Motor Vehicle Crash Law Firm Near Me

No matter how safe you are on the road, someone else’s aggressive or negligent driving can lead to tragic consequences. If you were injured or someone you love was killed in a motor vehicle crash in South Puget Sound, you and your family deserve compensation for the losses you have sustained.

If you need help pursuing compensation after an accident leaves you injured, turn to our motor vehicle crash law firm near me location. Contact the Olympia car crash lawyers at Putnam Lieb Potvin Dailey for assistance in determining liability, building a case of evidence, and negotiating with the at-fault party’s insurance adjusters. Get started pursuing your legal right to compensation today.

Motor Vehicle Crashes in the Olympia Area

Navigating the roads of Olympia and Thurston County can be challenging at times, especially when weather, wildlife, and road hazards threaten safety, not to mention the added dangers of negligent drivers. The county is aware of these challenges and is working to build safer streets designed to anticipate driver mistakes and to encourage safe driving speeds. Their Transportation Safety Action Plan strives to lessen the number of crashes that end in fatalities and serious injuries.

Data from the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) shows a concerning rise in motor vehicle accidents, including car crashes, semi-truck accidents, and collisions involving bikers and pedestrians. The statistics from the last full reporting year of data show:

940 total motor vehicle crashes
231 involving injuries
102 crashes caused by distracted drivers
50 accidents due to drunk and intoxicated drivers
46 collisions involving semi-trucks or other commercial vehicles
27 crashes involving bicyclists and pedestrians

Under Washington State Law, after an accident involving injuries or severe property damage in Washington, it is imperative that you file a report. If officers are dispatched to the scene, they will handle this for you. However, if they are not, do not assume the other party involved will file the report for you, even if they say they will. You submit a civilian report or order a copy of your collision report on the Washington State Patrol’s website.

Common Causes of Motor Vehicle Accidents in Thurston County

Some roads are known for being the sites of more collisions than others within our county. These include areas like the intersection of Old Pacific Highway Southeast and Reservation Road, sections of Interstate 5, and Martin Way in downtown Olympia. Specific roads and intersections like these are targeted in the Transportation Safety Action Plan as ones that may be improved with better infrastructure, wider lanes, roundabouts, and other improvements. Other collision causes in the area can include:

Impaired Driving: Drunk driving accidents and crashes caused by drug-impaired drivers continue to be an issue for Washington State residents. Impaired driving can slow reaction times, leading to an increased chance of accidents with pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcyclists, and other drivers.

Work Zones: Road construction, especially with the newfound focus on improving the area’s infrastructure, is common in Thurston County. These reduced speed areas often alter traffic patterns and lead to backups, requiring more driver focus.

Rural Roads: The beauty of Olympia and the surrounding areas leads traffic onto rural roads and mountain passes, which often host visibility challenges and wildlife hazards. Rural roads may also prove more challenging in dangerous weather conditions, such as snow, ice, and fog.

Weather Hazards: Weather conditions that can affect drivers may include blowing snow, icy or unplowed roads, flooded roadways, and visibility issues due to driving in snow, rain, or fog.

Distracted drivers: One of the most significant hazards on the road today, distracted drivers have a strong tendency to make mistakes, have slow reaction times, and swerve between lanes. Drivers are tempted by many distractions these days, with common ones including texting, working with GPS directions, eating and drinking, children, and other disturbances.

If you or someone you love was injured in an accident, you need a motor vehicle crash law firm to help you build a solid personal injury claim. At Putnam Lieb Potvin Dailey, our car crash lawyers will help you establish liability, gather evidence, and strategically craft a demand letter to send to the at-fault party’s insurance agency.

Establishing Liability in Washington State Motor Vehicle Crashes

Determining who is at fault for a car accident can be difficult, and building a solid base of evidence can be even more difficult. Our motor vehicle crash law firm near you will help determine which party, or if multiple parties, may be held liable for your accident and injuries so that you can file for compensation for your losses.

The first step is always proving negligence, which can include distracted driving, drunk driving, failure to obey stop signs, and other traffic violations that led up to the accident. However, other liable parties may also exist, including:

Vehicle Manufacturers: If your motor vehicle accident was due to a defective part in your vehicle or another vehicle involved, the manufacturer of the vehicle or the part itself may be held responsible. Product liability claims for faulty brakes, tires, or airbags must be proven by strong evidence and possibly even expert testimony, as you will need to show the direct correlation of the defect to the crash.

The Mechanic: If your vehicle or another vehicle was recently repaired and caused a crash due to a failure in this maintenance, the repair company or mechanic could be held liable for their negligence in services.

An Employer or Company: For trucking accidents or crashes involving other professional drivers, such as delivery people, Uber drivers, or Amazon employees, the employer may be held liable under the principle of vicarious liability. You must prove that the driver was acting within the scope of their job and that their negligence caused the accident, which is where a motor vehicle crash lawyer may be able to help.

