One of the first questions people ask is, “What is personal injury”? It is the worst kind of injury.

Under the law you can recover money for the loss of things, or damage to things you own. You can even recover money for the loss of a reputation, or the loss of business clients or contracts. You can recover money for the loss of many things. However, these are not considered “personal injuries”.

A personal injury case is the legal system’s way of trying to compensate you for the loss of your physical health and well being. When a personal injury occurs, your physical body has been damaged in some way, in other words, you’ve suffered an injury. Many times, mental suffering (such as depression, uncontrollable worrying, or post traumatic stress disorder) will accompany the physical pain and suffering of an injured person. An injury to the physical body will also result in an injury to the psyche.

Sometimes a personal injury is life changing; such as a brain injury, traumatic amputation, quadrapalegia, parapalegia, or spinal cord injury. Often, personal injuries will get in the way of you living your life and enjoying the things you used to enjoy, like working, taking care of your home responsibilities, or leisure activities like playing golf.

What happens when someone rear ends you at a stop light or hits you on the highway? They take away your good health through their negligence. No one has the right to damage another person physically. When this is done purposefully, it becomes a criminal matter. When this is done as a result of negligence, it becomes a civil matter; also known as a personal injury case.

When you suffer a personal injury because of another person’s negligence you have the right to recover monetary damages (money). Unfortunately, money cannot really compensate anyone for suffering a physical injury. As a Bellevue personal injury lawyer, I often see this in the case of the severely injured, such as someone who is so injured that they become a paraplegic. The paraplegic may “win” a large settlement or jury verdict in a personal injury case – but they haven’t really won. Would you trade places with that paraplegic for a large sum of money?

What many people don’t realize is that large sums of money are often awarded to those with severe injuries simply to pay for the cost of their ongoing medical care. A person who requires hospitalization or constant care and attention may very well spend millions of dollars over the course of their lifetime just to stay alive. The money recovered for the victim in personal injury cases rarely makes anyone “rich” or “set for life”. It simply tries to compensate them for what they have lost; trying to put them back in the place they were before the injury. The truth is that money can never fully compensate someone for a physical loss. It is simply the best way our legal system has to try to make up for that loss.

Luckily, the majority of personal injury cases do not involve catastrophic injuries like paralysis. The majority of personal injury cases result from an accident that cause non life threatening injuries. Many people involved in auto accidents find themselves needing to see a medical doctor, chiropractor, or physical therapist for some time to work out the sprained and strained muscles in the back and neck. Even a seemingly small accident can cause very painful injuries to these muscles. It often becomes difficult to sit at the computer or to do any lifting or pulling at work or home. These injuries can also affect the relationships the injured person has with other people, most significantly their family. A person with back or neck pain and injuries may not be able to help out with household chores or even perform sexually. This inability to do everything they used to do causes a strain in the family relationships on many levels. In fact, the damage to the family or spousal relationship may result in a legal claim on behalf of the children and spouse of the injured person called a “loss of consortium” claim.

The typical personal injury case may not seem very meaningful to some. However, once it happens to you it doesn’t take long to realize that even minor injuries can have a seriously detrimental effect on your life and your relationships with those around you. The loss of your physical health due to another person’s negligence is something that deserves compensation. This is why it is crucial to speak to an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible after an accident to be sure your rights are protected.

Car accidents are an unfortunate reality of modern living. We live in a society where everyone piles into cars to go places. The roadways are often crowded. While most drivers do their best to be careful and vigilant, unfortunately accidents still occur. Most accidents result from someone’s negligence, which usually means that they just weren’t being as careful as they should have been, or misjudged the location of cars. Often times accidents happen when someone is distracted when driving by something inside their car, or they were looking another direction.

No matter how an accident happens, if you’ve been injured in one it is important to speak to an experienced Washington personal injury lawyer to determine if you have a case. In Washington drivers are required to carry auto insurance by law, so most of the time, if you’ve been in an accident you will be dealing with an insurance company and the insurance adjusters.

Insurance companies are big business. They are in business to make money, not to pay claims. One way they can maximize their corporate profits is by trying to get people who are entitled to be compensated because of an injury to take as little money as possible. Insurance companies and adjusters have a large bag of tricks that they will use to try to get you to take as little money as they can get you to take in order to settle your case.

