Seattle Personal Injury Attorney Chris Thayer
Seattle Personal Injury Attorney Chris Thayer
Handling Personal Injury Claims in the Seattle Area and Throughout Washington Since 1995

My name is Chris Thayer and I am a personal injury attorney practicing in downtown Seattle. I handle personal injury, medical malpractice and wrongful death claims throughout the greater Seattle area, including Issaquah, Mercer Island and Kirkland.

I am here to help you.

Call for a free consultation (206) 340-2008

What to Understand About an Issaquah Personal Injury Case

Posted Friday, May 26, 2023 by Chris Thayer

An article in NCW Life reports that a major I-90 crash injured a Peshastin driver east of Issaquah. The woman was badly injured, extricated from her car, and taken to Harborview Medical Center for emergency care. The other driver was not injured and was arrested at the scene.

Unfortunately, around Issaquah, serious injuries and deaths on 1-90 are all too common.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a serious accident, it can be a good idea to explore legal options with an experienced personal injury attorney.

In Washington, unlike other states, there are no limits for the damages which can be awarded in personal injury cases. There are, however, limits to the time within which you can bring a claim.

*No Damage Caps: What You Need to Know in Issaquah*The amounts rewarded in personal injury are called ‘damages.’ Some states offer specific ‘caps’ or limits to the amount of damage that can be awarded in personal injury cases. In Washington, the courts have held that these kinds of damage caps are not constitutional.

Essentially, this means that for certain types of harm or in certain types of injury cases, there are no limits in place under Washington state law for the amount of damages that can be awarded.

*Understand the Statute of Limitations in Washington*In Issaquah and other parts of Washington, there is a time limit within which you must file a lawsuit. This is called a ‘statute of limitations.’ In Washington, the amount of time is three years from the date of the incident.

If you do not file a claim in that time, you may lose your ability to recover compensation for your injuries.

The clock starts ticking on the date of the accident or injury. Cases are routinely dismissed when filed outside of this critical three-year window.

*How Long Does it Take to Settle an Issaquah Personal Injury Case?*If you are considering filing a personal injury case, one question may be burning in your mind. “How long will it take to settle a personal injury claim?”

The timeline varies. In some cases, you can settle quickly - but often, this means accepting less money. In other cases, there may be factors that can influence how long your case takes to settle.

Cases may drag out if there are legal or factual issues affecting the decision. Also, cases may take longer if you are still receiving medical treatment.

One term that you may hear is ‘maximum medical improvement’ (MMI). This means that you have reached a point where you are as good as you are going to get. This point makes it clearer for a lawyer, judge, or jury to know the full impact of your injuries.

*Reach Out to a Hard-Working King County Attorney*For a free consultation with an experienced personal injury attorney in Issaquah, contact Pivotal Law Group, PLLC. The sooner you reach out to us, the sooner we begin fighting for you.