Auto Crash Law Firms Near Me

If you or a loved one has suffered injuries in an accident caused by someone else, then you need legal representation that can help you hold them accountable. By seeking our auto crash law firms near me location in Olympia, WA, you can find an attorney who will help you secure a better outcome for your case than if you tried to handle it alone.

Regardless of what you are facing, Putnam Lieb Potvin Dailey is your fiercest advocate. We take the insult out of injury. With more than 40 years of experience, our team provides trusted counsel to auto crash victims in South Puget Sound and throughout Thurston County. With the help of an Olympia personal injury lawyer, you can secure maximum compensation for your losses.

Working with a Local Law Firm Can Yield Better Results in Your Case

When you have been injured in a car accident, you may be tempted to handle your insurance claim yourself. This is often a mistake, as it can leave you with far less than you deserve due to tactics used by insurance companies. Instead, hiring a law firm near you can yield better results and ensure your rights are protected.

The firm at Putnam Lieb Potvin Dailey has an extensive background in helping clients like you secure the results needed to cover their medical expenses and other losses. We work diligently and provide reliable counsel so you feel comfortable about how your case is being handled. Some key services to expect from lawyers include ensuring you do not receive calls from insurers, debt collectors, or opposing attorneys. We also depose witnesses, gather evidence, and make insurers pay you fairly.

By working with a local law firm based in the Olympia area, you receive the benefit of attorneys who have an in-depth knowledge of the area and what local factors can contribute to accidents. They also have many connections and resources within the community that can help strengthen your case and secure a favorable outcome. When you are fighting to recover your losses after an auto crash, you want a law firm near you that knows the ins and outs of the justice system and can tailor their advocacy efforts accordingly.

When hiring a lawyer, you can expect to receive personalized attention and open communication. They will walk you through your options and determine the most effective way to approach your case. Every case is different, so strategies will be tailored to your specific needs. Our legal team will provide support and advocacy for you at every stage of the case.

Contingency Fees for Legal Services

Putnam Lieb Potvin Dailey understands that you may be concerned about the cost of hiring a lawyer. We use contingency fees, so you pay nothing unless we win your case. Our fees are deducted from awarded settlements or verdicts, which takes the pressure off of you to cover the cost of legal services when you are in need.

Common Types of Auto Crashes in Olympia

Auto crashes are not limited to just vehicles. The term can encompass collisions that involve a vehicle and a pedestrian, bicyclist, or other form of transportation. These crashes can range in severity and affect different parties to various extents. Below is a closer look at some common types of accidents and fatality and injury statistics from the most recent full year of data provided by the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT).

Car Accidents

Car accidents can include two or more vehicles and are often the result of negligence. Looking at the numbers for Thurston County, there were 188 vehicles involved in crashes during the most recent data. These collisions included head-on crashes (9), rear-end accidents (11), angle collisions (14), multiple vehicle crashes (54), and rollover accidents (6).

Semi-Truck Accidents

Semi-trucks can cause considerable harm when accidents occur. While truck drivers are more insulated from harm, the size, weight, and center of gravity of a truck contribute to what are often severe accidents and injuries. There were 8 crashes in Thurston County that involved tractor-trailers and heavy trucks.

Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcycles are vulnerable to collisions because of their small size, reduced visibility, and lack of external protection from vehicles and their surroundings. They are more likely to take the full force of impact, be thrown from their motorcycle, be pinned, or collide with the ground. There were 22 crashes that involved motorcycles in Thurston County.

Drunk Driving Accidents

In WSDOT’s most recent data, they reported that there were 25 alcohol impaired crashes, 23 drug-impaired crashes, and 37 crashes that involved both alcohol and drugs in Thurston County. These types of crashes pose serious danger to all individuals involved. Intoxicated drivers have reduced judgment, coordination, and ability to react.

Uber Accidents and Lyft Accidents

While Uber and Lyft are popular and convenient rideshare services, they can cause confusion about how to resolve claims after an accident. While these collisions are like other vehicle accidents, claims could be filed against the driver’s insurance, Uber or Lyft’s liability insurance, or third-party insurance, depending on the situation and status of the driver.

Most Common Causes of Collisions and Where They Occur

Accidents can be caused by many factors, but negligence is generally the common denominator across the board. Drivers are generally responsible for causing accidents, but manufacturers or municipalities can also be liable if their negligence results in an accident. Some common causes of accidents include:

Speeding, aggressive, and/or reckless driving
Distraction from mobile phones, multitasking, environmental factors, and more
Alcohol and drug impairment
Driver fatigue
Road and weather conditions
Nighttime driving
Unsafe lane changes
Failing to stop or yield to the right-of-way
Lack of experience
Faulty mechanics due to poor maintenance or defective parts

Dangerous Roads in Thurston County

In addition to these factors, there are also some commonalities in the locations around Olympia where auto accidents occur. Some of the most common places for car accidents include intersections, stop signs, parking lots, two-lane roads, and highways. Each of these places poses unique dangers for drivers and can make them more susceptible to a collision.

