The personal injury lawyers at Park Chenaur & Associates have been helping Auburn residents claim compensation for their injuries from accidents since 1999.
Personal Injury Lawyers in Auburn
During that time, countless victims and their families have been able to obtain restitution for all types of injuries – from broken bones to serious life-changing injuries that require ongoing medical care. The claims process can be daunting for those who are trying to recover from an accident and it can become very stressful as the medical bills mount up. The support of a seasoned personal injury attorney can ease your situation and help you face the future with more confidence and financial certainty.
How Can Our Personal Injury Lawyers Help Accident Victims In Auburn?
With our decades of experience helping victims and their families in Auburn, our personal injury lawyers are familiar with the necessary legal processes and strategies associated with injury claims. We will help you hold the responsible party liable for the negligent, reckless or malicious behavior that led to your injuries – be it another driver, a product manufacturer or a medical facility. We know the law and we also know that the insurance companies of liable parties in accidents often try to pressure victims into agreeing to early settlements. Bills need to be paid and it can be tempting to sign but the offer on the table may not be in your best interests. Our lawyers conduct all communications with the insurance company of the at-fault party and ensure that you only sign an agreement that maximizes what you are due. If that is not possible, we will begin litigation on your behalf to fight for your best interests. This allows you to focus on your recovery from injury while we take care of the financial side of things. Personal injury claims can result from many different situations. Most of the victims we represent in Auburn have experienced the following types of accidents:
- Slip and fall injuries
- Car and motorbike accidents
- Medical malpractice
- Nursing home negligence
- Dog bites
- Product malfunctions
What Are The Most Common Examples of Accident Injuries In Auburn?
Injuries change lives – either temporarily or permanently. The following types of injuries commonly result from serious accidents:
- Spinal cord injuries: painful and debilitating injuries requiring long-term treatment or even resulting in paralysis.
- Traumatic brain injuries: from concussion to injuries requiring round-the-clock medical care.
- Sensory damage: problems with vision or hearing that may impact a life permanently.
- Facial injuries: scarring or disfigurement, causing long-term physical and emotional suffering.
- Amputation: the loss of a limb may occur in a serious accident or be required medically.
- Broken bones: usually temporary bone-related injuries that heal with appropriate medical care.
Just because an injury is not immediately visible after an accident doesn’t preclude the possibility of you suffering an injury. Some internal injuries only become evident well after an accident. Remember, the priority should be to get thoroughly checked over by a medical professional as soon as possible after your accident.
What Compensation Can We Recover For Your Personal Injury?
Your compensation claim should comprehensively cover your losses, the most obvious of which is generally your medical bills. However, Washington personal injury laws allow for claiming for the psychological and emotional effects of your accident as well as the physical and economic losses you have suffered. Generally speaking, therefore, a comprehensive claim will include:
- All present and future medical costs: if you require ongoing medical care or physiotherapy
- Lost income: if your accident caused you to miss work
- Future lost income: if your injuries will require you to take time off work in the future
- Property damage: if you suffered damage to property (e.g. your car)
- Pain and suffering: if you suffered physical or emotional pain
- Loss of quality of life: if your injuries have resulted in a lower quality of life
What needs to be proven in personal injury claims? Three essential facts need to be proven for a successful personal injury compensation claim:
- You were owed a legal duty of care: The at-fault party must be shown to have a responsibility to keep you safe.
- The duty of care was breached: Negligent, reckless or malicious behavior from the liable party resulted in the duty of care being breached.
- The breach of duty caused your injuries: Evidence shows that your injuries were caused as a direct result of the breach of duty of care.
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What If I Was Partly at Fault For My Injuries?
Even if the accident in which you were injured is declared partly your fault, you can still claim compensation for your injuries. Washington state is a “comparative fault” state. These laws mean that fault may be attributed proportionally to parties involved in an accident. Even if the accident is 50 percent your fault, your right to compensation from the other at-fault party or parties is not negated: the award will instead be reduced by half.
How Long Do I Have For Filing a Personal Injury Claim?
In Washington, you have three years from the date of your accident or injury to file a personal injury claim against the liable party. If you file a claim after this date, it is likely to be dismissed by the courts. Generally speaking, victims should commence action as soon as possible after the accident – while the events are still fresh in your mind.
The Insurance Company Has Made an Offer: Should I accept?
Insurance companies are out to minimize their losses. What they want is in direct opposition to what you want. So, while you may receive an offer to settle out of court, it is unlikely to be in your best interests to do so unless a lawyer has looked it over first and verified the details. Loss adjusters do not make it easy to claim what is rightfully yours. Our job is to make sure that your position is defended with aggressive negotiation. If no acceptable offer is forthcoming, we are prepared to defend your rights in court and let a judge decide. Most insurance companies are reluctant to go to trial and our lawyers are intimately familiar with the strategies they use. We will push for a settlement that maximizes your claim according to the applicable laws. Start with a free consultation by contacting us directly online. Remember, we work on a contingency basis so we only get paid if you get compensated.