Seattle Car Accident Attorneys: All Cases Are Different
Suffering a car accident is not an ordinary event, personal injury attorneys know this.
Injuries, property damage, job loss, and medical treatments can turn the victim’s life upside down. Being under such stress can also complicate matters further. When assessing what is the best way to move forward, victims must keep in mind that you can recover compensation in a car accident. All too often, victims do not know their legal options and end up dealing on the consequences on their own.
While the compensation you can receive after an accident depends upon a series of factors, it is important to note that a competent and professional car accident attorney are likely to be able to answer many of the questions you might have regarding your case.
Injuries and Compensation
In general, an individual injured in a Washington auto accident may bring a claim or lawsuit to recover the actual expenses associated with property damage and medical costs, economic damages, and emotional and physical pain and suffering. Often, litigation involving motor vehicle accidents is extremely complicated. Retaining the vehicle accident lawyers at Bernard Law Group, who are experts in motor vehicle accident damages, will put you in the best position to receive the recovery you deserve, no matter how complicated or contentious.
An Overview Of Damages
As in all negligence cases, the injured party in automobile accident cases may recover for physical pain and suffering, mental pain and suffering, medical and rehabilitative expenses, past and future lost income, permanent impairment and permanent disfigurement. Typical damages include future medical bills that are reasonably certain, loss of enjoyment of life, and physical property damage. The injured party may also recover damages for reinjuring or aggravating an earlier injury. In order to document the damages, a person injured in an accident should keep a daily diary describing how the injury affects him or her and if appropriate, his or her immediate family. But other damages might also be considered.
When considering a new case, attorneys understand that compensation should reflect the total cost of the victim’s damages. Some of the damages most commonly associated with car accidents include:
- Personal injuries and related medical expenses.
- Property damage, which may involve the victim’s car and other personal property.
- Wage loss tied to the inability to work caused by the car accident injury.
- Pain and suffering. Victims of serious car accidents often experience great pain due to the circumstances that come about as a result of the accident.
When considering your injuries, it is important to ask yourself, how did your injury happen?
For a successful Seattle car accident claim, the victim must understand what is the nature and determine the severity of their injuries.
Some of the types of injuries associated with car accidents in Seattle include:
- Whiplash
- Spine cord injuries
- Brain and head injuries
- Bone breaks and fractures
- Burns
After treatment, victims are able to understand how their injuries will affect their lives, how long recovery will take, how much pain they will experience, and how the injuries will impact their future plans.
Family Member’s Damages
The spouse of the accident victim may also be able to recover for damage or loss to the marital relationship. The claim is typically brought by both the husband and wife, and is known as “loss of consortium.” Loss of consortium generally refers to any negative effect on the marital relationship caused by the accident, and includes loss of the spouse’s love, companionship, comfort, affection, solace, moral support, sexual relations, ability to have children, and physical assistance in the operating and maintaining a home. Loss of consortium can be either temporary or permanent.
Insurance
Usually, an insurance company will compensate the victim for his or her damages. If the other driver has insufficient insurance or is not insured at all, the victim may be entitled to compensation from his or her own insurance company under an uninsured or underinsured motorist provision. Also, other insurance policies, such as the policies of family members or employers, may provide benefits to the injured person. We have obtained insurance coverage many times for clients in these circumstances. Even if the injured person was partially at fault, the law may permit a recovery.
Recovery Amount
There are many factors which affect the value of an automobile accident. These include who is at fault, how easily the other party’s fault can be established, the type and seriousness of the injuries, the type of medical treatment required, and the amount of insurance coverage available.
Other relevant factors may include how the accident happened, the extent of vehicle damage involved, whether the injuries are permanent or involve significant scarring, the amount of your past and expected future medical bills, and the effect of the accident on your income. It is important to remember that every personal injury case is different.
Conclusion
Sadly, injuries received in a motor vehicle accident can be catastrophic and may affect other members of your family. If you have been involved in a car wreck and have specific questions or concerns about compensation for your losses, please contact the attorneys at the Bernard Law Group. We are experienced, aggressive, and devoted exclusively to representing injury and accident victims.
Call 206-298-9900. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and offer a free initial consultation to discuss your case.
