Seattle Personal Injury Lawyer
Reviewed by Michael Gustafson, founding attorney, Emerald Law Group. Seattle University School of Law, J.D. 2004 (magna cum laude); six-time Washington Rising Star. Last updated September 28, 2026.
If someone else’s carelessness left you hurt in Seattle, the law gives you the right to recover your medical bills, lost income and the harm to your life, and it gives the insurance company every incentive to pay you less than that. Emerald Law Group has represented injured people in King County and across Washington since 2010. Our attorneys spent the early part of their careers defending insurance companies, so we know how adjusters value claims and where they cut corners. The consultation is free, there is no fee unless we recover for you, and you can reach a Seattle personal injury lawyer today at 206-826-5160.
Do I have a personal injury case in Washington?
You have a case if another person or business owed you a duty of care, breached it, and that breach caused an injury with real losses. In practice that covers most crashes, falls, dog bites and unsafe-property injuries where the other side was careless. The quickest way to know is a free case review; we will tell you plainly if a claim is not worth pursuing.
To win, the injured person carries the burden of proving four things: the other party owed a duty of care, they breached it by something they did or failed to do, the breach caused the injury, and the injury produced damages. Washington follows pure comparative fault under RCW 4.22.005, so you can recover even if you were partly at fault; your award is simply reduced by your percentage of fault.
How long do I have to file a personal injury claim in Washington?
Three years from the date of injury for most negligence claims, under RCW 4.16.080. Miss it and the case is gone regardless of how strong it is.
Shorter deadlines apply in some situations. Claims against the City of Seattle, King County, Sound Transit or another local government require a formal claim filed with the agency and a 60-day waiting period before suit under RCW 4.96.020; claims against the State of Washington follow RCW 4.92.100. Evidence also disappears long before any deadline: surveillance video is overwritten in days, vehicles are repaired, and witnesses move. Calling early protects the case.
What is my Seattle personal injury case worth?
It depends on the severity and permanence of your injuries, your medical costs and lost earnings, how clearly fault can be proven, and how much insurance is available. Nobody can quote a number honestly at the first call, but we can tell you which of those factors will drive your case.
Washington allows recovery of economic damages (medical bills, future care, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, property damage) and non-economic damages (pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and for family members, loss of consortium). Washington does not cap non-economic damages in ordinary injury cases; the state Supreme Court struck down the statutory cap in Sofie v. Fibreboard (1989). Punitive damages are generally not available under Washington law.
Who pays my medical bills after an accident in Seattle?
Usually your own coverage pays first, then the at-fault party’s insurer reimburses at settlement. In a car crash, Personal Injury Protection (PIP) on your own auto policy pays medical bills regardless of fault; Washington insurers must offer it under RCW 48.22.085, with a $10,000 medical minimum. Health insurance, MedPay on a homeowner’s policy (common in dog-bite and fall cases), and L&I benefits for on-the-job injuries can also apply.
Most of those payers will claim reimbursement from your settlement. Part of our job is negotiating those liens down so more of the recovery stays with you. Washington’s “made whole” doctrine limits an insurer’s reimbursement when you have not been fully compensated.
What should I do right after an injury in Seattle?
- Get medical care the same day, even if you feel fine. Harborview Medical Center is the region’s Level I trauma center; for lesser injuries, urgent care or your own physician is enough. Gaps in treatment are the first thing adjusters use against you.
- Report it. Call 911 for a crash, notify the store manager or property owner for a fall, and report a dog bite to Seattle Animal Control or King County Regional Animal Services.
- Photograph everything: the scene, the hazard, the vehicles, your injuries, and any signage.
- Get names and phone numbers of witnesses before they leave.
- Do not give a recorded statement to the other side’s insurer and do not post about the incident on social media.
- Call a lawyer before you accept anything. Early settlement offers are made before the full extent of injuries is known.
How much does a Seattle personal injury lawyer cost?
Nothing up front. Emerald Law Group works on a contingency fee: the consultation is free, we advance the case costs, and our fee is a percentage of the recovery. If there is no recovery, you owe no attorney fee. Washington’s Rules of Professional Conduct require that agreement in writing, and we go through it with you line by line before you sign.
