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Your Federal Way Personal Injury Attorney
The short answer. In Washington most injury claims must be filed within three years (RCW 4.16.080(2)). The trial court for King County sits in Seattle, at 516 3rd Ave, Rm C-203, Seattle, WA 98104-2361. To talk it through, send the form on this page and we will work to connect you with an attorney in our network.
Nobody plans for the call that follows an accident. Whether you were hurt in a crash, a fall or something else in Federal Way, the weeks afterward bring decisions that feel bigger than they should. Here is what Washington law says, in plain terms, so you can ask better questions.
We match people with attorneys; we do not advise on cases. Treat what follows as a plain language guide to Washington law drawn from the statutes. When you want to talk to an attorney, the form at the top of this page is the way to start.
What To Ask Before You Choose An Attorney In Federal Way
Whoever you speak to, a few answers tell you a lot:
- The date. Ask for the specific last day to file in your case. The general rule is three years (RCW 4.16.080(2)).
- Limits on damages. Ask whether any rule restricts the amount you could recover in Washington.
- Your share of fault. Ask how a finding that you were partly responsible would change the numbers (RCW 4.22.005).
- The people. Ask who will be in touch with you and how quickly they return calls.
- The money terms. Ask how fees are calculated and which costs come out of a recovery.
Personal Injury Types of Cases
Motor Vehicle Accidents
As long as the person that was operating the vehicle that injured you was negligent in some way, you can could have a claim for compensation. This can include.
- Car Accidents
- Truck Accidents
- Bicycle Accidents
- 18 wheeler Accidents
- Motorcycle crashes
- Drunk Driving
- Distracted Driving
- Aggressive Driving
- and other types of motor vehicle accidents
Work Place Accidents
These types of personal injury lawsuits involve more that just a employee and employer. If you feel like your place of employment was negligent in some way, you might have a claim for compensation. These types of accidents can include.
- Slip and Fall
- Unsafe working conditions
- Unmaintained equipment
- Auto Accidents
- Death
- Electrical Hazards
- Occupational illnesses like COPD, contagious diseases, and asbestosis
- personal injuries at work
Premises Liability
Many premises liability claims are from a property owner’s duty to maintain a property in the way that does not endanger others. There are may ways a property owner can violate this duty.
- Broken Stairs
- Unlit alleyways
- Slippery Floors
- Surfaces that are uneven
- Places to receive burns
- Places to receive chemical exposure
- Dog bites
- and other dangerous conditions
Wrongful Death
When negligence leads to fatal injuries, a wrongful death suit can help the surviving family members hold the negligent company, persons, and or person accountable for what was done. A wrongful death case can involve different types of compensation from other personal injury claims. After a fatal accident, family members can ask an attorney to review what compensation the surviving loved ones may have a right to. These types of accidents can include.
- Auto Accident
- Maritime Accident
- Drowning
- Electrocution
- Falls
- Helicopter Accident
- Fire
- Firearm
- and other types of wrongful deaths
Injured in Federal Way? Get matched with an attorney now.
How Fault Is Divided
Washington does not shut the door on someone who shares the blame. RCW 4.22.005 sets the rule.
Your own share of the fault reduces your award in proportion to that share, and no fixed percentage ends the claim by itself, though a few narrow statutory exceptions can still bar a claim (RCW 4.22.005). Photographs, witness names and medical records help show where the fault lies.
What An Award Can Include
The amount of an award in Washington is not fixed by a general statute. What you can recover turns on the bills, the missed work and the lasting effects.
Keep every bill and record, because they carry the claim.
The Deadline To Sue
The general time limit for an injury claim in Washington is three years (RCW 4.16.080(2)). A child may have more time, and a few other limited situations extend the period too (RCW 4.16.190).
A wrongful death claim is brought by the personal representative, and the general three year period of RCW 4.16.080(2) applies (RCW 4.16.080(2)). If a government body may be responsible, the steps can differ (RCW 4.92.090, 4.92.100, 4.92.110). The type of claim decides the date, so do not wait.
