Experienced Tacoma Personal Injury Attorneys Serving WA & Pierce County
Tacoma, Washington, in Pierce County, enjoys an enviable location on Puget Sound. Despite its high quality of life, however, Tacoma is not immune to the multitude of possible misfortunes that plague any city, including personal injury. In mitigation, Tacoma personal injury victims can count on the superb care provided by first-class local medical institutions such as the St. Joseph Medical Center, and the Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital. Medical care is not enough, however.
For more than four decades, the aggressive Tacoma personal injury lawyers at Brett McCandlis Brown & Conner PLLC, have been fighting for the rights of injured people and grieving families throughout the state of Washington.
We’re proud to be a part of Tacoma’s rich fabric of small businesses and outstanding community members. When life unleashes the unexpected, our team is here to help make things right again.
Personal Injury Basics
Personal injury cases can take many forms. To give you a full and accurate evaluation of your unique case, we offer free, confidential, no-obligation case consultations. Once we talk to you, we can give you more information about your specific and unique case.
Every case has a deadline by which it must be filed. The deadlines for filing depend on what your exact personal injury case involves. The deadline to file your personal injury case is fast approaching or may have already passed. Even if it has been a year or two (or sometimes even more), your case is worth evaluating and addressing.
Many people worry that hiring an attorney to handle their personal injury case is expensive. However, the truth is that it costs you nothing out of pocket to hire an attorney to handle your case. We handle personal injury cases on a “contingent fee” basis. This means, basically, that we do not get paid unless you get paid. We pay for the costs and expenses of handling your case out of pocket, and we are reimbursed once you receive your final financial settlement or judgment. This system ensures that you receive the legal help you need, regardless of your financial situation. It also ensures that we are able to hire the best experts and utilize the investigative tools of our choice to make sure that your case will be successful.
You can win financial benefits from your case in one of two ways: in court or outside of court. Many cases settle outside of court, either via negotiations undertaken by your lawyer or in a mediation or settlement conference. This means that you receive a financial settlement without ever having to set foot in a courtroom for your case. However, if your case does not settle, it may proceed to court. Your skilled Tacoma injury attorney will present your case to the court and ask the court to award you a judgment for your case.
When you hire a Tacoma personal injury attorney to handle your case, you are opening the door to much larger financial gain with much less headache. We take over your case completely and handle every aspect of your legal situation. Our trusted Tacoma personal injury lawyer will keep you updated on the progress of your case, and we are always available to answer questions regarding your case and the legal process.
Car Crashes & Pedestrian Accidents Are Common in Tacoma
Though its population officially hovers around 200,000, the people of Tacoma know that the actual metro size is considerably larger than that.
That’s because Tacoma is the central economic hub for the entire South Sound region, which boasts a population of more than 1 million. Many of those people travel to or through Tacoma regularly, and that means that “Grit City” sees more traffic than its Census data might suggest.
Accordingly, auto accidents are all too common. In particular, distracted driving and drunk driving have proven consistently problematic.
Likewise, despite Tacoma having landed on Prevention.com’s list of “The Most Walkable Cities in America,” bicycle and pedestrian accidents are a fact of life here, too.
As Tacoma personal injury attorneys, we routinely recover compensation on behalf of injured drivers, passengers, and pedestrians throughout Tacoma and Pierce County, Washington.
We know that insurance companies frequently underestimate the actual cost of damages, and we’re here to demand that victims get every penny that they’re owed under the law.
Other Personal Injury Accidents in Tacoma, WA
With more than 40 years of experience, our Washington personal injury lawyers have seen it all. We’re ready to represent any personal injury claim, no matter how big, small, or unusual it might seem. Our team has a tremendous record of results, including victories in medically complicated cases. Whatever you’re going through, we’d like to help.
In addition to pedestrian injuries, our legal team is prepared to assist with:
- Workplace injuries
- Medical errors
- Railroad accidents
- Slip and fall
- Dog attacks
- City transit accidents
- Car crash accidents
- Truck crash accidents
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Airplane accidents
- Boating accidents
- Severe or catastrophic injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Dangerous or defective products
- Dangerous drugs (pharmaceutical liability)
- Wrongful death claim
- Much more
You vs. The Insurance Company
It’s important to understand the role that insurance companies play in most injury claims today. No matter who’s at fault for your accident – a bad driver, a negligent employer, a careless doctor, an inattentive neighbor, etc. – your claim is likely to end up on an insurance company’s desk.
Unfortunately, despite their catchy commercials and slogans to the contrary, America’s insurance companies don’t represent your interests. They aren’t invested in protecting your rights, and you can’t count on them to give you a fair deal.
