Seattle Car Accident Lawyers

Experienced Seattle Car Accident Attorneys Ready To Fight For Your Claim

In 2024, there were 104,275 car accidents in Washington, according to the state-mandated Annual Collision Summary. Seattle accounted for 7,922 of these accidents, which included 38 fatalities and 2,417  injuries. An accident occurs in the state approximately every 4.5 seconds.

Don’t let insurance companies or others’ negligence take advantage of you and your future. You need an experienced Seattle car accident lawyers fighting for your rights and fair compensation.

At Brett McCandlis Brown & Conner PLLC, our legal team has decades of experience, an excellent record of success, and countless recommendations to back up our expertise. Our main office is located in Seattle.

If you or someone you love has been in a car accident, call us today to learn how we can help. Don’t settle for less. Call us first!

Our Seattle main office:

• Location: Columbia Tower, 701 5th Ave 42nd Floor, Seattle, WA 98104
• Open hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30am – 5pm
• Phone number: 206-985-9600
• Map Directions

What to Do After a Car Crash Accident in Seattle, WA

If you are involved in a Seattle vehicle accident, follow these steps.

Stop

You are required to stop at a car accident scene. If the accident is minor, move the vehicles to a safe place out of the flow of traffic. If the vehicle is inoperable, place traffic cones or flares near the accident site so that other vehicles do not collide with the parked vehicles. Turn off your vehicle and turn on your hazard lights.

Check for Injuries

Check if you or your passengers have any injuries. Check if anyone else was injured. Call for an ambulance if anyone is injured.

Report the Accident

Contact your local law enforcement agency to report the accident. An officer will be sent to the scene to assist injured passengers and will make an accident report. The report may contain useful information that will help you with your claim, including the other driver’s information and whether the other driver was cited for a traffic violation.

Exchange Information

Exchange information with the other driver, including your names, addresses, phone numbers, insurance information, driver’s license number, and make, model, and license plate number of the vehicles.

Take Pictures

If you are able, take pictures of the accident scene. Include pictures of the vehicles and the point of impact. Also, take pictures of any nearby traffic signs or signals that could have played a part in the accident. Take pictures from different angles.

Do Not Admit Fault

Do not apologize at the accident scene, even if you think you were responsible for the accident. You may not know what caused the accident, and any apology can be used as evidence against you to blame you for the accident.

Seek Medical Attention

Seek medical attention as soon as possible if you think you are injured. Follow all your doctor’s orders to minimize the impact of your injuries. Take pictures of your injuries as they progress over time.

File an Insurance Claim

If the other driver caused the accident, you can file an insurance claim against the driver’s policy. Stick to the facts and avoid guessing about anything. Do not give a recorded statement. Our experienced Seattle car accident lawyers at Brett McCandlis Brown & Conner PLLC can help you through this process if you would like.

Is Washington an At-Fault State for Car Accidents?

Washington follows an at-fault (or “tort”) insurance system. That means the driver who causes a collision is legally responsible for the victim’s medical bills, lost income, vehicle repairs, and pain and suffering. After a crash in Seattle, you typically pursue compensation through the at-fault driver’s liability insurance policy. If multiple drivers contributed to the collision, each party may share a portion of the responsibility.

Unlike no-fault states, Washington does not require victims to meet a “serious injury” threshold before filing a claim. You can pursue compensation directly from the negligent driver, regardless of the severity of your injuries. However, insurers often dispute fault, minimize injuries, or try to shift blame to reduce payouts. An experienced Seattle car accident lawyer preserves evidence and properly documents fault before the insurer has a chance to distort the facts.

Even what appears to be a straightforward crash can quickly become complicated. Factors such as speeding, texting while driving, unsafe lane changes, or driving under the influence can result in multiple layers of liability that require investigation. Having a knowledgeable lawyer review traffic camera footage, police reports, and witness statements can significantly strengthen your claim.

