Three Important Factors about Personal Injury Law in Washington State
Personal injury law, also recognized as tort law, is the defense of a person who has suffered injury or loss due to the wrongdoing of another individual or entity. An individual who files suit under tort law is not expecting prosecution for negligence but rather hopes to recover financial losses caused by the defendant’s remiss.
Personal injury laws vary by state, which is why you need a qualified lawyer to fight for you in court. Here are three things that you need to know about tort regulations in Washinton state.
Washington has a Statute of Limitations for personal injury claims
The Statute of Limitations (SOL) in a state limits the time that a person has to file documents with the courts in hopes of seeking restitution for a crime committed. Regarding personal injury, the SOL refers to the time limit that the plaintiff has to file suit for medical bill costs, lost wages, and other financial strains caused by the defendant’s negligence.
Washington state has a SOL of three years when it comes to tort law. Any lawsuits filed after this time are typically denied by the courts, though there are exceptional circumstances in which the ordinary statute does not apply.
Settling a personal injury case may take months or years
It is important to note that all tort cases are different. Whereas a lawsuit that involves little injury may reach the settlement stage months after its initial filing, it may take years to close a case where the victim requires lifelong treatment and compensation.
Talking with the insurance company before discussing your case with a lawyer could hurt you in the long-run
Many consumers are tricked out of thousands every year because they failed to take their personal injury claim to a lawyer before discussing the incident with an insurance provider. It is important to remember that an indemnity company’s sole mission is to save money when accidents happen. They are not looking out for the best interest of the injured and will attempt to settle at the lowest rate even if such amount does not pay all of your legal bills.
It is important to gather evidence and present the facts to a personal injury lawyer first. The tort law attorney will evaluate the proof and determine which route is best.
