Spokane WA Personal Injury Law Firm
Siegfried & Jensen
Located less than 100 miles from the Canadian border, the city of Spokane, Washington is home to approximately 230,000 full-time residents and countless additional visitors.
Sometimes referred to as “Hooptown”, Spokane, Washington hosts the world’s largest basketball tournament as a yearly event and is also where the Gonzaga Bulldogs, a highly ranked college basketball program, calls home.
Great sports isn’t the only draw to Spokane. The city also offers year-round outdoor adventures, over two dozen wineries, and a bustling downtown with coffee shops, bookstores and historic architecture.
Spokane, Washington offers residents and visitors all the amenities you would expect to find in a city of its size. Health care is provided by multiple hospitals including Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center and MultiCare Deaconess Hospital, as well as numerous private medical facilities.
An active, vibrant city the size of Spokane also has its share of accidents. Spokane personal injury lawyers, Siegfried and Jensen provide legal representation for victims who have been injured due to someone else’s negligence.
Personal Injury Law: Helping Victims Recover
Personal injury law, also called tort law, is a system designed to help victims who have been injured in an accident due to the fault of another person, party, or company. In order for a personal injury claim to be successful, the victim must be able to show evidence to prove the following:
- That another party caused the accident due to negligent, reckless or otherwise illegal behavior.
- That the accident resulted in injuries and damages.
- Evidence that the amount being sought as compensation is justified and reasonable.
Is Filing A Personal Injury Claim the Same as Filing a Lawsuit?
Although sometimes the terms are used interchangeably, a personal injury lawsuit and a personal injury claim are two separate actions.
Personal Injury Claims
Personal injury claims are basically a legal demand for compensation. A legal document called a demand letter is typically filed with a negligent party’s insurance company seeking compensation for damages. After the demand letter is received, there is often some negotiation before a financial settlement is agreed upon.
Personal Injury Lawsuits
An injury lawsuit is legal action taken in a civil court as a means of recovering compensation. A lawsuit is usually not filed until after negotiations with an insurance company or the responsible party have broken down and a fair settlement cannot be reached. The outcome of a lawsuit is decided by a judge or jury.
Regardless of whether you are involved in a personal injury claim or a lawsuit, the burden of proof is on the victim to prove negligence and extent of damages.
Am I Required To Have A Spokane Injury Attorney to File A Claim or Suit?
You are not required by law to have a lawyer to file an injury claim or lawsuit but it can be to your benefit if you do.
Statistics show that victims with legal representation are granted significantly higher settlements than individuals who try to go it alone, and that holds true even when legal expenses are factored in.
Having a personal injury lawyer can relieve you of the burden of handling your own case so you can focus on recovering from your injuries.
The Advantages Of Legal Assistance In Personal Injury Cases
Life after a serious personal injury can be filled with pain, confusion and a million different decisions. It may be tempting to take the settlement amount offered by the insurance adjuster and move on with your life, and that is just what the insurance company is counting on.
Insurance adjusters are motivated to settle every claim for as little as possible. They may use high pressure tactics and bully victims into settling quickly and for far less than they deserve.
Having an experienced personal injury attorney or law firm representing you and your best interests stops the insurance adjuster in their tracks and leads to fair compensation for you and your family.
Other benefits of hiring a Spokane, Washington personal injury lawyer include:
Case Evaluation
A Spokane, Washington personal injury attorney can meet with you during an initial free case evaluation to determine the merits of your injury case and answer any legal questions you may have about the process. During this evaluation you can decide whether or not moving forward with legal help is right for you.
Gathering Evidence
Your attorneys will conduct an investigation on your accident and gather evidence to hold the negligent parties accountable for their actions and to justify the maximum compensation you are asking for. Types of evidence that may be used to prove your claim include:
- Medical Records
- Police Reports
- Cell Phone Records
- EyeWitness Testimony
- Video Recordings
- Accident Reconstruction Testimony
- Medical Bills
- Future Medical Care Prognosis
Filing Paperwork
Your personal injury lawyer will take care of all the paperwork that is required to settle your case, this includes making sure that deadlines are met and that all forms are filled out accurately and sent to the correct individuals. Small mistakes in filing paperwork and missing the statute of limitations on your case can eliminate your right to receive compensation for your personal injuries. By hiring an experienced law office to handle the details for you, you can rest assured things will be done right the first time and you can focus on your physical recovery.
Negotiation
Negotiation is the key to fair settlements and your ability to secure legal representation greatly increases your chances of being made financially whole from your losses. Injured victims often settle for less than they deserve, but your Spokane personal injury attorney will make sure that doesn’t happen to you. Spokane personal injury attorneys have your best interest in mind and will fight to make sure the negligent party is held responsible.
Court Representation
If a fair settlement cannot be reached through negotiation, your Eastern Washington attorney will represent you in civil court. Your attorney will present the evidence that proves negligence on behalf of the responsible party and also provide all the documents required to show what your injuries have cost you and your family.
Hiring an experienced personal injury lawyer or law firm in Spokane WA makes sense if you or a family member have been injured in an accident due to the negligent actions of another party.
Siegfried & Jensen is a law firm serving residents of Spokane, Washington and the surrounding Spokane area. With over 3o years experience helping injured people recover compensation for damages, we have the resources and skill to handle even the most complicated injury claim.
Common Types of Personal Injury Claims
Personal injury attorneys may specialize in one specific practice area or they may offer help for a wide variety of accident claims. It is important that the lawyer or law firm you choose has the experience, resources and time available in their schedule to give your claim the attention that it deserves.
