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Kent Personal Injury Lawyer & Injury Resource Center

If you’ve been injured because of someone else’s negligence, understanding your rights and options can help you make informed decisions about what comes next. Greaney Scudder Law Firm is based in Kent and represents people and families throughout Washington in personal injury and wrongful death matters.
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Serving Kent & Western Washington

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Personal Injury Attorneys

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Free Consultation

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Compassionate & Aggressive Representation

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What Does a Personal Injury Lawyer in Kent Do?

Quick Answer: A personal injury lawyer helps people who have been injured because of another person or company’s negligence understand their legal options and pursue compensation for their losses.

Depending on the case, a personal injury attorney may investigate what happened, gather evidence, determine who may be responsible, communicate with insurance companies, document medical expenses and lost income, negotiate a settlement, and prepare a case for trial when necessary.

Personal injury claims can arise from car and truck accidents, unsafe property conditions, defective products, serious injuries, and other incidents caused by negligence.

If an injury has resulted in significant medical treatment, time away from work, long-term health problems, or a dispute over who was responsible, speaking with an attorney can help you understand your rights and the next steps available to you.

Personal Injury Cases We Handle in Kent

Personal injury cases can arise in many different ways. Greaney Scudder Law Firm represents people and families in Kent and throughout Washington who have been affected by serious accidents, unsafe conditions, defective products, and other forms of negligence.

Car Accidents

Greaney Scudder represents people injured in rear-end collisions, intersection crashes, highway accidents, and other serious car accidents in Kent and throughout Washington.

DUI Accidents

People injured by impaired drivers may face serious injuries, medical expenses, lost income, and other long-term consequences. Our team helps injured people understand their options for pursuing compensation.

Motorcycle & Bicycle Accidents

Motorcyclists and bicyclists can suffer severe injuries when involved in collisions with larger vehicles. These cases may involve significant medical treatment and complicated questions about fault and insurance.

Trucking Accidents

Commercial truck collisions can result in catastrophic injuries and may involve trucking companies, commercial insurers, and multiple potentially responsible parties.

Pedestrian Accidents

Pedestrians have little protection when struck by a vehicle. Greaney Scudder represents people dealing with serious and potentially life-changing injuries after pedestrian collisions.

Ridesharing Accidents

Accidents involving Uber, Lyft, and other rideshare vehicles can involve multiple insurance policies and questions about which coverage applies to an injured person’s claim.

What Should You Do After a Serious Injury?

The steps you take after an accident can affect both your recovery and your ability to document what happened. While every situation is different, a few practical steps can help protect your health and preserve important information.

Get Medical Attention

Seek appropriate medical care for your injuries, even if some symptoms initially seem minor. Certain injuries may become more noticeable in the hours or days following an accident. Follow your medical provider’s recommendations and keep records of your treatment.

Document What Happened

When possible, take photos or videos of the accident scene, your injuries, property damage, unsafe conditions, or anything else that may help show how the incident occurred.

Collect Important Information

Keep the names and contact information of witnesses and others involved. Depending on the incident, there may also be police reports, incident reports, insurance information, surveillance footage, or other records worth preserving.

Keep Track of Your Losses

Save medical bills, receipts, insurance correspondence, information about missed work, and other records related to the injury. These documents can help establish the financial impact the accident has had on you.

Be Careful When Speaking With Insurance Companies

An insurance company may contact you soon after an accident. Avoid guessing about what happened or minimizing your injuries before you understand their extent, and review documents carefully before signing them.

Consider Getting Legal Advice

If you suffered a serious injury, responsibility is disputed, or an insurance company is challenging your claim, a personal injury attorney can help you understand your rights and available options.

pedestrian accident in city
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Understanding a Washington Personal Injury Claim

A personal injury claim generally begins when someone is injured because of another person or company’s negligence. Building a claim involves understanding what happened, identifying who may be responsible, and documenting how the injury has affected your life.

Although every case is different, the process may include:

Investigating What Happened

Evidence such as photographs, video, witness statements, accident or incident reports, medical records, and other documentation can help establish how the injury occurred.

