Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Attorneys Serving Port Angeles, Washington and Clallam County

Port Angeles is an Olympic Peninsula town nestled between the postcard-worthy Olympic Mountains and the refreshing sea breezes of Port Angeles Harbor. The town is home to 20,000 residents who are lucky enough to live among some of the world’s most diverse and breathtaking natural scenery. The nearby Olympic Mountains shield Port Angeles from much of the rainy weather than bedevils so much of the rest of the state.

The Port Angeles area is a hiker’s paradise – the Olympic Discovery Trail, the Spruce Railroad Trail, and the Hurricane Ridge Trails offer a diversity of terrain seldom found elsewhere. With so much to see and do, it is easy to forget about the unseen dangers hidden in even the most picturesque locations.

When Luck Runs Out

A catastrophic accident is a traumatic event – whether it comes in the form of a truck accident, a fall down a flight of stairs, or a heart attack caused by a defective drug. When such an accident occurs because of someone else’s carelessness or other wrongful behavior, however, there is no need for you to remain passive – Washington personal injury and wrongful death law guarantees you the right to full compensation from the culpable party. The hard part about having legal rights, however, is enforcing them.

Fortunately, enforcing the legal rights of accident victims is what we have dedicated our professional lives to. We practice in the following areas, among others:

The personal injury and wrongful death attorneys at Brett McCandlis Brown & Conner PLLC have counseled a multitude of accident victims, and we understand how overwhelmed you feel. The last thing you need is for financial stress to add to the pain and shock you are likely already feeling. That is why we handle all of these matters for you so that you can concentrate on recovery.

Whether it comes to negotiating with insurance companies or slugging it out in court, few if any personal injury law firms in Washington State can boast a track record of success that parallels our own. Our principled, knowledgeable, and absolutely relentless attorneys will not rest until you have been fully compensated for all of your losses – both financial and emotional. Your case will be strongest if you involve an experienced personal injury lawyer in the process as soon as you can. Call us today at 1-800-925-1875 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation on your case.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How is a wrongful death claim different from a personal injury claim?

A wrongful death claim differs from a personal injury claim in several respects. First, a personal injury claim is filed by a victim who survived the accident, while a wrongful death claim is filed by survivors of a victim who died in the accident. Certain close relatives of the victim can file a wrongful death claim, as can the personal representative of the deceased victim’s estate (on behalf of the estate).

Damages differ significantly between the two claims. An injury claimant can demand economic damages (medical bills, lost work time, etc.) as well as non-economic damages (pain and suffering, for example). Although wrongful death claimants can demand compensation for all of these losses, they can also demand compensation for funeral and burial expenses, as well as the emotional losses suffered by the survivors (loss of love, care, and companionship, for example).

Damages are awarded to different parties depending on which party bore the loss – if the victim’s estate paid for the funeral, for example, funeral expenses will be awarded to the victim’s estate rather than directly to the survivors. Compensation for emotional damages are always awarded to survivors.

What is a deposition?

A deposition is a formal proceeding in which one of the parties asks questions that must be answered under oath but outside of court. A party, witness, or third party can be ordered by a judge to answer questions at a deposition, on pain of contempt of court charges if he or she does not attend. Depositions take place before trial and are used to gather information in preparation for the trial. The answers are recorded, and they can be used to discredit a witness at trial who gives inconsistent answers to the same question at deposition and at trial.

Can I file a claim if I am injured by a defective product?

Yes, you can. You might be harmed by a defective seat belt or airbag, for example, or by a defective pharmaceutical. A product liability claim, however, works somewhat differently than an ordinary personal injury claim. Although you can sue anyone in the chain of distribution of the product, you can win a lawsuit against a manufacturer without proving that the manufacturer was even negligent – if the product was defective, the manufacturer is liable. If you sue a retailer, by contrast, you will need to prove that the retailer was negligent in order to win.

What can I recover if I suffer dog bite injuries?

Many common dog bite injuries are minor. However, the experience of a dog attack leaves lasting unexpected negative effects. Common dog bite injuries include:

  • Lacerations,
  • Soft tissue tears,
  • Puncture wounds,
  • Fractures,
  • Amputations,
  • Facial disfigurement.

While some dog bites require only anti-bacterial cleansing, others require surgery and may create permanent injuries. Washington law permits you to recover damages against a dog owner in the event of a dog attack. Port Angeles dog bite attorneys work to recover the full cost of your injuries in court. Recoverable damages include everything from medical expenses to lost wages to pain and suffering. These damages comprise economic and non-economic damages and include the following:

  • Current and future medical expenses,
  • Pain and suffering,
  • Emotional distress,
  • Disfigurement,
  • Lost wages.

Port Angeles dog bite lawyers carefully review the facts of your case to determine the best path forward for your recovery.

Washington state established strict liability for dog bites. The law of strict liability establishes that a dog owner is responsible for the bite their dog inflicts upon another person. Therefore, dog owners may not be liable when a dog attack victim provoked the attack. Provocation includes such conduct as taunting, scaring, or abusing a dog. Additionally, if the dog bite occurred when the dog attack victim was trespassing on private property, damages may not be recoverable.

Experienced Port Angeles dog bite lawyers understand the liability threshold established in dog bite injuries and work to obtain just compensation for victims.

Schedule a Free Consultation with a Port Angeles, WA Injury Attorney

Contact us today to schedule your free consultation. We can help you get any compensation you are due.