1. Gilbert Law Firm, P.S.
Focus Area: Personal injury litigation with emphasis on catastrophic injuries, civil rights violations, and medical malpractice
Practice Areas: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, brain injuries, medical malpractice, civil rights violations, wrongful death
Background: The firm is led by Bill Gilbert, an attorney raised in Montana who built a practice focused on representing individuals against corporate and institutional defendants. The firm has handled landmark cases that resulted in changes to laws and held powerful entities accountable. The practice serves clients throughout Eastern Washington from its Spokane office.
Location: 108 N Washington St #500, Spokane, WA 99201
Contact: (509) 385-0405 | https://wagilbert.com/
Consultation: Free case evaluation with personalized approach to each client
2. Russell & Hill Injury & Accident Attorneys
Focus Area: Personal injury representation with expertise in Washington state laws and aggressive insurance negotiation
Practice Areas: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents, slip and falls, wrongful death, catastrophic injuries
Background: The firm serves clients throughout Washington State and has extensive experience with Spokane-area cases. Attorneys understand local court procedures, judicial tendencies, and insurance company practices specific to Eastern Washington. The practice emphasizes thorough documentation and medical evaluation to establish documented links between accidents and injuries.
Location: 1621 W Mallon Ave, Spokane, WA 99201
Contact: (509) 593-2100 | https://russellandhill.com/areas-we-serve/spokane/personal-injury-lawyer/
Consultation: Free case evaluation available with contingency fee representation
3. The Advocates Injury Attorneys
Focus Area: Personal injury cases throughout Washington and Oregon with emphasis on full compensation recovery
Practice Areas: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, dog bites, slip and falls, wrongful death
Background: The firm was founded in 1992 and has helped thousands of accident victims throughout Washington State. Attorneys are familiar with local courts, insurance adjusters, and medical providers in the Spokane area. The firm prepares cases for trial when insurance companies refuse to negotiate in good faith.
Location: 1111 N Post St, Spokane, WA 99201
Contact: (509) 315-8955 | https://www.advocateslaw.com/spokane/
Consultation: Free consultation available without requiring office visit
4. Maurer Law
Focus Area: Personal injury representation with over a decade of litigation experience in Spokane and Eastern Washington
Practice Areas: Car accidents, motorcycle accidents, public transport injuries, construction site incidents, civil rights cases, medical malpractice, wrongful death
Background: Joshua Maurer was born in Ellensburg, Washington, graduated from law school, and settled in Spokane where he is active in the community. The firm has over a decade of experience litigating personal injury claims including complex cases involving employment law and criminal defense matters.
Location: 521 W 1st Ave #102, Spokane, WA 99201
Contact: (509) 838-9111 | https://personalinjurylawyer-spokane.com/
Consultation: Free case evaluation with trial-ready approach to each case
5. Albrecht Law
Focus Area: Personal injury cases with academic and practical experience serving Spokane Valley and Eastern Washington
Practice Areas: Car accidents, motorcycle accidents, truck accidents, wrongful death, personal injury claims
Background: The firm brings a blend of academic and practical experience to each case and maintains a limited caseload to provide personalized attention. Attorneys serve clients throughout Spokane Valley, Cheney, and Spokane County. The practice includes a satisfaction guarantee allowing clients to discontinue representation within 14 days without charges.
Location: 12921 E Sprague Ave, Spokane Valley, WA 99216
Contact: (509) 495-1246 | https://albrechtlawfirm.com/
Consultation: Free case evaluation with limited case acceptance to ensure quality representation
Personal Injury Laws in Washington
Statute of Limitations
Washington provides a three-year statute of limitations for most personal injury claims under Revised Code of Washington Section 4.16.080. The deadline typically begins on the date of injury and applies to cases involving motor vehicle accidents, premises liability, slip and falls, and general negligence. Missing this deadline results in permanent loss of the right to seek compensation.
Wrongful death claims must also be filed within three years from the date of death. Intentional torts such as assault and battery have a shorter two-year statute of limitations under RCW Section 4.16.100.
Special rules apply to medical malpractice cases. The statute of limitations is three years from the negligent act or one year from discovery of the injury, whichever comes later. An eight-year statute of repose sets an absolute deadline for medical malpractice claims regardless of when the injury was discovered.
For claims against minors, the three-year period does not begin until the injured child turns 18. If the injured party was mentally incapacitated at the time of injury, the statute of limitations may be tolled until capacity is restored.
