Spokane Car Accident Lawyer Pat Fannin and the legal team at Fannin Litigation Group help crash victims seek full payment for medical debts and lost income after severe collisions on Eastern Washington roadways.
When a reckless driver causes a wreck on Interstate 90 or along Division Street, you need a Spokane car accident lawyer who understands local courts and knows how insurance adjusters evaluate claims. Fannin Litigation Group offers a free case evaluation to discuss your options; call our office today at 509-328-8204.
How Do You Know If You Need a Spokane Car Accident Attorney?
You need a Spokane car accident attorney when an insurance company delays your claim, blames you for the collision, or offers a cash settlement that fails to pay your full recovery expenses.
Insurance companies train adjusters to minimize payouts to protect their profits. An attorney steps in to handle all communication, investigate the crash scene, and calculate the true monetary value of your losses.
Insurance Companies Don’t Always Play Fair
Sometimes, crash victims think they can talk directly to an insurance adjuster and receive a fair deal. Adjusters often ask for recorded statements early in the process. They use your words against you later to lower the value of your case. Working with a skilled attorney ensures someone protects your interests from day one while you focus on your physical recovery.
What Our Clients Say
Clients frequently tell us how much relief they feel after turning their cases over to our office. As J.F. shared after calling our office:
“I spoke with Pat about my traffic accident. He directed me on what to do and gave me tons of information regarding how to handle my insurance claim. Extremely knowledgeable and I will definitely be recommending him in the future. I had no idea what to do and he gave me a sense of relief. Thank you, Pat!” – J.F.
Another client, C.M., noted a similar experience with our firm:
“I called and talked to Pat. He really helped alot. He’s very knowledgeable and very easy to talk to, and really takes the time to listen and help. I would definitely recommend him. Thank you Pat.” – C.M.
Collisions bring heavy costs that build up quickly. Between doctor bills, missed paychecks, and vehicle repairs, your family faces sudden financial stress.
Experience and Honors
Pat Fannin brings more than 27 years of legal experience to your claim. Recognized as a Super Lawyer for multiple years and named a Rising Star by Washington Law & Politics Magazine, he offers knowledgeable guidance to help you recover your losses.
What Steps Should You Take Immediately After a Wreck in Spokane?
You should immediately pull over to a safe area, check everyone for injuries, and call 911 to request police and emergency medical assistance at the scene.
Secure the Scene and Call for Help
- Stay at the scene: Never leave the area of a collision, as doing so can result in serious legal penalties.
- Contact authorities: Request Spokane police or Washington State Patrol to create an official accident report.
- Seek medical treatment: Allow paramedics to evaluate you, and visit an urgent care or emergency room even if your injuries seem minor.
Collect Critical Evidence
- Document details: Take clear photographs of vehicle damage, license plates, skid marks, road hazards, and visible physical injuries.
- Exchange information: Obtain the other driver’s full name, contact details, driver’s license number, and auto insurance policy information.
- Identify witnesses: Gather names and phone numbers from anyone who saw the crash unfold.
Protect Your Rights
- Watch your words: Avoid apologizing or discussing fault with the other driver, bystanders, or responding officers.
- Notify your insurer: Report the crash to your insurance carrier promptly, but decline to give recorded statements to the opposing party’s adjuster before seeking legal guidance.
How Does Washington Law Handle Fault and Liability in Vehicle Collisions?
Washington law uses a pure comparative negligence standard to divide financial responsibility among drivers in a collision. This system allows you to seek financial compensation even if your own actions contributed to the crash. A court simply reduces your final recovery amount by your assigned percentage of fault.
For instance, if a judge or jury determines your total damages equal $100,000, but finds you 10% responsible because you were driving slightly over the speed limit, you still collect $90,000.
Insurance adjusters attempt to assign high fault percentages to injured victims to cut their company’s payout obligations. Pat Fannin gathers traffic camera footage, police report data, and expert crash reconstructions to limit any unfair blame placed on you.
Why Are Spokane Roads Particularly Hazardous for Drivers?
Spokane roadways present unique driving risks due to seasonal weather patterns, heavy freight traffic, and changing urban infrastructure. Winter freezing cycles create dangerous black ice along the I-90 corridor and over the Monroe Street Bridge. Rapid snow accumulation frequently leads to multi-car pileups on steep inclines like Freya Street and South Hill corridors.
