A personal injury claim is a formal request to be compensated for your losses because the careless actions of someone hurt you or caused financial loss. Understanding the key factors involved can help you understand what to do next after a crash.
Tacoma is a vibrant city with beautiful museums and an international port system. Its mix of residential neighborhoods, businesses, public spaces, industrial areas, and recreational destinations creates many settings where people may suffer injuries because of unsafe conditions or another party’s negligence.
If you are a victim of an accident in this populous city, an experienced personal injury lawyer in Tacoma, Washington, can help you on the way forward.
When Should You File a Personal Injury Claim?
After an accident, you might feel confused about what to do next. You have medical bills, you have missed work, and you are tempted to settle quickly with the insurance company.
Before you hire a personal injury lawyer, however, remember that not all injury cases require legal action. Minor accidents with less damage are often settled with insurance claims.
So, how do you know if you are eligible to file for a personal injury claim?
Here are situations that help you decide whether it’s time to get professional legal help and seek compensation:
You Have Evidence of Medical Treatment
If you have medical evidence to show that you have been receiving treatment for injuries related to the accident, your claim is valid. This is true if you received immediate medical care after the accident.
If you take too long to go to the hospital, this could weaken your case. It could indicate that your injuries were not that serious or that something else caused your injuries.
You Have Serious Injuries
You are eligible for a claim if your injuries are severe and require you to stay in the hospital for a long time. You may also have missed work, lost the ability to continue earning, or have permanent scarring. This could seriously affect your quality of life.
The long stay in the hospital can also cause great emotional distress.
Evidence to Support Your Claim
Solid evidence of how the accident happened and who was at fault strengthens your case. This includes:
- Surveillance camera footage or dashcam footage
- Eyewitness statements
- Police reports
- Photos of the accident scene and injuries caused
- Physical evidence such as property damage
Someone Else’s Carelessness Caused Your Injuries
The basis for any personal injury claim is proving that a third party’s reckless behavior caused your injury.
Some careless habits include:
- Failure to address known safety hazards
- Distracted driving
- Not maintaining a safe property
- Selling defective products
- Ignoring established safety rules
You Are Within the Limited Timeframe
Under the Revised Code of Washington § 4.16.080, personal injury claims must be filed within three years of the accident. Your claim is valid as long as this timeframe has not passed.
It’s advisable to file a claim as soon as possible to increase your chances of getting compensation.
Your Actions Didn’t Contribute to the Injury
Claims where you clearly don’t bear any fault are much stronger compared to when you have shared responsibility. In most states, your share of compensation gets reduced by your percentage of negligence.
Final Takeaways
- A personal injury claim makes compensation possible for damages incurred because of someone else’s carelessness.
- A personal injury lawyer can help you decide whether you should file a claim and the way forward.
- Medical records can strengthen your case to prove you sought immediate medical care after a crash.
- Serious physical damages that have impacted your quality of life call for compensation.
- You must file a claim within 3 years under the law.
- A personal injury claim protects the injured party.
