Brett McCandlis Brown & Conner — Washington Car Accident Attorney

An injury accident is sudden, painful and – all too often – emotionally devastating. In addition to the pain, shock, and disorientation you are likely to feel, more than a little anger may be justified when you discover that the accident was the result of some other party’s inexcusable carelessness. Meanwhile, financial pressure is another stress you have to deal with, as medical bills pile up and lost work time accumulates. At this point, it’s time to seek quality legal representation and contact our proven Washington State car accident attorneys.

A Washington car accident attorney at Brett McCandlis Brown & Conner wins cases the old-fashioned way: through the hard work that is absolutely necessary to master every detail of your case. We will craft a legal strategy that is as unique as the facts of your case are and as responsive to your individual concerns as it is possible to be.

Being in a car accident can turn your world upside down. Let’s work together to understand your rights and get the compensation you deserve so you can focus on healing and moving forward.

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We realize that every case is different and that ultimately it is our client, not us, who makes the operative decisions in the case. Our job is to clarify your options for you, execute whatever instructions you give us, and keep the process as stress-free for you as possible so that you can concentrate on recovery.

Our Washington State car accident lawyers work on a contingency basis. This means that you don’t have to pay us anything upfront – we get paid if and only if we win the case and bring home a verdict or settlement for you. We are able to offer you these terms because our Washington auto accident attorney wins 97 percent of our accident and injury cases. Although most of our cases are resolved out of court, we are well-prepared for a courtroom battle if the other side insists on one.

We pride ourselves on serving the residents of our communities, professionally and passionately. Unfortunately, we usually meet these individuals (our clients) in the midst of precarious situations like car accidents. Even so, each car wreck lawyer at our firm considers themselves fortunate to work alongside such truly incredible members of our great state; their strength and resilience never cease to amaze us.

Our Results Speak for Themselves

Our Washington State car accident attorneys at Brett McCandlis Brown & Conner don’t see themselves as handling cases so much as serving people who are often overwhelmed by the circumstances they face – people like:

Hailey French: We secured a $5.5 million jury verdict for Ms. French, yet another victim of a head-on drunk driving collision. The verdict was awarded against not only the drunk driver herself (who was unlikely to be able to pay a $5.5 million verdict) but also the Washington State Patrol and the Whatcom County District Court Probation Department.

Dr. X (name withheld by request): We secured a $1.75 million settlement in favor of Dr. X for a rollover freeway injury that fractured his spine and caused a closed head injury. Most of this amount represented compensation for lost future earning capacity, even though he was 56 years old at the time of the accident.

Please view our case results page for further examples of the success of our Washington car accident lawyers. These outcomes depend on the facts of the case and do not predict the result of another claim.

How Much Is My Car Accident Claim Worth in Washington?

There is no fixed formula for valuing a Washington car accident claim. The amount depends on the severity and lasting effects of your injuries, how the crash affects your work and daily life, the strength of the evidence, how fault is divided, and what insurance coverage is available.

A Washington car accident attorney can evaluate those factors together rather than looking only at the medical bills you have today.

What Factors Affect the Value of a Washington Car Accident Claim?

Several facts can materially change the value of a claim:

• The severity and future effects of your injuries. Extensive treatment, permanent limitations, or future medical care can increase the losses involved, but future damages need evidentiary support rather than speculation.
• The effect on your income and ability to work. Lost wages matter, but so can reduced earning capacity if the injury limits the work you can perform in the future.
• The strength of the evidence. Medical records, physician opinions, employment records, photographs, video, and witness testimony can help establish what happened and how the crash affected you.
• Your share of fault. Under Washington’s comparative fault law, being partly responsible does not automatically bar recovery. Instead, your compensatory damages are reduced in proportion to your percentage of fault.

That is why the question, “How much is my car accident claim worth?” usually cannot be answered by simply adding medical bills and lost wages.

How Can Insurance Coverage Affect What You Actually Recover?

The value of your losses and the amount available to satisfy them are separate questions.

Under Washington’s financial responsibility law, the applicable minimum bodily injury liability limits are $25,000 for one person and $50,000 for two or more people in one accident. Serious injuries can exceed those amounts.

