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Your Richland 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 Benton County sits in Kennewick, at 7122 W Okanogan Pl, Bldg A, Kennewick, WA 99336-2359. 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 Richland, 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.
This page is general information, not legal advice. NeedAnAttorney.net matches people with attorneys and does not represent anyone. The legal points below come from Washington’s statutes, and the form at the top of the page is how you reach an attorney.
Before You Hire: Questions For A Richland Attorney
Bring these to your first call, whoever it is with:
- The date. Ask for the specific last day to file in your case. The general rule is three years (RCW 4.16.080(2)).
- Your share of fault. Ask how a finding that you were partly responsible would change the numbers (RCW 4.22.005).
- Limits on damages. Ask whether any rule restricts the amount you could recover in Washington.
- Fees and costs. Ask what the fee is, when it is paid, and which expenses are deducted from a settlement.
- The people. Ask who will be in touch with you and how quickly they return calls.
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 Richland? Get matched with an attorney now.
When You Were Partly At Fault
Fault is rarely all on one side, and Washington law accounts for that. The source is RCW 4.22.005.
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). Insurers often press this point first, so keep notes about how the injury happened.
How Long You Have To File
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). Missing the date usually ends the case, so ask any attorney to name the exact last day for yours.
What Auto Policies Must Cover
The minimum liability limits for an auto policy in Washington are $25,000 for injury to one person, $50,000 for injury to two or more people in one accident and $10,000 for property damage (RCW 46.30.020(1)(a) and RCW 46.29.090(1)).
Those figures are floors, and a serious injury can cost more than the other driver’s policy pays. They are minimums, not a measure of what your claim is worth.
Courts and Hospitals Near Richland
Benton County is the county the Census Bureau assigns to Richland. Benton County’s superior court is listed in Kennewick, at 7122 W Okanogan Pl, Bldg A, Kennewick, WA 99336-2359. The state list of trauma centers shows Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland as a Level II trauma center.
In the federal Hospital General Information file, the closest hospital to Richland is Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland, 0.5 miles, an acute care hospital (888 Swift Blvd, Richland, WA 99352). After it come Trios Health in Kennewick, 8.7 miles, an acute care hospital; then Lourdes Medical Center in Pasco, 10.0 miles, a critical access hospital. All distances are straight line miles from Richland.
A straight line is shorter than the drive from Richland. Ask each provider for your complete records and an itemized bill, and note the date of every appointment.
The file also lists Prosser Memorial Hospital in Prosser at 23.1 miles and Astria Sunnyside Hospital in Sunnyside at 34.2 miles. Counting hospitals in a straight line from Richland: 3 within 10 miles, 4 within 25 miles, 8 within 50 miles.
The nearest places in Washington that this site has pages for, by the same coordinates, are Kennewick (8.1 miles southeast), Pasco (8.1 miles east) and Sunnyside (34.1 miles west). From Richland, Spokane lies 130 miles northeast and Seattle 171 miles northwest.
Your First Step After Getting Hurt In Richland
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.
Before the first call, collect the basics: the date, the place, names of witnesses, your medical visits and your missed work. A single folder for bills, letters and photographs saves time later.
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
When will I know what my claim is worth?
It depends on how long you need treatment. Insurers usually want records of the whole course of treatment. It can take months, and longer if a lawsuit is filed.
What is the Washington statute of limitations for an injury claim?
Generally three years (RCW 4.16.080(2)). The period can be longer for a child, and a few other situations extend it too (RCW 4.16.190). An early start protects the evidence.
If I was partly responsible, can I still recover something?
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). Insurers often raise this point first. An attorney can explain how the rule fits your facts.
How much can I recover for pain and suffering in Washington?
Pain and suffering is proved by the facts of your case, so ask which rules, if any, apply to your claim. The bills, the missed work and the lasting effects drive the amount. The facts of your claim drive the amount.
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)). A crash with several injured people can use up limits quickly. It helps to learn early what other coverage may exist.
How far is the closest hospital from Richland?
In a straight line it is 0.5 miles to Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland, an acute care hospital; Trios Health in Kennewick is 8.7 miles and Lourdes Medical Center in Pasco is 10.0 miles. Call 911 in an emergency; not every hospital has an emergency room.
Which other places near Richland does this site cover?
By Census coordinates the nearest are Kennewick, 8.1 miles southeast; Pasco, 8.1 miles east; and Sunnyside, 34.1 miles west, all in a straight line from Richland.
If You Were Hurt Somewhere Else In Washington
NeedAnAttorney.net connects injured people throughout Washington with attorneys who handle cases in their area.
