Do You Deserve Compensation After a Car Accident in Tacoma?

It is unfair for someone who was driving carefully and obeying the traffic laws in Tacoma to suffer because another driver was reckless and ran into them. Fortunately, the law recognizes this and provides drivers and others (if a wrongful death occurs) affected by a car accident with a legal means to seek compensation from the at-fault driver.

The injured party can sue the at-fault driver and demand compensation to recover their losses. However, the amount of compensation any accident victim is entitled to depends on the circumstances surrounding the accident. They will have to hire a Tacoma personal injury lawyer to assess their case and come up with an appropriate figure.

The personal injury lawyer will consider the victim’s emotional distress, medical expenses, pain, suffering, lost wages, property damage, and any long-lasting effects of the accident to determine how much money is appropriate as compensation.

Actions To Take After a Car Accident

For a victim to get their due compensation after an accident, they would need to show evidence of the damages they suffered. To ensure that this evidence is complete and detailed, accident victims should take the following actions immediately after they safely exit the vehicle involved in the accident:

1. Exchange insurance information with the other driver

Drivers in Washington state are required to have car insurance. Victims should exchange insurance information with the at-fault driver so they can file an insurance claim and have the other party’s insurance company pay for the damages that occurred.

2. Take pictures and videos of the scene

Victims should take photos of their wrecked car and the injuries they sustained because of the accident. They should also make videos that show all angles of the accident scene and show the part of the road their car was on before the at-fault driver collided with them. It is even better if they have a dashcam installed in their car to capture the accident as it happens.

3. Get a medical report

The victim should visit a hospital to treat their injuries, no matter how minor they seem to be. Sometimes, an injury may seem minor, but there might be internal bleeding that will cause problems down the line. More importantly, a hospital visit will allow the victim to get a medical report that will detail all the injuries they sustained because of the accident.

4. Contact the other party for a fair settlement

It can be faster to receive compensation from the at-fault party if your lawyer approaches them directly and makes a formal request instead of filing a lawsuit. If you opt to negotiate a settlement, your lawyer and the other party will quickly agree to pay you a reasonable sum. However, if they stubbornly do not want to compensate you, you can proceed with a lawsuit, and after a trial, a judge or jury will determine how much compensation you deserve based on the evidence you present.

Endnote

It is wise for a car accident victim to seek legal counsel to help them get the compensation they deserve from the at-fault driver. The lawyer will follow Washington state law and hold the at-fault driver accountable and ensure that the victim is not left to suffer for their reckless driving. A seasoned Tacoma personal injury lawyer will be able to negotiate a settlement with the at-fault party to secure a reasonable compensation amount. However, they can take the case to trial, if necessary, and win to secure the victim’s due compensation.