Common Causes of Car Collision Accidents in Washington

According to the 2024 Annual Collision Summary, the following reasons were contributing factors in many auto vehicle accidents in Washington:

• Inattention or driver distraction – 16.971 accidents involved driver inattention or distraction. This included drivers using a handheld phone, reading, writing, eating, drinking, adjusting dials, as well as distractions inside the vehicle and distractions outside the vehicle.
• Speeding – Speeding was involved in 803 fatal or serious injury crashes, resulting in 236 traffic fatalities.
• Drug or alcohol impairment – 6,374 accidents in Washington involved drug or alcohol impairment.

Common Injuries in Seattle Car Accidents and How They Affect Your Claim

Car accident injuries vary widely, but many carry long-term consequences that affect mobility, income, and overall quality of life. Documenting these injuries thoroughly is critical to building a strong claim.

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). Even mild TBIs can cause headaches, memory problems, sleep disturbances, and difficulty concentrating. More severe TBIs may require long-term rehabilitation and can significantly impact your ability to work.
• Whiplash and spinal injuries. Neck and back injuries, including herniated discs, nerve compression, and chronic pain, are among the most common injuries in rear-end collisions. These injuries may require MRIs, physical therapy, injections, or surgery.
• Fractures and orthopedic injuries. Broken bones can be extremely painful and often lead to months of reduced mobility. Severe fractures can involve hardware placement, follow-up surgeries, and long-term physical therapy.
• Internal injuries. Organ damage, internal bleeding, and soft-tissue injuries may not present immediate symptoms. Prompt medical evaluation is essential.
• Psychological trauma. Accidents can trigger anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder. Emotional injuries can be compensable and should be documented as part of your claim.

When your injuries are correctly diagnosed and treated, your lawyer can demonstrate how they affect your daily life, long-term earning ability, and future medical needs.

How Washington’s Pure Comparative Negligence Rule Affects Your Case

Washington uses a pure comparative negligence system. Under this rule, you can recover compensation even if you are partially responsible for the crash. Your final settlement or verdict, however, will be reduced by your percentage of fault.

For example, you suffered $100,000 in damages but were found 20% at fault. In that situation, your recovery would be reduced to $80,000. If you were 60% at fault, you could still recover 40% of your damages.

This system is fair in theory, but insurance companies often misuse it. Adjusters routinely argue that victims were partially responsible even when the available evidence tells a different story. A sudden stop, a “failure to yield,” or a disagreement about signal use can become leverage for the insurer to undervalue your case.

An attorney’s role is to challenge these accusations. Lawyers conduct independent investigations, work with accident reconstruction specialists, track down additional witnesses, and analyze camera footage to ensure the fault assessment accurately reflects what happened. Protecting your percentage of fault is one of the most effective ways to maximize your claim’s value.

Special Considerations for Crashes Involving Government Vehicles or Dangerous Roads

Some collisions involve Metro buses, police vehicles, state-owned utility trucks, or hazardous road conditions such as missing signage, broken traffic signals, or poorly maintained intersections. Claims against government agencies are subject to different rules and strict procedures.

Before filing a lawsuit, you must submit a formal tort claim to the appropriate government entity and wait the required period before taking further action. These claims require detailed documentation and often involve additional investigation into road design, maintenance records, or driver policies.

Government agencies also tend to dispute liability, making early representation especially important. Your attorney will preserve evidence, interview witnesses promptly, and work with experts to establish whether improper maintenance, inadequate warnings, or employee negligence played a role in the accident.

What Is the Timeline of a Seattle Car Accident Case?

Every case follows a unique path, but most claims move through several key stages. Understanding the typical timeline can help set expectations and reduce stress during recovery.

