Renton Car Accident Lawyer
Fighting For Car Accident Victims in Washington
A serious car accident can change your life in an instant. In addition to suffering severe, possibly catastrophic injuries, you are likely facing significant emotional and financial challenges in the wake of the crash. From medical bills to lost income, vehicle repairs, and more, the cost of an accident can be extreme, making it even harder for you to get back on your feet and move forward with your life. Unfortunately, insurance companies do not make this process easier.
After an accident, the insurance adjuster—even a savvy professional who builds a rapport with you—wants one thing: to pay as little as possible. To them, you are a claim number. But you want fair treatment, for someone to understand, honor, and make up for your experience. That is our primary mission at Galileo Law, PLLC. We are here to help you with all aspects of your claim, from repairing your car or settling your total loss to working out billing issues while you recover, negotiating out of court, and even enforcing your rights at trial.
To learn how our Renton car accident attorney can help you, call (206) 745-0711 or contact us online. Your initial consultation is completely free.
What to Do After a Car Accident
If you have been involved in a car accident, it is important to:
- Check for Injuries: First and foremost, assess yourself and others in the vehicle for injuries. If anyone is seriously injured, call 911 instantly to request medical assistance.
- Move to Safety: If possible, move your vehicle out of traffic to a safer location, such as the shoulder of the road. If the vehicle cannot be moved, turn on your hazard lights to alert other drivers.
- Call the Police: Even if the accident seems small, it’s important to report it to the police. An official police report will document the accident and may be critical for insurance claims and any potential legal actions.
- Exchange Information: Exchange all contact and insurance information with the other driver(s) that was involved in the accident. Remember to get their name, phone number, address, driver’s license number, license plate number, and insurance details.
- Document the Scene: Remember to take pictures of the accident scene, which includes vehicle damage, skid marks, traffic signals, and any visible injuries. If there are witnesses, obtain their contact information as well.
- Avoid Admitting Fault: Be sure to avoid admitting fault, even if you think you might be partially responsible. Liability is often complex and should be determined through a proper investigation.
- Seek Medical Attention: Some injuries may not be instantly noticeable after an accident. It’s crucial to see a doctor as soon as possible, even if you feel fine. Delayed symptoms are common in car accident injuries.
- Notify Your Insurance Company: Report the accident to your insurance company promptly. Make sure to provide them with accurate details, but avoid assuming about who was at fault.
- Consult with a Car Accident Lawyer: After an accident, it’s wise to consult with our Renton car accident attorney who can guide you through the legal process, defend your rights, and help you pursue the compensation you deserve.
Who Is Responsible for a Car Accident?
When it comes to car accident claims, Washington follows a fault-based system. Under this system, the at-fault party—often a negligent driver—is the one who is liable for the injured party’s damages. As such, proving fault is a critical element of your claim.
To prove that another driver was at fault for the crash, you’ll need to prove that their negligent or wrongful conduct was to blame.
This could be the case if the other driver caused the crash by:
- Driving while distracted
- Using a cellphone while driving
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Making an unsafe or illegal turn
- Running a red light or stop sign
- Violating traffic laws
- Speeding
- Failing to obey posted traffic signs or control devices
Essentially, if the other driver acted negligently and this negligence is what led to the crash, they are likely at fault and, therefore, liable for your injuries and damages.
Sometimes, another third party—such as a construction company or municipal entity—is liable for the accident. This could be the case if the accident was caused by defective road conditions, poor roadway maintenance, or other forms of negligence. It’s important that you work with an experienced attorney who can help you determine fault, establish liability, and obtain the necessary evidence to prove your claim.
Common Injuries in Car Accidents
Common injuries may include:
- Whiplash: Whiplash is one of the most common injuries in car accidents, particularly in rear-end collisions. It occurs when the neck is suddenly jerked forward and backward, causing strain to the neck muscles and ligaments. Symptoms include neck pain, stiffness, headaches, and dizziness.
- Head Injuries: Head injuries, which include concussions and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), can often occur when the head strikes the steering wheel, dashboard, or window. Even a mild concussion can have lasting impacts, while severe TBIs can lead to cognitive impairments, memory loss, and long-term disability.
- Broken Bones: The force of a car accident could result in fractures in various parts of the body, like the arms, legs, ribs, and collarbone. Broken bones can require extensive medical treatment, which includes surgery, and may lead to long recovery times.
- Spinal Cord Injuries: Damage to the spinal cord can result in partial or complete paralysis, depending on the severity and location of the injury.
- Back Injuries: Back injuries, including herniated discs and lumbar sprains, are common in car accidents. These injuries can cause chronic pain and could limit mobility, requiring long-term physical therapy or surgical intervention.
- Internal Injuries: Internal injuries, like damage to organs, internal bleeding, or punctured lungs, may not be immediately apparent but are extremely dangerous.
- Cuts and Lacerations: Shattered glass, metal, or loose objects in the car can cause cuts and lacerations during an accident. While some cuts may be minor, deeper lacerations can result in considerable blood loss and require stitches or surgery.
- Psychological Injuries: The trauma of a car accident can have psychological effects as well. Victims may experience anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other emotional challenges long after the physical injuries have healed.
The Insurance Company Is Not on Your Side
Insurance companies will delay, deny, and defend your claims in many ways. They may blame you for no good reason. You may bounce from adjuster to adjuster and never get straight answers. If the adjuster is hostile, it’s a miserable experience. If the adjuster is polite, they’ll be that much more effective when they tell you what your case is worth.
Hiring a car accident lawyer helps you know the actual rules and enforce your actual rights. An attorney will also help you focus on what’s most important: healing from your injuries and living your life. Professionals who are on your side can manage paperwork and advocate for you while you focus on your physical and emotional recovery.
