Colburn Law

Bothell Personal Injury Lawyer

A personal injury claim is a type of civil action designed to help an injured victim recover his or her losses after another party’s negligence results in physical injuries or other types of harm. If you or a relative sustained an injury in the Bothell area due to another party’s actions, contact Colburn Law today to schedule a free case evaluation with a Bothell personal injury attorney.

How Can a Bothell Personal Injury Attorney Help?

A personal injury matter may seem straightforward at first, but there are countless possible complications that may arise. The average person with no legal experience would struggle to build a case and navigate the court system without an attorney, especially while recovering from severe injuries. Attorneys manage their clients’ legal matters so injured clients can focus on recovery.

A personal injury attorney will gather evidence like photos from an accident scene or witness statements, subpoena other evidence like traffic camera data or cell phone records, and manage correspondence with insurance companies on behalf of a client. Ultimately, hiring a personal injury attorney not only increases a plaintiff’s odds of succeeding with a personal injury claim but also almost always results in more compensation than a legally inexperienced plaintiff could manage on his or her own.

Negligence in Personal Injury Claims

Negligence is the central concept in any personal injury claim. The plaintiff’s attorney must prove that the defendant owed a duty of care to the plaintiff, breached that duty in some way, and directly caused the plaintiff’s damages. The plaintiff’s attorney will also need to prove the full extent of those damages and establish a firm link between the damages and the defendant’s negligent behavior.

In states that follow comparative negligence laws, it is possible for a plaintiff to absorb some liability for a personal injury claim if the jury determines that he or she was negligent in any way that contributed to his or her claimed damages. For example, if a driver hits a pedestrian who walked into the crosswalk while looking at his or her phone, the driver has a higher duty of care to prevent injuries and would therefore absorb most of the liability. However, the pedestrian was not paying attention and therefore contributed to the resulting damages.

In Washington, a plaintiff can still recover compensation in such a scenario, but he or she loses a portion equal to his or her level of fault. Following the previous example, if the claim’s value is $20,000 and the jury finds the plaintiff 25% at fault, the plaintiff loses 25% of the case award for a net total of $15,000 instead. For more information, contact our Bothell car accident lawyers today for more information.

Why Choose Colburn Law?

• Attorney Greg Colburn has personal experience as an injured plaintiff in the civil court system after a roofing contractor’s negligence caused severe bone fractures in his legs, leaving him in a wheelchair for two years while requiring multiple corrective surgeries.
• Our firm understands how devastating a personal injury can be and leverages the full strength of our resources and experience to maximize client recovery.
• We have experience in all types of personal injury cases, including vehicle accident claims, dog bite claims, premises liability claims, and more.
• Our firm offers free case evaluations to potential clients. This helps an injured person better understand his or her options for legal recourse without requiring any financial commitment.

Winning Your Personal Injury Case in Bothell

If a plaintiff’s attorney successfully proves a defendant was negligent and liable for the plaintiff’s damages, the plaintiff can recover several types of economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages generally include hospital bills and other medical expenses, lost income, and property damage. Noneconomic compensation exists for pain and suffering resulting from a defendant’s negligence. Punitive damages may also come into play if a defendant engaged in any criminal or intentionally harmful actions that led to the plaintiff’s damages.

Anyone injured in Bothell by the actions of a negligent party may have grounds for a personal injury lawsuit. If you or a loved one experience such a situation, contact Colburn Law to schedule a free consultation with a Bothell personal injury attorney.