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Frequently Asked Questions
Regarding Personal Injuries
in Washington
HOW IS MY LAWYER
PAID? WHAT IF I CAN'T AFFORD A LAWYER?
Unlike most other lawyers, personal
injury (accident) lawyers frequently work on a "contingency basis". What
that means is that the lawyer gets paid only if he or she collects money
for you. If the lawyer is successful, a percentage of the settlement
will go to the lawyer as a fee. On most accident cases, the percentage
will equal one-third (33%) of the net settlement or judgment.
HOW LONG DO I HAVE
TO BRING A CASE?
The law gives various time limits
within which to bring a case. These are referred to as "Statutes of
Limitations". For most negligence lawsuits, the law requires that a case
be brought within three (3) years from the date of occurrence. Statutes
of limitations can be extended or "tolled" under certain circumstances
as when the injured party is under a "disability", such as infancy. Some
statues of limitations are very short. For example, a claim against a
municipality must normally be made within 90 days of the date of
occurrence. A word of advice, CONTACT A LAWYER IMMEDIATELY AFTER YOU'VE
BEEN INJURED OR AS SOON AS YOU FEEL YOU HAVE A POTENTIAL CASE.
WHAT IF I AM
UNHAPPY WITH MY LAWYER? CAN I CHANGE? WHAT WILL IT COST?
You are the client (employer) and your
lawyer (employee) works for you. If you are dissatisfied with your
lawyer, you have an absolute right to hire a new one. Changing lawyers
does not increase the fee you pay. Remember you only pay an attorney's
fee when the case is won. Your prior attorney will generally be entitled
to payment for services rendered up to the time of dismissal. Payment
will be made from the fee earned at the conclusion of the case. The
lawyers will usually work out an arrangement whereby the fee is split.
I SPOKE WITH A
LAWYER WHO DIDN'T THINK I HAD A CASE. SHOULD I GET A SECOND OPINION?
Absolutely! Not all lawyers will see a
potential case in the same way. You might have spoken to a lawyer not
fully familiar with the type of case you are presenting or your case is
not "big enough" for the firm you have contacted. If the first lawyer
you contact rejects your case, always seek a second, or even third,
opinion.
I WAS INJURED BUT
I FEEL PARTLY AT FAULT. CAN I STILL SUE?
Yes. Under Washington’s "comparative
negligence" rules, you may still have a good case even though you may
have contributed to the accident. The facts are very important. A lawyer
my find, after investigating the circumstances of your accident, that
there was a party unknown to you that caused the accident.
IT DOESN'T APPEAR
THAT MY INJURIES ARE SERIOUS ENOUGH FOR A LAWSUIT. SHOULD I SPEAK WITH
A LAWYER ANYWAY?
Yes. An experienced personal injury
lawyer is generally in a better position than you to evaluate your
injury. Some injuries that at first appear to be minor can result in
serious permanent damage. As most lawyers offer a free consultation, it
doesn't cost you anything to get a lawyer's opinion.
CAN A LAWYER TELL
ME WHAT MY CASE IS WORTH?
Every case is different and predicting
the outcome of a particular case is almost impossible. A lawyer can give
you a "general" idea of the value of your case based on prior similar
injuries, court decisions and appeals. Be very suspicious of any
attorney who tells you what your case is worth or "what I can get for
you".
AN ADJUSTOR FROM
AN INSURANCE COMPANY WANTS TO SETTLE WITH ME AND SAYS I DON'T NEED A
LAWYER. WHAT SHOULD I DO?
Adjusters who work for insurance
companies, no matter how sympathetic they may seen, have one goal and
only one goal in mind when they offer to settle your case... to do it in
the least amount of money possible. What may sound like a fair or even
great offer to you could be woefully inadequate compared to a similar
case settled through a lawyer. Studies have shown accident victims
recover more money through the use of a lawyer even after taking into
account the attorney's fee. Always consult with a lawyer before
accepting any offer made to you by an adjuster.
The free
information contained in these pages is not intended
to be legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. You
should always consult with an attorney before taking any action. Feel free
to contact an attorney at MOGREN, GLESSNER & ROTI, P.S. at 425-255-4542 to
schedule an appointment and discuss these issues with you.
