100% FREE CONSULATION
Open 24/7 - 365
100% FREE CONSULATION
Open 24/7 - 365

Top Rated Personal Injury Lawyers in Just One Call

Tacoma Personal Injury Lawyer

Find out why we have one of the best Tacoma personal injury law firms

James Loren & George Goldberg

Tacoma Personal Injury Attorney

If you’ve been injured in an accident in Tacoma due to someone else’s negligence, you don’t have to face the legal battle alone.

Our Tacoma personal injury attorneys are here to protect your rights and help you secure the compensation you deserve. With a deep understanding of Washington’s personal injury laws and a proven track record of 3 decades of success, we are dedicated to holding negligent parties accountable and ensuring you get the justice you’re entitled to.

Don’t let mounting medical bills, lost wages, or emotional distress overwhelm you. Contact our Tacoma personal injury lawyers today for a free consultation and take the first step toward getting the compensation you need to rebuild your life.

Call us now at (253) 259-3276 to schedule an in-person or online appointment to get started with a free consultation.

Our Verdicts and Settlements

$1,200,000

Settlement

A Tacoma resident was involved in a serious car accident when her vehicle was struck by a malfunctioning SUV.

July 2024

$650,000

Settlement

Our client suffered life-altering injuries after slipping on a wet floor in a Tacoma grocery store.

September 2024

Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle in Tacoma

Our civil litigation lawyers in Tacoma are equipped to handle a wide range of cases. We are committed to providing comprehensive legal support and fighting for the justice you deserve.

Here are the types of personal injury claims we handle:

  • Car Accidents,
  • Truck Accidents,
  • Motorcycle Accidents,
  • Pedestrian Accidents,
  • Bicycle Accidents,
  • Slip and Fall Injuries,
  • Medical Malpractice,
  • Workplace Accidents,
  • Construction Site Injuries,
  • Product Liability,
  • Wrongful Death Claims,
  • Hit and Run Injuries,
  • Boating Injuries,
  • Hunting Accidents,
  • Defective Products,
  • Dog Bites,
  • Truck Accidents,
  • and more.

No matter the circumstances of your injury, our Tacoma personal injury attorneys are here to provide personalized legal guidance, advocate for your rights, and help you secure the maximum compensation possible. We are open now to answer any of your legal questions.

Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle in Tacoma

Common Injuries Associated With Tacoma Personal Injury Claims

Personal injury cases in Tacoma often involve a wide variety of injuries, ranging from minor to life-altering. These injuries can significantly impact physical, emotional, and financial well-being. Here are some of the most common injuries we encounter in personal injury claims:

  • Broken Bones;
  • Burns;
  • Internal Organ Damage;
  • Lacerations and Contusions;
  • Psychological Trauma, including PTSD, Anxiety, and Depression;
  • Soft Tissue Injuries, such as Sprains and Strains;
  • Spinal Cord Injuries and Paralysis;
  • Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI);
  • Whiplash and Other Neck Injuries.

If you’ve suffered any of these injuries due to someone else’s negligence, our dedicated Tacoma personal injury lawyers are here to help you navigate your claim and fight for the compensation you deserve.

Tacoma Insurance Company Tactics in Personal Injury Claims

Dealing with insurance companies after a personal injury in Tacoma can be a daunting process. Many insurance providers prioritize minimizing payouts over fairly compensating victims and use a variety of tactics to achieve this. 

Recognizing these strategies is necessary to protect your rights and maximize your claim.

