Motor vehicle accidents in the Yakima Valley area can occur in the blink of an eye. Those accidents often cause serious injuries. The Washington State auto accident attorneys of Mariano Morales Law work on a wide variety of motor vehicle accident cases. If your car accident and injuries were caused by another motorist, we are here to help.

At Mariano Morales Law, our car accident lawyers use a “head-to-toe” checklist. We contact clients every four to six weeks to assess their condition. Our primary goal is to ensure clients in the Yakima Valley and the surrounding areas are getting the best possible medical treatment for their injuries. These wellness checks can also provide important physical evidence.

We prepare our clients’ cases thoroughly. That allows us to settle about 95 percent of our personal injury cases without ever filing a lawsuit. Our job is to demand the best offers possible from insurance companies. We provide professional advice about the fairness of an offer and leave the final decision up to our clients.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, contact an auto accident lawyer in Yakima Valley today at Mariano Morales Law. We serve individuals and families in Yakima, Wenatchee, Grant County, Chelan County, and the Tri-Cities of Richland, Pasco, and Kennewick.

Call a car accident lawyer in Yakima at (509) 853-2222. You can also use our online contact form to schedule your free consultation.

Why Choose Our Yakima Car Accident Lawyers?

The car accident lawyers of Mariano Morales Law are based here in the Yakima Valley area. We care deeply about all of our Washington neighbors.

Our firm has over 30 years of experience handling complex cases throughout Washington State. Those cases include car accidents, property damage and personal injury claims. We provide no-hassle, no-headache services to all of our clients. We handle every aspect of your case for you.

The Morales team will regularly review your medical records in support of your claim. We want to ensure all of your injuries and symptoms are identified, treated and recorded. We carefully consider medical records from every doctor who treats our clients.

We also review clients’ symptoms every four to six weeks. Our check-ins frequently reveal symptoms that do not appear in medical records. Sometimes patients don’t realize that certain symptoms are related to the effects of their auto accident. For example, what appears to be mild soft tissue damage might, in fact, be the symptom of a traumatic brain injury.

We help our clients find the appropriate medical specialists for their needs. We provide ongoing correspondence to check in on you and offer the latest updates about your case. We pride ourselves on our attention to detail and proactive communication. Our dedication to our clients allows us to build strong relationships with those we serve.

Mariano Morales Law offers clients free initial case reviews. We never charge fees unless we win compensation for you. If your auto accident involved both personal injury and property damage, we’ll take care of any property damage claims as part of your auto accident injury case. We do that at no extra charge.

How Our Yakima Auto Accident Lawyers Can Make a Difference in Your Case

The car accident claims process can be confusing and intimidating at times. Remember that you do not have to handle the process alone. A skilled auto accident lawyer can help relieve the pressures you face. An experienced car accident lawyer can make a real difference in the settlement you accept.

The ways a car wreck attorney can help you include:

Explaining the laws that apply to your case
Providing informed advice about your options for recovery
Gathering and preserving evidence to support your claim
Organizing and managing your important documents
Communicating with health care providers for vital records

Working with doctors and other expert witnesses to obtain evidence for your claim
Communicating with the insurance companies of other drivers
Helping you avoid self-incriminating statements
Negotiating with insurers for the maximum settlement amount
Representing you in a lawsuit, if a settlement cannot be reached.

Demanding Maximum Compensation for Crash Victims

Auto accident injuries can range from mild to life-threatening. Property damage from car crashes can take a variety of forms as well. No matter how big or small your accident was, you deserve compensation for the damages you suffered.

A Yakima car accident lawyer can help you recover monetary compensation for these damages:

Hospital and doctors’ office bills
Ambulance or transportation fees
Out-of-pocket costs such as a car rental
Medical devices, including crutches or canes
Physical or mental therapy for rehabilitation
In-home healthcare services
Pain or disfigurement from injuries
Emotional suffering from the accident

Loss of income, if you’re forced to miss work
Lost earning capacity, if you become disabled
Loss of quality or enjoyment of life
Loss of companionship that your spouse suffers
Damage to your car or other property
Fatal injuries and wrongful death

What to Do to Protect Your Rights After a Car Crash

When you have been injured in a car crash, your priority should be to seek immediate medical attention. The most important aspect of your recovery is your own health. Get an accurate picture as soon as possible of any trauma you may have suffered.

Even if you do not feel as though you have been injured, a medical exam may reveal symptoms or side effects that you had not noticed. These invisible symptoms can have lasting effects. Identifying them can help you get appropriate treatment.

Mariano Morales Law recommends these steps to help our clients protect their rights after an accident:

Remain in a safe location at the scene of the accident.
Contact the police to report your crash.
Avoid apologizing or admitting fault.
Exchange information with other drivers.
Talk to eyewitnesses, if available.

Take photos of any visible injuries.
Have your car damage inspected and photographed.
Report the accident to your insurance provider.
Start a file of important documents.
Contact a car accident attorney.

Mistakes to Avoid After a Car Accident in Yakima

Do not refuse medical care. Car accidents can cause injuries that don’t exhibit symptoms until 24 hours later or even longer after the crash. If emergency medical care isn’t necessary after a car crash, there are things you should do at the accident scene, but you should be sure to see a doctor soon afterward. In addition to getting the medical care you may need, records of a doctor’s examination begin to create documentation of your accident, any injuries and your recovery costs, which you’ll need if you file a legal claim.
Do not lose your cool. A car accident is stressful at best and frightening in many cases. But staying calm and proceeding in a professional manner after a wreck is the best thing you can do for yourself. Be polite to the other drivers. Don’t make accusations or get into an argument. When police arrive, answer their questions truthfully. You need to provide only facts, not opinions. Don’t provide any information beyond what police ask you for, and never admit fault.
Do not forget to document your car crash. Using a camera or even a cell phone, take photos of everything you can at the accident scene: positions of the cars, car damage, skid marks, damage to street signs, guardrails, the shoulder of the road, the other driver and passengers in each car, visible injuries among accident victims, and so on. Write down or record the names of the other drivers, passengers and any other witnesses. When you are asked about your crash later, having photos is much better than relying on your memory.
Do not ignore the police report. You want to have documentation of the accident if you have a claim. The first official record will be the police report in many cases. Be sure to ask the responding law enforcement officer when you can get a copy of the accident report (it may be downloadable after a day or two), and get one as soon as possible.
Do not forget to call your insurance company. You can’t expect an insurance settlement for your car accident if you don’t file a claim. Even if you have a deductible that you don’t expect to exceed, you should still report your accident to your insurance company.
Do not take the insurance company’s first offer. An insurance adjuster wants to settle your claim as soon as possible and move on to the next case. He or she is also obligated to look out for the insurance company’s bottom line. The first offer is likely to be too low. Never sign anything from an insurance company without talking to a car accident lawyer first. You might sign away your right to compensation that you deserve.
Do not fail to take advantage of free legal advice. You can meet with an experienced car accident lawyer after you’ve been in a car wreck for free. There’s no charge for an initial legal consultation with Mariano Morales Law in Yakima. We will assess your accident based on our years of experience with hundreds of car accidents and advise you about your legal options. If you have an insurance company’s offer, we can take a look at that, too. If we decide you have a claim we can help you pursue, and that’s what you want to do, we still won’t charge a fee unless we obtain money for you.
Do not put off calling a lawyer. Call a Yakima Valley car accident attorney at Mariano Morales Law. Your initial consultation is free of charge.

Common Causes of Car Wrecks in Washington

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports on average more than 7 million U.S. car wrecks annually. More than 3 million persons were injured in these crashes, and 37,461 persons were killed in a single recent year. The state of Washington had 497 crashes with 546 fatalities.

Most traffic collisions are caused by these common and predictable factors:

Reckless driving – Examples of reckless driving include speeding, street racing, weaving, tailgating, running red lights or stop signs, making improper turns or lane changes, failing to yield the right of way, failing to signal turns, and aggressive driving or “road rage.”
Distracted driving – This can include rubbernecking, texting or operating a handheld device, listening to excessively loud music, eating food, interacting with passengers, or applying makeup while behind the wheel.
Intoxicated driving – Drivers who are intoxicated by alcohol or drugs are not able to make safe decisions on the road. Even certain over-the-counter drugs make users unable to safely operate a car.
Nighttime driving – Many accidents occur after dark when motorists have trouble seeing other cars and other obstacles.
Inexperienced or unlicensed driving – Many crashes are caused by drivers who are new to driving, such as teenagers, or those without proper licenses.
Driver fatigue – Many motorists get behind the wheel each morning or evening without proper rest. Their tired state puts everyone else on the road at risk. Drowsy or fatigued drivers are less attentive and often have slow reaction times.
Defective vehicles – Faulty components, including tires that blow out or brake systems that fail, can lead to vehicle collisions.
Unsafe road conditions – Potholes, missing guardrails, unmarked construction zones, animal crossings and similar conditions can pose a hazard to drivers.
Inclement weather – Weather conditions that can lead to unsafe roads include rain, snow, ice, fog, haze and strong winds.

Talk to Our Yakima Car Accident Attorneys Today

For the past quarter-century, the Washington auto accident attorneys of Mariano Morales Law have provided personal, one-on-one attention to accident victims and families throughout Yakima and nearby areas of Washington. Even the most complicated car accident claim is no match for our experienced and relentless team. We promise to handle every detail of your case for you.

We offer no-hassle, no-headache results to get you back on your feet as quickly and painlessly as possible. Our superior communication and follow-through will ensure you stay informed every step of the way.

Best of all, we offer free consultations so you can hear our careful evaluation of your case before you decide to work with our team. When you hire us, we collect no fees from you unless we win money for your claim. You have nothing to lose and much to gain from contacting us. Call us today, send us a live chat message, or fill out our contact form online.

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Car Accident Lawyers in Yakima WA