1. Immediate medical care and evidence preservation. Seeking prompt medical treatment creates a clear record of your injuries. At the same time, evidence such as photos, police reports, and witness information should be gathered before it disappears.
2. Investigation and claim setup. Your attorney collects medical records, interviews witnesses, obtains video footage, and requests relevant documentation from the insurance companies. They also notify all insurers involved that they represent you.
3. Treatment and recovery period. Before submitting a settlement demand, your lawyer needs a clear picture of your current medical condition. That ensures your claim reflects the full extent of your injuries.
4. Settlement demand and negotiation. Once your treatment path is better understood, your Seattle auto accident attorney submits a demand package that includes medical records, billing statements, wage documentation, liability evidence, and an explanation of your damages.
5. Filing a lawsuit (if necessary). If the insurance company refuses to negotiate in good faith, filing a lawsuit may be the next step. That does not mean your case will automatically go to trial; many claims still settle afterward.
6. Discovery. Both parties exchange evidence, request documents, conduct depositions, and gather expert opinions. This process is essential for building a strong case.
7. Mediation, settlement, or trial. Most cases resolve through mediation or continued negotiation. If the insurer continues to dispute liability or damages, your attorney will prepare for trial and present your case in court.

Your attorney can give you an idea of how long they expect each of these stages to take and whether they expect your case to go to trial.

Seattle Car Accident Resources

Access to reliable resources can make the aftermath of a crash less overwhelming. These local entities often play a role in documenting and managing your claim:

• Harborview Medical Center–the region’s Level I trauma center capable of treating the most serious injuries;
• UW Medical Center & Swedish Medical Center–major hospitals providing emergency care, diagnostic imaging, and specialty treatment;
• Seattle Police Department (SPD)–maintains collision reports and conducts on-scene investigations;
• Washington State Patrol (WSP)–handles crash reporting on major highways and state routes;
• King County Superior Court–the primary venue for civil lawsuits involving car accidents; and
• Seattle Municipal Court–handles certain traffic infractions and locally issued citations.

If police do not respond to the collision, Washington law requires drivers to complete a Motor Vehicle Collision Report if the crash involved injuries or more than $1,000 in property damage. Your attorney can help obtain or file this report, ensuring your claim has complete documentation.

Statute of Limitations for Seattle Car Accident Claims

Washington law limits the amount of time you have to file a lawsuit for a car collision accident. You have three years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit.

If the accident resulted in the death of your loved one, you may be able to file a wrongful death claim. The statute of limitations for filing a wrongful death claim is also three years, but it counts from the date of death. However, you should not delay in seeking assistance from our Seattle auto accident lawyers, because it will take time to develop your claim or prepare a lawsuit.

Damages Available in Seattle Car Accident Cases

If you were injured in a Seattle car accident, you may be able to recover compensation for the following damages:

• Past and future medical expenses,
• Payment for lost wages,
• Compensation for lost earning capacity,
• Property damage, and
• Pain and suffering.

Experienced Seattle car accident lawyers can review the circumstances surrounding your case and assess the potential value of your claim.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you’ve recently been involved in a car accident or if you have a loved one who has, it is understandable that you may have many questions.

Being involved in an accident of any kind can be overwhelming, and this can be particularly so if you have been injured and are experiencing the mounting pressure of accumulating medical bills, lost time from work, or other difficulties as a result of the accident.

That’s why, at Brett McCandlis Brown & Conner PLLC, our Seattle car accident attorneys are happy to answer some of the most frequently asked questions we receive about car accident claims:

Should I speak with the insurance company following my accident?

If you have recently been involved in a car accident, the insurance company for the other driver involved may attempt to contact you. It is important to keep in mind that you are not legally required to speak with the other driver’s insurance company.

As a general rule, it is always wise to consult with a lawyer first. If you make the decision to hire a qualified and experienced Seattle car accident attorney shortly after the accident, your legal practitioner will be able to handle communication with both your insurance company and the insurance company of the other driver. This should relieve a lot of stress and worry and allow you to focus on your recovery after the accident.

What if the driver who hit me was uninsured?