You should never agree to a settlement offer with an insurance company – and never sign any forms – without talking to an experienced Tacoma injury lawyer first.
After all, if the insurance company thinks that it’s a good deal for them, it’s probably a bad deal for you.
You may be entitled to much more than you realize. Our Tacoma personal injury lawyers will work hard to make a clear path toward optimal compensation for your claim.
Insurance companies are large and powerful, but they have to play by the rules. Having an experienced and aggressive legal team in your corner can make all of the difference. That’s what we’re here for.
At Brett McCandlis Brown & Conner PLLC, we’ve recovered millions of dollars in compensation for our clients. We know how to challenge and defeat insurance companies. Let us fight them for you.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What types of damages are available?
You are entitled to compensation for both tangible and intangible losses, including:
- Past, present, and future medical bills;
- Past, present, and future lost earnings;
- Other expenses related to your injury such as babysitters and travel to and from doctor’s appointments; and
- Intangible harm such as pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life.
If you die from your injury, your family may be eligible for wrongful death damages, which are different from personal injury damages (but still substantial).
How are “pain and suffering” damages calculated?
Pain and suffering damages are a measure of the physical pain you endured. Although they do not compensate for emotional trauma, other types of damages are available for that purpose. Pain and suffering damages often amount to well over half of the total value of a damages award. You can prove pain and suffering damages through:
- Your statements (if you are considered a credible witness);
- The statements of expert medical witnesses; and
- Physical evidence such as MRIs and X-rays.
Should I file a lawsuit or just settle out of court?
Most people end up settling out of court — but you precisely can file a personal injury lawsuit, and possibly win, which provides you with the negotiating leverage you will need at the bargaining table. Filing a lawsuit is a good way to pressure your opponent to settle before the trial date arrives.
How does the comparative negligence defense work?
If the accident was partly your fault and partly the defendant’s fault, damage liability will be apportioned between you in proportion to your relative degrees of fault, expressed as a percentage.
What are my legal options if someone died in the accident?
If the victim is killed in the accident or dies later from his injuries, the personal injury claim held by the victim is converted into a wrongful death claim. Under Washington law, the following parties are permitted to file a wrongful death claim:
- The personal representative of the probate estate;
- The spouse or domestic partner; and
- The children or stepchildren.
If none of the relatives listed above are living, the parents, sisters, or brothers may file a claim.
Special rules apply if the victim was under 18 at the time of death.
Can I correct a factual error in the police report?
It is unlikely that the police will agree to change the contents of a police report. This is unfortunate because errors occur frequently. The police may, however, allow you to file your statement, which should be drafted by your legal practitioner.
Can I settle my case out of court?
In most cases, this is not only possible but probable. The vast majority of personal injury claims are settled out of court. Even out of court, however, you will need the credible threat of winning a lawsuit to enhance your bargaining power.
Illustrative Examples
Comparative Fault: Suppose you are injured in a two-car collision. Your damages are $30,000 and the other driver’s damages are $5,000. The court rules that the accident was 10 percent your fault and 90 percent the other driver’s fault. Since 90 percent of your damages is ($30,000 x .90) = $27,000, the other driver will owe you $27,000. Since 10 percent of the other driver’s damages is ($5,000 x .10) = $500, you will owe the other driver $500. Setting these two amounts against each other yields a net result of $26,500 in your favor.
Pain and Suffering: You suffer a broken collarbone and a broken leg in a slip and fall accident. After negotiating with the insurance company, you reach a settlement stating that you will be paid three times the amount of your medical expenses in pain and suffering damages (which is not an uncommon multiplier). Since your medical expenses total $7,300, you receive $21,900 in pain and suffering damages, plus additional damages for medical expenses, lost earnings, etc.
Time Matters. Act Fast.
In litigation and insurance claims, timing is everything. The State of Washington applies strict time limits to most injury claims, so it’s in your best interest to take action as soon as possible.
It is always a good idea to see a doctor after a physical accident – even if you don’t think you’ve been injured. Many of our clients were surprised to learn that their accidents were more serious than met the eye.
Even among those who weren’t catastrophically injured, a documented visit to the doctor has sometimes helped to establish the seriousness of their claims.
Of course, in any medical emergency, your first course of action should be to dial 911.
The Sooner You Contact Our Tacoma Personal Injury Attorneys, The Better
Soon after seeking medical attention, give our Tacoma personal injury lawyers a call. We can connect you with the resources you need right away. We also offer free consultations to explain your rights and outline your best next steps.
Contact our proven and winning Tacoma personal injury attorneys, Paula, Matt, Dave, and Dean today. Remember: We don’t get paid unless you do! You have nothing to lose. Call us right away.