Our law firm is conveniently located in Renton, King County, WA, just off the freeway at the intersection of I-405 and I-167, easily accessible from Seattle and Bellevue Washington. Our
four family law and divorce attorneys represent clients in the greater Seattle area and throughout the State of Washington, including the communities of Renton, Kent, Tukwila, Seattle, Bellevue, Mercer Island, Issaquah, Fairwood,
Cascade, Newcastle, Normandy Park, Auburn, Maple Valley, Black Diamond, Skyway, Federal Way, Des Moines,
Kent Meridian, Lake Youngs, Burien, SeaTac, Factoria, Covington, Medina, Fox
Island, Gig Harbor, North Bend, Snoqualmie, Sammamish, Seahurst, Redondo, Enumclaw and most of south King County. Call 425-255-4542 for a free telephone consultation with an
experienced family law and divorce attorney / lawyer. Our attorneys represent both men and women in divorce
and the drafting of simple wills,
and are members of the Christian Legal Society. Our lawyers offer affordable rates
(reasonably priced) for uncontested divorce.
The free information and help contained in these
pages is not intended to be legal advice, and does not create an
attorney-client relationship. You should always consult with a lawyer before
taking any legal action. Feel free to call us at 425-255-4542 for a free
telephone consultation with a family law lawyer for help regarding your
marriage, divorce (contested or uncontested), custody, complex property division,
child support and maintenance, adoption, will, estate plan or
probate. We offer inexpensive (cheap) discount package deals and for our wills,
simple will and estate
planning documents. We offer a Christian perspective in our practice, yet
are aggressive in protecting your rights. Our attorneys are licensed to practice only in the State of Washington,
and are easily accessible to the greater Seattle area.
Serving both male and female clients in the Seattle, King County, WA area, including the communities of Kent, Renton, Tukwila, Southcenter, Seattle, Auburn, Bellevue, Mercer Island, Federal Way, Maple Valley, Des Moines, SeaTac, Burien, Fairwood,
Cascade, Covington, Newcastle, Normandy Park, Issaquah, Factoria, Black Diamond, Algona, Covington, Fall City, Hobart, Medina, North Bend, Pacific,
Buckley, Highline, Wilkeson, Newport Hills, Clyde Hill, Coal Creek, Fox
Island, Gig Harbor, White Center,
Boulevard Park, Rainier Beach, Rainier Valley, Bryn Mawr, Redondo, Covington, Kent Kangley,
Cougar Mountain, Preston, Ravensdale, Kanaskat, Palmer, Cumberland, Redondo,
Midway, Georgetown, Riverton Heights, McMicken Heights, Eastgate, Kennydale, Medina,
Overlake, Boeing, Microsoft, Paccar, Kenworth, East Renton Highlands, Preston, Kent East Hill, Lake Meridian,
Green River, Star Lake, Lake Sawyer, Duwamish, Seward Park, Columbia City, Georgetown, Holly Park, Sodo, Sammamish, Seahurst, Snoqualmie,
Soos Creek, Emerald Downs, Muckleshoot, Twin Lakes, Skyway,
Bellevue, Enumclaw and most of south King County, WA. This includes zip
codes of 98055, 98056, 98057, 98058, 98059, 98030, 98031, 98032 98042,
98038, 98040, 98045, 98168, and 98188, and area codes of 206, 253, and 425,
. We represent clients
from Boeing, Microsoft, Starbucks, Costco, Weyerhaeuser, Valley Medical
Center, various hospitals and insurance companies, T-Mobile, and many other employers. We serve clients of all
nationalities and ethnicities, including African American, Native American,
Asian, Hispanic, Latino, Caucasian, black, Indian, Korean, Japanese,
Russian, Ethiopian, Italian, Vietnamese, Pacific Islander, Philippine, Irish, English, French, German, and Chinese.
We receive clients of all faiths and religions, including Christian, Islam,
Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim, Judaism, Baha'i, New Age, Scientology, Mormon, LDS Catholic, Protestant,
Presbyterian, Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal, Charismatic, Foursquare,
Evangelical, Assembly of God, Jehovah Witness, Episcopal, Foursquare,
Lutheran, Bible, Pentecostal, Orthodox, Adventist, Unitarian, atheist, secularist, and agnostic. We also represent clients who are
members of labor unions (Teamsters, AFL-CIO, Teachers Union, NEA), unemployed or stay-at-home parents,
members of service organizations (Kiwanis, Lions, Masons, Rotary, Shriners,
AARP, etc), Democrat and Republican, veterans and military personnel. Please call to talk to an affordable
(inexpensive) Washington state family law attorney / lawyer for help about your divorce (contested or uncontested),
complex property division, simple wills, probate or other legal issue.
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