Though it is certainly not the ideal situation, accidents do occur where the person who caused the accident either has no insurance or has very limited insurance.

In those circumstances, it is understandable to worry that, if you are the victim of a car accident, you won’t be able to recover compensation for your damages. The good news is that this is not necessarily so.

In Washington, a mandatory coverage called “underinsured motorist coverage” (UIM) is an essential coverage intended to step in to fill the gap for the lack of coverage on the part of the person who hit you.

Consulting with Seattle car accident attorneys as to the possibility of UIM coverage in these instances is important and a wise decision as you proceed forward with your claim.

How much is my car accident claim worth?

This is a somewhat difficult question to answer, as each case has its own unique set of factors that will contribute to the amount of compensation likely to be awarded. These factors include, among other things, the extent of your injuries.

Generally speaking, the more severe your injuries, the more your case will be worth it. Other factors include the cost of any treatment and medical bills required as a result of the accident, and whether you are able to return to work following the accident, among other things. A lawyer will be able to best advise you with respect to your particular circumstances.

At Brett McCandlis Brown & Conner PLLC, our Seattle car accident lawyers are happy to answer these questions as well as to help address any other concerns you may have about filing a car accident claim.

Call our Seattle car accident attorneys today. We would welcome the opportunity to learn how we may be able to help you soon.

How long do I have to file a lawsuit after a Seattle car accident?

In most cases, you have three years to file a lawsuit. However, claims involving government agencies require a separate claim notice process before the lawsuit can proceed. Delays can harm your case, so it is best to consult an attorney as early as possible.

Can I still recover compensation if I was partly at fault?

Yes. Washington’s pure comparative negligence rule allows you to recover compensation even if you share responsibility. Your final award will be reduced based on your percentage of fault, which makes proper investigation critical.

Who pays my medical bills after a car accident?

If you have optional PIP coverage on your own insurance policy, it usually pays first. When PIP is exhausted, your health insurance may cover continued treatment, but your insurance company may expect reimbursement later if you recover compensation from an at-fault driver. The at-fault driver’s insurance is responsible for compensating you for medical expenses as part of your overall claim.

What should I bring to my first meeting with a lawyer?

Helpful documents include the police report, photos, medical records, insurance information, and any communication you’ve received from the insurance company. If you don’t have everything yet, your lawyer can obtain it for you.

Will I have to go to court?

Most cases settle without a trial. However, preparing your claim as if it will go to court increases the likelihood of a fair settlement.

Can passengers, pedestrians, or cyclists file claims too?

Absolutely. Injured passengers and vulnerable road users can pursue compensation against the negligent driver, even if that driver was operating the vehicle they were riding in.

Illustrative Example of a Seattle Car Accident

David is injured in a car accident caused by another driver, and liability is not in question since the other driver was arrested for DUI at the scene of the accident, and since a road camera filmed the accident.

David begins negotiations with the insurance company for compensation. He claims soft tissue injuries and demands, among other compensation, $20,000 for pain and suffering. The insurance company balks at this demand.

David is careless with his social networking habits, and two weeks after the accident, he uploads a photo of himself to Facebook, smiling at a party with a beer in his hand.

An insurance company investigator has been monitoring his profile and produced a screenshot of the photo during settlement negotiations, claiming that David is not suffering as much pain as he claims he is. David responds that the photo is a year old.

David is examined by two different doctors, and both of them clear him to return to work after three weeks off. David receives compensation for medical bills and lost earnings, but he is only awarded $1,000 for pain and suffering due to the social network photo. His social networking habits may have cost him $19,000.

How Our Seattle Auto Accident Attorneys Can Help

Our Seattle auto accident lawyers can assist with car accident claims in a number of ways. A qualified car injury legal practitioner will have ample experience with car accident claims and will know the steps to take to preserve your rights.

He or she can investigate your claim, determine the contributing factors, and identify all of the parties who may be responsible for your damages.

