Auto accident attorneys in Olympia, WA provide several advantages to someone who is trying to obtain a reasonable amount of monetary compensation from an insurance company. One primary advantage is their knowledge of what should be paid in certain types of cases. They are familiar with similar situations or can have a staff member research prior similar cases.
Another advantage provided by auto accident attorneys in Olympia, WA is the ability to conduct a thorough investigation of the circumstances. That is typically not possible for an individual who does not have resources like private investigators and expert witnesses to call on. An investigation may even involve the reconstruction of the accident scene. This is particularly common in collisions involving semi trucks and passenger vehicles. It is also particularly useful when there are disputes about who was at fault for the collision. The state of Washington is a fault and a comparative negligence state, meaning that each driver may be considered partially at fault for an accident. The amount of fault assessed to each driver can make a big difference in the size of an insurance company settlement.
What circumstances result in both drivers being partially at fault? An example would be a collision that occurs when one driver is distracted and the other was traveling too fast for the present conditions. Eliminating one of those factors might have prevented the collision. Investigators work to determine which factor was most dangerous in this situation.
Insurance was developed to provide compensation to relieve financial burdens, but that doesn’t mean insurance companies want to pay out enormous sums if they can avoid it. Their first settlement offer tends to be relatively low, but individuals may not understand that and also may not know how to effectively make a counteroffer. An attorney with a law firm like Putnam Lieb & Potvin is ready to make a reasonable counteroffer and negotiate a higher settlement. If this is unsuccessful, the firm will file a lawsuit. However, nearly all personal injury cases are settled out of court. Schedule an appointment for a free initial consultation at the earliest convenience.
