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Car accidents not only cause injuries, but can create an overwhelming financial and emotional burden on you and your loved ones. If you have been involved in an auto accident, call a personal injury attorney at Ritchie Reiersen Kennewick. The car accident Immigration lawyers Kennewick WA, are experienced in helping victims who have been injured in automobile accidents and many other types of injuries. Our Kennewick, Washington personal injury attorneys are passionate and aggressive in our pursuit for justice. Because we treat our clients like family, you will receive the compassion and respect you deserve. Serving the Tri-City areas of Pasco, Richland, and Kennewick, as well as Hermiston, Sunnyside, and Prosser. Call us today (509) 396-5577 for a free consultation. Personal Injury Attorney Kennewick, Washington
The claims process surrounding personal injury car accidents is often complicated and frustrating. You don’t have to deal with the claim on your own. Having an experienced car accident lawyer Kennewick on your side makes the process easier. Furthermore, settlement offers are typically significantly higher when a personal injury attorney is on your side. If you have been injured in a car crash, consult with an experienced personal injury lawyer in Kennewick, Washington. Call Ritchie Reiersen Law today at (509) 396-5577.
Your memory is clear. Over time memory fades – and with that the details that could make a big difference in your case could be lost. In order to help your claim, it is best to give a clear and concise statement to your attorney right away – including all the details you can remember.
Statute of limitations has not expired. The clock begins ticking away on the statute of limitations as soon as the accident occurs, limiting the amount of time you have to file a claim.
Consultation is free. There is no pressure to enter a contract for services when you attend your free consultation with your Kennewick injury attorney. Take the opportunity to ask questions and get honest feedback on your case.
Focus on recovery with peace of mind. While you are taking the much-needed time to recover, your attorney is hard at work, getting you the compensation you deserve for the injuries you sustained. You can rest easy, knowing you’re in good hands with your Kennewick personal injury lawyer.
Receive a larger settlement. While many individuals feel they can save money by handling their own claim, this often ends up being counter productive. History has shown that an attorney is more likely to negotiate a significantly larger settlement than an individual can on their own – even when factoring in the contingency fee for the attorney. Your Kennewick personal injury lawyers work hard to get the settlement you deserve.
Call Ritchie Reiersen Law, personal injury attorneys in Kennewick, Washington today
When you need the experience and knowledge of an expert but the compassion and respect of family, Ritchie Reiersen Law is the personal injury attorney in Kennewick, WA; so call Ritchie Reiersen Kennewick at (509) 396-5577 for a free consultation with an experienced car accident attorney.
If you need to go to the hospital, go. If you need an ambulance, get an ambulance. If you need to see the chiropractor, physical therapist, family doctor or whatever medical provider you need, go. Do not wait. The longer you wait, the longer you will suffer. Also, the longer you wait, the more “ammunition” the insurance company has to try to discredit your injuries.
Always call the police. Police officers have a lot of weight in deciding liability. Additionally, people seem nice and cooperative initially and often even admit fault to you; however, their stories often change. This creates the “he said, she said” scenario that will likely result in you having to pay your own expenses and pay for your own medical bills even though the accident was no fault of your own.
The number one comment I hear from every insurance adjuster as I try to settle claims is “this is a low impact accident.” One of the easiest ways to mitigate that claim is to show pictures of the damaged vehicle.
It is also very helpful to take pictures of the other person’s vehicle as well as pictures of the scene of the accident in case the person who hit you tries to deny liability later. Also, get statements from all witnesses as this will validate the facts of the accident.
It is always a good idea to get as much information as possible from the opposing driver and any witnesses that may have seen the accident. This will be helpful for you and your personal injury attorney Kennewick WA. Following is a list of information that if collected right after the accident will make your life much easier in the months to follow.