If you hire a car wreck attorney, this attorney will handle all communication with the insurance company so that you can focus on your recovery. He or she will try to negotiate a fair settlement on your behalf to compensate you for the full extent of your damages.

If the insurance company does not offer a reasonable settlement, your Seattle car accident attorneys can discuss the possibility of proceeding with a trial.

$5.5 Million, the largest jury verdict in Skagit County

– Our client was injured in a head-on collision with a drunk driver who had been released from a prior drunk driving arrest by a state trooper less than two hours before the accident. Instead of booking the drunk driver into jail or impounding her car, the trooper drove her home. The drunk driver called a taxi, returned to her car, and got back on the road, hitting our client head-on.

Golf Cart Accident caused by Drunk Driver-$215,000 Settlement

– Our client, a professional baseball player, and several teammates went to a local pub after a game. After a few drinks, the group saw an unoccupied golf cart, and poor judgment compelled them to take it for a joyride. The cart crashed into a fire hydrant, severely fracturing our client’s right ankle and ending his career in sports.

Should I Sue or Settle?

You might have to do both, although over 90 percent of all injury claims are ultimately resolved through settlement. After you make an initial demand, the defendant or his insurance company may balk, and you may have to file a lawsuit. After you file, you will be able to gather additional evidence through the discovery process.

Even if you anticipate that your claim will be resolved through settlement, the best way to motivate the defendant to settle is to be prepared to win a lawsuit against them. Once they realize that their chances in court aren’t very good, they are likely to becfome far more agreeable to your demands.

Another way to motivate the defendant to settle is by retaining Brett McCandlis Brown & Conner PLLC as your Seattle car accident attorneys because our trial record speaks volumes about our capabilities.

The Discovery Process

Discovery is a process that takes place only after a lawsuit has been filed. It allows you to demand evidence that is in the possession of someone else (typically the defendant). If the defendant refuses to comply, you can ask the court to issue an order.

If the defendant ignores the order, they could face sanctions, including possible jail time. 

Remember that the defendant has the same right to demand evidence from you (your medical records, for example).

There is no reason why negotiations cannot continue between the time you file a lawsuit and the day of the trial. Indeed, negotiations tend to intensify during this period.

If you reach a settlement, part of the terms of the settlement will be that you withdraw the lawsuit. Even during a trial, a settlement can take place any time before the court reaches a final decision.

The types of evidence that can be gathered by either party during the discovery process include:

• Depositions: In a deposition, you question the other party under oath, and the court reporter records the answers. Depositions take place out of court and before trial. If the other party makes a claim in court that contradicts what they said at a deposition, they can easily be discredited.
• Written interrogatories: Written interrogatories and written questions that the other party must answer truthfully under oath.
• Demand for production of documents: A party may demand that the other side produce documents or things, such as financial records or CCTV footage, that are relevant to the case and in the possession of the party from whom they are demanded.

All of the foregoing methods of evidence production can be employed against a third party, such as a bank, with the court’s consent.

Contact a Trusted Seattle Car Accident Lawyers Today

At Brett McCandlis Brown & Conner PLLC, our Seattle car accident attorneys are committed to helping our clients in every way possible. We are experienced litigators who are not afraid to take your case to court, if necessary.

However, we will first demand a settlement to save you from the time and stress of a trial. Our injury legal team in Seattle, WA, has successfully secured more than $100 million in compensation for thousands of clients; learn more about our impressive case results here.

Our Seattle car accident lawyer will help develop your claim to maximize your chances of winning a generous settlement or verdict.

If you were injured in a car accident, call our experienced Seattle car accident lawyers, or complete an online contact form to schedule a free consultation at our Seattle office.

We also offer a wide variety of legal services for people seriously injured in a variety of ways, including motor vehicle accidents, wrongful death claims, dog attacks, commercial trucking accidents, medical errors, pedestrian accidents, and others.