washington state personal injury attorney

Were you injured in an accident that was caused by someone else?

If so, you could be entitled to compensation for the injuries you have suffered, property damage, and other related expenses. 

Insurance companies are quick to offer low settlement amounts that may not cover the extent of what you have been through physically, financially, mentally, and emotionally.

It is important to seek guidance from an experienced Washington injury lawyer who understands how to navigate the state’s legal system and get you the relief you deserve. 

Are you injured? Please contact our attorneys by filling out the form below.

Washington Personal Injury Cases

The professional Washington Injury Lawyer team at Kapuza Lighty, PLLC, represents Washington residents and anyone who is injured while passing through the state.

In 2018, 40% of all vehicle accidents in the State of Washington involved multiple vehicles, but car crashes are only one type of personal injury case. We handle all types of personal injury cases including, but not limited to:

How your personal injury case proceeds depends on the unique situation of the incident and your injuries. 

Compensation for Personal Injury Cases?

The amount you are owed should be a combination of the actual expenses you have incurred because of your loss or injury and the quantified amount of damages as they relate to stress, inconvenience, and other factors.

Every case is very different, and a skilled Washington injury attorney will be able to help you determine the actual value of your case. Washington does not have a cap on personal injury damages. 

Economic Damages 

Economic damages cover all expenses that you would not have incurred had it not been for the event that caused your injury. Economic damages can include:

  • Damage to property,
  • Medical bills,
  • Prescriptions,
  • Ongoing treatment or rehabilitation,
  • Necessary assistance due to injury,
  • Loss of wages, and
  • Limited earning capacity.

It is important to keep a detailed record of all payments or invoices to accurately calculate the economic damages for your personal injury settlement. 

Non-Economic Damages 

Non-economic damages are subjective, non-monetary losses. Many of these relate to “pain and suffering.” You can’t put an actual price tag on pain and suffering, but you also can’t go back in time and undo it.

That leaves financial compensation as the only remedy for the mental and emotional component of your personal injury or loss. Non-economic damages may cover:

  • Mental anguish and emotional distress,
  • Depression and anxiety,
  • Permanent disability and PTSD,
  • Loss of enjoyment of life, and 
  • Loss of consortium.

In a personal injury case, you are likely to receive both economic and non-economic damages. Non-economic damages can be difficult to prove without an experienced Washington injury attorney. 

Negligence for Personal Injury Case

Negligence occurs when someone owes a duty to act as a reasonable person would under the circumstances, fails to do so, and causes injury as a result. There are four elements that make up negligence, and each must be present. 

Duty of Care

The defendant must have owed the plaintiff a duty to act in a certain way, as would be expected from a “reasonable” person.

Breach of Duty 

A defendant breaches their duty when they act contrary to the reasonable duty of care that was owed.

Causation

The accident must have been both caused “in fact” and proximately caused by the defendant’s breach of duty. An accident is caused “in fact” if the injuries would not have occurred without the defendant’s alleged negligence.

A person’s breach of duty is the proximate cause of an accident when it is a foreseeable consequence of the breach—that is, if the defendant “should have known” an injury could occur.

Damages 

The plaintiff in fact suffered injuries, physical or otherwise, as a result of the defendant’s negligence.

An experienced Washington injury attorney will be able to walk you through how Washington’s negligence statutes apply to the circumstances in your case.

Pure Contributory Negligence

If you are injured but share some degree of fault, you may still recover damages for the percentage for which you were not responsible under the Washington contributory fault statute.

Unlike other states with similar comparative negligence or fault statutes, you are not barred from pursuing a personal injury claim even if you were as much as 99% at fault.

Insurance companies and the other parties to the case will often look to place more blame on your actions than you are actually responsible for.

A skilled Washington State personal injury attorney can help you determine your amount of negligence through proper investigation. 

Why Hire a Washington Injury Lawyer

It is important to remember that insurance companies often have teams of lawyers and adjusters working to find ways to offer quick settlements.

Acceptance of these settlements could mean that you are agreeing to less than what you deserve.  Ensure that you are properly represented by hiring an experienced Washington injury attorney. 

The Kapuza Lighty team has over 50 years of combined trial experience and is not afraid to litigate your personal injury case.

Although the majority of personal injury cases never go to trial, it is a good idea to plan as if they will, and having a legal team with high-level trial experience ensures that you are prepared.

An objective and knowledgeable perspective can be crucial in determining the value of your case. We understand the pain and stress that comes with personal injury, and our team is confident in our ability to get you what you deserve.

Call or contact us online today to schedule your free consultation.