According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), rear-end collisions are the most frequent type of car accident in the United States, accounting for 29 percent of all crashes. Of the nearly 2 million rear-end collisions that take place each year, about 1,700 people die and another 500,000 are injured.
Driver distraction is by far the leading cause of rear-end collisions. When a driver does not notice the vehicle in front of them in enough time to slow down or stop, serious injures can occur.
A Tacoma rear-end collisions lawyer with Ben Crump Law, PLLC can review your case, determine who was responsible for your accident and fight for compensation on your behalf. First, we will attempt to negotiate with the at-fault driver’s insurance company. If we are unable to reach a fair settlement, we can file a personal injury lawsuit and take your case to court. To learn more, contact our team today at (844) 730-0233 for a free consultation.
Seeking Compensation for Your Losses
After a rear-end collision, you may be facing many out-of-pocket costs and losses related to your accident, such as:
- Current medical expenses
- Future medical expenses
- Property damage
- Auto repair bills
- Loss of earnings
- Loss of future wages
- Limited earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Wrongful death
A Tacoma rear-end collisions lawyer can review your losses and help you determine a fair value for your claim based on your economic and non-economic damages. If the at-fault driver’s insurance company refuses to offer you a settlement based on this value, then your lawyer can file a personal injury lawsuit and fight for fair compensation in court.
For a free legal consultation with a rear-end collisions lawyer serving Tacoma, call (844) 730-0233
Establishing Liability
As stated by the American Bar Association, “a person is liable if he or she was negligent in causing the accident.” This means that if the defendant (the party you sue) is found liable for your rear-end collision, they are also responsible for the damages that resulted from it.
To prove the defendant was liable, you must prove that they acted with negligence. According to the Legal Information Institute (LII), negligence entails “a failure to behave with the level of care that someone of ordinary prudence would have exercised under the same circumstances.”
There are four elements of negligence that must be proven:
- Existence of a legal duty of care owed by the defendant to the plaintiff (you)
- The defendant breached that duty of care
- The plaintiff suffered an injury
- The defendant’s breach caused the injury
While your damages are the basis for determining fair value for a rear-end collisions claim, you must also consider if you shared fault in causing the accident. The state of Washington follows comparative fault laws, as outlined in Revised Code of Washington § 4.22.070. According to these laws, a plaintiff’s damages will be diminished based upon their percentage of shared fault in an accident. For example, if you are determined to be 10% at fault in causing the rear-end collision, then you would be eligible to recover 90% of the total damages awarded to you.
Tacoma Rear-End Collisions Lawyer Near Me (844) 730-0233
How a Tacoma Rear-End Collisions Lawyer Can Help
The primary goal of a Tacoma rear-end collisions lawyer is to help you earn fair compensation that covers your losses and makes you whole again. To accomplish this, your lawyer can support your case in a variety of ways:
- Protecting your rights
- Handling all communications with insurance companies
- Gathering evidence related to your accident
- Reviewing your medical records
- Considering any future medical treatments
- Working to obtain eyewitness testimony
- Determining negligence of the at-fault driver
- Calculating the value of your claim
- Negotiating a settlement on your behalf
- Filing a personal injury lawsuit if necessary
These are some examples of how Ben Crump Law, PLLC can help rear-end collision victims throughout their legal journey. To learn more, contact us today.
Click to contact our Tacoma Car Accident Lawyers today
Statute of Limitations
In the days, weeks, and months following your rear-end collision, time is of the essence. To file a personal injury lawsuit in the state of Washington, you must do so within the statute of limitations, which is a legal deadline for seeking compensation.
According to Revised Code of Washington § 4.16.080, the statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits in Washington is generally within three years from the date of your accident. If you fail to submit a lawsuit within this three-year window, you will likely lose any right to legal recourse.
Complete a Free Case Evaluation form now
Contact Us Today
If you or a loved one were injured in a rear-end collision, a Tacoma rear-end collision lawyer can help protect your rights. To learn more, contact Ben Crump Law, PLLC today at (844) 730-0233.
Once we review your case, we can act quickly to ensure that we have enough time to negotiate a settlement and/or file a personal injury lawsuit on your behalf. Because we work on contingency, you will not have to pay any upfront or out-of-pocket costs for us to get started. We will only collect a fee if we are able to win your case.
Call or text (844) 730-0233 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