The best way for you to ensure that you are treated fairly is to hire your own lawyer to represent your best interests. Hiring an experienced Seattle auto accident attorney can be the difference between getting what you are entitled to and getting run over by the insurance company. Before you sign anything or speak to an insurance company, I recommend you order a copy of the free book I wrote for Washington Auto Accident victims.

If you’ve been injured in car accident, a personal injury claim may be your next step, but do you know how the process goes? There are many steps to between your accident and receiving compensation. These are some of the important phases and definitions that you should know before starting your case.

There are three basic steps to proving your case. You must first determine what act of negligence caused the accident. Examples of negligence are running a red light, failing to yield for oncoming traffic, or not permitting a pedestrian to cross at a cross walk. Next you must show upon whom the liability falls or in other words, who is to blame. While this may seem simple and clear, unfortunately usually it is not. There are many technical legal arguments that an insurance company attorney can make to try to pin the blame on you, the victim.

However, once you are over that hurdle, the damages need to be assessed. Damages are the money that can make up for, or compensate for, the injuries that were caused by the negligent conduct. While money can never make up for an injury, it can help pay the medical bills or reimburse you for lost time at work. Damages come in two forms: special and general. Special damages are concrete and are basically payment for medical bills, medications, etc. General damages are more fuzzy and cover vague concepts like pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life and are not set-in-stone numbers. All of these parts require evidence in order to be proven and it takes expertise to know where to look for the best evidence that will document the necessary facts to prove a case.

Now that you know what you must prove in your case and what you have to win, understanding the steps of the process is the next step. Firstly, there is a time limit for you to file your claim called the statute of limitations. In Washington State that limit is generally 3 years from the day of your accident. If you don’t file a claim (start a lawsuit) within 3 years, then you may never be able to receive compensation for that accident. Once a lawsuit is filed then comes the discovery phase in which both sides learn more about each others’ case. This may include depositions (a witness testifies under oath), independent medical exams, etc., interrogatories, and motions before the court. After each side has all the information they need, the parties begin to have meaningful settlement negotiations. If a settlement can’t be reached then the parties can agree to alternative dispute resolution, where you present the case to a seasoned lawyer in attempts at coming to a fair solution. Another way is mandatory arbitration which is the state’s way of trying to settle smaller cases. And lastly, if the claim cannot be settled in any other way, it goes to trial in front of a judge or a jury.

To get your claim started, it is important to gather as much information as you can from the accident scene. Also, get to know your insurance policy. It is important to know what your insurance covers and what it doesn’t, so you know what your rights are. The more you understand about your case, the better your chances are.

Riding a motorcycle and all of the thrills that come with it is something that you have to experience in order to understand it. I have experienced it and I understand. To help injured motorcycle riders in Washington, I am offering a free copy of the Straight Talk Law: The Truth About Washington Motorcycle Accidents. My book will explain the process and guide you through what to do and what to expect. In fact, my book will do something that most attorney’s hate; I will tell you that you may not need to hire an attorney at all!

I also know what it’s like to be in a motorcycle accident. If you’ve been in a similar situation, you know all of the feelings that come along with it. Luckily, I wasn’t seriously injured. However, many people that are unfortunate enough to have a motorcycle accident are not so lucky. That’s when the questions start running in your head. Who is going to pay all the medical bills? How will I get my bike fixed? What should I do when the insurance company calls me? Unfortunately, motorcycle accidents are complicated, sometimes even more complicated than car accident cases. The insurance company will always try to create an issue in a motorcycle case. If it’s not an issue of fault, then it’s an issue of injuries, what caused the injuries, and sometimes they will even rely on the jury’s perceived bias against motorcycle riders.

It is important to understand the process and terminology of a motorcycle accident personal injury case. There are three basic steps to proving your case. You must first determine what act of negligence caused the accident. For example, making a left hand turn directly in front of a motorcyclist who has the right of way is probably negligent. Next you must show upon whom the liability falls or in other words, who is to blame. While this may seem simple and clear, unfortunately usually it is not. Insurance companies believe that juries do not like motorcyclists in general. They will try to use that to pin some degree of fault on the injured victim. Due to the complicated nature of motorcycle accident injury cases, it is important that you speak to an experienced motorcycle Seattle motorcycle accident lawyer to be sure that you are being taken care of.

