Washington Car Accident Legal Questions

If a defendant falls asleep at the wheel and causes an accident that defendant is liable for any damages he or she causes to an injured plaintiff. The amount of damages is reduced only if the plaintiff was partially at fault. This response is general in nature and is not legal advice. No attorney client relationship is formed by it. Further, the response does not represent the opinions or views of LexisNexis or its affiliated companies. ... Read Answer

In general, the rights and responsibilities in an employer/employee relationship are set out in an employment contract or other document such as an employment manual. This response is general in nature and is not legal advice. No attorney client relationship is formed by it. Further, the response does not represent the opinions or views of LexisNexis or its affiliated companies.... Read Answer

The Court of Appeals can only interpret a statute and determine whether it was applied properly at the lower court level.. It can't change the law. It is up to the Legislature to change a law.   This response is general in nature and is not legal advice. No attorney client relationship is formed by it. Further, the response does not represent the opinions or views of LexisNexis or its affiliated companies.... Read Answer

If you are in an auto accident and the other party is  claiming the accident is your fault, you should contact your insurance company as soon as possible. Your insurance company has a duty to defend you in such a situation and will provide you with an attorney at their expense. This response is general in nature and is not legal advice. No attorney client relationship is formed by it. Further, the response does not represent the opinions or views of LexisNexis or its affiliated companies.... Read Answer

An agreement to settle after a car accident should include a detailed release of all claims. Such a document should be reviewed or prepared by an experienced attorney.   This response is general in nature and is not legal advice. No attorney client relationship is formed by it. Further, the response does not represent the opinions or views of LexisNexis or its affiliated companies.... Read Answer

Causing damage to another person's vehicle is considered an at-fault accident in the state of Washington regardless of the amount of damage. It is not, however, considered criminal act unless it was a hit and run situation. It would be unlikely to affect one's qualifications in a police job or any other job.     This response is general in nature and is not legal advice. No attorney client relationship is formed by it. Further, the response does not represent the opinions or views of LexisNexis or its affiliated companies.... Read Answer

  The percentage to be charged on a contingent fee case, to a large extent, depends on the type of case. In automobile accident cases a contingent fee of one-third (1/3) of the recovery is common. Contingency fees are paid at the conclusion of a case, and only if there is a recovery. The contingency fee usually comes out of the settlement paid by the at fault party's insurance company. If the at fault party does not have insurance the settlement may be paid under the injured party's uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage.   This response is general in nature and is not legal advice. No attorney client relationship is formed by it. Further, the response does not represent the opinions or views of LexisNexis or its affiliated companies.... Read Answer

Generally a parent is not responsible for the negligence of a child that has reached the age of majority (18) and there is no requirement that the parent maintain auto insurance coverage for that child. There are exceptions. If an auto is maintained for regular use of any family member, the owner of that vehicle may be responsible under the "family car" doctrine. Another exception would be if the owner of the vehicle allowed a child (or anyone else) use of a vehicle knowing that the child was not a good driver. This is called "negligent entrustment". The fact that a vehicle is simply registered to a  particular address does not in and of itself create liability to the address owner.   This response is general in nature and is not legal advice. No attorney client relationship is formed by it. Further, the response does not represent the opinions or views of LexisNexis or its affiliated companies.... Read Answer

A negligent party is responsible for any damages that person causes regardless of where the negligence takes place. Although Washington law is evolving,  damages for injury to animal are usually limited to vet bills and other actual cost for treating the animal. Damages for death of an animal are generally limited to the cost of replacing the animal.   This response is general in nature and is not legal advice. No attorney client relationship is formed by it. Further, the response does not represent the opinions or views of LexisNexis or its affiliated companies.... Read Answer

RCW 46.61.185 provides that: The driver of a vehicle intending to turn to the left within an intersection ... shall yield the right of way to any vehicle approaching from the opposite direction which is within the intersection or so close thereto as to constitute an immediate hazard. Generally, excessive speed on the part of the oncoming favored driver will not excuse the disfavored driver's duty to yield. This response is general in nature and is not legal advice. No attorney client relationship is formed by it. Further, the response does not represent the opinions or views of LexisNexis or its affiliated companies. ... Read Answer

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist insurance covers you, members or your household, and other people riding in your car against damage caused by an uninsured or underinsured motorist. COMPREHENSIVE insurance is coverage which pays to repair or replace the policy owner's vehicle and personal property inside of it if it was damaged or lost due to other agents, such as fire, theft, flood, or vandalism.   This response is general in nature and is not legal advice. No attorney client relationship is formed by it. Further, the response does not represent the opinions or views of LexisNexis or its affiliated companies.... Read Answer