How Is Negligence Defined in Traffic Accident Cases?

“Negligence” is the legal principle behind many of the personal injury claims generated by traffic collisions. If you have been injured by a negligent driver in Lacey, Olympia, or anywhere in the state, discuss your rights with an Olympia traffic accident attorney at Capital Injury Law.

If you’re injured in an accident, you will need to know what constitutes legal negligence and how to prove negligence in a court of law. You’re reading a brief introduction to negligence and the law in Washington, but if you are actually injured in traffic, you will need to consult a traffic accident attorney immediately.

What Is Pure Comparative Negligence?

Injury claims that are generated by traffic accidents in this state are subject to Washington’s “pure” comparative negligence rule. Pure comparative negligence allows personal injury victims to receive compensation even when they are partly responsible for an accident.

Under pure comparative negligence, a Washington civil court may reduce a personal injury compensation sum proportionately, based on the victim’s percentage of fault in an accident.

For example, if your damages after a car wreck are calculated at $20,000, and if the jurors determine that you were 20 percent responsible for an accident, your compensation will be reduced by 20 percent to $16,000.

Pure comparative negligence is one reason why every driver in the State of Washington should adhere to the traffic laws and drive responsibly and safely, but it also means that an injury victim may be 99 percent at fault for an accident and still recover one percent of his or her damages.

How Will a Personal Injury Attorney Handle Your Case?

If you have sustained a catastrophic or disabling injury in a traffic accident, you will require the maximum compensation amount that’s available. Treatment for the most severe internal injuries, brain injuries, or spinal cord injuries may cost several million dollars over a lifetime.

If you have been injured by a negligent driver, and if you need to recover compensation, you must be advised and represented by an attorney who understands how car insurance companies negotiate injury claims – a lawyer who will negotiate the best possible settlement on your behalf.

In the State of Washington, most personal injury claims are resolved privately and outside of the courtroom. In the rare cases when a claim is denied or disputed, a Capital Injury Law attorney will take your case to trial and fight – aggressively and effectively – for the full compensation you are entitled to by law.

Take These Measures After a Traffic Injury

After you’ve been examined and treated for your injury by a medical professional, schedule a consultation with an Olympia traffic accident attorney at Capital Injury Law. Your first consultation with a personal injury lawyer is provided with no cost or obligation.

At your first meeting, a Washington personal injury attorney will offer personalized legal advice and explain how the law applies to your own case. You will pay no attorney’s fee to Capital Injury Law unless and until we recover the compensation you need and the justice you deserve.

In Lacey, Olympia, or elsewhere in Washington, if you’re injured because someone else was negligent, contact Capital Injury Law now to learn more about personal injury claims or to begin the legal process.