The personal injury attorneys at Ritchie Reiersen Law in Kennewick hold the experience and knowledge necessary to successfully help with car accidents. As your car accident Immigration lawyer Kennewick WA, Ritchie Reiersen Law handles the medical bills, deals with the insurance companies, and takes care of the legal paperwork. Ultimately, we ensure you get a fair settlement by negotiating with your needs in mind. Ritchie Reiersen Kennewick has personal injury attorneys at locations in Tri-Cities (Kennewick, Richland, Pasco), Yakima, Tacoma, Auburn, and Portland. Call today for your free consultation at (509) 396-5577.
We have helped thousands of victims get the compensation they deserve. Our track record of successful outcomes totals more than $25 million in injury cases. You won’t pay unless you win. Experience success with Ritchie Reiersen Law personal injury attorneys.
It is very important to know that this is your case and it is your right to close your claim at any time. However, there are certainly things to consider before closing your case. These factors include the status of your injuries, statute of limitations, settlement offers and your overall well-being.
Still Injured? Do not Close too Early: One of the biggest regrets I see people make is accepting a settlement offer when they are still suffering. Once the claim is closed, the insurance company is no longer responsible for any additional medical bills, even if the injuries are a direct result of the accident. Therefore, before closing your claim it is wise to ensure you are being compensated for all your injuries.
Statute of Limitations: Car accident cases have a limited time that the claim remains open. If the claim is not accepted or a lawsuit started on or before that time, the claim becomes null and you lose out on any settlement the insurance may owe you. Each state has its own statute period, so it is important to understand and close your case or file a lawsuit prior to that date. In Washington state, most car accidents have a three year time period while Oregon and many other states only have a two year window for settling your claim. It is also wise to consult a personal injury attorney in your local Kennewick, Washington area who is experienced handling car accident claims.
Process of Closing Your Claim: Once you have decided that you want to close your claim there are a couple of things that happen. The responsible car insurance will need to acquire a copy of the medical bills and records in order to evaluate your claim. If you have a car accident attorney the attorney will usually acquire these records and put together what is called a demand packet outlining all medical bills, out of pocket expensive and wage loss this accident has caused.
The next step is typically having the insurance company giving you an offer as to how much they are willing to pay to settle your claim. Unfortunately, it is the insurance company’s job as a for-profit business to pay as little as they can when settling a claim. It truly is difficult to put a value on claims as each claim is unique. This is one of the primary reasons why having a personal injury attorney who is experienced settling car accidents in your local Kennewick, WA area is vital.
If you are unable to get an acceptable offer from the insurance company your options are very limited, but litigation is often your best option. This includes arbitrations, mediations and also the traditional “take them to the court house.” It is also important to note that just because a lawsuit is filed doesn’t necessarily mean you are going to have to sit in front of a judge. The insurance company can make new offers at any point. The reality is that if your case is headed for a full-blown trial, you are either crazy or straight out amazing to want to try to brave that battle without an attorney.
Almost all personal injury attorneys work on what is called a contingent fee, which simply means they do not get paid unless they win the case for you and you agree to accept the terms of the settlement. Additionally, most personal injury attorneys offer free no pressure consultations to answer your questions. Rather than requiring a lot of money up front and charging hourly, most personal injury attorneys have found it is much better for their clients to not have to come up with money, especially given that they are usually injured and already suffering.
Almost all personal injury attorneys work on what is called a contingent fee, which simply means they do not get paid unless they win the case for you and you agree to accept the terms of the settlement. Additionally, most personal injury attorneys offer free no pressure consultations to answer your questions. Rather than requiring a lot of money up front and charging hourly, most personal injury attorneys have found it is much better for their clients to not have to come up with money, especially given that they are usually injured and already suffering.
Contingent fees are somewhat risk free in the sense that you pay nothing up front and the attorney only gets paid if you agree to accept a settlement offer. The attorney’s fee is typically thirty-three percent of the settlement. If you have questions regarding specific costs of personal injury attorneys in Kennewick, Washington set up a free consultation and get those questions answered.
The job of a personal injury attorney or sometimes called auto accident attorneys is to guide and resolve the damage and get compensation for injuries caused by auto accidents. Your attorney will be dealing with and making sure the medical bills get paid, helping to ensure that you are seeing the right doctors and ensuring that you are recovering from your injuries.
