Moses Lake
Car Accident Lawyer

Though Moses Lake may not face the coastal winds and weather like Seabrook or La Push, or the steep mountain roads of the national parks. We experience our fair share of road hazards and car accidents that require more attentive and cautious driving.

If you have been injured in an accident due to a negligent driver, a Moses Lake car accident lawyer can help you determine your rights to compensation. Working with a Moses Lake personal injury attorney from Calbom & Schwab Law Group, PLLC can be what you need to help you recover fair and appropriate compensation.

Why Choose Calbom & Schwab Law Group, PLLC as Your Preferred Car Accident Attorney Firm

Calbom and Schwab have been serving injury victims in Washington for over 70 years. We have the experience and local relationships necessary to effectively fight for the compensation you are due. In our time handling personal injury cases, we have addressed problems related to product liability and wrongful death as they arise, which may be something you encounter in your car accident case.

When it comes to supporting clients, our firm is not afraid to diligently untangle the facts of your case to identify the cause and hold the responsible parties accountable. We have recovered millions of dollars in settlement awards for the individuals and families we represent, and we will handle your case with the dedication and diligence it deserves.

When we take on your case, our car accident Attorney in Moss Lake, WA will immediately begin working to build a robust case to help you recover what you need to cover your losses. In some circumstances, your damages may exhaust and exceed the responsible driver’s policy limits. If that happens, we can help you recover the remaining damages by filing a personal injury lawsuit and taking the case to court, if necessary.

Road Hazards and Causes of Moses Lake Car Accidents

Moses Lake seems to experience fewer than average fatal accidents compared to Grant County and Washington State numbers. These variations may be due to the lower incidence of precipitation, ice, and population density in the county and the Central Basin area. The Traffic Safety Commission reports on the Traffic Fatalities in Washington and shows that the state reported a little more than 1,500 fatalities in recent reporting years.

Of the state totals, 56 happened in Grant County, while only two occurred in the city of Moses Lake. The causes of accidents are varied, though distracted driving, speeding, and driver impairment seem to be the most common. Grant County sees a lower number of impairment-related fatalities, though our distracted driver-related incidents seem to be about 13% higher than state reports.

Wildlife Poses a Unique Road Hazard to Moses Lake Drivers

Grant County is surrounded by several areas with dense forests and national parks, creating an environment that may send wildlife our way. The Washington State Department of Transportation receives 1,500 reports of collisions with wildlife that involve human injury or at least $1,000 of property damage.

However, they suspect that there may be more than 5,000 collisions with deer and 200 collisions with Elk per year based on the numbers of carcasses removed from the roadways. While deer and elk are the larger mammals most commonly involved in accidents, Washington has received reports of collisions involving bears, sheep, and cougars as well.

Impairment as a Factor of Moses Lake Accidents

State and federal reports do not report many fatalities as a result of impairment-related accidents, but that does not mean that drug and alcohol-related accidents are inconsequential in our community. In the summer of 2024, five people were transported to the hospital, including two children, after a crash near Moses Lake off Potato Frontage Road. A driver failed to stop at a stop sign, colliding with another vehicle with four occupants. Police confirmed that drugs and alcohol were involved.

Speeding is the Second Highest Cause of Moses Lake Accidents

Speeding provides less time to adjust to potential hazards on the road, and can make it more challenging to avoid those dangers. For most drivers, some of the expected hazards in Moses Lake include ice and snow, making it essential to decrease speed when conditions are favorable for these situations. However, in April of 2025, a fatal Moses Lake accident had the Washington State Patrol investigating the situation that arose when a man attempted to flee the police, losing control of the vehicle and crashing into a utility pole.

Distracted Driving in Moses Lake

The state of Washington implemented distracted driving laws to decrease these kinds of accidents and fatalities. According to the Washington State Patrol, the guidelines for distracted driving are that you should ensure that your GPS is routed and music is playing before you begin driving. However, you are allowed to use hands-free systems like Bluetooth or Apple CarPlay.

These laws expressly prohibit the use of handheld devices like cell phones while they are driving or at a stoplight unless you are utilizing them to contact emergency services.

Negligence Laws in Washington State

An important factor in your accident case is that Washington State operates under an at-fault insurance model. This means that the policy covering the at-fault driver is responsible for the damages of the accident. The at-fault insurance system works well because it prevents accident victims from having to file a claim with their own insurance company. However, it does require evidence of liability to get the responsible party’s insurance to cover your losses.

Unless your accident was very clear who was responsible, it can take time for the insurance company to make a determination, leaving you to figure out how to pay for a rental, medical bills, and related expenses yourself while they determine if and what they will pay.

How is Liability Determined in a Moss Lake Car Accident

So, if insurance requires us to show the other person is liable, how do we establish this? While it may seem simple that the person who caused the accident is the one responsible for it, even this can have more gray areas than you expect. Liability is determined through a few considerations.

