Yakima Car
Accident Lawyer

Car accidents occur all too frequently. In fact, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation and its Crash Data Portal, more than 82,000 automobile accidents occurred in the state in 2020. If you or a loved one has been in a car accident where someone else was at fault, you are likely upset. The experience can be traumatizing. Additionally, your car may be damaged, you may be unable to work, and you or a loved one may be facing a long hospital stay. Costs to repair or replace your car and regain your health can be considerable. We can help you seek to recover those costs and any other damages to which you are entitled. If you have been in an accident due to someone else’s negligence in Washington, contact our Yakima car accident attorneys today at 509-895-7373. The attorneys at Montoya Hinckley cannot promise that we will win your case or that we will win a particular amount for you in damages. That would be unethical. What we can promise is that we will always fight as hard as we can on your behalf, forcing insurance companies to treat you fairly and with respect. We will seek every dollar we believe you deserve for your injuries. Attorney Kevan Montoya has experience winning cases involving multimillion-dollar damages for personal injury and wrongful death cases. He believes in always doing what is best for our clients, regardless of the amount of time involved. He also believes strongly in the power of preparation when representing car accident victims in negotiations or in court cases. Attorney Tyler Hinckley knows the ins and outs of trying a personal injury case, always working toward a great outcome for you. He knows the importance of communication with our clients. He never wants you to be wondering about the status of your case, and the best way to keep you informed is through regular communication.

OUR YAKIMA CAR ACCIDENT ATTORNEYS HAVE MORE THAN FOUR DECADES OF EXPERIENCE. WE KNOW HOW TO HELP YOU NAVIGATE THE MEDICAL AND CLAIMS PROCESSES THAT INEVITABLY FOLLOW A CAR ACCIDENT.

If you have been injured in an auto accident, it is incredibly important to gain an understanding of your legal options. We have the experience, knowledge, and skill to help determine whether you have a case. If you do, we will use our expertise to get you the compensation you deserve. Contact us today at 509-895-7373 for a free and confidential consultation. After your accident you may wonder if you really do need the assistance of a car accident lawyer, especially if the person you believe was responsible for the crash has auto insurance. After all, isn’t it easier to take their insurance information, contact the agency, and file for reimbursement? Unfortunately, an insurance company is not going to give you fair compensation for your injuries. Once you take the money they offer you and sign a release, you can never request more money later if you discover new injuries. At Montoya Hinckley, our car accident lawyers in Yakima will provide you with:

• Counsel: If you have been involved in a car accident, you will likely have a lot of questions. We can help you with everything, from identifying the correct insurance company, to contact about the crash, to providing advice on how to behave.
• Representation: As your attorney, we will serve as your representative, not only in court but also in communication with all involved parties. We will speak with investigators, attorneys, and insurance companies on your behalf. We are your advocate for the entirety of the process.
• Insight: Often, even with a police report, the facts of a case can be unclear. As car accident lawyers in Yakima, we have a wealth of resources to tap on your behalf. We can engage an investigator if need be. Our car accident attorney will even review all your medical records to make sure the amount we attempt to recover on your behalf encompasses everything, including pain and suffering.
• Negotiation: A significant number of car accident cases settle before they ever get to court. That said, you want an experienced negotiator to handle the process on your behalf. Montoya Hinckley attorneys are highly skilled negotiators and will do everything we can to provide the best possible outcome for you. Should we fail to reach an agreement with the other party, we will represent you at trial, making the strongest possible case for compensation.

With more than 40 years of combined experience, we are ready to go to work for you today.

IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS REGARDING WHAT OUR YAKIMA CAR ACCIDENT LAWYER CAN HANDLE ON YOUR BEHALF, GIVE OUR OFFICE A CALL AT 509-895-7373.

GET YOUR FREE CONSULT Whether your car accident case will be successful depends on what happened, your injuries, and who is deemed responsible. If you are in a multi-car accident and one of the other drivers was not taking reasonable care when driving (and you can prove it), you may have a case. Examples of not taking reasonable care can include:

• Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Texting or talking on the phone while driving
• Speeding or violating other traffic laws
• Not paying attention
• Driving while fatigued and falling asleep.

Additionally, after injuries in a single-car accident, you may still be eligible for compensation. Understand, though, that if you are looking to file a personal injury claim, your injuries must be a direct result of the accident. Consulting with a Washington personal injury lawyer can provide you with expert guidance on how to proceed with your claim.