Why do people choose Emerald Law Group?
- Insurance-side experience. Our attorneys previously represented insurance companies. We know their playbook because we used to run it.
- Real lawyers, not case managers. Your case is handled by Michael Gustafson, Donna Mack or Justin Dale, and you can reach them directly.
- Trial-ready. Adjusters pay more to firms that will file in King County Superior Court and try the case. We do.
- Recognition. Avvo 10.0 Superb rating, Super Lawyers Rising Stars selections, Washington State Association for Justice membership, and a BBB-accredited business.
- Two offices. Downtown Seattle at 605 First Avenue, Suite 325, near the King County Courthouse, and Tacoma at 524 Tacoma Ave S.
Personal injury case results
Past results do not guarantee a future outcome, but they show the kinds of cases we handle and the results we work toward:
- $1.8 Million – Premises liability
- $1.74 Million – Pedestrian accident
- $1.2 Million – Slip and fall
- $1.15 Million – Wrongful death
- $781,000 – Car accident
- $460,000 – Dog bite
- $450,000 – Motorcycle accident
- $450,000 – Bicycle accident
Types of personal injury cases we handle in Seattle
Emerald Law Group handles injury claims across King and Pierce Counties, including:
- Car accidents, including Uber and Lyft crashes, head-on collisions and drunk-driving crashes
- Truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents and bicycle accidents
- Slip and fall and premises liability
- Dog bites
- Wrongful death
- Construction accidents and catastrophic injuries
- Negligent security
- Nursing home injury, day care injury and child injury
- Childhood sexual abuse and clergy abuse
- Insurance bad faith
How a Seattle personal injury claim works
Most cases follow the same path, and most settle before trial.
- Investigation. We gather the police or incident report, photos, video, witness statements and your medical records, and we send preservation letters so evidence is not destroyed.
- Treatment and documentation. You focus on recovery. We track every bill, every missed day of work and every way the injury changes your life, and we wait until your doctors can say what your future looks like before valuing the claim.
- Demand. We send the insurer a demand package that proves liability and damages.
- Negotiation. Most claims resolve here, often after several rounds.
- Lawsuit. If the insurer will not pay fair value, we file in King County Superior Court (516 Third Avenue, Seattle) or the appropriate court and prepare for trial. Filing usually moves the number.
- Resolution. Settlement, mediation, arbitration or verdict. We then resolve medical liens and disburse your recovery.
Frequently asked questions about personal injury claims in Seattle
Can I still recover if I was partly at fault?
Yes. Under Washington’s pure comparative fault rule you can recover even if you were mostly at fault; your damages are reduced by your share. If you were 30% at fault for a $100,000 loss, you recover $70,000.
How long does a personal injury case take?
Straightforward claims with clear liability often settle in six to twelve months after treatment ends. Cases that require a lawsuit typically take one to two years.
Will I have to go to court?
Probably not. The large majority of injury cases settle. We prepare every case as if it will be tried, because that is what produces fair offers, but a trial only happens if the insurer refuses to pay what the case is worth and you decide to go forward.
Should I talk to the other driver’s insurance company?
No. You are not required to give them a statement, and anything you say will be used to reduce your claim. Refer them to us. See our guide on talking to the other driver’s insurer.
What if the at-fault driver has no insurance?
Your own uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage steps in. Washington requires insurers to offer it under RCW 48.22.030, and many policies carry it. We check every available policy, including household policies you may not know cover you.
Is my consultation confidential?
Yes. Everything you tell us is protected by attorney-client privilege whether or not you hire us.
Do you handle cases outside Seattle?
Yes. We represent clients throughout King County (Bellevue, Kent, Renton, Federal Way, Shoreline) and from our Tacoma office across Pierce County.
Contact a Seattle personal injury lawyer today
If you were hurt in a crash, a fall or another incident caused by someone else’s negligence, or you lost a family member, call Emerald Law Group at 206-826-5160 or request a free consultation online. We answer the phone, we return calls, and there is no fee unless we win.
Emerald Law Group
605 First Avenue, Suite 325, Seattle, WA 98104
524 Tacoma Ave S, Tacoma, WA 98402 · 253-367-0967
