Richard C. Platte's Answers

Auto accident - statute of limitations

Statutes of limitation vary from state to state. In the state of Washington, a lawsuit must be commenced by filing or service of a summons and complaint (suit papers) within three years or the date of the accident. However, it is dangerous to wait to see an attorney until the statute of limitations has almost expired for a number of reasons, including the possibility that the at-fault motorist may be difficult to locate for service of the suit papers upon him or her.

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Back pain from an old accident

The best evidence that a person's chronic back pain was caused by a motor vehicle collision would usually be the opinions of one or more treating health care providers who are permitted by law to express such opinions, such as your wife's primary care physician or chiropractor. Collecting compensation to which your wife is entitled, including payment of treatment expenses, will normally involve contact and negotiations with the other driver's insurance company, assuming that the other driver's...

Auto accident

Unless some other person or entity is at fault for the accident (for instance, where the other driver was intoxicated as a result of being over-served at a liquor establishment), the person whose car hit your friend is responsible for your friend's damages. If that person has no auto insurance coverage, he or she is still liable for your friend's damages, but your friend's recovery of damages from that person will need to be obtained from the person's personal assets or income. In addition, if...