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Other Accidents
The accident lawyer team at Robinson & Kole helps clients recover compensation for all types of personal injury claims, including third-party claims of injured workers and slip-and-fall premises liability cases. From our Bellingham office, we help clients throughout the State of Washington. For our Spanish-speaking clients, our bilingual team members make it easy to work with us.
Since 1979, Robinson & Kole has been devoted to helping clients recover compensation for all manner of accidents and workplace injuries. All five of our attorneys have extensive courtroom experience and the knowledge and skills to help you navigate through the entire auto accident claim process. Our accident attorneys collaborate on case strategy and problem solving, so you benefit from the collective experience of our legal team that represents more than 100 years handling these types of claims.
Third-Party Claims
A worker who receives workers’ compensation (L&I) for on-the-job injuries cannot sue their employer or a co-employee, even if the injury was the result of negligence by the employer or fellow worker. However, the law in Washington State gives the injured worker the right to bring a personal injury claim against a third party whose negligence caused the work injury. Third-party claims are governed by specific state statutes.
A third-party claim can arise when a worker is injured in an auto accident or truck accident or by a property owner’s negligence, defective equipment, or negligence of an on-site general or sub-contractor other than the worker’s employer. Other types of accidents can also give rise to a third-party personal injury claim.
The legal process for a third-party claim is completely separate from the process for making a workers’ compensation claim. Our personal injury accident lawyer team at Robinson & Kole has the experience and skills to help injured workers pursue third-party claims, in addition to assisting with L&I claims.
Potential compensation in a third-party personal injury action may be greater than the L&I benefits a worker receives for the injury. In a third-party claim, a worker may recover both financial and non-financial damages, including medical expenses, pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of future earnings, and lost income. However, that does not mean the worker receives twice the recovery when both an L&I and third-party claim are filed. The applicable statutes control many aspects of a worker’s third-party claim, including distribution of a compensation award or settlement. The distribution includes reimbursement of L&I or the self-insurer for amounts paid as workers’ compensation benefits. Calculation of the distribution must follow specific statutory requirements.
If you suffered a work injury and think a third party’s negligence may have caused the injury, it’s essential to talk with a lawyer who understands both L&I benefits and third-party personal injury claims. Our lawyers at Robinson & Kole have decades of experience helping clients with both types of claims. You can count on us to protect all your rights to compensation and ensure that you receive the full damages provided by Washington State laws.
Slip-and-Fall Accidents
A slip and fall or trip and fall is a type of personal injury accident classified as premises liability. If you receive injuries on another person’s property due to a slip-and-fall accident or trip-and-fall accident, you may be entitled to recover both financial and non-financial compensation for your injuries. The personal injury lawyers at Robinson & Kole have the experience and knowledge to help with all types of premises liability cases, including slip-and-fall and trip-and-fall accidents.
The level of the duty owed by a landowner depends on the status of a visitor as a business invitee, licensee, or trespasser. A business owner must use ordinary care to keep the property in reasonably safe condition for invited visitors, which includes inspecting the property for dangerous conditions and correcting any hazards. The owner also has a duty to protect business invitees from criminal conduct in certain situations.
A slip and fall or other type of accident can occur anywhere on business property, including in a parking lot or outside walkways, as well as inside the business establishment. Proving liability in a slip-and-fall or other premises liability case is often challenging, because of the legal standards that apply. Regardless of what type of premises liability claim you have, the personal injury lawyers at Robinson & Kole know how to investigate the circumstances, analyze the applicable law, and determine the basis for legal liability.
The laws in Washington State provide compensation for both financial and non-financial losses in a premises liability case. Financial (or economic) losses include medical expenses, lost income, and other out-of-pocket expenses. Non-economic losses include pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of future earnings. Your lawyer must document and prove all the losses for which you claim compensation.
Robinson & Kole personal injury lawyers have a detailed understanding of the elements that go into calculating the full compensation you deserve, so you don’t get short-changed on your financial recovery. Your lawyer also will be a tenacious negotiator who stands up for your rights and will not hesitate to take the case to trial when necessary and appropriate.
Free Consultation with an Experienced Washington Personal Injury Accident Lawyer
From our office in Bellingham, our Robinson & Kole personal injury lawyer team helps clients throughout the State of Washington. If you suffered injuries in an accident that another person may have caused, we welcome you to contact us for a free consultation by calling 800.640.5616 or using our online contact form. Se habla Español.