Bellevue, WA asked in Car Accidents for Washington

Q: Car accident. I need to know if I can take this person to court.

I was in a car accident. I was hit from behind. I was in traffic, stopped in the HOV lane and was rear ended. I had my daughter in the car which is why I was able to be in the HOV lane. The person who hit me was not paying attention and slammed into the back of me. He did not have insurance, it was not his car and he was illegally in the HOV lane because he was by himself in the car. I have now been missing days of work due to my back injury and doctor visits. Is this enough to take him to court?

Related Topics:
2 Lawyer Answers

A: A Washington attorney could advise best, but your question remains open for two weeks. Until you are able to speak with a local attorney in Washington who handles such matters, the short answer is, "yes, you could sue." However, you may want to consider learning about the UM (uninsured motorist) provisions of your own policy. As a practical matter, it's possible that could be more efficient and yield quicker results. I hope everyone involved in the accident is okay and that you are recovering from your injuries. Most attorneys who handle such cases, including UM, usually offer free initial consults. Good luck

A: Addendum - I hope you are both okay. If you do place your carrier on notice of a claim, include the fact that your daughter was in the car, if she should want to see a doctor for evaluation. Good luck

Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.

The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.

Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.