Tacoma Personal Injury Lawyer

An unexpected injury changes everything in an instant. One moment you are driving through Tacoma on your way to work, shopping at the Tacoma Mall, or enjoying a day at Point Defiance Park, and the next you are faced with pain, medical bills, and uncertainty about your future.

If someone else's carelessness caused your injuries, a Tacoma personal injury lawyer advocates for your rights and helps you seek the resources needed for your recovery. Your primary focus needs to be on healing, but the pressure from mounting expenses and calls from insurance adjusters creates a significant distraction.

This is a heavy weight for anyone to bear.

• You have questions about who will pay for your medical treatment.
• You may be unable to work, causing a sudden loss of income.
• You are trying to manage your pain while dealing with a complex and unfamiliar process.

A personal injury claim is the legal process for holding the responsible person or company accountable and seeking financial compensation for the harm you have suffered. It is about getting you the support you need to put the pieces of your life back together.

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What to Do After You're Home from an Accident

You have been to the emergency room or an urgent care clinic and are now back home. The initial shock is wearing off, and the reality of your situation is setting in.

The steps you take in these early days and weeks are foundational for both your physical recovery and any future legal claim. Your health is the absolute priority, so continue to follow all medical advice.

Beyond your medical care, getting organized is a powerful step. This helps create a clear and accurate record of how the injury has affected your life.

1. Create a Dedicated File: Get a folder or box and keep every single piece of paper related to your injury. This includes medical bills, receipts for prescriptions or medical equipment, letters from insurance companies, and the police report, if there was one.
2. Start a Daily Journal: Write down how you are feeling each day. Note your pain levels, any new symptoms, and the ways your injury impacts your daily activities. For example, document that you can no longer take your dog for a walk along Ruston Way or that you need help with simple household chores. This journal is a detailed account of your experience.
3. Photograph Your Injuries: Take clear pictures of any bruises, cuts, or other visible injuries. Continue to take photos every few days as they heal. This visual record shows the physical toll of the accident over time.

Be very cautious about speaking with the at-fault party's insurance company. Their representatives are trained to ask questions that might limit their company's liability. You are not obligated to give them a recorded statement.

How a Tacoma Personal Injury Lawyer Builds Your Case

When you are injured, the idea of battling an insurance company is daunting. A Tacoma personal injury lawyer works to level the playing field. They manage the entire legal process from start to finish, allowing you to dedicate your energy to getting well.

The work of building a strong case begins the moment you ask for help. A lawyer's role involves investigation, negotiation, and unwavering advocacy for your best interests.

• Conducting a Full Investigation: Your legal team will investigate your accident independently. This involves collecting all evidence, such as police reports, medical records, and witness statements. They may visit the accident scene in Tacoma to document conditions and, if needed, hire accident reconstructionists to establish exactly what happened.
• Handling All Communication: Once you have a lawyer, all communication from insurance companies and other attorneys goes through their office. This immediately stops the stressful calls and protects you from saying something that could be misinterpreted and used against your claim.
• Determining the Full Value of Your Claim: An experienced lawyer understands how to calculate the true cost of your injuries. This calculation goes far beyond your current medical bills to include future medical needs, all lost wages, and the significant, non-financial impacts of the injury on your life.

This comprehensive preparation sends a clear signal to the insurance company that you are prepared to fight for the fair and full compensation you deserve. While many cases are resolved through a settlement, preparing every case for trial provides the leverage needed to achieve a just outcome.

Negligence in Washington State

For a personal injury claim to be successful, you must show that your injury was caused by someone else's negligence. Negligence is a legal term that means another person or entity failed to act with reasonable care, and that failure caused you harm.

It is the core concept behind most personal injury cases. To prove negligence, your lawyer must establish four specific elements.

1. Duty of Care: The other party had a legal responsibility, or duty, to act with a certain level of care to avoid harming others. For example, all drivers have a duty to follow traffic laws and pay attention to the road.
2. Breach of Duty: The party violated that duty. A driver who is texting while driving through the intersection near the Tacoma Dome has breached their duty to drive safely.
3. Causation: The breach of duty directly caused the accident and your resulting injuries. You have to connect their careless action to your specific harm.
4. Damages: You suffered actual harm, or damages, as a result of the injury. This includes medical bills, lost income, pain, and other losses.