Other coverage may matter. Washington law on underinsured motorist coverage generally requires UIM coverage to be included in qualifying auto policies unless the named insured or spouse rejects all or part of that coverage in writing. UIM coverage may become important when the at-fault driver has no insurance or insufficient insurance to cover the damages you are legally entitled to recover.

A car accident lawyer in Washington State can review the losses and available coverage together before you decide whether a settlement fairly reflects your claim.

What Are Common Reasons for Washington Car Accidents?

Car accidents happen daily on Washington’s roads, from Seattle’s urban streets to the state’s winding rural highways. While some accidents result from bad luck or unpredictable conditions, many have clear, avoidable causes. Below are some of Washington’s most common accident causes that give rise to legal claims.

Distracted Driving

Distracted driving continues to be one of the leading causes of accidents. With smartphones at everyone’s fingertips, drivers often take their eyes off the road to send a text, check a notification, or fiddle with their GPS. Washington’s laws prohibit texting while driving, but more than just a phone can be a distraction—eating, changing the radio, or chatting with passengers can all lead to dangerous mistakes.

Drunk Driving or Driving Under the Influence (DUI)

Despite strict DUI laws in Washington, impaired driving remains a serious issue. Alcohol, recreational marijuana, and certain medications can reduce a driver’s reaction time, impair judgment, and increase the risk of a crash. DUI accidents often happen late at night or on weekends when intoxicated drivers are more likely to be on the road and can result in severe injuries.

Speeding

Speed limits exist for a reason, but drivers often ignore them, especially on highways like I-5 and I-90. Speeding reduces the time a driver has to react and increases the force of a collision’s impact. Many accidents occur when drivers are impatient or push their luck, assuming they can handle higher speeds safely, only to find out otherwise.

Reckless Driving and Aggressive Behavior

Frequent lane changes without signaling and road rage incidents can involve dangerous drivingare all forms of reckless driving. Drivers in a hurry may weave through traffic or follow too closely, creating conditions ripe for a rear-end collision or multi-car pileup.

Failing to Yield the Right of Way

Intersections are hotspots for accidents, often caused by drivers failing to yield the right of way. Whether it’s running a red light, turning left in front of oncoming traffic, or misjudging another vehicle’s speed, these errors can result in dangerous collisions. Pedestrians and cyclists are especially vulnerable when drivers fail to yield.

Tailgating and Following Too Closely

Impatience on the road often leads to drivers following too closely, leaving little room to react if the vehicle ahead stops suddenly. Tailgating is especially dangerous at high speeds and in heavy traffic, where a moment’s lapse in concentration can cause rear-end collisions that ripple through multiple lanes of traffic.

Poor Weather Conditions

Rain and its driving risks are part of living in Washington. Wet roads increase braking distances, and hydroplaning can occur when water builds up on the road surface. In winter, snow and black ice add another layer of danger, especially for people unprepared to drive in slick conditions.

Vehicle Defects and Mechanical Failures

Sometimes, the problem isn’t the driver but the car itself. Brake failures, tire blowouts, and malfunctioning lights are common causes of accidents. Regular maintenance is essential, but accidents caused by defective auto parts may open the door for product liability claims.

Can You Explain How a Washington Auto Accident Lawyer and I Will Move Through the Claims Process, Step by Step?

Car collision claims proceed in accordance with a certain logic. Not all claims proceed in the exact sequence as listed below, and most claims do not complete all of the listed steps (because most claims are settled before trial).

Initial Investigation

If you were not seriously injured in the accident, try to gather evidence at the scene of the accident. Take photographs of the vehicles and skid marks, for example, or get contact details from witnesses. Either way, your lawyer will conduct an investigation of the accident. They may discover, for example, that a local business had a surveillance camera that filmed the accident. This record can be subpoenaed as evidence in court.

Medical Treatment

Medical treatment is important not only for your personal well-being but as a way of gathering evidence concerning the nature and severity of your injuries and when you sustained them (so that the opposing party cannot say they were not caused by the accident). Medical records are considered highly credible evidence that is difficult to refute.

Filing a Claim with the Insurance Company

Once your doctor certifies that you have reached Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI), you can file a claim with the insurance company that will adequately inform the insurance company of the nature and extent of your losses. It is normally the insurance company that makes the offer (that is inevitably far too low), if it doesn’t reject your claim outright.

