Vancouver Personal Injury Lawyer

Compassionate & Aggressive Legal Representation

When you are injured in an accident, you may be left with a number of questions and concerns. How will you pay for your medical bills? What if you are unable to work? How will you support your family? At Carpenter & Zuckerman, our Vancouver personal injury attorneys are here to help you find the answers you need. We understand the challenges you are facing, and we are prepared to fight for the maximum compensation you are owed. With nearly three decades of experience, we have a long track record of success. You can trust us to provide the strong legal advocacy you deserve.

Call (425) 585-4009 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation with our Vancouver personal injury lawyers.

Common Types of Personal Injury Cases

Personal injury refers to physical or psychological harm that an individual sustains as a result of another party's negligence, intentional actions, or strict liability. Personal injury law allows individuals who have suffered harm to seek compensation for their losses, including medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages. There are various types of personal injury cases, each arising from different circumstances.

Here are some common types of personal injury cases:

Car Accidents: Involving collisions between two or more vehicles, car accidents can result in injuries ranging from minor to severe.
Truck Accidents: Accidents involving large commercial trucks can lead to serious injuries due to the size and weight of the vehicles.
Motorcycle Accidents: Motorcyclists are at a higher risk of injury due to their lack of protection compared to other motorists.
Pedestrian Accidents: Pedestrians can be injured by vehicles when crossing streets or walking in areas with traffic.
Bicycle Accidents: Collisions involving bicycles and vehicles can result in significant injuries to cyclists.
Premises Liability: Property owners can be held liable for injuries that occur on their premises due to unsafe conditions, such as slip and falls.
Product Liability: Manufacturers, distributors, and sellers can be held responsible for injuries caused by defective products.
Medical Malpractice: Injuries resulting from the negligence or misconduct of healthcare professionals, such as doctors, nurses, or hospitals.
Catastrophic Injuries: Severe injuries that have long-term or permanent consequences, such as spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, or amputations.
Work Injuries: Injuries that occur in the workplace, often covered by workers' compensation, but personal injury claims may arise in certain situations.
Wrongful Death: When a person's death is caused by the negligence or misconduct of another party, the surviving family members may pursue a wrongful death claim.

Personal Injury Laws in British Columbia

In the event of an injury caused by negligence, individuals can file personal injury lawsuits against the at-fault party to seek compensation. In British Columbia, succeeding in a personal injury claim typically involves proving certain elements.

The specifics can vary based on the type of personal injury case, but here are common elements that you may need to establish in a personal injury claim in British Columbia:

Duty of Care: You must establish that the party you're holding responsible owed you a duty of care. For example, in a car accident case, drivers owe a duty of care to others on the road.
Breach of Duty: You need to show that the at-fault party breached their duty of care. This involves demonstrating that their actions or negligence fell below the standard of care expected in the given circumstances.
Causation: You must establish a direct link between the breach of duty and the injuries you suffered. It's not enough to show that the at-fault party was negligent; you must demonstrate that this negligence directly caused your injuries.
Damages: You need to prove the extent of your damages or losses. This includes both economic damages (such as medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage) and non-economic damages (such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life).

If you are found to have contributed to the accident or your injuries, the court will consider the degree of your own negligence. In British Columbia, the principle of contributory negligence means that your compensation may be reduced based on the percentage of fault assigned to you.

It's crucial to present credible evidence to support your case. This may include eyewitness accounts, medical records, accident reports, photographs, and any other relevant documentation.

In some cases, expert testimony may be necessary to establish certain elements. For example, in medical malpractice cases, a medical expert may be required to testify about the standard of care and whether it was breached.

How Our Vancouver Personal Injury Attorneys Can Help

When you are injured in an accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages. However, recovering the compensation you are owed is not always easy. Insurance companies are primarily concerned with their bottom line, and they will do everything they can to minimize your payout. Our Vancouver personal injury lawyers can help you fight for the full, fair recovery you are owed.

Our team can conduct a thorough investigation into your accident, gather all available evidence, and identify all potentially liable parties. We can help you calculate the full extent of your damages. We can negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf, and we are always prepared to take your case to trial if necessary.

Do not hesitate to contact us today at (425) 585-4009 for a free consultation.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the statute of limitations on assault?

Cases of assault have varying statutes of limitations. The standard statute of limitations for assault is three years. In cases of sexual assault and rape, the statute of limitations is more complicated and varies from case to case. In some cases, there is no statute of limitations.
How long do I have to file a birth injury lawsuit?