The Court and Hospitals Behind a Federal Way Claim
The Census Bureau places Federal Way in King County. For King County, the Washington court directory shows the superior court in Seattle, at 516 3rd Ave, Rm C-203, Seattle, WA 98104-2361. St. Francis Hospital in Federal Way appears on the state list of trauma centers as a Level IV trauma center.
Measured in a straight line from Federal Way, the nearest hospitals in the federal Hospital General Information file are St. Francis Community Hospital in Federal Way, 1.5 miles, an acute care hospital, then Multicare Auburn Medical Center in Auburn, 5.1 miles, an acute care hospital, then Tacoma General Allenmore Hospital in Tacoma, 6.5 miles, an acute care hospital. St. Francis Community Hospital is at 34515 9th Avenue South, Federal Way, WA 98003.
Road distance from Federal Way is longer than a straight line. Wherever you were treated, ask for the full records and an itemized bill, and keep a list of every visit.
The file also lists St. Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma at 6.9 miles and Multicare Good Samaritan Hospital in Puyallup at 9.5 miles. Counting hospitals in a straight line from Federal Way: 5 within 10 miles, 19 within 25 miles, 28 within 50 miles.
Closest to Federal Way among the places this site covers are Milton, 4.2 miles south; Auburn, 6.0 miles east; and Tacoma, 7.0 miles southwest. From Federal Way, Spokane lies 230 miles east and Seattle 21 miles north.
Your First Step After Getting Hurt In Federal Way
The form at the top of this page is the starting point. NeedAnAttorney.net reviews your details and works to match you with an attorney in our network who may handle cases in Washington. It costs nothing to use and does not commit you to anything.
Until someone calls, make a simple record: what happened, the date and time, names of anyone who saw it, the treatment you have had, and the days you missed from work. Keep every bill and letter in one place.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which other places near Federal Way does this site cover?
By Census coordinates the nearest are Milton, 4.2 miles south; Auburn, 6.0 miles east; and Tacoma, 7.0 miles southwest, all in a straight line from Federal Way.
Is a claim against a government entity different in Washington?
It can be. Special claim or notice steps can apply (RCW 4.92.090, 4.92.100, 4.92.110). The notice steps can differ from those for other claims. Write down the date and place of the injury.
What should I ask an attorney who handles cases near Federal Way?
Ask each attorney you consider whether they handle cases where you live, how you would meet and how the fee works. Compare more than one before you decide.
How long do I have to file an injury lawsuit in Washington?
For most injury claims, three years (RCW 4.16.080(2)). A child can have extra time, and so can a few other limited situations (RCW 4.16.190). Write down the date of the injury now.
Can I still recover if the accident was partly my fault?
Under Washington law, your own share of the fault reduces your award in proportion to that share, and no fixed percentage ends the claim by itself, though a few narrow statutory exceptions can still bar a claim (RCW 4.22.005). Ask how the rule would be argued in your case. Raise it early with any attorney you speak with.
Does Washington limit how much I can recover?
Ask an attorney whether any rule limits the amount for your kind of claim; the facts and the records drive the number. How fault is assigned can also change the amount. Lasting effects and missed work are part of what is proved.
What is the least insurance a Washington driver can carry?
An auto liability policy must provide at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for injuries, plus $10,000 for property damage (RCW 46.30.020(1)(a) and RCW 46.29.090(1)). Those figures are floors, not a measure of what a claim is worth. Ask an attorney to check every policy that may apply.
What is the nearest hospital to Federal Way?
On the federal list the nearest hospital is St. Francis Community Hospital in Federal Way (1.5 miles, straight line), then Multicare Auburn Medical Center in Auburn (5.1 miles) and Tacoma General Allenmore Hospital in Tacoma (6.5 miles). In an emergency call 911; not every hospital has an emergency room.
Serving Injured Clients Across Washington
NeedAnAttorney.net connects injured people throughout Washington with attorneys who handle cases in their area.