Here are some common tactics used by insurance companies:

  • Quick, Lowball Settlements: Insurers may offer a fast, low settlement to tempt you into accepting before you fully understand the extent of your injuries or long-term expenses.
  • Shifting Blame: Adjusters may try to place partial or full blame for the accident on you, reducing or denying your compensation.
  • Downplaying Injuries: They may argue that your injuries aren’t as severe as claimed or that they were pre-existing conditions unrelated to the incident.
  • Delaying the Claims Process: Prolonging the process can frustrate claimants, making them more likely to accept a lower settlement just to resolve the matter.
  • Requesting Excessive Documentation: Repeated demands for unnecessary paperwork can overwhelm you and slow down your claim.
  • Misinterpreting Policy Terms: Insurers may claim certain damages are not covered or mislead you about the limits of your policy.
  • Using Recorded Statements Against You: Adjusters may ask for a recorded statement and later use your words out of context to weaken your case.

These tactics are designed to benefit the insurance company, not you. Hiring our experienced Tacoma personal injury lawyer can help counter these strategies.

Our Tacoma personal injury attorneys will handle all communication with the insurance companies, gather evidence, and negotiate aggressively to ensure you receive the fair compensation you deserve.

Tacoma Insurance Company Tactics in Personal Injury Claims

Wrongful Death Claim in Tacoma Personal Injury Accidents

Losing a loved one due to someone else’s negligence is a devastating experience. In Tacoma, wrongful death claims provide surviving family members a legal avenue to seek justice and financial compensation for their loss.

While no amount of money can replace the life of your loved one, pursuing a wrongful death claim can help ease the financial burdens and hold the responsible party accountable.

A wrongful death claim can arise from various personal injury accidents, including car crashes, medical malpractice, workplace incidents, or defective products.

In wrongful death claims, surviving family members may be entitled to various forms of compensation, including:

  • Funeral and Burial Expenses: Covering the costs of laying your loved one to rest.
  • Lost Income or Financial Support: Compensation for the financial contributions the deceased would have provided.
  • Loss of Companionship: Addressing the emotional and relational void left by the loss of a loved one.
  • Emotional Suffering: Recognizing the mental anguish and grief experienced by surviving family members.

At Goldberg & Loren, we understand the emotional and legal complexities of wrongful death cases.

Personal Injury Laws You Should Know in Washington

When pursuing a personal injury claim in Tacoma, understand the local laws that govern your case.

  • Comparative Negligence: Washington follows a pure comparative negligence rule, meaning if you are partially at fault for the accident, your compensation may be reduced based on your percentage of fault. However, you can still recover damages even if you were 99% responsible for the incident. [1] §4.22.005
  • No-Fault Insurance: Washington is a no-fault insurance state for auto accidents. [2] This means that your own car insurance may cover medical expenses and lost wages, regardless of who caused the accident, up to your policy limits. However, you can still file a personal injury claim if your injuries are serious enough or if you meet specific thresholds.
  • Insurance Bad Faith: If an insurance company denies or delays your claim without proper justification, you may have grounds for a bad faith insurance lawsuit, which allows you to seek additional damages. [3]
Personal Injury Laws You Should Know in Washington

Personal Injury Statistics in Tacoma

The following data represents how common personal injury accidents are in Tacoma:

  • The 35 reported fatal crashes in Tacoma in 2023 were the most in any year since at least 2015, according to preliminary data from the Washington State Department of Transportation. [4]
  • Washington claimants received $131 million in total compensation on 70 claims, an average of $1.9 million per paid settlement in 2024. [5]
  • Tacoma placed at number 25 on the top 25 nationwide list of cities for reported dog bites against mail carriers in 2023. [6]

Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury in Washington

The Statute of Limitations is a critical aspect of personal injury claims in Tacoma. It refers to the time limit you have to file a lawsuit after being injured due to someone else’s negligence. In Washington state, the Statute of Limitations for most personal injury cases, including car accidents, slip and fall accidents, and medical malpractice, is three years from the date of the incident, as per RCW 4.16.080

This means that you must file a lawsuit within three years of the injury occurring, or you may lose your right to seek compensation. However, certain circumstances may affect this timeline, such as:

  • Discovery Rule: If you were unaware of your injury or its connection to the accident (e.g., hidden injuries), the clock for the Statute of Limitations may not start until you discover or should have discovered the injury. This is commonly applicable in cases of medical malpractice or when no injury is observed at first, but develops after a period of time.
  • Wrongful Death Cases: In wrongful death claims, the Statute of Limitations is typically three years from the date of death, which is usually the result of an injury caused by an accident or negligence.
  • Claims Against Government Entities: If your personal injury claim involves a government entity (such as an accident caused by a city bus or a slip and fall in a public building), you may have a much shorter time frame to file your claim. In such cases, you may be required to give the government notice of your claim within 60 days of the incident.