Attorneys also deal with the insurance companies and handle the paperwork and help reach a fair resolution for the claim once the claim. Having a local personal injury attorney in Kennewick, Washington can substantially increase your likelihood of being properly compensated after your auto accident.
Almost all personal injury attorneys work on what is called a contingent fee, which simply means they do not get paid unless they win the case for you and you agree to accept the terms of the settlement. Additionally, most personal injury attorneys offer free no pressure consultations to answer your questions. Rather than requiring a lot of money up front and charging hourly, most personal injury attorneys have found it is much better for their clients to not have to come up with money, especially given that they are usually injured and already suffering.
Contingent fees are somewhat risk free in the sense that you pay nothing up front and the attorney only gets paid if you agree to accept a settlement offer. The attorney’s fee is typically thirty-three percent of the settlement. If you have questions regarding specific costs of personal injury attorneys in Kennewick, Washington set up a free consultation and get those questions answered.
TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF: After an accident there are a lot of things going on, but most importantly, take care of yourself. If you need to go to the hospital, go. If you need an ambulance, get an ambulance. If you need to see the chiropractor, physical therapist, family doctor or whatever medical provider you need, go. Do not wait. The longer you wait, the longer you will suffer. Also, the longer you wait, the more “ammunition” the insurance company has to try to discredit your injuries.
CALL THE POLICE: Always call the police. Police officers have a lot of weight in deciding liability. Additionally, people seem nice and cooperative initially and often even admit fault to you; however, their stories often change. This creates the “he said, she said” scenario that will likely result in you having to pay your own expenses and pay for your own medical bills even though the accident was no fault of your own.
TAKE PICTURES: The number one comment I hear from every insurance adjuster as I try to settle claims is “this is a low impact accident.” One of the easiest ways to mitigate that claim is to show pictures of the damaged vehicle. It is also very helpful to take pictures of the other person’s vehicle as well as pictures of the scene of the accident in case the person who hit you tries to deny liability later. Also, get statements from all witnesses as this will validate the facts of the accident.
If you decide to do handle the claim on your own the first and most obvious step to take is to call your insurance company and open a claim with them. You will also likely need to open a claim with the other person’s insurance company. You will need to take your car to a professional auto body shop in order to have them assess the damage and put together an estimate. There are many very good auto body shops in Kennewick, Washington that are experienced handing insurance claims. Unfortunately, there are also a few that are not quite as good so ask around.
Choosing an Auto Body Shop After Your Car Accident
After your car accident the insurance company will likely try to direct you to one of their “preferred” shops, but do not be fooled into thinking that is where you have to take your car. There are a lot of auto body shops in the Kennewick area who are very experienced handling vehicles after a car accident.
You have the right to choose any auto repair shop you want. There are many reasons why it may be wise to choose a shop that is not “preferred” by your insurance company, but that is something you can talk to your attorney about.
How to Get a Rental Car after a Car Accident
If you lose the use of your vehicle due to an accident, the negligent driver is required to either pay for a rental car or pay you for the loss of use of your vehicle. The unfortunate news about rental vehicles is that they do not have to rent you a car equivalent to your vehicle; however, that is usually something that you or your attorney can negotiate. An experienced car accident attorney in Kennewick, Washington can help direct you in not only getting a temporary rental car, but also getting your car fixed or replaced.
The initial step in getting the insurance companies to take action is to open a claim. This can be as simple as calling them and letting them know what happened, but often requires a lot more information including multiple phone calls, emails, faxes, etc. It is likely that you will have to open a claim with both your insurance company as well as with the other insurance companies involved. The initial step in getting the insurance companies to take action is to open a claim. This can be as simple as calling them and letting them know what happened, but often requires a lot more information including multiple phone calls, emails, faxes, etc. It is likely that you will have to open a claim with both your insurance company as well as with the other insurance companies involved.