Government Entities: In some crashes, poorly maintained or designed roads, malfunctioning traffic signals, missing traffic signage, or other specific negligence may allow you to pursue compensation from the local or state government agency. Claims against the government can be difficult to pursue and may have shorter time limits for filing a claim. Consulting motor vehicle crash law firms near you may be able to help you prove the agency’s negligence to pursue your claim.

Alcohol Sellers, Including Bars and Restaurants: Under Washington State’s dram shop liability law, establishments that overserved alcohol to drivers who are afterwards involved in a car accident may be held liable for the resulting damages. To prove this, you may need eyewitness testimony or other forms of evidence to show that the server sold more alcohol to a person who was obviously intoxicated.

Working with an Olympia motor vehicle crash law firm can help you have the resources to pursue a strategic claim or personal injury lawsuit. At Putnam Lieb Potvin Dailey, we have the local knowledge and insight to help you investigate your case thoroughly, build a body of evidence against the liable party, and negotiate for the compensation you deserve for your losses.

Why Hire Lawyers from Motor Vehicle Crash Law Firms Near You

Working with the guidance of a locally established car accident law firm can grant you insight into the local and state laws, precedent-setting cases, and court knowledge that you may not otherwise have access to. At a firm established for over 40 years, such as Putnam Lieb Potvin Dailey, our car accident lawyers are experienced with pursuing compensation on behalf of clients just like you.

Our team has experience supporting injury victims from crashes such as:

Car Accidents: Car crashes are a common type of accident, and they may not always be as straightforward as they seem. Insurance companies prioritize their bottom line and may reject claims or attempt to lowball you to minimize payouts.

- Semi-Truck Accidents: For any commercial driver, pursuing compensation can be difficult. Trucking companies protect themselves against liabilities and have a strong legal defense team, so you need a good law firm on your side if you decide to pursue a personal injury lawsuit.

Motorcycle Accidents: Courtrooms and juries too often overlook motorcycle accident injuries and may come in with biases against motorcyclists. Working with a strong legal team can help protect your best interests and build a strategic, sympathetic case on your behalf.

- Drunk Driving Accidents: These accidents often leave victims with severe injuries or wrongful death. In those cases, relying on the help of an experienced lawyer may help you maximize the compensation you are able to receive, calculating past, present, and future losses to best prepare you and your family for the future.

Uber and Lyft Accidents: Rideshare drivers and their passengers get into accidents at a slightly lower rate than the majority of drivers on the road, but when they do, filing accident claims may get complicated. Going up against the insurance provider or legal team of a large rideshare company can be intimidating, but our lawyers are experienced and prepared for whatever they have to throw at us.

If you are on the fence about deciding if you need an accident attorney, consider meeting for a free case consultation, where our lawyers can evaluate your case, determine how much it may be worth, and discuss your legal options.

How Much Will It Cost to Hire a Motor Vehicle Accident Lawyer Near You?

If you are wondering how much it costs to hire a lawyer, we understand your concern. That is why, at Putnam Lieb Potvin Dailey, we start off our services by offering complimentary consultations to discuss your claim and determine if we are the right fit for you.

Our law firm also works on a contingency fee basis, meaning that you do not have to pay us anything out of pocket. If we successfully receive compensation for your claim or are awarded an amount for your lawsuit, we will receive a percentage of the final payout.

If you have further questions about how much it costs or how long it takes to settle a personal injury claim after a motor vehicle accident, do not hesitate to reach out to discuss it with us further.

The Important Deadline for Filing Your Claim

In the state of Washington, the statute of limitations is the amount of time you have to file your claim after your accident. In general, you have three years from the accident or discovery of your injuries to file your claim or personal injury lawsuit.

If you wait too long, you may completely miss out on your chance to claim compensation for your losses. Some exceptions delaying or expediting this timeline exist, such as if your injuries were discovered at a later date or if you are filing a claim against a government agency.

It may be tempting to try to wait until after you have made a full recovery to have all losses completely calculated. However, a motor vehicle crash law firm can help you assess the complete value of your claim, including any potential payments for physical therapy, doctor’s visits, and other out-of-pocket expenses that may arise. Our goal is to acquire the maximum amount possible for your losses to ensure that you are not left wanting anything in the future.

The sooner you start with your claim, the better. When you are not pressed for time, you have the luxury of interviewing several nearby motor vehicle crash law firms to determine the best fit for you. It will also give your lawyer more time to collect valuable evidence and build a solid case justifying why you deserve compensation for your injuries. Do not wait too long and risk missing out on the financial support you need.

Contact Our Olympia Motor Vehicle Crash Law Firm Near Me Location

If you were injured in a motor vehicle accident in Thurston County, you deserve compensation for the losses you have sustained due to someone else’s negligent actions. At Putnam Lieb Potvin Dailey, we have supported clients near you since 1980, taking the insult out of injury.

Take your first steps towards reestablishing your life and moving on with your future. Contact our office today to set up a free, no-obligation case consultation. Let our team work to bring you the justice you deserve.