However, once you are over the liability hurdle, the damages questions begin. Damages are the money that can make up for, or compensate for, the injuries or harms that were caused by the negligent conduct. While money can never really fully make up for an injury, money can help pay the medical bills or reimburse you for lost time at work. Money can also help fix the things that can be fixed, and make up for the things that can’t be fixed (like your health).

Damages come in two forms: special and general. Special damages are concrete and are basically payment for medical bills, medications, surgeries, hospital stays, etc. General damages are less clear and cover vague concepts like pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life. These numbers are often hard to determine and are highly subjective from case to case. They are not set-in-stone numbers. For a motorcycle rider, this can include the post-traumatic stress of not being able to get back on your bike. All of these elements require evidence in order to be proven and it takes an experienced personal injury lawyer to know where to look for the best evidence that will document the necessary facts to prove a case.

It is also important to understand the claims process. This process is largely the same in all personal injury cases. You must know that there is a time limit for you to file your claim, called the statute of limitations. In Washington State generally that limit is 3 years from the day of your accident. In other words, if you don’t file a claim (start a lawsuit) before the three year anniversary date of your accident, then you can never file a claim about that accident and all of your legal rights evaporate. Once a lawsuit is filed the discovery phase begins. In discovery both sides learn more about each others’ positions in the case. This may include depositions (a witness testifies under oath), interrogatories (written questions under oath), and independent medical exams, etc. After each side has all the information they need, the parties will often see if the case can be settled through negotiations. If negotiations fail, then there are several possible paths to resolve your case, depending on how things go. The first is alternative dispute resolution where you present the case to a seasoned lawyer in attempts at coming to a fair solution. Another way is mandatory arbitration which is the court’s way of trying to settle smaller cases in a quick and efficient manner. And lastly, if the claim cannot be settled in any other way, it goes to trial in front of a judge or a jury.

For a better understanding of how this will all work for you, please check out my free book, or give me a call.

When someone you love dies due to the wrongful acts of another the loss is overwhelming. Not only do you have to deal with your loved one being gone, but there is also the basic human need for justice to be done. The cause of death may be a car accident or a mistake-riddled medical procedure. Washington state law allows the family members of the deceased individual to file a claim on behalf of the estate of the lost loved one for the benefit of the statutory beneficiaries (typically the spouse and children of the decedent). The case can only be filed by the personal representative of the deceased, but it can be for the benefit of all of the heirs. These cases are typically very complicated, and require the services of an experienced Seattle wrongful death attorney.

While it is impossible to bring our loved ones back to us, it is possible to recuperate some form of compensation for the loss endured. This is the best that our system of justice can provide for the loss of a loved one. In Washington, the estate of the decedent and the beneficiaries are entitled to recover both economic and noneconomic damages, with the only limit on the amount being what a jury deems reasonable. Economic damages are the monetary contributions that the decedent would have contributed to his family, including the amount of lost wages over the course of work life expectancy. Noneconomic damages are the intangible losses of support, love, affection, care, and companionship that the individual would have provided. Additionally, the estate can recover for the pre-death pain and suffering that your loved one endured. This compensation is hoped to allow the family the peace of mind that they will not be thrown in to poverty or out of their normal life because of the loss of a family member.

There are special conditions set into place when the decedent is a child under 18 years of age. Parents are permitted to file a claim for a minor child whom they supported. However, when the death is of an adult child a special showing must be made for the parents to have a claim. In that case the parents must be able to show that the adult child contributed to their financial support in some way. It does not need to be monetary. For example if the adult child helped his parents by providing translation services or some other services, it may be sufficient under the law. When proof of financial support can be shown, the family may recover with the same types of damages as if the decedent had a spouse or children. A wrongful death settlement in this scenario allows the dependent parents the peace of mind that they will be taken care of at least financially. Damages can be recovered for medical and hospital expenses, loss of services and support, as well as loss of love and companionship and the destruction of the parent-child relationship.

