Seattle Personal Injury Legal Aid & Pro Bono Services

Personal injury law is an area of law that covers a variety of accident including, but not limited to: automobile accidents, medical malpractice, pedestrian accidents, slip and falls, injuries caused by defective products, nursing home abuse, construction accidents, and wrongful death. A Seattle personal injury attorney can help you understand your rights and advocate for you every step of the way. Particularly if you are seriously injured, it can be a huge relief knowing that you have someone with your best interests in mind.

Personal injury claims are typically rooted in the legal theory of negligence. Negligence occurs when a person’s conduct falls below the standard of care the law mandates to prevent foreseeable harm. Put another way, negligent conduct is when a person deviates from the type of conduct that a reasonably prudent person would engage in under the same or similar circumstances, causing injury or death to another.

In order to establish negligence, the plaintiff must show: the defendant owed some duty of care to the plaintiff; the defendant breached this duty of care; and the plaintiff’s injury or death was a direct result of the defendant’s breach. Each of these elements must be demonstrated by a preponderance of the evidence ("more likely than not") before any compensation can be recovered.

An injured victim who successfully establishes negligence may be able to recover the following damages: medical costs, lost income and benefits, rehabilitation costs, mental anguish, disfigurement and compensation for any other losses stemming from the accident. Of course, the exact dollar amount will depend on the nature and extent of the harm sustained by the plaintiff.

If you have been injured due to the negligence of another, you may be entitled to compensation for your harm. A Seattle personal injury lawyer should assess the facts of your case and give you a reasonable estimate of what you can expect if you file a lawsuit.