Tacoma Personal Injury Attorney
Tacoma has become an attractive city for creatives, musicians, artists, and entrepreneurs. Tacoma is viewed as more affordable than Seattle, which is 45 minutes away, and, many say, more serene, with a slower pace of life. The exquisite backdrop of Mount Rainier makes this city of 200,000 an ideal place for families and businesses alike. Tacoma has plenty to offer its residents as well as businesses and visitors. With a host of museums, art galleries, top-notch restaurants, and performing arts centers, Tacoma is also well-known for its parks and green spaces.
While Tacoma is a great place to live, accidents still occur. If you have experienced an accident caused by the negligence of another, you could benefit from speaking to a Tacoma personal injury attorney. A personal injury occurs when an accident and subsequent injuries are the result of negligence. You should not be left to deal with medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering—Palace Law is ready to help you through this difficult time.
Why Should You Choose Palace Law Following an Injury in Tacoma?
When you are injured, unsure of what you need to do, unable to work and pay your normal expenses or your medical expenses, Palace Law can help. With more than 200 years of collective experience among our attorneys, our legal team has a comprehensive understanding of your situation. We also have the knowledge and resources to help you through this difficult time in the very best way possible.
You may find yourself frustrated, even angry regarding your current situation. That is entirely understandable. We can take the burden of pursuing compensation for your injuries from you, giving you the time you need to heal from your injuries. We can also help you obtain the medical treatments you need to recover to the greatest extent possible from your injuries. When you choose Palace Law you will get:
- A law firm that has more than 1,500 positive client reviews
- A free initial consultation and a law firm that makes it affordable to hire a personal injury attorney. You pay nothing to hire us, and we only get paid if we win your case.
- 24/7 availability
- A firm that will send an attorney to you when you are too injured to travel
- Free legal forms
- Four lawyers in the firm that have tried more than 200 cases each
The Myths Regarding Personal Injury Claims
Far too many people remain under the impression that personal injury claims are generally frivolous, meant only for an individual and his or her attorney to receive a largely undeserved settlement. In fact, most personal injury claims are filed by those that have suffered serious injuries due to the negligence of another individual or entity. These individuals did nothing wrong, yet ended up with significant, even catastrophic injuries. Additionally, these injured individuals were perhaps unable to return to work (and pay their normal expenses), and could be looking at months, years, or a lifetime of pain.
In short, those who find themselves in such an untenable situation deserve compensation for their injuries, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Many people in such a situation will not file a personal injury claim, rather will suffer from a situation that was not of their own making. It is important to know that personal injury cases without merit are dismissed by judges and that personal injury attorneys who file frivolous claims are sanctioned. Personal injury attorneys can help you get your life back on track by ensuring you receive the medical treatment you need and the financial compensation you deserve.
While money will not magically make your injuries go away, it can ensure you do not have to worry about paying your medical bills or being off work and having no regular income. So, while the insurance lobby has perpetuated the myth that individuals and personal injury attorneys are benefitting from frivolous lawsuits, this is simply not the case. If your injuries are the result of negligence on the part of an individual or entity, do not struggle on your own—contact Palace Law today.
What are the Different Types of Personal Injury Accidents?
Personal injuries can stem from many different types of accidents, including the following:
- Auto accidents, including those involving cars, trucks, motorcycles, bicycles, and pedestrians
- Boating accidents
- Slip and fall accidents (premises liability)
- Medical malpractice claims
- Dog bites
- Dangerous drugs and medical devices
- Workplace accidents (in some cases)
- Product liability claims for dangerous products
- Airplane, bus, and train accidents
- Wrongful death claims
What Constitutes Negligence in a Tacoma Personal Injury Claim?
To prove negligence, it must be shown that the defendant owed a duty of care to the plaintiff. For example, when an individual obtains a driver’s license, he or she owes a duty of care to other drivers. This means each driver has an obligation to follow the safety rules and laws associated with driving. In a product liability claim, the manufacturer of the product owes a duty of care to consumers—they are responsible for the safe design and manufacture of all products. In a slip and fall accident, the duty of care is to ensure there are no hazards on the property that could potentially cause an accident.
Once the duty of care is established, it must be shown that the defendant breached this duty of care—the defendant failed to use reasonable care to prevent injury to others. When an individual or entity acts in a negligent, careless, or reckless manner, the duty of care has been breached. Next, the breach of duty of care must have been directly responsible for injuries to another. Finally, those injuries must have real damages associated with them. This means the injuries suffered must have resulted in medical expenses, lost wages, and/or pain and suffering.
Washington State follows the concept of comparative negligence when determining a personal injury settlement. Under the comparative negligence theory, an individual can receive compensation for their injuries, even if they are partially responsible for the accident. In other words, suppose someone blows through a stop sign and hits you, causing injuries. Obviously, that driver was negligent, therefore liable. However, if it is found that you were speeding at the time of the accident, it could be determined that you were 10 percent responsible for the accident.
If you are awarded $100,000 in damages for your injuries, that amount would be reduced by 10 percent, so you would only receive $90,000. Since Washington state operates under “pure” comparative law, there is no threshold of fault for a plaintiff to bring a claim. In other words, you could be deemed 99 percent at fault for an accident and still recover one percent of your damages. Many other states operate under a modified comparative fault system that prohibits claims when the plaintiff is more than 50 or 51 percent responsible for the accident.
What Types of Damages Could You Receive from Your Tacoma Personal Injury Claim?
Your actual damages will depend on the specific circumstances surrounding your accident. That being said, there are two basic types of damages:
- Economic damages are those that are easily quantifiable. This means you are losing money as a result of your injuries—i.e., you have medical expenses or you have lost wages due to your inability to return to work because of the severity of your injuries.
- Non-economic damages are damages that are much more difficult to quantify—they are not visible injuries. Pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment in your life can all be considered non-economic damages. Disfigurement is also a non-economic damage as it could cause you embarrassment, leading to an inability to leave your home. So, the actual surgical procedures for the disfigurement fall under economic damages, but the emotional distress of the disfigurement falls under non-economic damages.
How Long Does a Personal Injury Claim Take?
The time it takes for your personal injury claim to result in a settlement check will vary significantly according to the facts of your accident, the number of defendants, and the complexity of your case. If your Tacoma personal injury attorney negotiates a settlement on your behalf, it could take up to six months. Once a settlement is reached, it generally takes about six weeks for you to receive your settlement check. If your personal injury claim goes to trial, it could take from one to three years to conclude. Keep in mind that during that time, a negotiated settlement may still be reached. If your case goes to trial and the jury awards a settlement, it will take about six weeks to receive your check.
How Can a Tacoma Personal Injury Attorney from Palace Law Help?
The Palace Law attorneys have been protecting the rights and futures of Washington accident and injury victims for many, many years. If you have suffered injuries due to the negligence of another, you need experienced, knowledgeable assistance. We fully understand your situation and are compassionate to your plight. We want you to be able to shed the burden of dealing with an insurance company that does not want to pay you what your claim is worth. We want to ensure you are made whole following your accident rather than dealing with the pain and trauma of injuries, medical expenses, and lost wages. We will create a highly individualized plan for you after a comprehensive investigation into the facts of your accident. Contact Palace Law today!