Settlement or Lawsuit

If the insurance company won’t settle for a reasonable amount, you might need to file a formal lawsuit to light a fire under their feet and show them you mean business. Another reason for filing a lawsuit is that it entitles you to participate in the discovery process, by which you can demand certain evidence that is in the possession of the other party.

Filing a lawsuit doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll go to trial. In fact, at this point, the odds are still good that your case will settle before the trial date.

The Discovery Process

During the discovery process you can question the defendant under oath while the court reporter records the answers; issue written interrogatories that the defendant must answer truthfully; and demand that the defendant produce certain documents. In some cases, you can even make demands of third parties. The defendant can make similar demands of you.

Further Negotiation

With time growing short before trial and evidence being clarified through the discovery process, negotiations tend to intensify. Many claims are resolved at precisely this point.

Trial

At trial, it will be up to you and your attorney to prove that your claim is valid. The standard of proof, however, is much lower than it is in criminal court. The applicable standard is “a preponderance of the evidence,” which means that the claim is more likely true than not.

Do I Need a Lawyer After a Car Accident in Washington?

Not every car accident requires an attorney. A minor collision involving only property damage, clear fault, and no significant dispute may be manageable without full personal injury representation.

Legal help becomes more useful when:

• Your injuries are serious or still developing. Future treatment, lasting limitations, or time away from work can make a claim harder to value.
• Fault is disputed or shared. Under Washington’s comparative fault law, your compensation may be reduced according to your percentage of responsibility rather than automatically eliminated.
• Insurance coverage is uncertain. The responsible driver may not have enough coverage to address the full loss.
• More than one party may be responsible. Multiple motorists, employers, commercial defendants, or government entities can complicate liability.
• The insurer is pressing for an early settlement. Your future medical and financial losses may not yet be clear.

If you are asking, “Do I need a lawyer after a car accident?” focus on how much remains uncertain and how much is at stake. A Washington auto accident attorney can evaluate the evidence, losses, and available coverage before you make decisions that may affect your recovery.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – Washington Car Accident Lawyers

What Should I Do Immediately Following a Car Accident?

The first thing to do immediately after an accident is to call emergency medical attention if anyone has been severely injured. Remember that, even if no one appears injured, injuries can still be possible. If you suspect an injury, see a medical professional right away.

Next, call the police to report the accident. Be sure that a police report is created if the accident caused significant damage. Then, exchange the following information with the other driver(s):

• Names of drivers, any passengers, and witnesses;
• Addresses of drivers, any passengers, and witnesses;
• The insurance companies representing the drivers;
• Names of the registered owners of all vehicles involved; and
• Driver’s license numbers, license plate details, and vehicle details (make, model, etc.).

Following this exchange, notify your insurance company that there’s been an accident. Throughout this entire process, be sure to never assume responsibility for the accident. Finally, try to remain calm and seek legal assistance if you have questions or concerns.

How Is Fault Determined in an Auto Accident?

Washington is a “fault” insurance state, meaning that you can file a claim with the at-fault driver’s liability insurance policy or, pursue a claim against the responsible driver. If the driver has no insurance, your own UM coverage may also apply. To win your claim, you and your auto accident lawyer will work together to prove that the defendant was careless (negligent), that this negligence caused the accident, and that you suffered actual damages.

How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Claim After a Car Accident In Washington?

The Washington statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits is generally three years from the accident date. However, taking prompt action is important to preserve your legal claim. Meeting with one of our skilled accident attorneys as soon after your accident as possible will help ensure you meet all deadlines.

Can I Win If the Accident Was Partly My Fault?

Yes. Under Washington’s comparative fault law, being partly responsible for an accident does not automatically prevent you from recovering compensation.

Instead, your compensatory damages are reduced according to your percentage of fault. For example, if you suffered $100,000 in compensable damages but were found 35 percent responsible for the accident, your recovery would generally be reduced by 35 percent.

The percentage assigned to each party can therefore have a significant effect on the value of the claim.

What If a Government Vehicle or Employee Caused My Crash?

Claims involving a city, county, state agency, or government employee may require additional procedures.

For claims against a local governmental entity, Washington law governing claims against local governments generally requires the claimant to present the claim to the designated government agent before filing suit and then wait 60 calendar days. The applicable limitations period is tolled during that waiting period.