If the death resulted from a personal injury caused by another person, for example a car accident, then the claims can be combined. For more information about personal injury claims, click on the Car Accident page of this website. I have been working as a lawyer since 1999 and vow to help you get the compensation that you deserve in your wrongful death claim.

Pedestrian collisions have lead to some of the most serious injuries that I have seen from any of my clients. Pedestrians are all but helpless when it comes to avoiding a car driven by a negligent driver, and the force of the vehicle makes for a devastating collision. In the vast majority of cases I have seen as a Washington auto accident attorney, the driver of the vehicle that hits the pedestrian is at-fault. These incidents can lead to the accumulation of very expensive medical bills and years of treatment. Because of this, if you have been involved in a pedestrian collision, it is crucial to seek the legal advice of an experienced Seattle personal injury attorney to even your fight against the at fault driver’s insurance company. The fact of the matter is that pedestrian accidents are going to happen in heavily populated areas such as Bellevue, Tacoma and Seattle. To reduce your risk of being hit by a car when walking down the street, make sure you are always aware of the road signs and of any drivers that appear to be driving recklessly. If you happen to be injured by an automobile as a pedestrian and would like to speak with an experienced Seattle pedestrian collision lawyer, give my office a call at (206) 285-1743. I offer free initial consultations to accident injury victims, and will give you the straight forward information you need on whether or not you have a case and need to hire an attorney.

Washington Pedestrian Collisions

Every year, the statistics showing the amount of pedestrian collisions are pretty shocking. In the state of Washington in 2009, there were 1,786 pedestrian collisions. 287 of these accidents (about 1 in every 6) resulted in serious injury. While this number is strikingly high, it makes sense because of the lack of protection pedestrians have to guard against the force of a moving vehicle. Fatalities are also proportionately high, with 61 wrongful deaths resulting from pedestrian collisions in 2009. These statistics may come as a shock to many people, but it is the need for information like this to be better understood that lead me to start Straight Talk Law. Having handled personal injury cases for over a decade, I understand how to fight the insurance companies to get pedestrian collision victims the money needed to cover their damages. The statistics mentioned earlier, however, are not meant to stop people from walking, but rather to show through further investigation, how and why they happen.

Here are some of the main factors involved in pedestrian collisions:

Type of Road: The vast majority of pedestrian collision accidents take place on city streets. This is simply a matter of numbers. City streets contain the greatest number of pedestrians and cars, and with it, the greatest potential for a pedestrian collision. With offices in Bellevue and Seattle, we simply just have to look outside of our windows here at Straight Talk Law to see why there were 1,215 collisions on city streets last year in the state of Washington. Crowded streets can be difficult for drivers to navigate, and pedestrians can do themselves a favor by being aware of this. The most interesting fact to know about the location of pedestrian collision accidents, is that state routes (highways and freeways) consistently have more fatalities than city streets every year. In 2009, there were only 391 collisions on state routes, but 29 of them proved to be fatal. Cars travel at much higher speeds on freeways and highways, which means that a small mistake could prove fatal to someone walking on the side of the road.

Pedestrian Age: Analyzing the pedestrian collision statistics even further shows that there is a correlation between pedestrian age and the amount of collisions. The three age ranges involved in the most collisions in 2009 were between the ages of 10 and 24. In fact, 1 out of every 3 pedestrian collisions involved people in this age range. These numbers are a clear example of why it is so important for parents to teach their children to be alert and aware when walking around. Once kids reach this age range, they will be walking around a lot more without parental supervision, so it is crucial to provide them with a strong base of knowledge on how to be safe as a pedestrian.

Crossing the Street: The overwhelming majority of pedestrian collisions are caused in some way by the driver not yielding the right of way to a pedestrian. In 2009, over 1,000 pedestrian collisions took place in a marked or unmarked crosswalk. Pedestrians need to always be aware of the fact that some drivers may be distracted or driving under the influence, which greatly increases their likelihood of running a red light or stop sign. As a pedestrian, this shows why it is so important to look both ways before crossing the street, but if you get hit and injured while legally crossing the street, you deserve money to pay for your damages. If you would like the advice of an experienced Seattle or Bellevue personal injury lawyer, give the Straight Talk Law office a call at (206) 285-1743 and we can set up a consultation free of charge.

