Pasco & Tri-Cities Personal Injury Lawyer
When you or a loved one has suffered injuries and property damage at the hands of someone else, you Accidents that turn your life upside down because of carelessness are deeply unfair and frustrating. These events not only affect your immediate future, but they can also have a long-term impact if you do not have the right resources to minimize the burden. A Pasco, WA/Tri-Cities personal injury lawyer can help you pursue legal action when you have been wrongly injured.
At Calbom & Schwab Law Group, PLLC, we are dedicated to our community and our clients. Founded more than 60 years ago, our team has been fighting to help individuals who have suffered unjustly because of another party. We do not stop until we have secured results and resources that our clients are satisfied with. Regardless of the type of accident you have experienced, we provide you with the exceptional service that you deserve.
Types of Cases Calbom & Schwab Law Group, PLLC Can Help You With
When an accident occurs that arises out of negligence, a personal injury claim allows you to hold the person responsible for their actions and recover your losses. Because there are many types of accidents that can be caused by negligence, personal injury is a broad area of the law. Personal injury attorneys in the Tri-Cities and Pasco, WA area possess a comprehensive legal knowledge to help you get results regardless of the situation you are facing. Our team at Calbom & Schwab Law Group, PLLC can represent you when you have been injured in the following situations:
- Car and auto accidents: Car accidents can range from fender-benders to fatal crashes. Vehicle occupants can sustain injuries that last a long time, and they may face significant medical expenses and financial strain without relief from a personal injury claim.
- Motorcycle accidents: Motorcycle drivers have little to protect them when they are involved in an accident and can suffer severe harm. Motorcyclists are most likely to sustain broken bones, road rash, and brain and spine injuries.
- Truck accidents: Truck accidents often involve multiple layers of liability to sort through to determine who is at fault for the accident. Drivers, truck companies, part manufacturers, and cargo loaders could all be responsible.
- Uber & Lyft Rideshare Accidents: Rideshare accidents can be complex given the variables involved in resolving these claims. Claims for compensation could be filed with the driver’s insurance, Uber or Lyft’s liability insurance, or another party altogether. The driver’s status at the time of the accident can also impact who is liable.
- Slip and fall accidents: Owners are responsible for the upkeep of their properties, and when they fail to remedy slippery floors, torn carpeting, broken stairs, or uneven or poorly lit sidewalks, they can be held liable by injured individuals.
- Premises liability: Property owners are obligated to provide a safe environment for guests. Their duty of care varies depending on whether a guest is an invitee, licensee, or trespasser.
- Defective or dangerous products: Products can be defective as a result of their design, manufacturing flaws, or because of poor marketing or labeling. These products can cause consumers severe injuries and give them grounds to file a personal injury claim.
- Boating accidents: With many types of boats and causes for accidents, injuries can be varied, and resolving a claim can be nuanced. To recover sufficient compensation for your losses, these cases should be handled with the help of a lawyer.
- Traumatic brain injuries: Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) can range from mild to severe and create a host of challenges for individuals that may last throughout their lives. In addition to physical symptoms, individuals may also face cognitive, behavioral, and emotional symptoms.
- Spinal injuries: Spinal injuries can have serious repercussions on an individual’s life. These injuries can be very painful and even impact mobility and functions. The extent of the damage and other variables can affect an individual’s prognosis.
- Work injuries: Accidents can happen at work for one reason or another and cause injuries that may impact an individual’s ability to do their job. Determining the cause and source of liability must be determined before recovering compensation.
- Construction injuries: Construction work often comes with heightened risks of injuries. When other parties are careless, do not take necessary precautions, or maintain a safe job site, workers can be seriously harmed on the job and suffer long-term effects on their lives.
- Farm-related injuries: Individuals working in the farming industry are at significant risk of injury from farming equipment, which is often large and has sharp parts. These injuries can have profound impacts on a victim’s life.
- Nursing home negligence: Elderly individuals are vulnerable to neglect and abuse from medical professionals and staff in nursing homes. Nursing homes can be held liable for mistreating patients.
- Dog bites: Dog bites are not only terrifying and excruciating events, they also carry a risk of infection or disease. Dog owners are strictly liable for their dogs and are required to pay for an individual’s damages regardless of their dog’s history.
- Wrongful death: When an accident caused by negligence results in a fatality, surviving family members may file a wrongful death claim against the at-fault party. If the decedent had grounds to file a claim in life, then their loved ones could recover compensation on their behalf.
How Personal Injury Cases are Resolved
The one thing that all these cases have in common is negligence. They are each caused by another party not taking the proper safety precautions to prevent harm. There are times when determining liability may be complex, and other times when it is very straightforward. Even when it may be clear that another individual was being careless when they caused the accident, negligence must still be established as part of your case. With the help of your lawyer, they will show the other party’s liability by demonstrating each of the four elements of negligence:
- Duty of care: The party at fault was obligated to exercise reasonable caution and avoid causing harm.
- Breach of duty: The party at fault failed to exercise caution, create a safe environment, or take proper steps to verify safety.
- Causation: The actions of the at-fault party were directly responsible for causing the accident and the injuries that you sustained.
