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Table of Contents
Economic Damages: Tangible Financial Losses
Non-Economic Damages: Intangible Losses
Factors That Affect Your Compensation
Why Legal Representation Matters
After a car accident in Redmond, Seattle, or anywhere in King County, you may be facing mounting medical bills, lost income, and pain that affects every aspect of your daily life. Understanding what types of compensation you're entitled to recover is an important first step toward rebuilding your life after a serious collision.
At Lindquist & Kornfeld, we have been helping car accident victims secure full and fair compensation for over 40 years. Our experienced attorneys and legal staff understand Washington state law and know how to build strong cases that account for both your current losses and your future needs.
Economic Damages: Tangible Financial Losses
Economic damages represent the measurable financial costs you've incurred as a result of the accident. These are typically easier to calculate because they're backed by bills, receipts, pay stubs, and other documentation.
Medical Expenses
You can recover compensation for all reasonable and necessary medical treatment related to your injuries. This includes emergency room visits, hospital stays, surgeries, diagnostic tests like X-rays and MRIs, prescription medications, physical therapy and rehabilitation, medical equipment such as crutches or wheelchairs, and home health care services.
Importantly, you can also recover future medical expenses if your injuries require ongoing treatment, additional surgeries, or long-term care. Your attorney will work with medical experts to project these future costs and ensure they're included in your claim.
Lost Wages and Loss of Earning Capacity
If your injuries prevented you from working, you're entitled to compensation for lost income. This includes wages you've already missed as well as future earnings if your injuries affect your ability to return to work or perform your job at the same capacity.
For victims who suffer permanent disabilities or catastrophic injuries such as traumatic brain injuries or spinal cord damage, loss of earning capacity can represent a significant portion of your total compensation. This accounts for the difference between what you would have earned over your career and what you're now able to earn given your limitations.
Property Damage
You can recover the cost to repair or replace your vehicle and any personal property damaged in the accident, such as electronics, clothing, or other items that were in your car at the time of the collision.
Non-Economic Damages: Intangible Losses
Non-economic damages compensate you for losses that don't have a specific dollar amount attached but are nonetheless real and significant. These damages recognize the human impact of your injuries.
Pain and Suffering
Physical pain and discomfort caused by your injuries are compensable. This includes both the immediate pain from the accident and any chronic pain you continue to experience. The severity and duration of your pain, as well as the impact on your daily activities, will influence the value of this component of your claim.
Emotional Distress
Car accidents can cause significant psychological trauma, including anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, fear of driving, and sleep disturbances. Mental health treatment related to the accident, such as therapy or counseling, can be recovered as part of your economic damages, while the emotional suffering itself falls under non-economic damages.
Loss of Enjoyment of Life
If your injuries prevent you from participating in activities you once enjoyed, whether that's playing sports, gardening, spending time with family, or pursuing hobbies, you may be entitled to compensation for this loss of enjoyment of life.
Loss of Consortium
In cases of severe injury, your spouse may have a claim for loss of consortium. This compensates for the loss of companionship, affection, and the physical relationship that results from your injuries.
Factors That Affect Your Compensation
Several factors influence the total value of your car accident claim. The severity of your injuries and the extent of medical treatment required play a significant role. Whether you've suffered permanent disabilities or disfigurement increases the value of your claim substantially.
The clarity of liability matters as well. Cases where the other driver was clearly at fault, such as running a red light or driving under the influence, typically result in better outcomes. The available insurance coverage also affects your recovery, as Washington requires minimum liability coverage that may not fully compensate for catastrophic injuries. In such cases, your attorney will explore all potential sources of compensation.
Your own actions can also impact your claim. Washington follows a comparative negligence rule, which means your compensation may be reduced by your percentage of fault. However, you can still recover damages as long as you're not more than 50 percent at fault for the accident.
Why Legal Representation Matters
Insurance companies often try to minimize payouts by offering quick, low settlements before you fully understand the extent of your injuries and losses. They may also attempt to shift blame onto you or argue that your injuries aren't as serious as you claim.
Having an experienced car accident attorney on your side ensures that all your damages are properly documented and valued. At Lindquist & Kornfeld, we conduct thorough investigations, work with medical and financial experts, and negotiate aggressively with insurance companies to secure the maximum compensation available.
Our personal injury lawyers understand that your recovery depends on receiving fair compensation. We're committed to fighting for every dollar you deserve, and we work on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing unless we win your case.
Get the Compensation You Deserve
If you've been injured in a car accident in Redmond, Seattle, Kirkland, Bellevue, or anywhere in the greater King County area, don't settle for less than you deserve. The attorneys at Lindquist & Kornfeld are here to help you navigate the claims process and pursue full compensation for all your losses.
Contact us online or call (425) 657-5255 today to schedule a free consultation. Let our 40+ years of experience work for you.
Lindquist & Kornfeld serves car accident victims throughout the Seattle area, including Redmond, Kirkland, Bellevue, Everett, and surrounding communities in King County. We offer free consultations and handle all personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis.
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