Failing to file your claim within the Statute of Limitations will likely result in your case being dismissed. Consult with our Tacoma personal injury lawyer as soon as possible to ensure your rights are protected, and your claim is filed within the required time frame.

Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury in Washington

How to Prove Your Personal Injury Claim

Proving your personal injury claim requires a thorough understanding of the legal process and the ability to present compelling evidence.

Here are the essential elements you need to demonstrate in order to establish a successful claim:

Establishing Negligence

The foundation of personal injury claims in rests on demonstrating that another party acted negligently.

To prove negligence, you must show the following four components:

  • Duty of Care: The defendant owed you a duty of care, which means they had a legal obligation to act in a way that would not likely cause harm to others. For instance, drivers have a duty to operate their vehicles safely and adhere to traffic laws.
  • Breach of Duty: You must demonstrate that the defendant failed to meet that duty of care. This could involve showing reckless behavior, carelessness, or failure to adhere to regulations (for example, a property owner failing to address hazardous conditions on their premises).
  • Causation: It’s crucial to establish a direct link between the defendant’s actions and your injury.
  • Damages: The final component you must prove is that you suffered actual damages as a result of the defendant’s negligence.

Understanding each of these elements is fundamental in building a strong personal injury case.

Our Tacoma personal injury lawyers can assist you in establishing whether you have a case, gathering evidence, compiling medical documentation, and formulating your argument to demonstrate that negligence occurred and that you are entitled to compensation.

Types of Compensation for Tacoma Personal Injury Cases

If you’ve been injured due to someone else’s negligence in Tacoma, you may be entitled to various forms of compensation to help recover from your losses.

These compensations, often referred to as “damages,” aim to address the financial, physical, and emotional impact of your injury.

Economic Damages

These cover the tangible, out-of-pocket costs resulting from your injury, such as:

  • Medical expenses, including hospital bills, surgeries, and rehabilitation costs
  • Lost wages and loss of future earning capacity
  • Property damage, such as vehicle repair or replacement costs
  • Other financial losses directly related to the accident

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages address the intangible effects of your injury, including:

  • Pain and suffering
  • Emotional distress, including anxiety or depression
  • Loss of enjoyment of life
  • Loss of companionship or consortium in severe cases

Punitive Damages

In rare cases where the at-fault party’s actions were particularly reckless or malicious, the court may award punitive damages. These are designed to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar conduct in the future.

Every personal injury case is unique, and the types and amount of compensation you may be entitled to will depend on the specifics of your case.

Types of Compensation for Tacoma Personal Injury Cases

What Our Clients Are Saying About Us – Client Reviews

Tacoma Personal Injury Client Review

Choosing Goldberg & Loren for Your Tacoma Personal Injury Case

Retaining one of our personal injury lawyers can significantly raise your chances of obtaining maximum compensation.

We bring with us an injury and accident legal team full of invaluable experience and knowledge of Washington state-specific laws, insurance requirements, and the intricacies of personal injury cases.

Here’s how a personal injury lawyer can help you:

  • Case Assessment: Our personal injury lawyers will evaluate the details of your case to determine its merits and the potential for compensation. We can provide insights on whether your case is strong enough to move forward or if it is better to explore alternative resolutions.
  • Evidence Collection: We gather evidence which crucial in proving negligence. Our skilled lawyers will know what documentation is necessary, including police reports, accident scene photographs, witness statements, and medical records. This will help to establish a compelling case.
  • Negotiation with Insurance Companies: Dealing with insurance companies can be daunting. Insurance adjusters often aim to settle for the lowest possible amount to protect their company’s bottom line. Our personal injury lawyer possesses negotiation skills that which help maximize settlement amounts. We understand the tactics used by insurers and know how to combat them getting you the best outcome possible.

