Personal Injury Lawyers Serving Injury Victims in the Aberdeen, WA Area

Aberdeen, Washington, named after Scotland’s largest city, has come a long way since its gunslinger days at the turn of the 20th century. Now known as the “Gateway to the Olympic Peninsula,” the town is the commercial center of scenic Grays Harbor County, as well as the proud hometown of former Nirvana lead singer Kurt Cobain. From the Chehalis River to the Olympic Mountains, Aberdeen and surrounding areas dazzle the senses.

With cool summer temperatures and surprisingly mild winters together with world-class outdoor attractions such as the Copalis National Wildlife Refuge and the Olympic National Forest, Aberdeen is set to remain one of the best residential locations in the state of Washington for a long time to come.

Aberdeen’s location near the metropolises of Seattle and Tacoma means that many of its residents commute to and from work. Meanwhile, tourist traffic is heavy much of the year. Major highways serving the Aberdeen area include U.S. Route 12, U.S. Route 101, and Washington State Route 8.

Due to the heavy traffic on its roads, the Seattle metro area sees more than its share of serious traffic accidents. Unfortunately, Aberdeen has not been spared from such tragedies. Aberdeen’s plentiful offering of outdoor activities also takes its toll on both residents and tourists. Accidents that can trigger legal liability include, among others:

When an accident happens, financial problems are the last thing that you need to be worrying about. Nevertheless, it is likely that you are legally entitled to compensation that can only be secured in two ways – negotiation and litigation. Fortunately, the personal injury/wrongful death lawyers at Brett McCandlis Brown & Conner PLLC specialize in both of these difficult-to-master disciplines.

Once we take your case, we will work on a “no win, no pay” basis – you don’t pay us until and unless you receive a verdict or settlement. Meanwhile, we will work with your health care providers to coordinate your medical bills, create a plan to solve your cash flow problems while you are in recovery, and negotiate a settlement while you concentrate on recovering physically and emotionally.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are the components of a personal injury claim?

Formally speaking, the elements of a personal injury claim are (i) duty (ii) breach of duty (iii) causation and (iv) damages. In most cases, the defendant is thought to have a duty of “ordinary care” toward the victim – a motorist, for example, is expected to drive safely. If the defendant breaches that duty by, for example, running a stop light, the defendant is said to have acted negligently (carelessly).

If (and only if) running the stop light was a substantial cause of the car accident, the defendant will be liable to the victim for the damages that the victim suffered, including personal injuries. The victim must prove the extent of his or her damages, and he or she cannot recover for any damages that are unable to be proven. The issue of damages is often the most vigorously contested aspect of a personal injury case.

What are the components of a wrongful death claim?

If the victim of the accident dies as a result, Washington’s wrongful death statute allows certain close relatives of a deceased victim, or the personal representative of the deceased victim’s estate, to file a wrongful death lawsuit. The elements of a wrongful death lawsuit are the same as the elements for a personal injury lawsuit (see above), except that in a wrongful death lawsuit, the victim’s damages necessarily include his or her own death.

Although the measure of damages in a wrongful death claim are different than the measure that applies to a personal injury claim, the typical amounts awarded are comparable to the amounts awarded in catastrophic personal injury cases.

How long will it take to receive a verdict or settlement?

This is a difficult question, to which a definitive answer is impossible – it depends on the facts of your case, decisions both parties make during dispute resolution, and many other factors. In general, the stronger your evidence is, the sooner you are likely to reach a settlement or a verdict (remember, however, that a verdict can be appealed at least once). Likewise, the less money you ask for, the sooner the defendant (or the insurance company) is likely to settle with you. It is rarely a good idea, however, to accept an inadequate settlement offer just to receive settlement money as soon as possible.

What should I do when I’m attacked by a dog?

Being attacked and bitten by a dog can be a horrific and traumatic experience. Dog attacks can be violent and cause significant injuries. Most dogs are perfectly wonderful pets and are lovely to have around. But we all know that sometimes our canine friends can get scared or aggressive and attack. Some people have dangerous dog breeds as pets and haven’t trained them well enough or don’t keep them secure behind a fence or on a leash.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are over 4 million dog bites in the United States every year. If you’ve been bitten by a dog in Aberdeen, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. Having an experienced and skilled Aberdeen dog bite lawyer fighting for your rights is the best way to get fully and fairly compensated for your injuries.

Washington State’s dog bite law is simple. A dog owner is responsible for any injuries their dog causes to another person who is on public property or legally on private property. Whether the dog has previously attacked someone does not matter; it is not a defense in the case that the owner did not know their dog was dangerous. The only true defenses to a dog bite claim are that the dog was provoked or the victim was trespassing on private property.

Dog bite injuries can be quite severe. Here are the common dog bite injuries we see in our Aberdeen practice:

  • Tooth punctures,
  • Slashes and gashes in the skin and muscle,
  • Scarring,
  • Broken bones in the hands from attempting to fend off the dog, and
  • Head injuries and traumatic brain injuries (TBI) from falling after being jumped on by a dog.

There is a three-year statute of limitations on filing for damages in a dog bite case. So it’s very important to contact your Aberdeen dog bite attorney immediately to schedule a free consultation.

Contact an Aberdeen, Washington Injury Lawyer Today!

Call our Aberdeen Personal Injury Attorneys today or complete our online contact form to schedule your free initial consultation, so that we can discuss your case and advise you of your options.