Auto Accidents in Tacoma: Seeking Fair Compensation

While a car accident happens in an instant, your life can be changed forever. One moment, you’re driving down I-5 through Tacoma, commuting along Pacific Avenue, or heading out for a weekend in Olympia. The next, you’re dealing with serious injuries, a damaged vehicle, and the stress of medical bills, lost income, and insurance company calls.

At Rush, Hannula, Harkins & Kyler PLLC (RHHK), we’ve been representing accident victims in Tacoma, Seattle, Olympia, and throughout Western Washington since 1959. Our law firm is built on the belief that injured people deserve strong advocacy, skilled legal representation, and a dogged pursuit of the compensation to which they’re entitled.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a motor vehicle accident, our experienced car accident lawyers can help you navigate the legal process, protect your legal rights, and hold negligent parties accountable. We have successfully handled cases involving:

• Liability disputes and comparative fault
• Distracted, reckless, or impaired drivers (DUI/DWI)
• Defective vehicles and auto parts
• Dangerous or poorly maintained roads
• Truck, motorcycle, and pedestrian accidents
• Catastrophic injuries and wrongful death claims

The Aftermath: What to Do Immediately After a Wreck

Your actions in the minutes, hours, and days following a car crash can significantly affect the outcome of your personal injury claim. While every situation is unique, there are universal steps that can help protect your health, rights, and ability to recover fair compensation:

• Call 911: Report the accident to law enforcement so there’s an official police report.
• Seek medical attention: Even if you “feel fine,” some injuries (like concussions or internal damage) take time to present.
• Gather evidence: Capture photos of the accident scene, vehicles, road conditions, and any visible injuries.
• Collect witness information: Names, phone numbers, and statements are crucial in the days ahead.
• Avoid admitting fault: “Just the facts” when speaking to police or other drivers.
• Contact a car accident attorney: The sooner you do, the better they can preserve evidence, manage insurance communications, and build your case.

Our legal team frequently works with accident reconstruction experts, medical professionals, and investigators to ensure no critical detail is overlooked.

Common Causes of Car Crashes

While every crash has unique circumstances, some causes appear repeatedly in car accident cases we handle in the Seattle/Tacoma/Olympia corridor:

• Driver Negligence: Failing to follow traffic laws, speeding on I-5, tailgating in heavy rain, or failing to yield can all constitute negligence.
• Driver Impairment: Impairment can be caused by alcohol, illegal drugs, prescription medication, or even over-the-counter medicines, affecting reaction time and judgment.
• Distracted Driving: Texting, adjusting GPS, eating, or simply talking to passengers can take a driver’s focus off the road—often with catastrophic consequences.
• Defective Auto Parts: Faulty brakes, steering systems, or airbags can cause or worsen accidents. In these cases, we may pursue a product liability claim against the manufacturer or supplier.
• Dangerous Road Conditions: Improper signage, malfunctioning traffic signals, or unsafe roadway design (such as poorly lit intersections in rural Pierce County) can contribute to crashes.

After the Shock: Types of Car Accident Injuries

Car accident injuries vary widely in severity and long-term effects. While some heal with rest and physical therapy, others require extensive treatment and can permanently affect quality of life. Some of the most common injuries we see in Tacoma and the South Sound include:

• Whiplash and soft tissue injuries: Often caused by sudden jolts or rear-end collisions, whiplash can lead to chronic neck and back pain, headaches, and reduced mobility. These injuries may not be immediately apparent but can develop over days or weeks.
• Broken bones and fractures: High-impact collisions frequently cause fractures in the arms, legs, ribs, or pelvis. Depending on severity, treatment may involve casting, surgery, or physical rehabilitation. Some fractures can lead to long-term mobility issues or arthritis.
• Spinal cord injuries: These injuries are among the most devastating, with potential outcomes ranging from partial paralysis to complete loss of sensation below the injury site. Recovery may involve surgery, lifelong therapy, and adaptive equipment.
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI): Even a mild concussion can have lasting symptoms like memory loss, difficulty concentrating, mood swings, and fatigue. Severe TBIs can result in permanent cognitive and physical impairments.
• Internal injuries: Damage to organs or internal bleeding may not be immediately visible, but can be life-threatening. Prompt medical attention is crucial for survival and recovery.
• Disfigurement and scarring: Accidents involving glass, fire, or sharp metal can leave permanent scars or disfigurement, leading to emotional distress and possible loss of self-esteem.
• Emotional and psychological trauma: Beyond physical ailments, many accident victims suffer from anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), requiring ongoing mental health treatment.

Understanding the full scope of your injuries, including future medical needs, helps ensure your car accident claim covers all necessary costs. We collaborate with specialists to build a comprehensive picture of how your daily life and long-term well-being have been impacted.

Avoiding Common Mistakes

Even honest mistakes made in the traumatic aftermath of a car crash can harm your personal injury claim. Some of the most common pitfalls include:

• Not promptly seeking medical attention: Gaps in treatment give insurers an excuse to undervalue your claim.
• Speaking to the other driver’s insurance company: Adjusters are trained to elicit statements they can use against you.
• Posting about the accident on social media: Photos or comments can be misinterpreted and used to dispute your injuries.
• Accepting a quick settlement: Fast offers are often far less than what you’re entitled to.
• Not hiring a lawyer soon enough: Early legal involvement often leads to stronger cases.