Summer brings increased construction delays and heavy tourist traffic through downtown Spokane. Drivers unfamiliar with local street patterns often make sudden lane changes or ignore posted signal lights. Distracted driving along commercial routes like Wellesley Avenue and Sprague Avenue causes frequent rear-end collisions.
Our firm understands these local traffic points and uses that local context when building your claim.
What Types of Damages Can You Recover After an Auto Wreck?
You can recover both economic and non-economic damages to pay for every physical, emotional, and financial loss tied to your collision.
Economic Damages
These compensate you for direct, measurable out-of-pocket expenses resulting from the accident:
- Current emergency treatment, hospital bills, and ongoing rehabilitation
- Future medical care expenses and prescription costs
- Lost wages from missed work and reduced future earning capacity
- Vehicle repair bills or total loss vehicle replacement
Non-Economic Damages
These address the personal, non-financial impact the crash has on your life:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress and anxiety
- Loss of enjoyment of life and daily activities
- Permanent disability, physical impairment, or scarring
Take Action Today
Holding the negligent driver accountable is essential for your recovery. Contact Fannin Litigation Group today at 509-328-8204 to schedule your free case evaluation and protect your rights.
How Do Insurance Companies Try to Reduce Your Recovery Amount?
Insurance carriers lower settlement payouts by contacting injured people quickly before the full cost of medical treatment is known. Adjusters offer small cash settlements early to close claims permanently. If you accept a quick offer, you sign away your right to demand additional funds if you later require unexpected surgery or physical therapy.
Insurance adjusters also search social media accounts for pictures or statements they can use to claim your physical injuries are exaggerated. Sometimes, they delay processing your paperwork for months, hoping financial pressures force you to accept a low settlement. Pat Fannin steps between you and the insurance adjuster to stop these aggressive tactics and keep your claim moving forward.
What Role Does Personal Injury Protection Play in Washington Claims?
Personal Injury Protection, often called PIP, provides quick financial coverage for medical treatments and lost earnings after a crash. Washington state law requires auto insurance companies to offer PIP coverage on all personal vehicle policies unless the policyholder rejects it in writing.
PIP pays your immediate healthcare bills regardless of who caused the auto crash. This coverage ensures medical providers treat your injuries without waiting for an adjuster to assign fault.
Once your case resolves, your PIP carrier may seek reimbursement from the at-fault driver’s insurance provider through subrogation. Our legal team manages these subrogation liens so you retain the maximum possible share of your final recovery settlement.
How Long Do You Have to File a Legal Claim in Washington?
Washington state imposes a strict three-year statute of limitations on personal injury and property damage lawsuits arising from a car collision. This legal clock starts running on the exact day your crash occurs. Missing this statutory deadline forever bars you from seeking financial recovery in a Washington court.
Sometimes, shorter deadlines apply to your claim. If your collision involved a government agency, such as a Spokane Transit Authority bus or a city road maintenance crew, you must file a formal administrative tort claim notice before filing a lawsuit in court. These municipal claim rules carry brief notice windows, making prompt action necessary to preserve your legal rights.
How Much Does It Cost to Retain an Auto Accident Attorney in Spokane?
You pay no upfront legal fees when you retain an auto accident attorney in Spokane through Fannin Litigation Group We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning our law firm only collects payment if we secure a financial settlement or court jury verdict for you.
Our legal fee is a pre-agreed percentage of the total money recovered on your behalf. We also advance the necessary case expenses, such as paying for official accident report fees, obtaining certified medical records, and hiring expert witnesses. You face no out-of-pocket costs while we build and present your claim.
What Types of Crashes Does Fannin Litigation Group Handle?
Our firm handles a wide array of motor vehicle collision claims across Eastern Washington. Every type of crash involves distinct physical impact dynamics and unique evidentiary questions:
- Rear-end crashes caused by tailgating, sudden stops, or distracted driving.
- T-bone collisions at intersections resulting from drivers running red lights or stop signs.
- Head-on collisions caused by wrong-way travel or lane drift on rural roads.
- Multi-vehicle pileups on freeway corridors involving complex liability disputes.
- Rideshare accidents involving Uber or Lyft drivers and layered insurance coverage.
- Pedestrian and bicycle collisions causing severe physical harm.
