A car accident can be a deeply traumatic experience. In a moment, something that was an accepted, everyday part of your life can become a cause of injury and loss. You may be replaying the accident in your mind, wondering what you could have done differently – and wondering what you can do next.
We know what you're going through. Spokane car accident attorney Richard E. Lewis has been representing people hurt in car wrecks for decades. We'll listen to your story and handle your legal case so that you can focus on what's most important: getting better.
We can help you recover financial compensation after all types of accidents, including:
Auto accidents happen many different ways. Some of the most common causes of car accidents include:
Accidents can cause all sorts of severe injuries that can leave you unable to work or care for loved ones. Your recovery might take weeks, months or years. To an insurance company, though, you may be treated as an opportunity to save money, not a person in need of help. Insurers are always looking for ways to cut their own expenses, and they have adjusters and attorneys on their side to reduce or deny your claim.
Attorney Lewis handles all sorts of car accident claims, including bicycle accidents, pedestrian accidents and more. He has extensive experience dealing with insurance companies, and he's prepared to share his experience with you. See our car accident FAQ page for more information.
With an experienced advocate on your side, you can rest assured that your interests are being well represented. Richard E. Lewis has handled hundreds of cases involving car accidents in Spokane and throughout eastern Washington. The insurance companies know him - and they know how hard he fights for the people he represents.
Take action right away. Contact us to see how we can help you move on after your accident. Call 509-413-1278 for your free case evaluation.
Rear-end collisions are common in traffic on highways such as I-90 as well as busy streets in downtown Spokane. Texting and distracted drivers often cause rear-end collisions, as they're not always paying attention to the vehicles in front of them. Another common location for rear-end accidents is at crosswalks: One car stops to yield to a pedestrian, but the driver behind doesn't see the pedestrian and rear-ends the car in front.
While rear-end accidents may seem straightforward - after all, a motorist who rear-ends another car is automatically liable - legal cases involving them can be anything but simple. The insurance company may refuse to pay your bills and dispute your injuries. That's why you need an experienced attorney on your side.
Most head-on collisions involve drunk or asleep-at-the-wheel drivers, but a number of other factors can also come into play, such as distracted driving and mechanical issues with the steering. Unfortunately, head-on crashes are some of the deadliest accidents. Because of the sheer amount of force involved when two cars collide head-on, serious injuries and fatalities are common.
Head-on collisions are always serious accidents, and those accidents demand serious representation. Richard E. Lewis is an experienced, compassionate attorney who understands just how devastating head-on collisions can be. Whether you're fighting for compensation for your own injuries or for a loved one who was injured or killed, he'll be with you every step of the way.
A "T-bone" accident, more formerly known as a side-impact collision, happens when the front of one car strikes the side of another. These broadside accidents most often happen at intersections. For instance, you might have been T-boned when another driver ran a red light while you were legally crossing an intersection with a green light, or you may have hit another car when its driver failed to yield and made an unprotected turn.
Side-impact collisions are uniquely dangerous because there is very little protection - just a door and a window - between the driver or passenger and the other vehicle, compared to the several feet of steel involved in front or rear accidents. Because of the circumstances involved in intersection accidents, either driver might be considered at fault. That's why, if you've been hurt in such a collision, you need a veteran attorney on your side, protecting your rights.
In the state of Washington, it's illegal to leave the scene of an accident without stopping to exchange insurance information with the other drivers involved. There's never a good reason to hit and run, but some drivers do it anyway. They may be driving drunk or involved in some other illegal activity, or they may be afraid of being found at fault for the accident.
After a hit-and-run crash, you may not know what to do. That's why you need us on your side to explore your legal options. If the driver who hit you can't be found, you may be able to recover damages from your own insurance through your personal injury protection or uninsured motorist coverage - after all, a driver they can't find is uninsured by default. The other driver may have left you at the scene, but we'll be right by your side from start to finish.