RATHER THAN WONDER WHETHER OR NOT YOU HAVE A CASE, COUNT ON OUR EXPERTISE AND EXPERIENCE. TALK TO OUR CAR ACCIDENT LAWYER TODAY AND FIND OUT.

CALL US AT 509-895-7373.

Understanding what you should and should not do if you are in an auto accident is important to your chance of recovering full compensation for your injuries. What seems like it should be common sense can be confusing, especially to someone who recently experienced the trauma that often results from a car accident. Our car accident attorney will share with you some very specific guidelines. We recommend having underinsured/uninsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage on your vehicles, because so many people who are driving do not have insurance or do not have adequate insurance to pay you for damages, even though they have liability for causing the accident. As we meet with our various clients, we receive several questions repeatedly. This is understandable, as we deal with the aftermath of car crashes every day, while victims of these crashes hopefully only have to go through this once in their lives. Here are some common questions we receive. Once you choose to hire our Yakima car accident attorneys to represent you, trust that we will spend whatever time we require to investigate your case and to explain your options. You and our team will work closely together to formulate a strategy and to carry it through, always working toward the best possible outcome. There are several things you should do if you are in a car accident. They include:

• Contact Law Enforcement: As soon as you are able, call the police to report the accident. They will come to your location to see what happened. Their report plays an important role in any lawsuit you may file.
• Seek Medical Attention: If you are injured, you should visit your doctor or the hospital as quickly as possible after the accident. Often, motorists leave the crash believing they are fine. But days later, they recognize that they were injured. The shock of being in a car accident can cause a rush in adrenaline that blocks pain, and you may not realize that you are hurt. Additionally, other injuries – like a sore back — can creep up in the days following an accident. You may feel worse days later than you did immediately after impact.
• Listen to Your Doctors: Make sure you take the advice of your doctors and medical personnel. Heed their recommendations. If physical therapy is recommended, attend all sessions prescribed. Do not miss follow-up appointments. Your activity must be consistent with the injuries you claim in order to maximize your damages.
• Contact Our Yakima Car Accident Lawyer: As soon as possible after the accident, contact us at 509-895-7373. We can help determine whether your personal injury case will be valid and, if so, assist you in managing the process. We advise our clients to not speak with anyone regarding the accident. Allow us to communicate on your behalf. Conversations with insurance adjusters and other attorneys should be avoided without having counsel present on your behalf. It is critical to understand that insurance companies may try to use anything you say against you when determining the financial offer they will make. The insurance companies are not trying to help you — they are protecting themselves and their assets.

Additionally, our Yakima car accident lawyer always tells our clients, “Don’t post on social media.” We know this is difficult. Sometimes a Facebook or Instagram post is the simplest way to let your friends and family know what happened and that you are safe. However, everything that you post is subject to scrutiny. Even innocent comments and photos can be used against you. For example, if you were hurt in the accident, and later post photos enjoying dinner at a restaurant or playing with the kids, the severity of your injuries and your pain can be in question. While you may think you can censor yourself and only post appropriate content, the risk is not worth the reward. Just stop sharing. The underlying causes of auto accidents are numerous and varied. They include, but are not limited to:

• Reckless driving
• Drunk driving or driving under the influence of drugs
• Texting and driving
• Defective automobiles
• Improper car maintenance
• Inclement weather conditions
• Tired drivers
• Inattention.

Your accident may have been the result of any one of these, or even a combination of them. Negligent actions can trace back to multiple people/organizations. Causation is not always clear. Our team can examine all the details of your case to determine what compensation you should seek after your car accident. Nearly every potential client we speak with eventually asks us a question about what they will receive financially. The answer to this question differs in each case, depending upon the circumstances of the accident. Generally, areas where you may be able to receive compensation include:

• Property damage and loss
• Medical expenses
• Wage loss
• Emotional distress
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of enjoyment of life.

We will fight for your rights to fair compensation from all liable parties and all insurance companies. And we will leverage our knowledge of the law and our understanding of your case to determine whether going to trial would benefit you. We are aware of the minimum liability insurance coverage laws in Washington as well as regulations surrounding uninsured and underinsured motorists and the contributory fault law. We will take all of this into account when advising you. If going to trial is the best course of action, we will represent you in court. Our attorneys will help you hold the liable party accountable and take all the necessary steps for you to recover damages to pay all your expenses and to reimburse you for any reduction in your quality of life going forward.