How can I Help You?

If you have been involved in a Pierce or King County pedestrian collision accident, I can help answer any question you may have regarding your legal rights. When you sit down with me for a free consultation, you can be sure that you will get nothing but honest and straight forward answers. I’ll even tell you what many other lawyers won’t: you may not need an attorney for your case. Either way, it is my goal to provide you with the valuable resources and information that you need for your claim.

If you have sustained a pedestrian collision injury and would like some free advice on what you should do next and how to deal with the insurance company; fill out the contact form in the “contact Jason” tab, or call us at (206) 285-1743. We have a long history of bringing injured victims the money they deserve to compensate for their accident damages. If you have been injured in a pedestrian collision and someone else was to blame, call us today for a free consultation and case evaluation. In fact, if we handle your case, you pay absolutely no legal fees unless we win.

Bicycle accidents are more common here in Washington than in many other states, in large part because so many people like to get outdoors around here. Bicyclists share the road with cars, but many drivers seem to not understand this fact. A high number of bicycle accidents occur in roadways every year, and can cause serious injury to the bicyclist. When this happens as a result of the car driver’s negligence, the bicyclist should seek the advice of a seasoned personal injury attorney to see if they have a case. The bicycle rider should not be stuck with paying the bills in these cases, and as an experienced Seattle bicycle accident attorney, I know how to deal with the insurance companies to best get you the compensation you deserve. Bicycle accident injuries can be very severe, and can result in a lifetime of problems. As a Seattle and Bellevue injury attorney, I have dealt with numerous bicycle accident cases and can level the playing field for you against the insurance companies that will be looking to lower or deny your claim.

Washington Bicycle Accidents

There were a little over 1,300 bicycle accidents in 2009 in the state of Washington alone. 110 of these resulted in serious injuries, and as could be expected, almost every single one of them produced some sort of minor injury. The majority of these accidents were collisions with cars, and for the most part, were the fault of the car driver. Unfortunately, even when wearing a helmet, bicyclists have very little protection against the force of a car. 9 bicyclists were tragically killed in Washington bicycle accidents in 2009. If a loved one of yours died in a fatal bicycle accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you may have grounds for a wrongful death case. As an experienced Seattle wrongful death lawyer, I offer free initial consultations to anyone who has lost somebody in an accident and needs advice. There are few things better than riding a bicycle around on a nice sunny day and you shouldn’t have to be afraid of the monetary consequences if you happen to be hit by a car. With over a decade of experience fighting insurance companies as an injury attorney, I know what it takes to get my clients the money they need to cover their damages.

So what factors play the biggest roles in bicycle accidents?

Distracted car drivers: The vast majority of bicycle accidents are caused by car drivers. Police reports show that in just under half of the bicycle accidents in 2009, a car failing to yield the right of way was a contributing circumstance. Driver inattention or distraction is very dangerous to bicyclists who have little to no time to react and get out of the way. This is one of the main reasons I founded the organization “Teens Against Distracted Driving.” If I can help increase knowledge about the dangers of cell phone use in cars, then maybe the roads will be a little safer for people on bicycles. If you have sustained an injury in a bicycle accident caused by a distracted driver, give Straight Talk Law a call at (206) 285-1743 for a free initial consultation.

Location on the road: Most Washington bicycle accidents occur in the roadway because that is where the most bicycle traffic is. Many streets have bicycle lanes, and those that do not, allow bicyclists to ride in the same lane as cars. While most accidents happen on the roadway, it is important for bicyclists to understand that they have every right to be there unless signs explicitly say otherwise. Not only is it legal to ride your bicycle on the road, it is much safer than on the sidewalk or anywhere else. While bicycles in the street may upset drivers, it is much easier for them to notice you there and avoid an accident. When riding your bicycle, there is even more that you can do to lower your risk of an accident. Check out this article on bicycle accident prevention tips for more.

How Can I Help You?

If you have been in a bicycle accident and were injured as the result of someone else’s negligence, I am here to answer any question you have and give you the advice you need on your personal injury case. If you have been in a Seattle or Kirkland bicycle accident, check out these bicycle accident FAQs.

