A car accident sends a life spinning off-course just as it does a vehicle, often ending in far more than just property damage to a car. When a car accident in Vancouver, Washington, ends in serious injury, it’s traumatic and terrifying, with physical and financial impacts that can last a long time and affect the entire family. If you or a close family member suffered a serious injury in a car crash in Vancouver, contact the experienced Vancouver personal injury lawyers at Sears Injury Law to represent your best interests. Call us today at (360) 854-3696.
Why Choose the Vancouver Car Accident Lawyers at Sears Injury Law?
Washington’s fault-based insurance laws require a car accident victim seeking compensation for damages to file a claim against the at-fault party’s insurance. Unfortunately, the insurance company may engage in tactics to protect its profits at your expense if you lack legal representation. When you work with a Vancouver car accident lawyer at Sears Injury Law, you can expect the following:
- A free consultation and no payment due until after we’ve obtained your compensation
- Over 100 years of combined experience, knowledge, and resources on your side
- A deep investigation, documentation of compelling evidence of liability, and a carefully calculated list of your damages
- A personalized strategy from a Vancouver car accident attorney to obtain the maximum compensation in your case
- An entire legal team and staff working on your case, as well as the dedicated attention of your car accident attorney
The caring legal advocates at Sears Injury Law have a history of powerful representation and notable results for clients, including recent $2,500,000.00 and $1,100,000.00 settlements in motor vehicle accident claims.
Understanding Car Accident Injuries In Vancouver, Washington
A motor vehicle accident propels the motorist forward at the speed the car was traveling until the seatbelt snaps them back against the seat, placing tremendous strain on the body at the same time that the car’s structure collapses inward at the collision point, causing blunt-force trauma to the body. Common car accident injuries in Vancouver and elsewhere include the following:
- Fractures of the limbs, hips, pelvis, ribs, clavicle, and vertebrae
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Soft-tissue injuries such as sprains, strains, ligament tears, and tendon damage
- Lacerations, contusions, and abrasions
- Neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Internal organ injuries
- Burns
- External head, facial, and dental injuries
- Amputations
- Spinal cord injuries
Injuries are not only painful and debilitating but also costly to treat and often temporarily or permanently interfere with earning ability. In some cases, car accidents in Vancouver may also result in death. If you have lost a loved one in a car crash, contact our Vancouver wrongful death lawyers to learn about your legal rights and options for pursuing compensation.
What Types of Car Accidents are Common In Vancouver, Washington?
Car accidents most often result from negligent driver actions. Less commonly, they are caused by road hazards like potholes, obstructed signs, or confusing intersections. Common types of car accidents in Vancouver include the following:
- T-bone accidents (Angle collisions or broadside accidents)
- Rear-end collisions
- Head-on collisions
- Sideswipes
- Roadway departures
- Collisions with obstacles
- Rollover accidents
- Multi-vehicle pileups
Under Washington’s fault-based injury laws, a driver who causes an accident is liable for both property damage costs and personal injury expenses. Typically, compensation comes from an injury victim’s claim against the at-fault party’s insurance.
Proving Liability In a Washington Car Accident Claim
A successful Vancouver, Washington, car accident case requires compelling proof of the at-fault driver’s liability. An injury victim’s attorney meets the standards of liability by submitting evidence showing the following:
- The at-fault party owed a duty of reasonable care to the victim, such as a driver’s duty to follow traffic laws or a road-maintenance agency’s duty to repair potholes
- They breached this duty through negligence
- Their negligent breach of duty directly caused the car accident and injuries
- The injury victim suffered damages from the injury
The “damages” in a car accident claim are an injury’s economic and non-economic consequences. An injury victim makes a claim for compensation to recover their damages. Distracted driving, speeding, tailgating, making unsafe lane changes, or failing to yield the right of way at an intersection are common examples of negligent actions that leave a driver liable for damages to an injury victim.
What Damages Can I Recover In a Washington Car Accident Case?
Car accident costs quickly escalate when one or more injury victims suffer harm. A car accident victim may find medical bills coming in while their injuries prevent them from returning to the job. A successful car accident claim recovers compensation for the following:
- Reimbursement for medical expenses
- Future medical care costs
- Lost earnings
- Future income loss
- Diminished future earning ability
- Out-of-pocket expenses, such as for traveling to see a specialist or installing adaptive equipment
- Compensation for pain and suffering
If a car accident victim suffers catastrophic damages in a crash, like loss of limb, scarring, disfigurement, loss of an organ, loss of vision, hearing loss, or diminished quality of life, they can file a claim for additional compensation with the help of a Vancouver car accident lawyer.
What Can I Do After a Car Accident to Help My Case?
After a serious accident, an injury victim with severe injuries may be unable to take action due to the gravity of their injuries; however, if you are not incapacitated and can take purposeful actions, there are steps to take to protect yourself physically and financially. After the accident, our Vancouver car accident attorneys recommend taking the following steps, if possible:
- First, call 911 to report the accident and apply any necessary emergency first aid
- While awaiting help, use the phone’s camera to take photos of the damaged vehicles and the accident scene
- Photograph any visible injuries
- Add the contact information of the other driver or multiple involved drivers
- Add the contact information of eyewitnesses before they leave the scene
Always go directly to a hospital after an accident and ask for a full medical evaluation as well as treatment for your emergency injuries. Then, report the accident to your insurance company and obtain copies of your medical report and accident report. Be sure to carefully follow your doctor’s instructions.
Call Our Vancouver, Washington, Car Accident Attorneys Today
Insurance companies are not on your side. Instead, they are ready to protect their profits at your expense, including by quickly reaching out with a low settlement offer in exchange for signing away your right to file a lawsuit. Contact the Vancouver car accident attorneys at Sears Injury Law today to protect your best interests and maximize your chances for the most favorable outcome in your case.