Car accidents caused by someone’s negligence can lead to severe injuries requiring expensive medical treatment. In some cases, these injuries could even leave a life-long impact on the victim especially if involved with larger commercial vehicles. It’s important to contact an experienced Vancouver car accident lawyer who understands the local laws and community to pursue legal recourse. If you have been injured in a car accident involving a truck please contact our experienced Vancouver truck accident lawyer today. If your crash was caused by a driver who was texting, talking, or otherwise not paying attention, see our section on distracted driving accidents in Vancouver below.
Cars are a necessary part of many people’s daily lives, but improper use and unsafe driving habits can lead to disastrous consequences such as wrongful death accidents in Vancouver. Because of this, our Vancouver car accident lawyers promise to use every resource necessary to thoroughly investigate your claim and quantify the effects of your accident so you can get the best recovery possible.
If you or a family member have been in a car accident in Vancouver or Portland, call us at (360) 695-1624 for a free consultation or fill out our contact us form. We will be happy to review the details of your case and can answer any questions you may have to determine the best course of action for your situation.
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Steps to Take After a Car Accident in Vancouver
- 1
Check for Injuries First
Check yourself, your passengers, and the other driver for injuries. If anyone is seriously hurt, immediately call 911 for an ambulance. - 2
Seek Immediate Medical Attention
Get medical care right away, even if you feel okay. Some injuries, like whiplash or internal bleeding, may have delayed symptoms. - 3
Report the Accident to the Police
Call the police from the scene to report the crash. This ensures an official record of the incident is created. - 4
Gather Information at the Scene
Exchange information (name, phone, insurance) with the other driver. Important: Do not admit fault or apologize for the accident. Take photos of the crash scene and look for potential surveillance footage or witnesses. - 5
Obtain the Police Report
Make sure to write down your police report number. You will need this to get an official copy of the document later. - 6
Handle Insurance and Legal Matters Carefully
Contact the other driver’s insurance company to file a claim. Be cautious when speaking with claims adjusters. Do not give a recorded statement or accept a quick settlement. Consult with a car accident attorney for legal advice before making any decisions.
According to the most recent data from the Washington State Department of Transportation, in 2022 there were 104,385 total collisions in the state, resulting in 30,490 injuries and 734 fatalities. In addition, data for 2023 shows that traffic deaths in Washington hit a 33-year high, with an astounding 810 fatalities.
If you get involved in a car or motorcycle wreck in Vancouver, it is important to know what steps you should take to protect yourself as much as possible. A car insurance company will check to see what you did and did not do after a car accident when deciding whether to accept or reject your claim.
Taking the following steps can help you build a stronger case and ensure your well-being:
You can contact a Vancouver personal injury attorney for assistance with your car accident claim as early on in the legal process as you wish. The sooner you secure legal representation, the easier it will be to focus on healing and recuperating while your lawyer handles challenging legal processes on your behalf.
How Long Do I Have to File a Car Accident Claim in Washington?
It is important to know that you do not have an unlimited amount of time in which to file an injury claim after a car accident in Washington. A state law known as the statute of limitations places a strict deadline on an accident victim’s right to file a car accident claim. In general, if you do not meet this deadline, the courts will not allow you to proceed with a claim.
The statute of limitations is found in the Revised Code of Washington Section 4.16.080. This law states:
- The following actions shall be commenced within three years: (2) An action for taking, detaining, or injuring personal property, including an action for the specific recovery thereof, or for any other injury to the person or rights of another not hereinafter enumerated.
Under this law, you have no more than three years to file a car accident claim in Vancouver, Washington, unless a rare exception to the rule applies to your case. If you wish to file a wrongful death claim after a fatal car accident, you will have three years from the date of death. Keep in mind that this time limit is for filing a lawsuit for a car accident; an insurance claim should be filed much sooner.
Some extenuating circumstances can shorten or extend the time window. For example, if you do not discover your injuries immediately, you may have three years from the date of reasonable discovery rather than the date of the crash. If you need to file a claim against a government agency, you may have significantly less time. This is why it is important to speak to an attorney as soon as possible.
Types of Compensation for Car Accident Injuries:
Medical Expenses: The most straightforward compensation, if the other party is found liable for your injuries is the related medical expenses, such as a visit to the hospital, surgery, physical therapy, or anything else associated with approved medical professionals. Your future medical expenses also come into play, as long as it is proven the continued medical care is related to the crash.
Lost Wages: If your injuries are significant enough that you miss time from work, you may be eligible for compensation for lost wages, dating from the time of your accident. Even if you were unemployed at the time of your injuries, you may be able to recover damages for potential earnings.
Lost Future Earnings Potential: Sometimes an injury is severe enough to hinder the victim’s ability to reach their full earnings potential that they could have reached had they not been in the accident.
Pain and Suffering: While quantifying these damages are more challenging, you can also be awarded non-economic damages related to pain and suffering. In addition to physical pain, emotional pain suffered due to the car accident is also a valid source of compensation.