When you have an accident, it is often important and required to report it to the police. When they arrive, they will conduct their own investigation to determine what happened. The information will go into a police report that you can obtain for your records and as evidence in the case. While they are investigating, they will often issue citations as appropriate, which can provide support for the at-fault driver.

Another critical consideration for your recovery is Washington’s Pure Comparative Fault Statutes. According to RCW 4.22.070, each entity responsible for the accident should pay a proportionate amount of the damages. While this means that you may still collect damages, even if you are partially responsible for your injuries, it also means that the other party is able to decrease their payout by allocating responsibility to you.

These comparative fault statutes can protect you, but may also make you vulnerable to decreased payouts if you do not have the diligent and aggressive representation from a car accident lawyer.

You Can Protect Yourself from Unfair Liability That May Decrease Recovery

While you may not be able to predict what the responsible insurance party will do, there are a few steps you can take to protect yourself and offer evidence of the other person’s liability. One of the best things you can do is to call an attorney as soon as possible, but in addition to that, you have several avenues to strengthen your case and protect yourself from unnecessary blame from the moment the accident happens.

Photos

Photographs and video can be critical documentation in your case. The value of quality photos cannot be understated when it comes to determining what happened and presenting your case to a judge or jury. Explaining what happened often has a completely different impact when the narrative is accompanied by photos.

Medical Care

Additionally, it can be a critical mistake to fail to seek evaluation by a medical professional as soon as possible. Failing to do so may mean exacerbating unknown injuries and making yourself vulnerable to accusations that your injuries are not as severe as you claim.

Avoid Social Media

A car accident attorney with Calbom & Schwab Law Group, PLLC may also advise you to minimize what you post on social media regarding your accident, your well-being, or anything at all. This is yet another avenue the insurance company may use in an effort to discredit you, and it is often easier and safer to simply avoid providing material they can use whenever possible.

Seek Guidance Before Speaking with the Insurance Company

After your Moses Lake car accident, the responsible party’s insurance company may try to contact you to get your statement and offer an initial settlement amount. The individual adjuster contacting you may be kind and considerate, genuinely caring for your well-being. However, their job is also to gather information to benefit their position, whether to discredit you or convince you to accept a settlement offer before you have an accurate understanding of the extent of your injuries.

Most Moses Lake, Washington, car accident lawyers can provide value to you at any point in your case. However, the sooner you contact us, the sooner we can get to work gathering evidence, intervening in the strategies of the insurance company, and helping you understand your position.

Common Injuries in Moses Lake Car Accidents

Moses Lake may see relatively few fatalities, but this does not mean our drivers do not face unnecessary injuries. In recent news, a 39-year-old woman sustained minor injuries after failing to stop in time and causing a chain reaction 3-car accident. Unfortunately, not everyone injured in these accidents is able to walk away. In early May, four Moses Lake teens were injured in a rollover collision that required two of them to be airlifted to the hospital.

Some of the injuries that are more common in these types of accidents include:

• Internal injuries
• Broken bone
• Lacerations
• Traumatic brain injury
• Excessive bleeding

In the most devastating, but thankfully rare, accidents in Moses Lake, these accidents are fatal. If you have lost a loved one due to another driver’s negligence, you may benefit from speaking with a wrongful death attorney to help you file a claim.

If you are pursuing a wrongful death lawsuit due to a car accident, you may be able to claim similar damages to address a loss of companionship, children’s loss of guidance from a parent, or loss of financial support if your loved one had dependents

Calbom & Schwab Law Group, PLLC Will Help You Recover Necessary Compensation

If you are injured in a car accident caused by someone else’s negligence, the Moses Lake car accident lawyers at Calbom & Schwab Law Group, PLLC are here to help. You may have concerns regarding how you will pay for the medical expenses of recovering from your injuries, and we will help you fight to recover those losses. Every case is different, but some of the damages you may qualify to recover include:

• Medical bills related to the accident
• Lost wages
• Loss of earning potential
• Travel costs to attend appointments
• Mental health therapy to address emotional distress from the accident
• Pain and suffering

The damages you claim in a car accident claim or lawsuit are typically calculated according to the actual financial losses first. These are damages like medical bills or repair costs that have an actual monetary value assigned to them. Your non-economic or experiential-based damages, like pain and suffering, are generally calculated as a multiple of the economic damages.

Call Calbom & Schwab Law Group, PLLC Today

The car accident attorneys with Calbom & Schwab Law Group, PLLC are committed to two principles. These are to provide experienced and reliable representation to Moses Lake residents, and to ensure we are ethical and dependable members of the community. We want to be someone you can rely on when you are at your most vulnerable, and while our client reviews can tell you this, we want to show you firsthand.

Our team offers free case consultations that allow you to discuss your case with an experienced member of our team without obligation to move forward. You may schedule a consultation with us online. You should not have to face this alone. Let us focus on your case while you focus on yourself and your recovery. With locations across the state, we can accommodate you whether you are a Moses Lake resident or not. Call us today for the help you deserve.