auto car accident personal injury in WA state should i get a lawyer

It is generally a good idea to hire an attorney if you have received medical treatment as a result of an accident. Lawyers who practice in this field generally work on a contingency basis - they get paid a percentage of your settlement (normally 33 1/3%) and charge no legal fees if the case ends without a recovery (though you will still be ultimately responsible for the court costs and expenses win or lose). So your risk is low. Also, with "soft-tissue" injuries one cannot predict the outcome of your injury until all your treatment is completed. The injuries you describe may not reach the threshhold level to merit a claim beignbrought, but a free consultation with a qualified practitioner in your area should answer tht question for you as well.

Good Luck.

Agreeing to provide you with these benefits and actually doing so are two different things. More times than not, we have new clients walk through our door disappointed that an insurance company failed to honor the promises it made early after the accident. Normally they will low ball you with the reimbursement of promised medical bills and loss of earnings. A large part of most cases includes compensating the victim for pain and suffering. A good attorney can help you maximize these general damages. Another issue that comes up is that insurance companies will want to get your case settled quickly for less than full value. After you sign the release you case is over forever. What will you do if you later learn that your minor back pain is actually a major herniated disc that requires surgery?

I would respectfully suggest that you hire an experienced personal injury lawyer to help protect your interest.

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Best Regards,

Jon Mitchell "Mitch" Jackson
Jackson & Wilson, Inc.
23161 Mill Creek Drive, Ste 150
Laguna Hills, CA 92653
Tel No. 949.855.8751
Fax No. 949.855.8752
Email: mjackson@jacksonwilson.com
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The previous answers provide great advice. Most personal injury attorneys will consult with you for free to go over your injuries and damages. In your case, it would be certainly worthwhile for you to meet with an attorney before signing a release. I would recommend locating a personal injury attorney in your area and schedule a meeting. You can use the search function on the Avvo website or you can also do a search at http://pro.wsba.org. Best of luck.

Ted Mechtenberg, Esq.
Law Offices of David A. Kohles, Inc.
26231 72nd Ave NW, Suite 202
Stanwood, WA 98292
Tel: 360.629.4100
Fax: 360.629.9955
tedmechtenberg@kohleslegal.com

Yes.

At the very least, you should have an attorney look at the agreement and talk to you about your circumstances. Too many times people accept an early settlement offer becaue they have no idea how the process works. And how much are they offering you to compensate you for everything else? Seems to me they are trying to get away with only paying what we refer to as your "special damages," that is, the damages that have a bill attached to them. Most attorneys will also seek compensation for the intagibles that you lost - time, pain-free life, reduced activity, loss of the things that make life livable.

Good luck.

You should at least meet with one for a free consultation to review the settlement. There will likely be no cost for you and you might have missed something.

Call your local bar association or ask your doctor.