Throughout Thurston County, there are several high-risk areas that motorists must be cautious of when driving. Looking at the WSDOT data mentioned above, I-5 is a particularly dangerous highway where the majority of crashes occur in the county. Yelm Highway SE, State Highway 507 SE, and College Street are some other dangerous roads throughout the county. In Olympia, specifically, the majority of accidents occur on I-5 and near downtown.

Auto Accidents Can Result in Serious Injuries

Accidents can cause serious injuries to those involved. The risk of injury is often worse for those in smaller vehicles or those without sufficient protection from the impact of a collision. It is also important to be aware that not all injuries will show up right away, so it can be hard to get an accurate assessment immediately after a collision. Some common injuries victims may suffer from include:

Whiplash
Severe lacerations and soft tissue damage
Broken bones
Nerve damage
Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
Neck injuries
Spine and back injuries
Chest and rib injuries
Internal injuries
Burn injuries
Chronic pain
Paralysis, disability, and disfigurement
Wrongful death

It is essential to receive medical attention right away to get a clear and accurate picture of your condition. Physicians should act quickly to conduct tests, treat your wounds, and prevent further potential damage. You should also monitor your condition after you have been discharged and start to heal, so you can promptly notify your doctor if your condition worsens.

Liability Must Be Established to Hold the At-Fault Driver Accountable

During an auto accident claim, you must demonstrate what happened and what role the other driver played in causing your injuries. To do this, you will need to provide evidence that can connect the other party’s actions to your losses.

Your lawyer will use the available evidence to build a strong case that shows the following:

Duty of Care: Like all drivers, the opposing party had an obligation to uphold safe driving practices and use caution in all instances.
Breach of Duty: The opposing party failed to use caution or adhere to the rules of the road, either because of carelessness or intentional acts.
Causation: The opposing party’s actions led to the accident that caused your injuries, vehicle damage, and other losses.
Damages: The opposing party is responsible for paying for the losses they caused.

This process is called the standard of negligence and is designed to establish the other party’s liability for the crash. This legal requirement must be fulfilled before the case can be resolved and compensation can be distributed. Be sure to work with an auto crash law firm near you that has extensive experience building solid cases and has a proven track record of success holding the other driver liable for their actions.

Your Options for Recovery When You are Partially At Fault for an Auto Crash

If you are partially at fault for causing the accident, you still have the option of recovering your losses through compensation. Washington applies pure comparative negligence to resolving these types of cases, which means you can claim compensation that has been reduced by your percentage of fault first. If you were eligible for a $100,000 settlement but were 15% at fault, you would only receive $85,000.

Unlike most states, even if you are 99% at fault, you can still recover damages. However, for every percentage of fault you share in a collision, you have to cover that much more out of pocket. To minimize your liability and optimize your case for better results, it is essential to hire an experienced lawyer to handle your case and negotiate for you.

Compensation Provides for Financial Losses and Pain and Suffering

Compensation is designed to provide valuable financial relief when you have suffered serious injuries, damage, and other losses in a car accident. Since Washington is an at-fault state, the driver who caused your losses is responsible for compensating you. What you recover from them will depend on what you have suffered and how severe it is.

Every case is different, but some common damages you can recover may include a combination of the following:

Current and ongoing medical expenses
Equipment, vehicle, or home accommodations, and medications
Cost to repair or replace damaged vehicle and/or belongings
Lost wages or earning capacity
End-of-life care, funeral, and burial expenses
Pain and suffering
Decreased ability to enjoy activities
Reduced quality of life
Emotional distress
PTSD, anxiety, depression, and sleep problems
Loss of companionship and/or consortium

To determine how much your case is worth, you will need to work with an attorney who can identify your losses and calculate their value. Your monetary losses will be added up, and your non-monetary losses will be determined by a formula to estimate the overall sum. Your lawyer will handle settlement negotiations with the insurance company or opposing party on your behalf. They will fight to secure you the maximum amount of compensation so you have what you need to properly recover.

Act Quickly to Pursue Compensation for Your Auto Accident Injuries and Losses

After an accident, it is important to act quickly to recover damages for your losses. Washington imposes a statute of limitations of 3 years on all personal injury cases.

Given that finding auto crash law firms near you and building a case takes time, even a small delay could put you at risk of running out of time. It also increases the chance that evidence and memories will deteriorate and weaken your case. The quicker you act, the better the outcome of your case.

Contact Our Olympia Auto Crash Law Firms Near Me Law Location Today!

Putnam Lieb Potvin Dailey is dedicated to providing all our clients with exceptional service that allows them to have peace of mind about their future. When you have been hurt by a negligent driver, our team works diligently to secure you the justice and compensation you deserve. To talk with our team about your accident, contact us and schedule a free consultation today.