I have over a decade of experience representing people who have been injured due to someone else’s negligence. If you have been injured in a bicycle accident and someone else was to blame, call me today for a free consultation and case evaluation. In fact, if I handle your case, you pay absolutely no legal fees unless I get you money.

The unique issues presented in injury cases that involve children under 18 years old can only be properly handled by an attorney with years of experience working on personal injury cases. Having worked as a Seattle injury lawyer for over a decade, I have developed the specialized skills and experience needed to work with minors. When a child is injured, it is the responsibility of the parents to involve themselves in the filing of the lawsuit. It is also critical to hire an experienced Washington injury attorney in these cases, because the injuries sustained by a child may have long lasting consequences that will need to be covered in the damages. Serious injuries suffered by a child can be difficult on the entire family, and it is part of a lawyer’s job to remove as much stress as possible during the legal process. I have years of experience fighting insurance companies and know how to best represent my clients to get them the money they deserve. When dealing with injuries to children, I make sure that any long lasting effects of the injuries will be accounted for, and that the child receives justice for what he or she had to go through.

Injuries to Children and Minors in Washington

In order for a parent or a legal guardian to bring about an injury lawsuit on behalf of their child, the injury must have been caused by a negligent act of someone else. In the case of a minor, negligence is more difficult to define, because there is an elevated standard of care around children, but it’s also commonly understood that kids are more prone to injury. In a situation where fault is cut and dry like a car accident caused by another driver, this issue does not come into play. In another situation like your child being injured on the playground at school, evidence showing negligence on the behalf of the teachers or councilors is necessary. Aside from negligence, the damages of a child injury cases is the most important aspect. Injuries can have very long lasting effects, and it is the attorney’s job to make sure the child gets the money needed to cover the recovery. This takes a seasoned personal injury lawyer that has a strong knowledge of injuries and knows the most effective strategies in dealing with insurance companies. If your child has been injured due to someone else’s negligence, and you would like to speak with an experienced Washington child injury lawyer, give my office a call at (206) 285-1743.

Children and adults can get injured in many of the same ways, but there are also some that are generally unique to younger kids. So where do these occur, and what can a parent do to help reduce the risk of serious injury?

Car Accidents: The majority of Washington personal injury cases that involve minors are due to auto accidents. While this affects the entire range of kids between 0-18, it is not necessarily for the same reason. An injury can occur at anytime as a passenger for minors, but for 16 and 17 year olds, there is an added danger as an inexperienced driver when they get their license. While there is nothing a parent can do sometimes to prevent their kid from being injured by a negligent driver, there are steps that can be taken to reduce the risk of serious injury for their children. For more information, check out this list of parental resources. As for teens that are driving, their risk of being hit by a negligent driver is even greater, because they do not yet have the experience to notice and avoid them. The most important thing a parent can do is teach their kids proper driving safety so they are not the ones causing the accidents. I founded the organization “Teens Against Distracted Driving,” to help educate young drivers about the dangers of cell phone use in cars. For more information, click the preceding link.

Playground Accidents: Every year, over 200,000 kids are treated in United States hospitals for playground-related injuries. Many of these do not have grounds for a personal injury lawsuit, because many occur with parental supervision, or in public schools or day care centers without an act of negligence. There are times, however, when a playground injury does warrant a personal injury claim. When it is caused because of a lack of proper playground maintenance, or overtly negligent supervision, then a parent may be able to pursue legal action. Playground injuries have the potential to lead to some long term injuries that require the expertise and knowledge of experienced Seattle child injury attorneys.

Water Accidents: Injuries that occur due to a lack of water safety are also one of the leading causes for injuries amongst younger children, and could provide grounds for a personal injury lawsuit. Drowning is the second leading cause of injury death for children under 14 years old, and sends a great deal more to the emergency room for injuries that result from extended submersion. As in all other child personal injury cases, any type of water accident has to be the result of someone else’s negligence. Some examples of this are improper safety in a pool area, poor maintenance, and other acts that do not live up to a reasonable standard of care.

How Can I Help You?