“It has been shown that hiring an injury lawyer get’s you higher settlements and verdicts due to an attorney’s ability to build a strong case and negotiating effectively.”

  • Representation in Court: If your case goes to trial, our personal injury lawyer will be your representative in court. We will prepare your case and present it effectively.
  • Emotional Support: Navigating a personal injury claim can be emotionally taxing. Having a our law firms lawyers handling everything means you can relax while we pursue your accident claim.
  • Expert Witness Access and Professional Connections: It is no small task finding the right experts to represent the finding appropriately in a court of law, even in civil litigation and tortious actions. We have many resources that can help you win your injury claim.
  • Contingency Fee Structure: Our personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, meaning they only get paid if you win your case.

This structure makes legal representation accessible, as you do not have to pay upfront fees. It also aligns the lawyer’s interests with yours — because we have a vested interest and we are motivated to achieve the best possible outcome for your case since our payment relies on a successful outcome of your claim.

Contact us today by calling (253) 259-3276 for a free consultation, and let us start working on your case right away.

Local Resources for Tacoma

If you or your loved one have been injured in Tacoma, here are some resources:

*Disclaimer: We offer no endorsement of the following companies, these companies have been recommended to us by clients.

Tacoma Hospitals

St. Joseph Medical Center
Trauma Level: Level II Trauma Center
Address: 1717 South J Street, Tacoma, WA 98405
Phone Number: (253) 426-4101

Tacoma General Hospital
Trauma Level: Level II Trauma Center
Address: 315 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Tacoma, WA 98405
Phone Number: (253) 403-1000

MultiCare Allenmore Hospital
Trauma Level: Not a Trauma Center
Address: 1901 S Union Ave, Tacoma, WA 98405
Phone Number: (253) 459-6633

Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital
Trauma Level: Level II Pediatric Trauma Center
Address: 317 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Tacoma, WA 98405
Phone Number: (253) 403-1400

Tacoma Chiropractor

Tacoma Family Chiropractic
Address: 801 Pine St, Tacoma, WA 98405
Phone Number: (253) 272-9500

Tacoma Physical Therapist

ATI Physical Therapy
Address: 1628 S Mildred St., Suite 101, Tacoma, WA 98465
Phone Number: (253) 460-1095

Sources:

[1] Comparative negligence. (n.d.). LII / Legal Information Institute. https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/comparative_negligence#

[2] States with No-Fault Insurance – Nationwide. (n.d.). https://www.nationwide.com/lc/resources/auto-insurance/articles/no-fault-insurance-states

[3] Insurance Bad Faith Law. (2024, October 14). Justia. https://www.justia.com/injury/insurance-bad-faith/

[4] News Tribune. (n.d.). https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/article284819381.html

[5] Kreidler, M. & OIC WA. (2024). Medical malpractice annual report. https://www.insurance.wa.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2024-medmal-annual-rpt-final_0.pdf

[6] Increase in Dog Attacks on Mail Carriers in Tacoma, Washington, Small Decline in Seattle – Washington newsroom – About.usps.com. (n.d.). https://about.usps.com/newsroom/local-releases/wa/2024/0530-increase-in-dog-attacks-on-mail-carriers-in-tacoma.htm

[7] RCW 4.16.080: Actions limited to three years. (n.d.-c). https://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx

Goldberg & Loren

Phone: (253) 259-3276

Service Area: Tacoma, Washington

George Goldberg

Our Tacoma personal injury lawyers are ready to fight for your rights. Call us for a free consultation!

Need Help? Contact Us

Have Questions About Your Case? Call Us Today: