Suppose you got a little distracted while driving because of a phone call that led to a car accident. Upon investigation, it was found that the other party was driving under the influence. What would happen in this case, will you be able to file a lawsuit against the other party given that you were also partly responsible for the accident? The answer is yes, you can still file a lawsuit. But the amount you will receive as compensation will depend on how responsible you are. If you are in a similar situation in Tacoma, you should get in touch with a personal injury lawyer for car accidents.
What is comparative negligence?
In case there was an accident and both parties were partly responsible for the accident, it will come under comparative negligence. The compensation a party can receive will also depend on the percentage of their responsibility. Suppose you were 20 percent responsible for the accident, in that case, you will be able to recover 80 percent of the amount you could have gotten had the other party been fully responsible.
While it all sounds very simple, determining who was more responsible for the accident is a difficult task, more so if you are representing yourself in court. Without the help of a competent lawyer by your side, it would be difficult to maintain in front of a jury that you were not as responsible as the other party. Moreover, if the other party has a lawyer, they will do everything in their power to shift the blame for the accident.
In terms of how much money you can claim for the damages, it is pretty much the same as any other accident claim. You will be able to claim both economic and noneconomic damages based on the nature and severity of the injuries and damages you sustained. If you are not able to pinpoint exactly how much you should claim, a car accident lawyer in Tacoma will be able to help out with coming up with the numbers.
Final thoughts:
We understand how confusing the entire situation might be for you, not knowing what to do next. But there is no need to worry, if something like that is already happening to you, you do not have to fight the battle alone. Get in touch with a skilled lawyer near you in Tacoma for help.