Our legal team investigates the specific facts of your collision to establish clear proof of negligence. We use a focused strategy to hold negligent drivers accountable for their actions.
Frequently Asked Questions About Car Accident Claims in Spokane
What should I do if the driver who hit me does not have auto insurance?
You can file a claim through your own Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage if you carry that option on your policy. UM/UIM insurance covers your medical bills and lost earnings when an uninsured driver causes a crash or leaves the scene in a hit-and-run incident.
Our firm helps you present a claim to your own insurer to secure the coverage you paid for.
How is the monetary value of my injury claim calculated?
Your claim value depends on total medical costs, lost income, long-term care requirements, and the severity of your physical pain and life disruptions. Strong evidence like doctor notes, pay stubs, and testimony regarding your daily physical limitations establishes the full value of your damages.
Will my auto accident claim go to trial in a Spokane court?
Most motor vehicle injury claims settle out of court through negotiation or mediation before trial proceedings begin. However, if the insurance carrier refuses to pay a fair settlement amount, Pat Fannin prepares your case to go before a local jury to pursue full payment.
Can I still recover money if I was partially at fault for the crash?
Yes, Washington follows pure comparative fault rules that allow you to collect money even if your choices contributed to the wreck. Your cash settlement simply drops by the exact percentage of fault assigned to you by an adjuster or court.
How long does it take to settle a car accident case in Washington?
Simple injury claims may resolve within a few months after your medical treatment concludes. Complex cases involving severe injuries, contested liability, or multiple parties often take a year or longer to reach a complete resolution.
Contact Fannin Litigation Group Today
If you or a family member suffered physical injuries or lost a loved one in a collision caused by another driver’s bad actions, contact Fannin Litigation Group today. Pat Fannin stands ready to evaluate your situation, explain your legal options, and pursue full compensation for your injuries and financial losses.
Call our office today at 509-328-8204 to schedule your free, no-obligation case evaluation.
Fannin Litigation Group, P.S. – Spokane office Location
Address: 1312 N. Monroe Street, Spokane, Washington 99201
Contact No: 509-328-8204
ATTORNEY PATRICK K. FANNIN
Patrick K. Fannin brings a unique combination of legal excellence, practical business experience, and genuine community connection to every case he handles. As the owner of Fannin Litigation Group, he has built a reputation for aggressive advocacy and superior results in complex personal injury matters throughout Washington State and beyond. [ATTORNEY BIO]
If you are hurt, call Patrick immediately. Not only is he an amazing human being, he is an incredible attorney. Patient, tenacious, dedicated, compassionate, knowledgeable and wise… I could go on and on. Pat has helped me win several cases. The most memorable has to be a personal injury case against a major computer retailer. Pat has a way of making you feel like everything is going to be okay, and it will be. He brings peace of mind instantly, and you can feel his honesty and care right away. He is genuine, through and through. And he’s also a fighter, with his biggest weapon being his knowledge of the law and his creative use of it. He will uncover all of the rocks and help you carry them. If you are still considering other attorneys, forget about it. Call Pat. / Brandon Hunter
Our private , small neighborhood was under attack by a malicious and unwarranted lawsuit. We hired Pat Fannin to represent all of us and to settle this case without loosing any of our rights. Mr. Fannin did an outstanding job prioritizing our needs and getting us exactly what we needed. He is extremely personal, prompt and knowledgeable. We can now rest easy in our fabulous neighborhood. Hopefully we will not need his services again, but if we do, we would be honored to hire him again. / Patricia Graham
Pat is the best! Knowledgeable, caring, honest and goes above and beyond to help his clients. At the time I came in, I was like a zombie who thought her life was over due to a car accident. I reached out to other attorneys until my friend recommended Pat. Other attorneys didn't even meet me, they had some assistant fill out a basic form. Pat sat down with me, had compassion for my injury, and walked me through every step. It was his knowledge and guidance that sent me down the path of recovery where I am once again a functional adult with no debt from my accident. Highly recommend!!! / Ted Smith
Recent Blog
Losing a close relative in a motorcycle crash doesn't just leave a hole in your family. It leaves unanswered questions about money, legal rights, and what comes next. A motorcycle wrongful death lawyer in Spokane can help your family hold the at-fault party accountable and recover compensation that reflects the full scope of what you've lost. [read more]
