Frequently Asked Questions

The initial consultation is free. In fact, you pay absolutely no attorney fees unless and until we recover damages for you.

While each case is unique, if you have personal injury protection (PIP) on your insurance policy, that coverage will pay for your up front medical costs and may even cover lost wages. If you do not have PIP, your health insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid may issue conditional payments on your behalf and will expect to be repaid at time of settlement. If you have no medical coverage available, your medical providers may be willing to accept minimal payments until time of settlement.

There are many factors that determine the total value of a claim. Call us at (206) 522-4741 and we will be happy to discuss the facts of your case.

We are happy to meet anywhere. Contact our office at (206)522-4741 and we can generally visit you within 24 hours.

We represent all of our personal injury clients on a contingency basis. We are paid a percentage of your recovery. Most people who are represented by experienced counsel receive more in settlement than those people who choose to represent themselves, even after the attorney's fees and costs are paid.

Your car is usually the safest place to be after an accident, even if the airbags have deployed. If you see fire or smell smoke you should exit the car immediately and stand as far away from traffic as possible.

If you are injured, call 911 immediately; give the operator as many details as you can about your location. If you are able to move it is okay to gather as much information as you can while you wait for help.

Tell them the facts of the accident, but avoid accepting blame for the accident or making accusations.

Take pictures of the accident scene, yourself and your passengers; get contact information for any other drivers, passengers and witnesses; a description of the other drivers and their vehicles; and the name of any police and emergency personnel.

It is best to report the accident even if you were not at fault, particularly if you have coverage that pays up-front medical or property damage related costs.

It is important to take photos at the scene, as well as photos of yourself and your passengers a few days after the accident, when bruising and other injuries may become more apparent.

Anyone who has been in an accident should consider seeing a doctor to make sure that they have no hidden injuries. Additionally, many common injuries associated with car accidents may not be felt for a day or two. When you see the doctor, make sure to mention any injuries or symptoms arising from the accident, even if they seem minor.

Not without at least speaking to an attorney first. Insurance adjusters are trained to notice things people ordinarily wouldn't think about, and may be skilled in twisting words around in ways you would never have imagined. Communications with the fault party's insurance should be left to an experienced personal injury attorney whenever possible.

No. Always consult an experienced personal injury attorney before releasing any medical information to the other driver's insurance company. Putting your medical history in the hands of the adjuster without consulting an attorney first could jeopardize your claim.

Most personal injury cases can be settled out of court. While most insurance adjusters operate under the assumption that if an agreement can not be reached, litigation will be the outcome, the majority of cases settle without litigation.

In Washington State you generally have three years from the day of the accident to file a lawsuit for injuries received as the result of another party's negligence. You should always consult an attorney as soon as possible to discuss your particular situation and determine what steps need to be taken in order to avoid the statute of limitations. Even honest fault parties may move or be hard to find for the purpose of suit, and procrastinating because you think you have plenty of time may jeopardize your ability to recover your damages.

Initial consultations at the Grega Law Group are always free. For an initial consultation and review of the facts surrounding your case, please call us at (206) 522-4741.

A truck accident is any automobile accident that involves a commercial truck and a passenger vehicle.

In most cases, yes. Because truck drivers are professional drivers, they are expected to meet higher standards when on the road. If you were involved in an accident involving a commercial truck, you should contact the Grega Law Group at (206) 522-4741.

If you or anyone else is injured, the first thing you should do is call 911. Give the operator as many details as you can about your location and the injuries. While you wait for the police and ambulance to arrive, get as much information as you can about the driver involved, the involved company's information, and names and contact information of any witnesses.

Yes, but limit your discussion to the facts of the accident. Avoid making accusations and assigning or accepting blame.

Take pictures of the scene, yourself and your passengers immediately if possible; take more a few days later when bruising and other injuries become more evident. Also ask the police if it is possible to request a copy of the driver's log. Commercial truck drivers are only allowed to drive a certain number of hours per day. If it can be established that the driver's log was properly kept, it is a vital piece of evidence in establishing whether a violation of the law contributed to the accident.

It is a good idea to contact your insurance company as soon as possible following the accident. Just as with the police, it is wise to limit your discussion to the facts of the accident.

It is best to report the accident even if you were not at fault, particularly if you have coverage that pays up-front medical or property damage related costs.

Not without at least speaking to an attorney first. Insurance adjusters are trained to notice things people ordinarily wouldn't think about, and may be skilled in twisting words around in ways you would never have imagined. Communications with the fault party's insurance should be left to an experienced personal injury attorney whenever possible.

No. Always consult an experienced personal injury attorney before releasing any medical information to the other driver's insurance company. Putting your medical history in the hands of the adjuster without consulting an attorney first could jeopardize your claim.

Anyone who has been in an accident should consider seeing a doctor to make sure that they have no hidden injuries. Additionally many common injuries associated with car accidents may not be felt for a day or two. When you see the doctor, make sure to mention any injuries or symptoms arising from the accident, even if they seem minor.

Initial consultations at the Grega Law Group are always free. For an initial consultation and review of the facts surrounding your case, please call us at (206) 522-4741.

In most cases a representative from the transit authority will contact you to request an interview. Before you grant such an interview, it is a good idea to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney.

In Washington State, every corner is considered a cross walk even if there are no crosswalk lines painted. If you are standing in the crosswalk, drivers are required to yield to you. However, if you are at a crosswalk with pedestrian signals, you must obey them.

Initial consultations at the Grega Law Group are always free. For an initial consultation and review of the facts surrounding your case, please call us at (206) 522-4741.

A wrongful death occurs when someone dies as the result of negligence, a defective product or a deliberate act.

Wrongful death is a civil claim brought by the loved ones of the decedent for monetary damages to compensate them for the decedent's passing. Murder is a criminal charge filed by the government to punish the person responsible for the decedent's death and protect society. Standards of proof are very different in civil and criminal cases; a person can be held responsible for the death of another civilly even if the act was not intentional or there is not enough evidence to convict in a criminal action.

This varies considerably depending on the circumstances. Generally you can expect to recover the medical costs incurred before the death, funeral and burial costs, and loss of income and benefits that the deceased would have been expected to earn during the remainder of the person's expected lifespan. You may also be able to recover damages for pain, suffering, mental anguish and loss of consortium.

Typically in employment related deaths that occur in Washington, the family's only recourse is through worker's compensation laws. However, if it can be proven that someone other than the employer was at fault for the death, the family may proceed with a claim against that person or business.

In Washington, you generally have three years to file a wrongful death claim that arose from another party's negligence. However in certain circumstances the amount of time may be longer or shorter. If you have lost a loved one because of the negligent or intentional actions of another person, it is important you contact an experienced attorney immediately to protect your rights.

Initial consultations at the Grega Law Group are always free. For an initial consultation and review of the facts surrounding your case, please call us at (206) 522-4741.

If the other party's insurance company accepts liability, they will pay for the damage to your car. However if the damage is severe and the driver's policy limits are only the state required minimum, the claim may become more complicated, particularly if you have rental car expenses or a claim for the loss of use of your own vehicle.

No. You have the right to get your car repaired by any shop you wish. Do not let the insurance company pressure you into going to any body shop other than the one you choose.

In most cases, no! Many insurance adjusters will send someone to inspect your damages and then use a computer program to predict the cost of your repairs and make you an offer on the spot. Frequently, people who accept this offer find out that it is impossible to get a body shop to do the repairs for that amount or that the damage is far more extensive than the adjuster was able to see. If you accept the adjuster's offer and then find out the damage will cost more to fix, you will have to pay the rest out of pocket.