- Damages: With the other three elements satisfied, the at-fault party is deemed negligent and must pay damages for your losses.
Along with determining that negligent actions were the cause of an accident, fault is also closely examined when resolving a personal injury claim. Each party’s contribution to the accident is assessed, and a percentage from zero to 100 is assigned to represent their fault. When multiple parties contribute to an accident, each party can recover compensation that is reduced in proportion to their level of fault, per Washington’s pure comparative fault law. Unlike other states, recovering compensation is not barred. If you are found partially at fault, your lawyer will fight to ensure you have minimal or no liability so you can recover as much as possible.
A Pasco, WA/Tri-Cities Personal Injury Attorney Helps You Recover Damages
Recovering compensation after an accident is designed to help you get back to the place you were in prior to the accident. While it likely will not erase all the effects of the accident, it can ensure that you have the resources you need to regain your life. In a personal injury claim, you are likely to recover both the following types of damages.
- Economic damages are intended to help you recoup the financial expenses you have incurred and provide relief from the monetary strain you are under. Some of the expenses that may be covered by economic damages include medical expenses, lost wages or earning capacity, and damage repair or replacement costs.
- Non-economic damages are intended to help soften the impact of your pain and suffering when your quality of life has decreased. When you recover this type of compensation, you may be able to receive relief for emotional and mental distress, loss of enjoyment, and loss of companionship.
To determine how much you can recover in a personal injury claim, it is important to talk with an attorney. They can first help you determine the extent of your losses, and then which ones you can recover in a claim. Your lawyer will also help you calculate what your case is worth to ensure you receive a fair settlement that will sufficiently cover your losses. They will negotiate on your behalf and fight until they secure satisfactory results.
Washington’s Time Limit for Recovering Damages
To successfully recover compensation for your losses, you must first file your claim within the allotted period of time. If you wait too long, you could forfeit all rights to damages. In Washington, the statute of limitations for personal injury accidents is three years. Your lawyer will verify the viability of your claim during your consultation and discuss your options with you.
Protect Your Claim by Knowing What to Avoid After an Accident
Suffering from any kind of accident is overwhelming and disorienting. However, if you do not take the right steps after an accident, a lot could go wrong that could prevent you from recovering compensation. Insurance companies will use mistakes against you to avoid paying you what your case is worth. They may even try to delay or deny your claim to get out of paying. To reduce the chances of this happening, it is important not to:
- Decline treatment by a medical professional
- Fail to file a police report or obtain a copy for your records
- Fail to collect evidence in the form of photos, statements, bills, estimates, and records
- Fail to exchange contact and insurance information
- Talk about your accident on social media
- File a claim without first hiring personal injury lawyers in Pasco, WA/Tri-Cities
Hiring a lawyer is essential to getting a fair settlement, and they will help you have as strong a case as possible. By avoiding the mistakes above and seeking legal help, you set yourself up for a much more favorable outcome.
A Pasco, WA/Tri-Cities Personal Injury Attorney is Your Ally
A lawyer is your ally when you are left to pick up the pieces of your life after an accident. They advocate for you and protect your rights so you can recover maximum compensation for your losses. They empower you with the resources you need to regain control of your life.
When you seek the help of a lawyer, they will take the time to listen and understand your situation, and gain a thorough understanding of what you are facing. In the course of building your case, they investigate the accident you suffered to determine the cause and who is liable. They will also help gather as much evidence as possible to use along with what you have already gathered.
Armed with this information, the value of your case, and their extensive legal knowledge, your lawyer will fiercely fight and negotiate to resolve your case as quickly as possible so you can recover your losses. Your case will most likely be settled, but if an agreement cannot be reached or your insurance settlement is insufficient, your lawyer can also help you pursue litigation.
How Much a Lawyer Charges to Handle Your Case
When you need representation after an accident, you can receive legal services without any cost to you. Calbom & Schwab Law Group, PLLC works on contingency and does not get paid unless we win your case. Our fees are collected directly from your settlement or verdict and never from you directly. This model allows you to get the help you need risk-free when you need it the most. You can also trust that you and your lawyer will share the same goals for the outcome of your case.
Contact Calbom & Schwab Law Group, PLLC About Your Case
Calbom & Schwab Law Group, PLLC is dedicated to your physical and financial recovery after an accident. We understand how much these events disrupt your life, and we work to reach a resolution as quickly as possible. Our team provides trusted counsel and exceptional services as we help you navigate your claim. Schedule a free consultation when you contact us today and learn how we can protect and fight for you.
Office Address:
6119 Burden Blvd, Suite B
Pasco, WA 99301
Driving Directions
From Kennewick
Take US-395N (Blue Bridge) across the Columbia River. Take the I-182W/Argent Rd Exit. Continue on I-182W and take the Road 68 exit. Turn right on to Burden Blvd. Travel approximately three-quarters of a mile and take a left into the parking lot.
From Richland
Take I-182E. Exit at Road 68. Turn left onto Road 68 from the highway. Turn right onto Burden Blvd. Travel approximately three-quarters of a mile and take a left into the parking lot.