If you’ve been involved in a car accident in Edmonds, you likely have a myriad of concerns—from medical bills and car repairs to lost wages and long-term health implications. Navigating the legal maze while dealing with physical and emotional pain can be overwhelming. That’s where we come in. At Wells Trumbull, our skilled and compassionate car accident attorneys in Edmonds are dedicated to guiding you every step of the way. We aim to relieve your stress by fighting for the compensation you deserve so you can focus on your recovery. Contact us today for a consultation and let us put our team to work for you. Contact us at (360)435-1663 today for a free consultation.
Edmonds Car Accident Resources and Quick Links
- Common Types of Car Accidents
- Common Causes of Car Accidents
- Auto Insurance Requirements in Edmonds
- Edmonds Comparative Fault Laws
- What to do After a Car Accident in Edmonds
- Edmonds Statute of Limitations
- Contact a Car Accident Lawyer
Common Types of Car Accidents
A car accident can vary in severity from minor fender-benders to severe crashes resulting in significant damage, injury, or even death. Car accidents can occur in a variety of ways. Some common types of car accidents in the area may include:
- Rear-End Collisions – These are among the most frequent types of car accidents and typically occur when a car hits the vehicle in front of it. Common causes include tailgating, sudden stops, and distracted driving.
- T-Bone or Side-Impact Collisions – These accidents happen when the front of one vehicle strikes the side of another, usually at intersections. Failure to yield, running red lights, and distracted driving are common causes.
- Head-On Collisions – These are often the most serious type of car accident and involve two vehicles colliding front-to-front. They can be caused by wrong-way driving, impaired driving, or loss of control.
- Single-Car Accidents – In these incidents, only one vehicle is involved, and they can result from factors like slippery roads, vehicle defects, or driver error. Examples include hitting a tree, guardrail, or pedestrian.
- Multi-Vehicle Accidents – Also known as pile-ups, these involve more than two vehicles and can be particularly chaotic and dangerous. They often occur on highways or in poor weather conditions.
- Hit and Run Accidents – These occur when one driver leaves the scene without providing contact information or waiting for authorities. It’s illegal and can make claims more complicated for the victim.
- Rollovers – These are less common but often more severe, typically involving the vehicle flipping onto its roof. High-speed turns, striking an object, or “tripping” over a curb can cause rollovers.
- Distracted Driving Accidents – Accidents are caused by any activity that diverts attention from driving, such as talking or texting on your phone, eating, or using in-car technologies.
- Impaired Driving Accidents – Accidents involving alcohol or drugs are unfortunately common and are a leading cause of fatal accidents.
- Truck Accidents – These accidents involve commercial trucks and can have devastating consequences due to the sheer size and weight of the vehicles. Factors such as driver fatigue, improper loading, and maintenance issues can contribute to truck accidents.
Common Causes of Car Accidents
Car accidents in Edmonds can result from a variety of factors and that is why it’s crucial to contact one of our experienced Edmonds personal injury lawyers. While each accident is unique, some common causes include:
- Distracted Driving – The use of smartphones, navigation systems, or simply eating and drinking while driving can cause drivers to lose focus, making distracted driving one of the leading causes of car accidents.
- Speeding – Driving above the speed limit or too fast for conditions is a frequent cause of accidents. Speeding reduces the driver’s ability to steer safely around curves and increases the severity of an accident.
- Drunk Driving – Impaired driving due to alcohol or drugs severely hampers a driver’s ability to operate a vehicle safely, often leading to dangerous situations and accidents.
- Weather Conditions – Edmonds, like much of Washington, can experience a range of weather conditions such as rain, fog, and snow, which can make roads slippery and reduce visibility.
- Reckless Driving – Actions like tailgating, changing lanes without signaling, and ignoring traffic signs or signals can result in accidents.
- Fatigue – Driver fatigue can result in slowed reaction times and impaired decision-making, making it a subtle but dangerous cause of accidents.
- Vehicle Defects – Sometimes, accidents occur due to mechanical failures or defects, such as brake failure, tire blowouts, or engine malfunctions.
- Road Conditions – Potholes, lack of signage, inadequate lighting, and other poor road conditions can contribute to accidents.
- Running Red Lights and Stop Signs – Disobeying traffic signals is a common cause of T-bone or side-impact collisions at intersections.
- Inexperienced Drivers – Less experienced drivers, such as teenagers, are statistically more likely to be involved in accidents due to their lack of experience in handling complex driving situations.
- Aggressive Driving – Actions like road rage, aggressive tailgating, and weaving between lanes can create unsafe conditions that lead to accidents.