Loss of Consortium: When the plaintiff is married, the spouse may be able to seek monetary damages for loss of consortium. These damages relate to when a plaintiff is unable to provide for his or her spouse on an emotional and physical level (companionship, romantic), financial support, and their share of household duties.
Punitive Damages: In special situations, when the defendant has acted in a particularly egregious manner, and all other compensation is deemed not enough of a punishment, punitive damages may be awarded. In addition to punishing the accused, it is meant to discourage them from similar actions in the future.
Who Can You Hold Liable After a Car Accident in Vancouver?
Washington operates under a fault-based auto insurance rule. This allows injured car accident victims to seek financial recoveries from those at fault for the crash. This is in contrast to the no-fault car insurance system, where all involved drivers file claims with their own car insurance companies, regardless of fault.
Fault-based insurance claims generally provide greater financial compensation than no-fault claims; however, the tradeoff is that a claimant must prove that the other party is liable. Proving liability in a car accident case is typically synonymous with proving negligence, meaning the failure to act with ordinary care.
Negligence consists of four elements:
- Duty of care: every driver has an obligation to operate a motor vehicle according to Washington’s traffic laws and best practices for preventing car accidents.
- Breach of the duty of care: proof that the driver or accused party acted in a way that a reasonably prudent person would not have in the same or similar circumstances.
- Causation: a provable connection between the driver’s negligent act or omission and the car accident.
- Damages: specific losses suffered by the victim in the motor vehicle accident, such as bodily injury, medical bills or property damage.
The burden of proof that must be met for a car accident victim to recover compensation in Washington is “a preponderance of the evidence,” meaning true with at least a 51% certainty. While evidence varies from case to case, proof of liability may include an accident report, photographs and videos, witness statements, and testimony from experts.
Distracted Driving Accident Lawyer in Vancouver, WA
Distracted driving is one of the most common and preventable causes of car accidents on Vancouver roads. When a driver takes their eyes, hands, or attention off the road for even a few seconds, the results can be devastating for everyone nearby. If you were injured because another driver was not paying attention, an experienced distracted driver accident lawyer Vancouver WA families trust can help you hold that driver accountable and recover the compensation you deserve.
Texting and Phone Use: Reading or sending a text, scrolling social media, or holding a phone to talk pulls a driver's eyes, hands, and mind off the road at once, making phone use one of the most dangerous forms of distraction.
GPS and Navigation Apps: Typing in an address or glancing repeatedly at turn-by-turn directions takes a driver's eyes off the road at exactly the moments precision matters most.
Eating and Drinking: Reaching for food, unwrapping a snack, or managing a spilled drink behind the wheel takes a driver's hand and focus off the road.
Other In-Car Distractions: Adjusting the radio, talking with passengers, grooming, and reaching for objects in the back seat also contribute to distracted driving crashes.
Washington law treats handheld phone use behind the wheel seriously. Under the state's Driving Under the Influence of Electronics Act, known as E-DUI and codified at RCW 46.61.672, it is illegal to hold a phone or other wireless device while driving, even when stopped at a red light. A violation is a traffic infraction on its own, and when it contributes to a crash, it becomes powerful evidence of negligence in a civil injury claim.
Distracted driving cases often turn on evidence the at-fault driver would rather not disclose. Our firm investigates each crash to build a complete picture of what happened before impact, including:
- Cell phone records and carrier data showing calls, texts, or app activity at the time of the crash
- Eyewitness statements from other drivers, passengers, or bystanders who saw the at-fault driver looking away from the road
- Dashcam footage and nearby traffic or surveillance camera video capturing the moments leading up to the collision
- Police reports and crash reconstruction findings documenting how the collision occurred
If you were hurt by a distracted driver, Washington law allows you to pursue compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, lost future earning capacity, pain and suffering, and other losses connected to the crash. Proving distraction can strengthen your case for full compensation, since it shows the other driver's negligence went beyond a simple mistake. Contact our office for a free case review to discuss what happened and what your claim may be worth.
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More Client TestimonialsCar Accident Lawyers Serving Communities Across Southwest Washington
We also represent car accident victims in communities throughout Southwest Washington, including:
- Battle Ground
- Camas
- Cascade Park
- Fisher's Landing
- Hazel Dell
- Minnehaha
- Pasco
- Pullman
- Ridgefield
- Salmon Creek
- Washougal
See our full list of areas we serve.
Contact Our Vancouver Car Accident Lawyer Today
If you or a loved one was recently injured in a car accident in Vancouver, our Vancouver car accident attorney at NW Injury Law Center can help you understand and protect your legal rights. We can guide you through each step of a car insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit in pursuit of justice and fair compensation. We will not charge you a dime for our services unless we win your case.
Contact us online or call (360) 695-1624 today to schedule a free case evaluation. Our Vancouver law office is located at 514 W 9th St., Vancouver, WA 98660.