Claims against the State of Washington are subject to a similar rule. Under Washington law governing tort claims against the state, a qualifying tort action generally cannot begin until 60 calendar days after the claim is presented to the Office of Risk Management. The limitations period is tolled during that period as well.

Identifying a government defendant early matters because these requirements differ from an ordinary driver-versus-driver claim.

Should I Accept an Insurance Settlement If I Am Still Receiving Treatment?

Be cautious about resolving a bodily injury claim before you understand the likely course of your recovery. Ongoing treatment may reveal future medical needs, lasting limitations, or work-related losses that were not clear shortly after the crash.

Before accepting an offer, review any release carefully and make sure you understand what the settlement resolves and whether your medical and financial losses are developed enough to evaluate it. A Washington car accident attorney can review those issues before you make a final settlement decision.

Can I Win a Claim Against the Car Manufacturer If My Airbags Failed to Deploy?

Possibly, if you can show that a defect caused the airbag’s failure and that the failure caused or increased your injuries.If you were injured in a car crash, for example, the manufacturer may be liable for the extent to which the failure to deploy increased your injuries, not for the accident itself.

Can I Still Recover Damages If the At-Fault Driver Was Uninsured?

Yes. If the at-fault driver is uninsured, you may file a claim through your uninsured motorist (UM) coverage if you have it. Our experienced attorneys can also help you explore other potential avenues for recovery, such as third-party liability.

Should I Talk to the Insurance Company or Sign a Statement?

You may need to notify and cooperate with your own insurer under your policy terms. Before giving a recorded statement or signing a release, however, make sure you understand what the insurer is requesting and how it could affect your claim. A lawyer can help you respond.

My Injuries Will Prevent Me from Ever Returning to My Previous Occupation. Can I Recover Damages for the Loss of My Career?

Yes, in most cases, if you can prove that it was your injury that forced you to abandon your career. If the injury was work-related, however, workers’ compensation rules might limit your recovery.

Am I Automatically at Fault If I Rear-Ended the Other Vehicle?

No, but Washington law generally places the primary duty to avoid a rear-end collision on the following driver. A rear-end collision can create a prima facie showing that the following driver was negligent.

That does not make liability automatic. Evidence of an emergency, an unexpected stop, defective brake lights, or other unusual circumstances may affect the analysis. The facts surrounding the collision still matter, including the drivers’ speeds, following distances, visibility, and opportunities to react.

A Washington car accident attorney can investigate those circumstances and evaluate whether another driver’s conduct contributed to the crash.

Can I Claim Against a Company That Hired the Commercial Driver Who Hit Me?

Possibly. A company may sometimes be responsible for a commercial driver’s negligence, but the answer depends on the relationship between the driver and the company and what the driver was doing when the crash occurred.

Whether a driver is legally considered an employee or an independent contractor is fact-dependent and can vary with the legal context. Relevant facts may include the company’s control over the driver’s work, the terms of the relationship, and whether the driver was acting within the scope of employment or another relationship that may support liability.

Because commercial vehicle cases can involve several potentially responsible parties, the driver’s employment classification should not be assumed from the job title alone.

What Types of Compensation Can a Car Crash Lawyer Recover for Me?

Depending on your case, a skilled Brett McCandlis Brown & Conner car crash lawyer may be able to secure compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, property damage, pain and suffering, and emotional distress. We can help calculate your losses and pursue compensation that reflects them.

Can I Obtain Punitive Damages?

No, unfortunately. Washington does not allow punitive damages in civil cases unless they are specifically authorized by statute. This is a limitation that many in the Washington legal profession would like to see changed. Hiring a proven and knowledgeable Washington state car accident attorney Brett McCandlis Brown & Conner who understands all of the laws of Washington state is vital to you and your case.

My Loved One Was Killed in an Auto Accident. Can I Sue on Their Behalf?

If your loved one was killed in a car wreck, the personal representative of the deceased person’s estate may bring a wrongful death action for the benefit of eligible family members.

Under Washington’s wrongful death law, beneficiaries generally include:

• Spouse;
• State-registered domestic partner;
• Children;
• Stepchildren; and
• Parents or siblings, if the deceased left no spouse, registered domestic partner, child, or stepchild.

Parents and siblings do not have to prove financial dependence under the current general wrongful-death statute.

Contact us today, and we’ll walk you through claim eligibility, your options, and potential outcomes.