When insurance works, it benefits everyone. Diversifying risk is vital to the economy. Washington State requires everyone to pay for auto insurance to spread risk equally. But these days, insurance companies worry more about Wall Street than their mission to protect the public interest. These days, insurance companies build a case against you as soon as they know about your collision. By the time you know there’s a problem, they may have already won.
Hiring an attorney right away can help level the playing field and put the power back in your hands.
How Long Do You Have to File a Car Accident Lawsuit in Washington?
There is a three-year statute of limitations on most personal injury lawsuits in Washington. This means that you have just three years from the date of the accident to sue for damages if you suffered an injury.
The state also has a three-year statute of limitations on most property damage claims, meaning you have the same amount of time to sue for property-related damages, including costs associated with repairing or replacing your vehicle.
While three years may sound like a long time, the truth is that you should act fast. You have even less time to file an insurance claim, and the insurance company will start building its case against you right away. If you accept a settlement, you cannot sue for additional damages, even if you later discover that your injuries are more severe than you initially thought. We urge you to contact our firm right away to discuss your legal rights and options with our Renton car accident attorney.
Vehicle Damage Claims
Every collision victim has the right to obtain quality vehicle damage repairs from the shop of their choice using skilled technicians, manufacturer-approved processes, and original factory parts. Insurance companies often pay less than what’s owed based on shortcuts, imitation parts, and suppressed labor rates. Consumers choose between safety, the integrity of their vehicle, and full payment for their repair.
Most personal injury attorneys have neither the expertise nor the interest to help their injured clients with their property damage claims. Galileo Law, PLLC is different. We believe that quality auto repairs are an important part of our clients’ claims, and we actively engage insurance companies to fight for full payment at no extra charge. You read that right: if you are injured, we do not charge an attorney’s fee for fighting to get your collision repair and rental paid or get you a fair total loss settlement. Service is our top priority. We don’t believe insurance companies should push our clients around at any stage of their claim.
Your Property Rights After a Collision
When you suffer vehicle property damage, you have the right to control your vehicle repairs or demand a fair settlement for your total loss. Your property rights after a collision include:
- Choice of Repair Shop: You have the right to choose your auto repair shop.
- Independent Repairs: The insurance company may want you to save money at their “preferred” shop, but you have the right to use an independent shop.
- Quality Repairs: The insurance company can’t force your body shop to cut corners by writing an unreasonable estimate or controlling labor rates or repair processes.
- OEM Parts: You’re entitled to OEM parts when using after-market parts would mean a bad or unsafe repair.
- Fair Value for Your Totaled Car: You deserve a settlement that will actually pay for a comparable replacement.
- Reasonable Rental: You’re entitled to a comparable car, not just an “econobox.”
With most law firms, when you ask them about a problem you’re having with your repair or total loss, you’ll hear, “We’re only handling your injury case; you can take care of the property damage yourself.” At best you may get some tips but not real advocacy. We think that’s wrong, and we think it reflects poorly on how much that law firm cares about what you’re going through.
The property repair and total loss process is the insurance company’s first opportunity to set the tone for your claim and pay what it wants to pay instead of what’s fair. Hire an attorney who is willing to fight for your vehicle property damage rights, explain the process, and prevent the insurance company from taking advantage of you. We set the tone for our clients; we are in charge of our client’s rights, not the insurance company, and if the insurance company wants to trample them, they’ll have to go through us first.
COntact Our Car Accident Attorney in Renton Today
No driver may needlessly endanger the public. Careless drivers hurt people—other drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists—and permanently diminish the value of high-end cars. They are responsible for the harm they cause. A car accident lawyer, like Attorney Paul Veillon, holds careless drivers accountable.
As your attorney, Paul Veillon is prepared to:
- Listen to your story and share information about your rights and legal options after a serious motor vehicle accident
- Investigate the accident and gather important evidence, such as medical records and witness statements, to support your claim
- Handle all communication with the insurance company, including out-of-court settlement negotiations, on your behalf
- Prepare your case for trial and, if necessary, aggressively represent your best interests in court
If you’ve been hurt, or if your car has suffered serious damage and lost value, you don’t need to fight an insurance company alone. What’s more, you don’t want to. Adjusters are good at their job, and that’s not good news for you. But at Galileo Law, PLLC, we are on your side. Paul Veillon is an experienced, effective, compassionate car accident lawyer in Renton who can guide you through your claim.
Contact us today for a free consultation; call (206) 745-0711 or submit a secure online contact form to get started with our Renton car accident lawyer.
Why Choose Galileo Law, PLLC?
What Makes Us Different
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We Only Succeed When You Succeed
We fight for the justice you deserve. You pay nothing for our time and experience unless/until we win your case.
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We Help You With All Aspects of Your Claim
We can help you with all aspects of your claim, from collision repair to finding the best medical resources available to restoring balance to your quality of life.
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Boutique Firm Service With Major Firm Power
Insurance companies are powerful adversaries. We are powerful advocates capable of handling substantial and complex cases, all while providing the personalized, one-on-one counsel you deserve.
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Proven Track Record of Success
From out-of-court negotiations to jury trials to the Supreme Court of Washington, Attorney Paul Veillon has prevailed in catastrophic injury and diminished value claims against major insurers, construction contractors, and government agencies for over a decade.
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Our Clients Recognize Our Superb Service
We know our commitment to service is working. Our clients have told us so.
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Premier Diminished Value Attorney
Attorney Paul Veillon is a leading Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche, and “daily driver” diminished value attorney in Renton, Seattle, Tacoma, Bellevue, Redmond, and throughout Puget Sound.