At Straight Talk Law, it is my mission to answer any and all injury questions you have. Hopefully some of your questions have been answered here, and if you have more that you would like to know, please do not hesitate to contact me.

As an aggressive Seattle personal injury attorney with years of experience in successfully representing people who have been injured due to someone else’s negligence, I have won millions of dollars for past clients and will do whatever I can to help your child recover the maximum possible compensation. If your child has been injured and someone else is to blame, call me today for a free consultation and case evaluation. In fact, if I handle your case, you pay absolutely no legal fees unless I win.

Spinal cord injuries (SCI) are usually caused by some sort of accident. These accidents cause life-changing injuries to the victim, often paralyzing or inhibiting their range of motion. Apart from the devastating nature of these injuries, added insult can come when it is caused by another individual, even if by accident. 44% of all spinal cord injuries are caused by car accidents, making it the largest causation category. Other common causes of SCI are slip and fall accidents (22%) and sporting accidents (8%).

A spinal cord injury is the result of a brunt force acting upon the very sensitive nerve column in the back. The strength of this force, which can come from a powerful car crash, a tackle gone wrong, or landing wrong from a fall, can dislocate the vertebrae of the spine. Apart from being immensely painful, the movement of these vertebrae can crush spinal discs and nerves in the spinal cord. These nerves are responsible for carrying important information from areas of the body to the brain. If these nerves or their pathways to the brain are damaged or destroyed, all communication between these parts of the body and the brain can be severed. Spinal cord injuries range from minor nerve damage to complete paralyzation.

Spinal cord injuries are classified into two categories: complete and incomplete. Complete SCIs are incidents where all sensory and motor control is lost below the point of injury, in other words, paralysis. Incomplete SCIs are the result of less serious nerve damage where some to most control is maintained.

If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury due to the fault of another person, hiring an experienced Seattle injury lawyer can help you get the money you deserve to cope with your difficult future situation. While no settlement can reverse an accident or bring full mobility back, it can help you continue on without losing everything. Settlement money is usually paid by the insurance company of the party at fault in the accident and is used to cover medical and other lifetime care expenses and income lost as a result of the accident. This includes medical care and medication, nursing care if necessary, pain and suffering, and loss of income if you can no longer perform the job you held before the accident. Settlements often come in two forms: lump sum or structured settlements. A lump sum settlement gives you the entire amount initially and gives you the freedom to use it as you choose. Unfortunately for some, it means spending it all unwisely, leaving none for the future. Others manage to invest it wisely and end up with enough to cover all the expenses in the long run. A structured settlement gives the victim a fixed amount each month until death, just like a pay check. This amount is usually tax-free and adjusted for inflation and rising cost-of-living. Both options have their advantages and disadvantages and it is a good idea to discuss your options with your lawyer when you arrive at that stage of your claim.

I am fortunate enough to have my main law office in Bellevue, and have been witness to the enormous growth the city has seen in recent years. Unfortunately, with such a large population, the number of car accidents has grown to over 2,000 per year. A large percentage of these accidents are caused by drunk or distracted drivers who crash into an innocent victim. My job is to help these innocent victims when the accident leads to an injury. As a Bellevue car accident attorney, I have seen a lot of these collisions lead to serious injuries that require expensive medical treatment. The insurance companies make it very difficult for injured victims to get the money they deserve, which is why it is often necessary to hire an experienced Bellevue injury lawyer to fight for these claims. For a free consultation, click the “Contact Jason” tab, or call my office at 888-333-1873. I have the expertise and knowledge to help you out with any of the following types of cases: car accident, motorcycle accident, wrongful death, construction site injuries, pedestrian collision, bicycle accidents, truck accident, child injuries, dog bite injuries, brain and spinal cord injuries, and many other types of accident injuries.

