Longview Personal Injury Lawyers You Can Trust Serving WA
Getting Help When Disaster Strikes
At Brett McCandlis Brown & Conner PLLC, our Longview personal injury lawyers and wrongful death attorneys have helped hundreds of clients facing the difficult and trying times that you are currently experiencing. Personal injury law is not just our job, it is our mission – we absolutely will not allow you to be taken advantage of by streetwise insurance claims adjusters or anyone else responsible for your loss. Contact our Longview personal injury lawyers today at 1-800-925-1875 or fill out our online contact form for your free consultation.
About Longview, WA
Longview, Washington sits on the edge of Cowlitz County at the junction of the Cowlitz River and the Columbia River. Fortunately, its population of 37,000 is enough to rescue it from the doldrums of small-town life while avoiding the traffic, crime, and urban blight that is so common in big cities.
Longview residents celebrate their local heritage through activities such as the Squirrel Fest summer festival (which began with the construction of the town’s unique Nutty Narrows squirrel bridge on Olympia Way), the Longview Grand Prix Criterium bicycle race, and regular performances at the Stageworks Northwest Theatre.
Longview also has a beautiful dog park at Gerhardt Gardens. This fenced-in park is maintained by the City of Longview and Friends of Off-Leash Areas and provides a great place for dogs to run free. But be careful because off-leash areas can leave you vulnerable to a dog attack. It is easy to forget that Longview is no more immune than any other place is to hidden dangers that can strike without warning.
Longview is geographically connected to the rest of the country through SR 4, SR 432, and the Lewis and Clark Bridge (a.k.a. the Longview Bridge) across the Columbia River. Unfortunately, State Route 4 and State Route 432 have a tendency to become congested with high-speed traffic during certain periods, and the asphalt can be an unforgiving place to try to steer your way out of a dangerous traffic situation. When a serious accident happens in Longview, it is usually an auto accident, although many other types of activities can pose equivalent risks, like a serious slip and fall or dog bite injury. Contact our local and highly experienced Longview personal injury lawyers to get the legal representation you need.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are “loss of consortium” damages?
Loss of consortium is typically used as an element of damages in personal injury and wrongful death cases when there is a particularly close relationship between the victim and the plaintiff, such as a spousal or parent-child relationship. In a marital context, it most often refers to the loss of sexual intimacy by the plaintiff when a spouse is killed or seriously injured. In a parent-child relationship, loss of consortium generally refers to the loss of love and companionship by either the parent or the child (depending on who the plaintiff is). Loss of consortium claims are particularly difficult to settle out of court.
Should I settle my claim out of court or file a lawsuit?
The vast majority of personal injury and wrongful death claims are settled out of court. The reasons for this are that: (i) trials can be expensive; and (ii) courts, especially juries, can be highly unpredictable. Nevertheless, it is often necessary for a plaintiff to file a lawsuit simply to push the defendant (typically an insurance company) to offer a reasonable settlement. Just because a lawsuit has been filed doesn’t mean that the claim will be resolved by a court – the parties can settle at any time, even five minutes before a verdict is reached. To discuss your situation with proven and committed Longview personal injury lawyers, contact us anytime.
Can I sue an automobile manufacturer over a car accident?
Yes you can, if you can produce evidence that the accident was the fault of the automobile manufacturer due to a defect in the car. You can also sue the manufacturer of an auto part. If you rely on a theory of strict product liability, under certain circumstances, you can sue anyone in the chain of distribution of the defective automobile. You might be able to sue a parts distributor, for example, for a manufacturing defect even though the distributor did not manufacture the part.
What can I do if the other driver was uninsured?
Washington is a “fault” auto insurance state, meaning that the at-fault driver’s insurance company is liable for any auto accident damages caused by that driver. Washington drivers are required by law to carry liability insurance with coverage limits of no less than $25,000 per injured driver, $50,000 in injuries per accident, and $10,000 for property damage. If the at-fault driver nevertheless failed to maintain liability insurance, or if your claim exceeds the policy limits, you generally have two options:
- Claim against the at-fault driver in his or her personal capacity and hope that he or she has enough resources to pay the claim; or
- File a claim against your own insurance policy. Uninsured motorist insurance or underinsured motorist insurance is likely to cover your loss, although many Washington drivers do not carry this kind of insurance because no law requires it.
Of course, you might get lucky – if the driver was an on-duty employee of a company, you should be able to sue the company for damages.
What If I’m the Victim of a Serious Dog Attack?
If you’ve been the victim of a dog attack, you may be wondering what to do next. Depending on how severe your dog bite injuries are, you may be permanently disfigured or seriously disabled.
All dog owners need to be responsible for their dogs all the time–not just when they’re off-leash. If you’re legally on public or private property when you’re attacked, the dog’s owner can potentially be held liable. A member of our team can help you understand your rights after a severe dog attack.
Ways We Can Help
At Brett McCandlis Brown & Conner PLLC, we’re ready to represent you in any kind of case. Not sure if you have a case? You can set up a free case review without any obligations whatsoever. Reach out and talk with our experienced personal injury lawyers today.
Longview, Washington Legal Practice Areas
Our law firm’s personal injury practice areas include:
- Automotive & Transportation Accidents
- Airport / airplane accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Bus crashes (and other public transit injuries)
- Car crashes
- Dog bite injuries
- DUI / DWI injuries
- Motorcycle crashes
- Pedestrian accidents
- Taxi and ride-sharing accidents
- Texting and driving accidents
- Tractor-trailer accidents
- Train and railroad injuries
- Medical Malpractice
- Birth injuries
- Dental malpractice
- Doctor errors
- Medication mistakes
- Nurse’s errors
- Nursing home negligence
- Pharmaceutical company liability
- Surgical malpractice
- Other Personal Injury Cases
- Defective consumer products
- Property-related injuries
- School sports accidents
- Slip and falls
- Spinal cord damage
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Workplace accidents
- Wrongful death
Schedule Your Free Consultation with Brett McCandalis Brown & Conner PLLC.
Contact Us Today – Your Longview Personal Injury Lawyer
Pedestrian Struck by a Train-$3,500,000
How do you get sufficient damages for an industrial worker who leaves his work station, borrows his employer’s front-end loader, parks it across a railroad track at 2:00 A.M., dismounts to load the bucket with railroad ties for his own personal use, and fails to notice an oncoming train?
Closed Head Injury in a Rollover-$1,750,000
Our client was in a high-speed, roll-over freeway accident, resulting in multiple spine fractures and a closed head injury that ended his career as a physician. Since his insurance company denied full coverage by arguing that at 56, our client was near retirement and didn’t need to work. Attorney Dean Brett established that without the accident, our client would have continued to work at least ten more years, resulting in a wage loss claim of $1.2 million and a total settlement of $1,750,000.
Fractured Leg of Pedestrian-$490,000
Our client was an elite runner who trained up to 20 miles a day, 6 days a week. During a run he was hit by a 17-year-old driver who had fallen asleep at the wheel, causing serious orthopedic and head injuries including tibia/fibula fractures, ligament injuries, ankle and foot injuries which ended his career as a top-level marathon runner.
Pedestrian’s Multiple Fractures Lead to Nearly $450,000 Settlement
Our client was walking her dog when she was struck in a marked crosswalk by a 23-year old driver. The force of the impact threw Jane onto the car. Her injuries included fractures to her arm, leg, rib, and facial bones.
Call our experienced personal injury lawyers today at 1-800-925-1875 or complete our online contact form to schedule your free initial consultation. Our highly experienced and helpful Longview personal injury lawyers can discuss your case with you and advise you of your options.
