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Car Wreck Attorney Near Me

If you’re in a car accident, finding a car wreck attorney near you is critical to protecting the integrity of your claim. At Putnam Lieb Potvin Dailey, our car wreck attorney near me law firm can manage your case and give you the attention and support you need throughout the process. We honor our clients’ trust and put the full force of our knowledge, experience, and skill into securing the compensation they deserve.

Our team has fought for the rights of injured victims in Greater Olympia and other Washington cities for over 40 years. We will work tirelessly to see you obtain the maximum recovery possible so you can move forward with your life. We are on your side and ready to get to work for you. 

Car Accident Statistics in Washington State

Motor-vehicle accidents are an unfortunate potential danger for anyone traveling Washington’s roads. The latest data from the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) shows that over a recent year, the 89,642 motor-vehicle accidents occurring statewide led to:

  • 664 fatalities
  • 2,795 serious injuries
  • Over 22,000 minor and possible injuries

In Thurston County, there were 3,329 total accidents. These accidents caused:

  • 23 fatalities
  • 98 serious injuries
  • Over 800 minor and possible injuries

If you sustain injury or property damage in a motor vehicle, connect with our car wreck lawyers as soon as possible. Your search for a “car wreck attorney near me” will produce a long list of options. Look no further than Putnam Lieb Potvin Dailey. 

We base our practice on the core values of compassion, integrity, innovation, respect, and dedication and understand that if you are reaching out for help, you are going through a challenging time. Our goal is to get you justice and give you the personal support you need along the way.

What to Do After Your Car Wreck in Olympia, WA

There are steps you must take and steps you should take after a car accident. Through the Revised Code of Washington (RCW), 46.52.020, the Washington State Legislature establishes the legal obligations of drivers involved in motor vehicle crashes. Obligations can vary depending on the specifics of the event, but in most cases drivers must:

  • Stop and remain at the scene
  • Call law enforcement
  • Exchange contact, insurance, and vehicle license numbers with others involved
  • Help the injured, perhaps by calling for assistance
  • Move the car out of the path of traffic, if possible
  • Report the accident within four days unless law enforcement files a report, as per RCW 46.52.030

It is in your best interests to follow our advice for what to do when you’ve been in an accident as well. Along with fulfilling your legal duties, you should start collecting potential evidence right at the scene. Take photos of the cars and damage, your injuries, and the overall environment. Include road conditions, traffic signals, signage, and markings, and note locations of traffic or security cameras.

Get contact details from witnesses. Ask them to send you a text or email describing what they saw happen before their memory of the incident fades. Then, seek swift medical care, and after that, connect with Putnam Lieb Potvin Dailey and speak with a car wreck lawyer near you.

What Not to Do After Your Car Wreck

There are also steps to avoid after a wreck. Do not discuss the accident with others involved. In doing so, you could inadvertently say something that could be misinterpreted and used against you. For example, simply offering a human, “I’m sorry this all happened,” could be taken as an admission of fault. If the other party ran a red light and crashed into you, your saying, “I didn’t see you coming,” could be used as “evidence” that you were not paying attention and are at least partly to blame. 

Do not minimize your injuries to the other party or to yourself. If you tell the other party you are okay and then experience pain and symptoms later, they could claim you invented the injuries after realizing you could seek compensation. 

Even if you really think you are okay, do not take chances with your health. You need to see a doctor promptly. Sometimes, injury symptoms take time to appear. Postponing diagnosis and treatment can compromise your well-being by making your condition worse. You could even face potentially deadly consequences if you have head or brain trauma. Delayed care could also lower your chances of seeing full recovery. Regarding your claim, the delay could give the at-fault party the opportunity to blame you, rather than the initial accident injury, for your situation.

Partner with a Car Wreck Attorney Near You

By securing representation quickly after your accident, you are more likely to see a favorable case outcome. A fast connection allows our car wreck attorneys time to investigate the crash,  determine fault, and file against the at-fault party within Washington’s three-year statute of limitations. If you do not file within this deadline, you risk losing the chance to secure justice. Still, speak with a lawyer even if you think the legal window of opportunity has closed. Some circumstances allow for extensions.

Prompt access to your case also makes evidence collection more efficient. Witnesses are easier to locate and usually provide more detailed information when contacted earlier. It is also less likely for evidence to disappear or get lost. For example, as time passes, traffic or security camera footage may be erased or corrupted. 

The sooner you call us, the sooner we can start the process of getting you justice. Car accident claims can take time. We will work to bring your case to a successful resolution as efficiently as possible.

How a Car Wreck Attorney Near Me Will Investigate the Accident 

An investigation reveals the cause of the accident and the negligent party. Filing against the right party is critical to the success of your claim. Sometimes, the apparent culprit is not the actual culprit. 

For example, a seemingly reckless driver may have only crashed into you because their car’s brake system failed. If you rush to file against the driver and later realize the vehicle manufacturer is actually at fault, you could lose the chance to collect compensation. 