Claims against government entities require filing a notice of claim before any lawsuit can proceed. After submitting the required notice, claimants must wait 60 days before filing suit under the Washington State Tort Claims Act.
Negligence Rules
Washington follows a pure comparative negligence system under Revised Code of Washington Section 4.22.005. This rule allows injured parties to recover damages even if they bear substantial fault for the accident. The compensation is reduced by the injured party’s percentage of responsibility.
For example, if damages total $100,000 and the injured person is found 40 percent at fault, they would receive $60,000. Unlike states with modified comparative negligence rules, Washington does not bar recovery when the injured party is more than 50 percent responsible. Even a person found 99 percent at fault can recover one percent of their damages.
This pure comparative fault rule applies in all personal injury cases including motor vehicle accidents, premises liability, and product liability claims. Insurance companies and defendants may still attempt to assign fault to reduce the compensation owed.
Damage Caps
Washington does not impose caps on economic or noneconomic damages in personal injury cases. Injured parties can recover full compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life without statutory limits.
Previous attempts by the Washington Legislature to impose damage caps were struck down as unconstitutional violations of the state constitution. This means there is no limit on how much compensation a plaintiff can receive in personal injury cases.
Washington does not allow punitive damages in most civil cases. Unlike many states, punitive damages intended to punish defendants for extreme misconduct are generally not available in Washington personal injury actions.
Auto Insurance Requirements
Washington requires all drivers to carry liability insurance with minimum coverage limits of 25/50/10 under the Revised Code of Washington Title 46. This means $25,000 for bodily injury per person, $50,000 for bodily injury per accident, and $10,000 for property damage per accident.
Washington operates as an at-fault state. The driver responsible for causing an accident bears financial liability for resulting damages. Injured parties can file claims against the at-fault driver’s insurance or pursue a personal injury lawsuit.
Driving without required insurance can result in fines of $550 or more. If an uninsured driver causes an accident involving injury or property damage exceeding $1,000, their license may be suspended for up to three years.
Insurance companies must offer personal injury protection and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, though drivers may reject these coverages. Personal injury protection covers medical expenses and lost wages regardless of fault. Uninsured motorist coverage protects against accidents with drivers who lack insurance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Washington’s pure comparative negligence rule benefit accident victims in Spokane?
Washington’s pure comparative negligence system allows you to recover damages even if you were substantially at fault for the accident. Your compensation is reduced by your percentage of responsibility, but you are not barred from recovery entirely. For example, if you are found 60 percent at fault and your damages total $100,000, you would still receive $40,000. This differs from many states where being more than 50 percent at fault bars all recovery. This rule ensures that even partially responsible victims can receive some compensation for their injuries.
What is the deadline to file a personal injury lawsuit in Washington State?
Washington provides three years from the date of injury to file most personal injury lawsuits. This deadline applies to car accidents, slip and falls, and general negligence claims. Intentional torts such as assault have a shorter two-year deadline. Medical malpractice cases allow three years from the negligent act or one year from discovery, whichever is later, with an eight-year absolute limit. Claims against government entities require filing a notice of claim first and then waiting 60 days before filing suit.
Are there damage caps on personal injury awards in Washington?
No, Washington does not impose statutory caps on economic or noneconomic damages in personal injury cases. You can recover full compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other losses without arbitrary limits. Washington courts have struck down previous legislative attempts to cap damages as unconstitutional. However, Washington generally does not allow punitive damages in civil cases, meaning compensation is limited to actual damages rather than amounts intended to punish defendants.
What should I do if I was injured by an uninsured driver in Spokane?
If you carry uninsured motorist coverage on your own policy, you can file a claim for damages up to your coverage limits. Washington law requires insurers to offer this coverage, though you may have rejected it. Without uninsured motorist coverage, you may need to pursue the driver personally for damages through a lawsuit, though recovery depends on whether they have assets. Washington takes uninsured driving seriously, and uninsured drivers involved in accidents causing injury or significant property damage may face license suspension for up to three years.
What compensation can I recover in a Washington personal injury case?
Washington allows recovery of economic damages including medical expenses, future medical care, lost wages, lost earning capacity, and property damage. You can also recover noneconomic damages for pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and physical impairment. Washington does not cap these damages, so compensation reflects the actual impact of your injuries. However, Washington generally does not award punitive damages, and your compensation may be reduced by your percentage of fault under the pure comparative negligence rule.