Edmonds Auto Insurance Requirements
According to Washington State law, drivers are required to carry a minimum level of auto insurance. These mandatory insurance requirements are intended to provide a basic level of protection for drivers and others who may be involved in an accident. The minimum auto insurance requirements for Edmonds are generally as follows:
- Liability Coverage – This liability coverage is meant to pay for the other party’s medical bills and property damage if you’re at fault in an accident.
- Bodily Injury Liability: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident
- Property Damage Liability: $10,000 per accident
- Optional Coverage – While not required, many drivers choose to carry additional coverage options for more comprehensive protection, such as:
- Collision: Covers the cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle after an accident.
- Comprehensive: Covers damage to your vehicle that occurs in non-collision situations, such as theft or natural disasters.
- Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist: Protects you if you’re in an accident with a driver who doesn’t have adequate insurance coverage.
- Medical Payments: Covers medical expenses for you and your passengers, regardless of who is at fault.
Comparative Fault Laws in Edmonds, Washington
Washington is a pure comparative negligence insurance state. This is a fault-based system that allows even those partly at fault in a car accident to make a claim for damages. Under this system, even if you are found partly at fault, you can still recover a portion of your damages. Your compensation amount will be minus your percentage of fault. For example, if an injury victim is found to be 20% at fault for a car accident because they were exceeding the speed limit, but the other driver was mostly at fault because they ran a stop sign, the injury victim can recover 80% of their damages. If their damages amounted to $100,000, they’d recover $80,000.
Because Washington has pure comparative negligence laws, theoretically a car accident victim even 99% at fault can recover one percent of their damages.
Washington’s comparative negligence laws can benefit victims of serious car accidents by allowing them to file a claim even if they contributed to the accident; however, it’s imperative to have skilled legal representation by an Edmonds car accident attorney. Often, insurance companies attempt to assign too large a portion of fault to injury victims in order to minimize the amount they must pay out on a claim. An experienced injury lawyer in Edmonds knows how to anticipate these tactics and counteract them with documented evidence to protect your rights.
What to Do After a Car Accident in Edmonds
The aftermath of a car accident can be a chaotic scene. In some cases, you could be far too injured to do anything other than wait for help. However, if you are able to use your phone, or ask an uninjured person to use it for you, it becomes a critical tool to document evidence to help you recover the full amount of your damages later. Use your cell phone after a car accident in Edmonds to do the following:
- First, call 911 to report the accident if no one else has called and give reasonable aid and comfort to other injury victims
- Take photos of the damaged vehicles
- Take photos of the accident scene, including anything relevant like an intersection, traffic signals, or skid marks
- Photograph any visible injuries
- Add the contact information of other drivers and eyewitnesses to the crash
- Record a quick statement of what you remember about the accident since trauma can fade memories later
Always accept emergency transportation to the hospital after a car accident in Edmonds. At the hospital, ask for a complete evaluation and a detailed medical report. Be sure to tell the doctor about all of your symptoms, even if they seem minor since these may worsen into serious injuries in the next hours or even days.
Be sure to obtain a copy of your medical report and the police report, and then call the Edmonds car accident attorneys at Wells Trumbull for a free case consultation before communicating with the insurance companies about the accident.
Edmonds Car Accident Statute of Limitations
Generally, the statute of limitations for filing a car accident claim in the state of Washington is three (3) years from the date of the accident. This applies to personal injury claims as well as property damage claims. This means that if you’ve been involved in a car accident in Edmonds, Washington, you would typically have three (3) years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver or any other liable parties.
It’s crucial to note that if you fail to file your claim within this time frame, you are likely to be barred from recovering any compensation for your injuries or damages. However, there are some specific circumstances under which this time limit might be extended or shortened. For example, if the injured party is a minor, the clock may not start ticking until they reach the age of 18. On the other hand, claims against governmental entities may require filing a formal notice of the claim within a much shorter period, sometimes as little as a few months.
Contact Our a Car Accident Lawyer in Edmonds Today
Don’t let the complexities of the legal system add to the stress of your car accident. If you’ve been involved in a collision in Edmonds, acting promptly can make a significant difference in your case. With the experienced and compassionate Edmonds car accident lawyers at Wells Trumbull by your side, you’ll have the support you need to navigate through insurance claims, potential litigation, and the recovery of the damages you deserve. Reach out to us today to schedule a consultation, as time-sensitive elements like the statute of limitations could impact your ability to claim. Your well-being is our top priority; let us put our Edmonds car accident attorneys to work for you.