Uninsured or Underinsured Driver Accidents
While Washington requires all drivers to have insurance, many ignore the laws - nearly one in six motorists in our state is driving without insurance. Even drivers who have insurance don't always have enough coverage to pay for all of your losses. That means that if you're involved in an accident, the other motorist's insurance policy may not provide the compensation you need.
Accidents involving uninsured or underinsured drivers can lead to difficult legal cases. You may be able to get compensation from your own insurance through your uninsured or underinsured motorist protection, if you have it. You may also be able to sue the other driver directly. Either way, you need an attorney with experience handling these types of cases on your side. You need Richard E. Lewis.
In recent years, texting and driving has become an increasingly common cause of car accidents. Texting drivers often cause rear-end collisions as well as motorcycle, pedestrian and bicycle accidents. That’s because texting drivers don’t have enough time to react to other vehicles or people around them.
Using a cellphone without a hands-free device while driving is illegal in Washington. Even so, some drivers ignore those laws and cause serious accidents. Drivers who break the law are responsible for the injuries they cause. If you were hurt by a texting driver, contact Richard E. Lewis today.
Drunk driving remains a leading cause of accidents and especially fatalities in Washington, even after decades of awareness campaigns. That’s because drunk drivers often react slowly while driving and don’t stop or slow down in time, resulting in a serious accident.
The drunk driver who hurt you had a choice – and chose to drive while intoxicated and put other motorists at risk. You have a choice, too. Contact Richard E. Lewis, P.S. to protect your legal rights. We have years of experience investigating drunk driving accidents throughout Washington.
Cellphone use is a common cause of distracted driving, but it's not the only one. Another motorist may have hit you while adjusting the radio, eating or talking to a passenger instead of paying attention to the road.
Distracted driving often results in serious accidents since the driver often isn’t even aware they are about to hit another car. As a result, distracted drivers often crash at high speeds into other vehicles. You shouldn't have to pay for injuries caused by someone else's irresponsible driving. Reach out to attorney Richard E. Lewis today.
Following too closely is a leading cause of rear-end collisions in Washington. Every driver has a responsibility to maintain a safe following distance, and aggressive drivers put others at risk. That’s especially true if a driver is following too closely on a highway and causes a high-speed crash.
If another driver hit you from behind because he or she was following too closely, you likely have a case. Contact us right away. We can discuss the details of your case with you and explain all your available legal options. Remember, you didn’t do anything wrong. The tailgating driver is to blame.
High-speed accidents can cause severe injuries because of the amount of force involved. While it's understandable that some motorists want to get where they're going as fast as possible, being in a hurry is never worth the amount of risk speeding poses to other motorists.
High-speed accidents often result in serious injuries or even fatalities. That’s because the force of a speeding vehicle crashing into another car often causes serious injuries and significant damage. You'll need to move quickly to build your case, and we'll get started right away to help.
With people working more hours than ever, falling asleep at the wheel is an unfortunately a common occurrence. We're sympathetic to drowsy drivers, but at the same time, they always have the option of pulling over to rest or stopping for an energy drink. They choose to put others at risk, and we'll help you hold them accountable for their actions.
Investigating asleep at the wheel accidents can be complicated. That’s because the driver who fell asleep will likely deny doing so. But the evidence doesn’t lie. Sleeping drivers often don’t slow down before a crash. As a result, there won’t be any skid marks on the road. We know how to look for such evidence and other details to build a strong, legal case.
Not every accident is caused by a driver's error. Sometimes, mechanical failure can lead to a collision. We'll help you pursue a claim against the responsible party for your accident, whether it's a vehicle owner, a manufacturer or even a mechanic. Richard E. Lewis has the experience needed to help you build a legal strategy to handle a complex case.
And even if a defect clearly caused your crash, don’t simply assume you will automatically be fairly compensated for your crash. In most cases, companies will wage a vigorous legal battle to defend their interests. That’s why you need us on your side, defending your rights and demanding the financial compensation you rightfully deserve for your crash.
421 W Riverside Ave.
Suite 512
Spokane, WA 99201
(located in the Paulsen Center)