Anyone who has been involved in a serious car, motorcycle, bicycle, or pedestrian accident in Yakima or anywhere in Central Washington, knows how frightening and traumatic the experience can be. And for a fatality collision, the shock and trauma for all people involved can be unimaginable.

After an accident, as the shock of the accident wears off, reality sets in. Pain from injuries, missed work, lost wages, medical bills, and endless doctor appointments are often the new reality for an accident victim. And for anyone involved in a serious or fatality accident, the reality is, they are going to need to help of a lawyer.

A personal injury attorney helps people recover financially from an accident that was caused by negligence

Legally, negligence is defined as “failure to exercise the care toward others which a reasonable or prudent person would do in the circumstances, or taking action which such a reasonable person would not.”

Negligence can come in many forms, from the distracted or drunk driver who runs a red light, to a governmental agency that designs a dangerous highway, to a trucking company that operates unsafe vehicles.

The injured party (plaintiff) must prove:

a) that the party alleged to be negligent had a duty to the injured party-specifically to the one injured or to the general public,

b) that the defendant's action (or failure to act) was negligent-not what a reasonably prudent person would have done,

c) that the damages were caused ("proximately caused") by the negligence.

Negligence and liability go hand-in-hand. The legal definition of liability is “legal responsibility for one's acts or omissions. Failure of a person or entity to meet that responsibility leaves him/her/it open to a lawsuit for any resulting damages or a court order to perform…”

Personal injury attorneys help clients by undertaking the process to prove negligence and liability so that an injured person can obtain the funds needed to recover from the financial losses caused by the accident. To do this, attorneys will:

• gather all documents to support an insurance claim, including police reports, statements to insurance adjusters, photos, and vehicle-repair estimates;
• manage all communications with insurance companies and adjusters throughout the entire claim process;
• collect and document all costs, both current and future, related to a personal injury client’s injuries, including medical expenses, lost wages, and vehicle damage;
• handle negotiations with adjusters to present the claim as completely as possible and to obtain a full settlement.

When a full settlement is not offered, an injury attorney will take the claim into litigation.

For serious or fatal accidents in Yakima or anywhere in Central Washington, contact an experienced personal injury attorney. The process to effectively manage a major insurance claim is challenging and best left in the hands of an experienced attorney. Most Yakima personal injury attorneys offer a free initial consultation and work on a contingency-fee basis, so there is usually no initial cost, and all fees are paid at the end of the claim from the settlement or verdict funds.