A skilled Tacoma personal injury lawyer knows how to gather the evidence needed to prove each of these four elements and build a compelling case on your behalf.

Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle in Tacoma

Injuries can happen in countless ways, but many fall into common categories. Our firm has experience representing people in Tacoma and Pierce County who have been harmed in a variety of situations. Each case type has unique challenges and requires a specific approach. We are prepared to assist clients who have been injured in many different scenarios.

• Car Accidents: Collisions on I-5, SR 16, or busy surface streets like Pacific Avenue are a frequent cause of serious injuries. We handle cases involving distracted driving, drunk driving, and other reckless behaviors.
• Truck and Commercial Vehicle Accidents: Accidents involving large semi-trucks or delivery vans often result in catastrophic injuries. These cases are complex because they may involve liability on the part of the driver, the trucking company, and other third parties.
• Premises Liability (Slip and Fall): Property owners have a responsibility to keep their premises reasonably safe for visitors. If you are injured because of a hazard like a wet floor in a grocery store, a broken stair, or inadequate security, the property owner may be held liable.

Other cases we handle include pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents, and injuries caused by defective products. No matter how you were injured, you may have a right to seek compensation if it was due to someone else's negligence.

The Reality of Dealing with Insurance Companies

After an accident, you might assume that an insurance company will be fair and take care of your expenses. Unfortunately, this is rarely the case. Insurance companies are for-profit businesses, and their primary goal is to protect their bottom line by paying out as little as possible on claims.

The insurance adjuster you speak with may seem friendly and helpful, but their job is to find reasons to devalue or deny your claim.

• They may ask for a recorded statement right away. They hope to catch you saying something inconsistent or downplaying your injuries before you know their full extent.
• They might offer a quick, lowball settlement. This offer may seem tempting when bills are piling up, but it is almost always far less than what your claim is actually worth and will not cover your future needs.
• They could try to shift the blame to you. By arguing that you were partially at fault for the accident, they can reduce the amount they are required to pay under Washington's comparative fault law.

Having a lawyer on your side protects you from these tactics. Your attorney will manage all interactions with the insurer and fight back against any attempts to unfairly minimize your compensation.

Why Choose Pendergast Law for Your Tacoma Claim?

When you are injured and vulnerable, the law firm you choose to represent you can make all the difference. At Pendergast Law, we are dedicated to providing strong, compassionate, and effective legal representation to the people of Tacoma and the greater Puget Sound region.

We understand the challenges you are facing and are committed to helping you on the road to recovery. Our approach is centered on you, our client. We believe in building relationships based on trust, transparency, and open communication.

• A Focus on You: We know that behind every case is a person with a unique story. We take the time to listen and understand how your injury has affected you and your family. You will receive personalized attention, and we are always here to answer your questions and address your concerns.
• A History of Achieving Results: Our firm has a demonstrated history of successfully taking on insurance companies and fighting for the rights of the injured. We are proud of the results we have obtained for our clients, which reflect our dedication and legal skill in handling even the most complex personal injury cases.
• The Pendergast Promise: No Fee Unless We Win: We handle personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis. This means you do not pay any attorney's fees unless and until we secure a financial recovery for you, either through a settlement or a court verdict. This removes any financial risk for you and aligns our goals directly with yours.

We are proud to serve the Tacoma community and are ready to put our experience to work for you. We provide the determined advocacy you need to face this challenge.

Frequently Asked Questions for a Tacoma Personal injury Lawyer

After an injury, it is natural to have many questions about the legal process. Here are answers to some of the most common questions we receive.

Your Next Steps on the Road to Recovery

The path forward after a serious injury can feel long and uncertain. Taking the step to learn about your legal rights is a positive action toward regaining control of your life. It is about ensuring you have the financial resources to cover your medical care, support your family, and compensate for what you have lost. 

You do not have to let an insurance company decide your future. Allow our team at Pendergast Law to take on the legal fight for you. We will handle the complexities of your claim so you can devote your full attention to what truly matters: your health and your family.

You deserve an advocate who will stand with you, fight for you, and guide you through this difficult journey. Contact Pendergast Law today by calling (253) 238-2410 or by visiting our contact page at https://www.pendergastlaw.com/contact-us/. Let us help you take the next step.