog Bites: Each year, dogs bite millions of people. A considerable number of these people suffer severe physical and emotional injuries. Physically, a dog bite is worse than a fall. In addition to knockdown-related wounds, a dog’s teeth usually cause deep puncture wounds and severe lacerations. Emotionally, many of these victims, especially children, must endure Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Frequently, a third party, like an employer or landlord, is financially responsible for the damages in these cases.

How long does a personal injury case take?

It can take months or even years for a personal injury case to be settled. That should not dissuade you from getting help. Let our personal injury lawyers in Edmonds, WA. Help you determine what compensation is owed to you and estimate how long your case may take.

Expect outstanding service when you speak to our team about your losses. We offer a free consultation that is fully private, where you can depend on us to help you make the right decisions for your future.