You have either three years from when the injury was sustained or one year from when you discovered that the injury could be attributed to medical negligence.
How much does an Erb's palsy attorney cost?

We work on a contingency basis, meaning we only collect a fee if we successfully recover compensation. We will collect a percentage of the compensation awarded to you.
How much does a birth injury attorney cost?

We work on a contingency basis, meaning that we collect a percentage of the compensation that you are awarded. If we cannot recover damages, we will not charge you for our services.
What is the statute of limitations on cases like these?

You have either three years from the date of the injury or one year from when the injury was attributed to negligence to file a claim or lawsuit.
How much can I expect to recover in my case?

We cannot give you a figure until we know more about your case. Catastrophic injuries often require long-term care. Further, they usually involve several forms of non-economic damages, which are difficult to forecast.
What if a stray dog bites me?

Unfortunately, we can only file a claim or lawsuit if we know who owns the dog.
How often does misdiagnosis happen?

An estimated 12 million Americans are misdiagnosed every year.
How common are surgical errors?

Each year, at least 4,000 surgical errors occur in the United States.
How long do motorcycle accident cases take to resolve?

The answer to this question depends on many factors, such as whether we need to file a lawsuit, the extent of your injuries, whether or not we need to call in experts, and more.
Are these types of cases common?

Yes. Claims and lawsuits involving premises liability are among the most common personal injury cases.
Are there any caps on the compensation I can receive in a birth injury case?

There are not.
How long do HIE cases take to resolve fully?

The answer to this depends on a variety of factors. Typically, these cases can take anywhere from a couple of months to several years.
How can I ensure I get the best care following a catastrophic injury?

We can arrange for you to see a highly qualified specialist.
Can I pursue punitive damages in my trucking accident case?

No, Washington does not allow plaintiffs to seek punitive damages
Will my truck accident injury be completely covered?
Whether your truck accident injury will be completely covered in Washington State depends on several factors, including the specifics of your insurance coverage, the liability of the parties involved, and the extent of your injuries.
1. Insurance Coverage:
  Your Own Insurance: In Washington State, auto insurance policies often include personal injury protection (PIP) coverage. PIP can help cover medical expenses and lost wages regardless of who was at fault in the accident. However, the coverage limits and terms can vary depending on your policy.
  Liability Insurance: The truck driver's liability insurance should cover your injuries if the truck driver was at fault. Commercial trucking companies are typically required to carry substantial liability insurance coverage. However, insurance limits can vary, and it's possible that the policy may not fully cover your damages if they are extensive.
2. Liability Determination:
  If the truck driver was at fault for the accident, their liability insurance should cover your injuries up to their policy limits.
  If you were partially at fault for the accident, Washington follows a comparative negligence system. Your compensation may be reduced in proportion to your level of fault. If you were 50% or more at fault, you might not be able to recover damages from the other party.
3. Injury Severity:
  The extent and severity of your injuries will play a significant role in determining whether your medical expenses and other damages will be fully covered. Minor injuries may be fully covered, while severe injuries may exhaust insurance policy limits.
4. Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage:
  If the at-fault party is uninsured or underinsured, you may rely on your own uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage, if you have it. UM/UIM coverage can provide compensation when the responsible party lacks adequate insurance.
5. Legal Action:
  If insurance coverage is insufficient to fully compensate you for your injuries and damages, you may consider pursuing a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault party or parties. This can help you seek additional compensation through the legal system.
How long do I file to file my lawsuit?

The statute of limitations on personal injury cases is either three years or one year after discovering that malpractice led to your injury, whichever is later.
Can I sue for property damage?

Yes.
What damages can I recover in my case?

Depending on the circumstances of your case, you may be eligible to recover compensation. There are two main types of damages that can be recovered: economic and non-economic.
Economic damages are tangible, quantifiable losses that result from the accident. They are intended to compensate you for actual financial expenses and losses. Common economic damages in a truck accident case may include medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, and other out-of-pocket expenses.
Non-economic damages are less tangible and are meant to compensate you for the pain, suffering, mental anguish, or loss of consortium resulting from the truck accident.
Is there a limit to the economic and non-economic damages I can collect?

In the past, there have been caps on non-economic damages; however, caps on damages have since been ruled unconstitutional by the Washington Supreme Court. The stipulation regarding caps on non-economic damages still exists in the Revised Code of Washington; however, it is no longer relevant.

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