Initially all insurance companies will want to ask you questions about the accident in order to open the claim and figure out liability. During these initial conversations the insurance companies will ask you many questions both about the car accident and about your injuries. Often it is very beneficial to do these recorded statements in the presence of your attorney. Even if it is not your fault, it is almost always beneficial to open a claim with your insurance as well the at fault driver’s insurance. Most Personal injury attorneys in Kennewick, Washington will actually open the claim for you and walk you through the entire process.
Another reason the insurance company may be trying to communicate with you after your car accident is to try to get you to settle your claim. Often times this occurs very early in the claim and well before you may know the extent of your injuries. I strongly advise you not accept any offers until you know for a certainty that the offer is fair. An experienced car accident attorney deals with settlements daily and is likely your best source in figuring out if the settlement is fair or not. There are many personal injury attorneys in the Kennewick, Washington area who are experienced accepting and negotiating offers and who will sit down with you for free to answer your questions.
After a car accident, especially if you are injured, your physical recovery is your top priority. Although it is nice to get a little bit of money from a settlement after a car accident, no amount of money is worth it if you do not have your health. Very rarely do hear “I am so glad I got in that wreck.” More often I hear, “I wish this accident never happened.” If you were already in an accident you can’t change the past and you had better take care of yourself to do everything you can to get back to where you were.
If you are hurting, even if you think this will go away, seek medical treatment.
Do NOT Wait to Treat. Another reason why it is crucial to seek medical treatment is because the only way to prove to that you are in fact injured is by providing medical records documenting your injuries.
Get the Right Team of Doctors: Having the right doctors on your team will make a huge difference in your case. Although most doctors are more than competent to treat you for your injuries, there is a huge difference in how different doctors document their notes and those notes are what prove the severity of your injuries.
This is another reason why getting an attorney can prove to be very beneficial. Attorneys are not doctors, but they work with them every day. Experienced personal injury attorneys know which doctors in Kennewick and the Tri-Cities area are not only going to help you get better, but also which ones work better with car insurance.
A huge complication with getting in a car accident and being injured is that even menial tasks become hard, and working your regular job becomes an impossibility. To ensure you will be reimbursed for loss of wages after a car accident there are a few things you should do. Firstly, get a doctor’s note excusing you from work. Secondly, it is your responsibility to prove actual wage loss.
The only way to prove that you have missed work is to prove that you actually did work in the first place. Lastly, some policies have coverage that can pay you a portion of wage loss prior to settlement. If you do not have wage loss coverage, you likely will not be compensated until the case resolves.
We strongly encourage anyone who has a wage loss claim due to injuries caused by a car accident to consult with a personal injury attorney in Kennewick, Washington in order to ensure that all of your wage loss will in fact be reimbursed.
Choosing the right attorney after your car accident is crucial. Like any profession, there are a lot of really good personal injury attorneys in Kennewick, Washington and there are some that are not quite as experienced. You are likely going to be in better hands with an attorney who focuses primarily on auto accident cases to resolve your car accident than someone who spends ninety percent of their time helping people get divorced.
Also, remember your attorney and her office staff are on your team. You are going to be dealing with the attorney’s paralegals a lot, probably even more than you do with the attorney, so you need to make sure that you not only trust your attorney but also their staff. One of the best things to do is ask around. Ask your doctor and your friends. Read online reviews and study their website. However, there really is no better way than to talk to them either by phone or in person.
Experience matters but do not be fooled into thinking that the number of years a person has been an attorney means they have a lot of experience. Find out how many auto accidents they have represented and dig into their successes. Look at your attorney’s biography and be sure that he is as passionate about your case as you are.
316 North Neel St. Kennewick, WA 99336 (509) 396-5577
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Get help after an accident from accident injury lawyers. This book is full of easy to understand action steps so you can protect yourself or your family.
I wish I would have had this book when I was hit 10 years ago. I made so many mistakes and ended up paying for it with long term injuries that weren’t covered, and the regret of looking back at the compensation I should have received for my car, my pain and my time.”
Question 2:
How to open a claim?
Question 3:
What If I am Injured in Car Accident?
Question 4:
How Will I Pay For My Medical Bills?
Question 5:
What Happens If I Miss Work?
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