Bellevue Car Accident Attorney

Bellevue Car Accident Statistics:

2009 –    Total Collisions: 2,585

Minor Injuries: 996

Serious Injuries: 19

Fatal Collisions: 1

Alcohol Involved Collisions: 105

Bellevue Motorcycle Accident Attorney

Bellevue Motorcycle Accident Statistics:

2009 –    Total Collisions: 40

Minor Injuries: 34

Serious Injuries: 7

Fatal Collisions: 0

Bellevue Bicycle Accident Attorney

Bellevue Bicycle Accident Statistics:

2009 –    Total Collisions: 32

Minor Injuries: 29

Serious Injuries: 2

Fatal Collisions: 0

Bellevue Pedestrian Collision Attorney

Bellevue Pedestrian Collision Statistics:

2009 –    Total Collisions: 35

Minor Injuries: 32

Serious Injuries: 3

Fatal Collisions: 0

How can I help you if you have been injured?

An accident injury can put people into a very confusing situation, but using my experience as a Bellevue car crash lawyer, I can help you get back on your feet. Give me a call at 888-333-1873 to set up a free initial consultation, or go to the “Contact Jason” tab at the top of the screen.

As an experienced auto accident attorney, I can help you if you live anywhere in the Puget Sound region from Tacoma to Everett. Check out my other city-specific auto accident pages:

• Bellevue car accident lawyers
• Bothell car accident lawyers
• Burien car accident lawyers
• Issaquah car accident lawyers
• Kent car accident lawyers
• Kirkland car accident lawyers
• Lynnwood car accident lawyers
• Mercer Island car accident lawyers
• Redmond car accident lawyers
• Renton car accident lawyers
• Sammamish car accident lawyers
• Seattle car accident lawyers

I have also written a number of books that can help you with your Washington auto accident. Click the preceding link to get them for free.

Auto accidents are an unfortunate reality of daily life, even in a city as small as Bothell. With the amount of people commuting back and forth from Bothell to Seattle or Everett, car accidents inevitably happen. When a collision or crash is caused by the negligence of another driver, then it is important for the accident victim to get the money he or she needs to pay for the damages. Serious injuries can result as well, which can lead to very high medical bills. While the other driver’s insurance should pay for this, they will likely fight you on it, which is why it is usually a good idea to seek out the advice of an experienced Bothell injury lawyer. As the founder of Straight Talk Law, I will give you the honest advice that you need, even if that means telling you that you do not need a lawyer. For a free consultation, click the “Contact Jason” tab, or call my office at 888-333-1873. I have the expertise and knowledge to help you out with any of the following types of cases: car accident, motorcycle accident, wrongful death, construction site injuries, pedestrian collision, bicycle accidents, truck accident, child injuries, dog bite injuries, brain and spinal cord injuries, and many other types of accident injuries.

Bothell Car Accident Lawyer

Bothell Auto Accident Statistics:

2009 –    Total Collisions: 685

Minor Injuries: 279

Serious Injuries: 28

Fatal Collisions: 0

Alcohol Involved Collisions: 35

Bothell Motorcycle Accident Attorney

Bothell Motorcycle Accident Statistics:

2009 –    Total Collisions: 17

Minor Injuries: 12

Serious Injuries: 4

Fatal Collisions: 0

Bothell Bicycle Accident Attorney

Bothell Bicycle Accident Statistics

2009 –    Total Collisions: 10

Minor Injuries: 5

Serious Injuries: 3

Fatal Collisions: 0

Bothell Pedestrian Collision Attorney

Bothell Pedestrian Collision Statistics:

2009 –    Total Collisions: 6

Minor Injuries: 6

Serious Injuries: 0

Fatal Collisions: 0

How can I help you if you have been injured?

An accident injury can put people into a very confusing situation, but using my experience as a Bothell car crash lawyer, I can help you get back on your feet. Give me a call at 888-333-1873 to set up a free initial consultation, or go to the “Contact Jason” tab at the top of the screen.

As an experienced auto accident attorney, I can help you if you live anywhere in the Puget Sound region from Tacoma to Everett. Check out my other city-specific auto accident pages:

• Bellevue car accident lawyers
• Bothell car accident lawyers
• Burien car accident lawyers
• Issaquah car accident lawyers
• Kent car accident lawyers
• Kirkland car accident lawyers
• Lynnwood car accident lawyers
• Mercer Island car accident lawyers
• Redmond car accident lawyers
• Renton car accident lawyers
• Sammamish car accident lawyers
• Seattle car accident lawyers

I have also written a number of books that can help you with your Washington auto accident. Click the preceding link to get them for free.