Kitsap Car Accident Lawyer

Whether it was a fender-bender or a multi-vehicle pileup, any kind of car accident can disrupt every aspect of your life for months or even years. In addition to vehicle repairs and insurance negotiations, many car crash victims also have to contend with severe injuries and associated medical expenses, lost wages, significant pain and suffering, and more.

Fortunately, you may be able to recover your damages with the help of a Kitsap car accident lawyer. An experienced personal injury attorney could guide you through the civil claims process and help you demonstrate that another reckless or careless driver owes you compensation for the harm they caused.

How Does Negligence Lead to Auto Collisions?

Civil cases involving car accidents are based on the legal theory of negligence. In order to prove that another driver was legally negligent and therefore liable for causing a car crash, you must satisfy the following criteria:

  • The defendant owed you a duty of reasonable care
  • The defendant failed to uphold their duty of care by doing something reckless, careless, or intentionally aggressive
  • The defendant’s breach of duty directly caused an otherwise avoidable car accident
  • The damages you are seeking to recover stemmed directly from the collision in question

Every licensed driver who operates a vehicle on a public road in Washington has a duty to drive safely. However, proving that another motorist’s breach of care directly caused your injuries can be difficult without legal representation.

Establishing another party’s fault for an auto collision requires preserving and effectively presenting numerous types of evidence. A local attorney could help you collect evidence like police reports, traffic camera footage, and eyewitness and expert testimony to support your car wreck case.

Recovering Damages after a Local Car Crash

One of the most important things to consider before pursuing civil litigation is role of contributory negligence. Revised Code of Washington §4.22.005 states that if a civil plaintiff is partially responsible for their own damages, the court can proportionately reduce their damages by their assigned percentage of fault.

Additionally, R.C.W. §4.16.080 sets a statutory filing deadline of three years on most personal injury cases. This means that a car accident victim who waits longer than three years after their collision to file suit may be barred from recovering any compensation at all. Representation from a skilled car wreck lawyer in Kitsap is important not only for proving liability by another party, but also for ensuring that these legal roadblocks do not prevent you from pursuing the compensation you deserve.

Discuss Your Legal Options with a Kitsap Car Accident Attorney

If you were injured in a car crash because of another driver’s carelessness, you should consider filing a civil claim against them for the physical, financial, and personal losses you suffered as a result.

A Kitsap car accident lawyer from our firm could be a steadfast legal advocate in your fight to pursue civil restitution. Call today to learn more or to set up an initial meeting to discuss your case.

Jeniece LaCross, Attorney At Law

Jeniece LaCross, Attorney At Law
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