Who’s at Fault?: Understanding Liability

In Washington, liability means determining who is legally responsible for causing the accident and the resulting damages. Under the state’s comparative fault system, more than one party can share responsibility. For example, if you are awarded $100,000 in damages but found to be 20% at fault, your compensation would be reduced to $80,000.

Insurance companies often use comparative fault in an attempt to minimize payouts, which is why having an experienced Tacoma auto accident lawyer on your side is so important. To establish liability, we gather evidence such as:

• Police reports and witness statements
• Traffic camera or dashcam footage
• Skid mark and debris analysis
• Vehicle inspection reports
• Cell phone records (in distracted driving cases)

Whether the at-fault party is another motorist, a trucking company, a government agency, or a vehicle manufacturer, we build a case designed to withstand aggressive insurance company tactics.

Recovering Your Health + Recovering Compensation

The compensation you may receive after a car or truck accident should reflect more than just your medical bills. Personal injury claims consider a variety of economic and non-economic losses, such as:

• Medical expenses: This can include emergency care, hospital stays, surgeries, physical therapy, medications, assistive devices, and future medical treatments or surgeries. Washington law allows you to recover all reasonable and necessary medical costs connected to the accident.
• Lost wages and earning capacity: If your injuries force you to miss work, you can recover the income lost during recovery. In personal injury cases where your ongoing ability to earn a living is affected, compensation can also extend to lost future earnings.
• Pain and suffering: This compensates for the physical pain and emotional toll caused by the accident and varies widely based on injury severity, recovery time, and impact on daily activities.
• Loss of enjoyment of life: If your injuries prevent you from participating in aspects of life you once enjoyed, this can be factored into your claim.
• Property damage: Compensation for damage to your vehicle or personal property involved in the accident.
• Wrongful death damages: If a loved one died as a result of a car accident, family members can pursue damages for funeral expenses, loss of financial support and companionship, and more.

Typical settlements for minor injuries might range from $10,000 to $50,000, while more severe injuries involving surgeries, long-term care, or permanent disability can reach into the hundreds of thousands or millions. Wrongful death claims often result in substantial compensation, due to the profound loss suffered by families.

Our experienced lawyers work to identify all possible damages in your case, and negotiate for a settlement that fully reflects your needs—not just the minimum offered by the insurance company.

Processing: Car Crash Claims, Step-by-Step

Navigating the legal process after an auto accident can be complicated, but understanding the steps can help ease stress. Here’s what you can expect when working with our Tacoma auto accident lawyers:

1. Free consultation: We start by listening carefully to your story, reviewing accident details and medical records, and discussing legal options, with no obligation.
2. Investigation: We thoroughly investigate the accident, gathering police reports, traffic camera footage, witness testimonials, and expert opinions. We also assess the at-fault party’s insurance coverage to understand your potential recovery.
3. Medical documentation and treatment: We work closely with your healthcare providers to document your injuries and treatment plan, ensuring future medical needs are accounted for.
4. Filing the claim and demand package: Our attorneys prepare and submit a detailed demand letter to the insurance company outlining your injuries, damages, and financial losses, and requesting a fair settlement.
5. Negotiations: Insurance adjusters typically respond with offers that undervalue your claim. We negotiate aggressively, using evidence and expert opinions to justify the full amount you deserve.
6. Litigation: If the insurer refuses to settle fairly, we prepare to file suit and take your case to trial, where our experienced attorneys advocate for you in court.
7. Settlement or verdict collection: Once a settlement or court verdict is reached, we ensure prompt collection of your compensation, so you can focus on recovery.

Throughout this process, you will have a dedicated legal team keeping you informed, providing legal advice, answering questions every step of the way, and handling all communication with insurance companies and opposing counsel.

60+ Years of Being a Different Kind of Law Firm

For more than six decades, the RHHK law group has been guided by one singular focus: pursuing justice. And we’re not only justice-minded, we’re compassionate. Car accident victims come to us having suffered trauma, and it’s our privilege and duty to seek justice—and compensation—for them.

We combine this deep trial expertise and years of experience with a comprehensive understanding of Washington State personal injury law. Our commitment to our clients includes:

• No fees unless we win: We work on a contingency fee basis.
• Personalized attention: You’ll work directly with your attorney and their supporting team.
• Local knowledge: We understand the unique traffic patterns, weather conditions, and legal environment in the Tacoma, Seattle, and Olympia region.
• Proven track record: Our case history includes significant settlements and verdicts for car accident victims.

Speak with a Tacoma Auto Accident Lawyer Today

RHHK’s personal injury lawyers have been fighting for accident victims across Western Washington since 1959.

If you’ve been injured in a car accident, you don’t have to face the insurance company alone. Call 253-364-4966 or fill out our online contact form to schedule your free case evaluation, with no obligation, today.