Our Other Practice Areas

Drunken driving accidents: A criminal conviction might take an at-fault driver off the road for a while, but it won’t necessarily secure you any compensation. A lawsuit, however, is designed to do just that. In some cases, we are able to sue third parties as well, such as a commercial driver’s employer or an establishment that served the driver alcohol.

Wrongful death: A wrongful death claim can arise from an accident that would give rise to a personal injury lawsuit if the victim had lived; this includes careless driving, medical malpractice, and even murder. The personal representative brings the claim for the benefit of eligible beneficiaries.

Bicycle accidents: A bicycle can be invisible to a motorist – at least until an accident occurs. Bicycle accidents are frequently catastrophic due to the rider’s lack of frame protection, and they are often caused by the motorist failing to take into account their blind spot. If you have been injured in a bicycle accident, contact our injury lawyers today!

Motorcycle accidents: Motorcycles combine a bicycle’s lack of frame protection with an automobile’s high speeds. This combination can be deadly, regardless of whether or not the rider is wearing a helmet. Wrongful death lawsuits are particularly common in motorcycle accidents, as are catastrophic injury claims.

Head and brain injuries: Head and brain injuries interfere with the body’s command and control functions. Symptoms can include paralysis, dementia, personality changes, seizures, memory loss, and other serious impairments. These types of injuries are particularly common in motorcycle and truck accident cases, and damage awards depend on the injuries and their effects. Hiring experienced Washington car accident attorneys can help you get the compensation you deserve, which can help offset medical bills, emotional distress, and lost job income.

Trucking accidents: A commercial truck can crush a mid-sized car like a steamroller. Since commercial truck drivers are subject to a multitude of regulations, personal accident and injury lawsuits often focus on violations of these regulations. In some but not all cases, it is possible to sue the trucking company as well as the driver.

Defective drugs: Harm caused by a defective drug is the result of an “accident” that occurs inside your body. A drug may be classified as defective due to a design defect, a manufacturing defect, or simply the failure to warn of a risk in taking it. A lawsuit might be filed against a manufacturer, a distributor, or a doctor who negligently prescribed it.

Other types of accidents. No shortlist can encompass every conceivable type of injury. Our personal injury lawyers also represent injured parties in accidents arising from boating accidents, medical malpractice, and slip and fall accidents, just to name a few.

Contact Our Washington Car Accident LawyersToday!

When it comes to legal services, let the buyer beware – anyone with a law license can hang out a shingle and practice in nearly any field of law. It takes a lot more, however, to develop into a top-tier Washington car accident injury law firm. With over $100 million in compensation secured for our thousands of satisfied former clients, our injury and car accident attorneys are confident in our ability to maximize your chances of winning a generous verdict or settlement.

At Brett McCandlis Brown & Conner, fighting for justice for our clients is what we do all day, every day. Few Washington personal injury lawyers in the state have secured compensation for as many clients, settled as many claims, or won as many courtroom verdicts as Brett McCandlis Brown & Conner has. If you have been injured in a car crash that you believe may have been at least partly someone else’s fault, contact our Washington State car accident lawyers today at 1-206-488-1462 or fill out our online contact form so that we can contact you to schedule a free case evaluation. Our law firm has several offices in Washington State, including one in Seattle.

Legal References Used to Inform This Page

To ensure the accuracy and clarity of this page, we referenced official legal and other resources during the content development process:

• Washington’s comparative fault law, RCW § 4.22.005.
• Washington’s financial responsibility law, RCW § 46.29.090.
• Washington law on underinsured motorist coverage, RCW § 48.22.030.
• Washington law governing tort claims against local governments, RCW § 4.96.020.
• Washington 60-day waiting period after presentment of a qualifying tort claim to the Office of Risk Management before suit may be filed, RCW § 4.92.110.
• Neh Kuh Neh v. Tiblets Tebabal, Washington Court of Appeals — addresses the evidentiary support required for future medical expenses and reinforces that future losses cannot rest on speculation.
• Washington wrongful death, actions and beneficiaries, RCW § 4.20.010 – .020.
• Jones v. Huaracha-Angel, Washington Court of Appeals — explains the following driver’s primary duty to avoid a rear-end collision and recognizes that an emergency or unusual condition can rebut a prima facie showing of negligence.