Tacoma Personal Injury Law Firm Fights for Victims of Negligence

Handling the civil litigation process in Washington State

Personal injury is the area of civil law that attempts to hold offenders accountable in monetary terms for harm that results from their careless, reckless or even deliberate acts. Whereas criminal law attempts to punish the wrongdoer, the goal of personal injury law is to compensate the victim. Since 1959, dedicated attorneys at Rush, Hannula, Harkins & Kyler, L.L.P. have fought for injured parties. We provide a supportive atmosphere in our welcoming office, and our experienced attorneys are fully engaged and deeply committed to obtaining a successful resolution for our clients.

Filing a personal injury lawsuit is similar to filing an insurance claim, except the defendant is not contractually obligated to indemnify you. Instead, you must prove that the circumstances of your injury create an obligation under the law. And instead of having an insurance adjustor decide what is fair under your policy, a neutral judge (or sometimes a jury) decides on a fair amount under the law.

The types of damages an injured party may claim include:

  • Medical expenses
  • Lost wages
  • Property damage
  • Loss of future income
  • Future medical expenses
  • Rehabilitation expenses
  • Cost of a home remodel to accommodate a disability
  • Physical pain and emotional suffering
  • Loss of enjoyment of life due to disability, disfigurement or scarring

While some damages are easily calculated, other losses are speculative or intangible. An experienced attorney, in consultation with qualified experts, can project future medical expenses and income loss or assess how much the court might think is reasonable for a victim’s pain and suffering.

The importance of discovery to your personal injury claim

After you file your personal injury claim, the parties enter a phase called discovery that allows them to seek information from the opposing side to help prove their cases. For instance, you might demand cell phone records to prove that the cause of your traffic accident was distracted driving. Following a commercial truck accident, you might subpoena company records to find out if the company violated any state or federal trucking regulations. Also at this time, your attorney deposes witnesses to see what they know and to get their testimony on record before their memory of the incident fades. Throughout the discovery process, there is no substitute for an attorney’s experience in getting to the heart of your case and assembling the evidence you need to prevail.

Negotiating a settlement versus going to trial for personal injury in Tacoma

Most personal injury cases settle out of court, but that doesn’t mean it’s safe to retain an attorney with minimal trial experience. An experienced trial attorney with a reputation for success can often leverage a settlement by threatening to litigate. An attorney who doesn’t go to court much may not even have the resources to finance a trial and may not be able to get you what your case is truly worth. Rush, Hannula, Harkins & Kyler, L.L.P. is determined to seek the maximum value of your claim, and we back up that commitment by advancing all costs of litigation.

Contact an experienced and respected personal injury law firm in Tacoma, Washington

Call the dedicated lawyers of Rush, Hannula, Harkins & Kyler, L.L.P. at 253.777.4799. Your initial consultation is free, we advance all costs of litigation, and we only get paid for our services if you receive monetary compensation.