Legal Question in Personal Injury in Washington
He ran the red light why should I br punished
I was in a car accident last Feburay, the other driver ran a red light and smashed into me. He was given a ticket at the scene. I have had neck problems ever since. I was in physical therapy for a few weeks, but it was interferring with work so I stopped going. The other insurance company wants to settle when I told family and friends how much they wanted to offer me to settle the case they all laughed and said I should talk to an attorney. I had to depend on other people for a month before we finally got the car amount settled and I could get another car. The other insurance company also told me they couldn't pay me for the time I missed from work because they said they didn't have all the information which I sent them, but the lady thought that they were offering a more than fair amount. So I'm wondering if you think I can still sue them or how to get more money for my pain and suffering? Also for the wages that were lost after the accident do to the whiplash that occured to my neck? If you have any suggestions please let me know. Thank You for your time.
1 Answer from Attorneys
Personal injury problem
1. First, you have three years from the date of the accident to sue. If a governmental agency was/should be involved as a defendant, you will need to give it a Tort Claim within the 3 years, after which you can't sue for 60 days.
2. Keep track of all your out-of-pocket expenses, including lost wages and vacation, and mileage to the health care providers. If you had PIP coverage with your own insurance company, they will likely pay for household help and income continuation, as well as medical.
3. Start making what is called a "pain diary" on an as-needed basis. If you have daily, regular or occasional pain as a result of the injury, rate it on a 1 to 5 (for example) scale and make notes. That way you can always refresh your memory with your notes if necessary. This would also include a listing of all those things that you can no longer do, or had to forego for a period of time.
4. You may need to be referred for further medical evaluation.
5. You don't want to be kicking yourself down the line when you are still in pain and settled for too little.
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