Seattle Personal Injury Lawyer

If you were injured because someone else was careless, reckless, or intentionally harmful, you may have a personal injury claim. Most of these cases are based on negligence, meaning a party failed to exercise reasonable care and injured another. However, they can also be based on intentional misconduct or strict liability.

Here are some examples that could give rise to a personal injury case:

• A distracted driver rear-ended your vehicle, and you suffered whiplash. 
• A business owner failed to address or warn you of a slippery substance on their floor, and you fell and suffered an injury. 
• A person assaulted you and left you with head injuries.
• A doctor failed to diagnose your condition, leading to a potential medical malpractice claim.
• A manufacturer failed to correct a defect in their product, which ultimately injured you.

Even if you’re unsure who was at fault or if you contributed in some way, speaking with an attorney can clarify your rights and protect your ability to recover damages.

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. The value of your personal injury case depends on the extent of your injuries, how they’ve impacted your life, and other unique details.

However, the following factors will heavily influence your claim’s worth:

• The extent of your injuries
• Your medical costs and whether you’ll incur more expenses in the future
• Your lost wages and whether your earning capacity is now diminished
• The pain and suffering you’ve experienced
• Available insurance coverage
• Whether you share fault for the accident
• The strength of your evidence

The more severe and life-altering your injuries are, the more your case may be worth. 

The best way to determine your claim’s value is to consult an experienced personal injury attorney in Seattle. Our legal team will work to ensure that no dollar is left on the table when fighting for your recovery.

Most personal injury lawyers in Seattle handle cases on a contingency fee basis. This means you won’t pay any upfront costs or hourly fees. Instead, attorney’s fees will come from a percentage of your settlement or jury award—usually between 33% and 40%. If your attorney fails to recover such an award, you won’t owe them for their services. 

A contingency fee arrangement allows you to pursue justice and compensation without major financial risk. You can focus on your recovery while we fight to hold the responsible parties accountable.

If you’ve been injured due to someone else’s negligence in Seattle, you may be entitled to recover two main types of damages. Economic damages are your financial losses. Non-economic damages are your emotional, personal, and other non-monetary losses.

You may be eligible to recover money for:

• Medical bills (ER visits, surgeries, prescriptions, follow-up care, etc.)
• Future medical expenses, such as physical therapy or long-term treatment
• Lost wages from missed work during recovery
• Loss of earning capacity if you can’t return to your previous job
• Out-of-pocket expenses related to your injury
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Loss of companionship

Each case is different. We’ll work closely with you to calculate the true value of your damages.

In Washington, most personal injury lawsuits must be filed within three years of the accident date. This statute of limitations is strict—missing the applicable deadline means you may lose your right to recover compensation. Certain exceptions could apply depending on the case, so it’s critical to speak with a lawyer as soon as possible to protect your rights and preserve evidence.

Most personal injury claims in Seattle are settled out of court — around 95%, to be exact. Accident victims and insurance companies typically prefer to settle when they can avoid the costs and unpredictability of litigation. 

However, some cases may require going to trial—especially if the insurance company denies your claim, refuses to offer fair compensation, or blames you for the accident. In these cases, a trial may be the only way to secure full compensation for your injuries and losses. 

At Darrell Cochran Personal Injury Lawyer, we prepare every case as if it will go to trial. Our attorneys are respected litigators with the skill and experience to fight for you in the courtroom if necessary.