An unfortunate car accident in Kent can turn your life upside down. You have many things to worry about – medical attention, your recovery, loss of wages, and other losses. Washington is a fault state. If the accident happened because of the other driver’s fault, you are entitled to a settlement. In your best interests, you must consider calling a Kent car accident lawyer. Below are some key pointers worth knowing.
How long do you have to file a car accident lawsuit?
No matter the extent of your injuries, you have to file a car accident lawsuit in the civil court against the at-fault driver within three years. The statute of limitations, which can be found at RCW 4.16.080, sets that time limit. If you have lost a loved one in the accident and have a wrongful death lawsuit in Washington, you must file the same within three years. The deadline starts from the accident date. Please note that the statute of limitations is for civil lawsuits only. You must inform the insurance companies and file your claim within a reasonable time.
What happens when there is a shared fault?
In Washington, the rules are very claimant friendly. The state follows the pure comparative fault rule. You can recover a settlement with a higher fault share too. However, your final compensation would be lower, keeping the fault share into consideration. For instance, if you were 70% at fault and have suffered $300,000 in losses, you can still recover $90,000. It all depends on the facts of the case.
Do you need a car accident lawyer in Kent?
Although not mandatory, hiring an attorney for your car accident case could be highly beneficial. You can expect the attorney to take care of the legal aspects, and your lawyer is in charge of gathering evidence and handling matters related to the claim. Lawyers are also skilled at negotiating with the claims adjuster and can spot bad faith insurance tactics. If you have never filed a car accident claim before, consider talking to a lawyer.
Final word
There is no reason to fret about your car accident claim when an attorney can help. You can find injury law firms in Kent that offer a free initial meeting, and their attorneys will do their best to get you a fair settlement. With an attorney, you can afford to have the time to recover from your injuries and focus on other things.