Common case types in the Spokane valley include:
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Motor vehicle crashes are perhaps the most common of all the practice areas and include:
- car accidents
- truck accidents
- motorcycle accidents
- pedestrian accidents
- rideshare accidents
- uber accidents
- bicycle accidents
The injuries from car accidents range from mild bumps and bruises to severe life-changing injuries that impact an individual and their family for years. In all too many instances, a motor vehicle crash leads to irreparable loss of life.
Many accidents on the roadway are the result of impaired or distracted driving. This type of negligent behavior results in hundreds of injured people every year in Spokane, WA and other parts of the country.
Medical Malpractice
When trust in the medical system is broken by a breach in the standard of care required by medical professionals, the results often lead to serious injuries and even death. Not all medical outcomes are positive, but when a negative outcome is the result of negligence it qualifies as medical malpractice.
Common instances of medical malpractice include:
- Surgical Mistakes
- Misdiagnosis or failure to diagnose
- Medication errors
- Birth Injuries
If you have been injured by medical malpractice, seek help from a lawyer as soon as possible. The medical establishment has access to top-notch legal resources and so should you. An Eastern Washington attorney can help you hold the medical establishment accountable for their mistakes and wrongful actions.
Premises Liability/Dog Bites
Property owners have a legal responsibility to keep their premises free from hazards and dangerous conditions. If they fail to do so and someone is injured as a result, they may be liable for damages. Common premises liability cases include:
- Animal Attacks/Bites
- Slip and Fall Accidents
- Accident Drowning
- Inadequate Lighting
- Lack of Security
If you have been injured on someone else’s unsafe property, talk with an attorney before settling with the insurance company. You may be entitled to far more than you are offered and an attorney can help you negotiate a fair settlement.
Wrongful Death
If you have experienced the loss of a loved one due to someone else’s negligent actions, then you understand the true anguish of a wrongful death.
At Siegfried & Jensen we understand that no amount of financial compensation can come close to repairing the loss you have suffered. However, holding the responsible party accountable can bring peace of mind and relieve the financial burden that an unexpected death can place on a family.
For a free consultation contact the law office of Siegfried & Jensen. We are available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day to help answer your questions and help your family move forward.
What Damages Can I Receive Compensation For?
While the amount of compensation you receive will depend on the specific damages from your accident, the categories of compensation that are awarded are generally the same across the board and fall into four categories, economic damages, non-economic damages, wrongful death damages, and punitive damages.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are generally easy to prove because they are tangible financial losses that often have a statement, bill, or specific dollar amount already attached. An attorney can go over the damages you have suffered and make sure that you don’t overlook less obvious, but real losses that you’ve suffered. Some examples of economic damages include:
- Medical Expenses
- Lost Wages
- Loss of Earning Capacity
- Property Damage
- Prescription and Non-Prescription Medications
- Home Health
- Future Lost Income
- Rehabilitation
- Disability
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are harder to estimate because they are intangible losses, nevertheless, they are real losses and injured people deserve compensation for what they have gone through. In some cases with severe, life changing injuries, non-economic damages may exceed the total amount of tangible losses.
An experienced law firm or attorney can help you estimate and provide evidence to justify the non-economic damages you are entitled to.
Examples of non-economic damages include:
- Pain and Suffering
- Loss of Enjoyment
- Emotional Distress
- PTSD
- Loss of Consortium
Wrongful Death Damages
Wrongful death damages are available to certain family members in the unfortunate circumstance when someone else’s negligence results in an accident that takes a life. Washington State has a Wrongful Death Act that outlines who can file a claim for damages, this includes; spouses, state-registered domestic partners, children, parents or siblings.
Damages may include:
- Funeral and Burial Expenses
- Loss of the deceased’s income
- Loss of insurance benefits
- Loss of inheritance
- Loss of love and companionship
- Pain and suffering
If you have lost a family member to the actions of another, please contact the law office of Siegfried & Jensen for a free case evaluation. We can help you make sure the responsible party is held accountable for their actions.
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are sometimes awarded in an injury lawsuit when the negligence is found to be particularly callous or there is a wanton disregard for life. While other types of damages are awarded with the intention of making the injured party whole again, punitive damages are awarded as a way to punish the negligent party and to discourage others from repeating the same mistake.
Do I Have To Pay For Legal Services Up Front?
The financial stress after an accident can weigh incredibly heavily on individuals and families and the prospect of adding a legal bill on top of it can feel overwhelming.
At Siegfried & Jensen, we believe that access to an injury lawyer should not be hindered by the requirement of upfront legal fees in order to file a claim.
In order to help victims, our law firm offers the following:
- A free, no obligation case review
- Contingency fee schedule which means you only pay if we win your case
- A proven track record of success with a 97% success rate
- $1.2 billion won for our clients
Don’t leave your future to chance. Contact a lawyer to help you with your claim. There is no risk and you have everything to gain.
Siegfried & Jensen Helps Injured People Recover Damages
Serving residents of Spokane and Eastern Washington, the law office of Siegfried & Jensen can help you recover the damages you suffered as the result of negligent actions.
Our team of lawyers have over 30 years experience and have won over $1.2 billion for our clients.
We are committed to helping accident victims settle their claim for the maximum amount they are due. Our lawyers will fight for you and your family to be made whole again.
Contact the law office of Siegfried & Jensen to schedule your free case review at (801) 845-9000 or visit www.siegfried and jensen.com.
Our lawyers are here to help you with your claim 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