Potential Liable Parties

Possible at-fault parties include:

  • Another driver, if they committed an error, drove while drowsy, distracted, or impaired, or disobeyed traffic laws
  • A vehicle manufacturer, if a vehicle or part was defective or malfunctioned
  • A vehicle inspector or mechanic, if they failed to recognize or properly repair an unsafe vehicle
  • An employer, if the other driver involved was on the job when the accident occurred
  • A government office, if the respective office failed to keep roads safely maintained and lit, traffic signs clear, or traffic signals in working order

Statute of Limitations for a Car Wreck Accident Claim

The process for filing a claim against a government office differs from the one for filing against a private company or individual, as established in RCW 4.96.020. The timeline for filing is also shortened, making it even more important to connect with a car wreck lawyer near you quickly.

Investigation Process

No matter who your claim is against, our investigation will likely involve:

  • Speaking with accident witnesses
  • Consulting with accident reconstructionists and other relevant experts
  • Reviewing medical documentation and speaking with your medical team
  • Gathering photo and video footage and physical evidence from the accident scene
  • Interviewing your caregivers and loved ones

Your car wreck attorney will not simply apply a cookie-cutter strategy to your case. You can count on our team to explore all available sources of evidence and information, adjusting our approach to best suit your case’s needs. 

How a Car Wreck Lawyer Near Me Determines the Value of My Case

Our car accident attorneys in Olympia, WA will demand a settlement to cover your losses and get you back on secure financial footing. Some car accident injuries are more common than others, and medical costs for any injury are typically high. Moderate injuries can keep you out of work and in pain for a while, and severe damage can make a full recovery impossible and prevent you from ever going back to work. Costs for care, income loss, and other accident-related expenses can put you in significant financial distress.

Physical pain, disability, and financial worries often cause emotional turmoil. You may feel anxiety, fear for what the future holds, and even grieve for the future you planned for but can no longer experience. You may become angry or depressed if you cannot care for yourself independently or feel isolated if you can no longer engage socially or participate in other activities as you did before the accident. This pain, suffering, and reduced enjoyment of life matter and warrant financial acknowledgment. 

Securing Compensation for Your Car Wreck in Olympia, WA

After calculating your total losses, your attorney will send the at-fault party’s representatives a settlement demand. They will most likely respond with a lower counteroffer to start the negotiation process. Our attorneys are experienced negotiators. We know what to expect from the other side and are also more than capable of a fast pivot, adept at changing our strategy in the face of an unexpected challenge. 

 

Some firms appearing on your search for  “a car wreck lawyer near me” will encourage you to accept a settlement–even one lower than you need and deserve–to avoid a trial fight. Putnam Lieb Potvin Dailey will not do that. We will know the true value of your case, and if the other side refuses to make a fair offer during negotiations, we will be ready and willing to take your case to court. You will not have to make the decision to settle or go to trial on your own. Your car wreck lawyer will apprise you of the possible outcomes for either scenario, give you sound legal guidance, and help you choose what’s best for your situation. 

Our attorneys know how to build strong car accident cases, and we will put all of our investigative experience and resources, legal knowledge, and negotiating skills into yours. We know the types of evidence needed to prove the other side’s negligence and your lack of fault and to support your demand for compensation. 

The Timeline and Worth of Your Case

No ethical car wreck attorney near you can predict exactly how long a case will take or how much it is worth. Every case has its own unique factors affecting its duration and value. Cases that settle through negotiation typically resolve more quickly than those requiring a trial fight. Trials depend on court schedules and the judge’s availability, and court dates can change at a moment’s notice. The Putnam Lieb Potvin Dailey team will work for the best and most efficient resolution possible, no matter what path your case follows.

 

Factors affecting the worth of your case include:

  • The severity of your injuries
  • The extent of your resulting disability
  • Your medical bills and anticipated care costs
  • Your income loss and lost future earnings and job benefits
  • Other accident-related bills
  • The extent of your physical pain and emotional trauma
  • Your assignment of fault for the accident

 

Washington follows a pure fault system for personal injury cases. As per RCW 4.22.005, the victims’ total compensation is reduced by the same percentage of fault they bear for the accident. The at-fault party will work to put as much blame on you as possible, but we will work harder to dismantle those claims and prevent unfair settlement or trial award reductions. 

Get the Support You Need and the Justice You Deserve

As you scroll through the results from your “car wreck attorney near me” search, you’ll see many firms making big promises. Putnam Lieb Potvin Dailey does more than make promises–we demonstrate a sincere commitment to our clients, their cases, and their futures. We get results by focusing on restoring lives. When you partner with us, you do not have to worry about costs.  We offer free case consultations and only accept payment after securing your compensation. 

Throughout your case, we will listen to your concerns, answer your questions, and keep you updated on every development. Do not settle for inferior or impersonal representation. Instead, reach out with a call or electronic message to connect with us, learn your legal options, and move toward justice.