Determining Who May Be Responsible

Depending on the circumstances, responsibility may involve an individual, business, property owner, employer, manufacturer, government entity, or multiple parties.

Documenting Your Injuries and Losses

Medical records, bills, employment information, receipts, and other documentation can help establish the financial and personal impact of an injury.

Identifying Available Insurance Coverage

Insurance coverage can play an important role in a personal injury claim. The type of coverage available depends on how the injury occurred and the parties involved.

Negotiating a Resolution

Once the circumstances of the accident and the extent of the losses are understood, a claim may be presented to the responsible party or insurance company and negotiations may begin.

Filing a Lawsuit When Necessary

Many personal injury claims are resolved without a trial. When a fair resolution cannot be reached, however, filing a lawsuit may be necessary to continue pursuing the claim.

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Common Injuries in Personal Injury Cases

Personal injuries can range from conditions that heal with treatment to life-changing injuries that affect a person’s ability to work, live independently, or participate in everyday activities. Serious injuries may also require ongoing medical care, rehabilitation, and long-term support. Greaney Scudder represents people dealing with a wide range of injuries caused by accidents and negligence.

Traumatic Brain Injuries

Concussions and more serious traumatic brain injuries can affect memory, concentration, behavior, physical abilities, and other aspects of daily life.

Spinal Cord Injuries

Damage to the spinal cord can result in chronic pain, loss of mobility, nerve damage, or paralysis and may require extensive treatment and rehabilitation.

Catastrophic Injuries

Life-changing injuries can create long-term medical, financial, and personal challenges for both the injured person and their family.

Dog Bites & Animal Attacks

Dog bites and animal attacks can cause serious injuries, infections, scarring, and emotional trauma. Learn about liability and the legal options that may be available after an animal attack.

Wrongful Death

When negligence results in the loss of a loved one, surviving family members may have legal options. Learn about wrongful death claims in Washington and the compensation that may be available.

Amputations

The loss of a limb can permanently affect mobility, independence, employment, and future medical needs.
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Meet the Greaney Scudder Personal Injury Team

Based in Kent, Greaney Scudder Law Firm represents injured people and families throughout Washington. Attorneys John J. Greaney and Karen J. Scudder work alongside the firm’s legal team to guide clients through personal injury claims, insurance negotiations, and litigation when necessary. John brings more than 30 years of legal experience, including previous insurance defense work, while Karen has represented injured people for more than two decades with a focus on personal injury and wrongful death.
John Greaney

John J Greaney

Attorney At Law

Karen Scudder

Karen J Scudder

Attorney At Law

La-Shanda Herring

La Shanda Herring

Paralegal

Vida Weekley

Vida Weekley

Paralegal

Alla Chepurchenko

Alla Chepurchenko

Paralegal

Meet the entire Team

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Featured Personal Injury Resources

Learn more about personal injury claims, dealing with insurance companies, recovering compensation, and the legal process after a serious injury. Explore these resources from the Greaney Scudder team for practical information about protecting your rights and understanding your options.

Kent Personal Injury Questions & Answers

How do I know if I have a personal injury case?
You may have a personal injury claim if another person, business, or organization was negligent and that negligence caused you to suffer an injury and related losses. Because every situation is different, an attorney can review what happened and help you understand whether you may have a claim.
How long do I have to file a personal injury lawsuit in Washington?
Washington generally allows three years to bring many personal injury actions. However, different deadlines and notice requirements can apply depending on the type of claim and the parties involved. It is important to determine which deadline applies to your specific situation as early as possible.
How much is my personal injury case worth?
There is no standard value for a personal injury claim. The potential value depends on factors such as the severity of your injuries, medical expenses, lost income, future treatment needs, available insurance coverage, and how the injury has affected your everyday life.
What if I was partially responsible for my injury?
Washington follows a comparative fault system. You may still be able to recover compensation if you were partially responsible for what happened, although your recovery can be reduced according to your percentage of fault.
Do I have to go to court for a personal injury claim?
Not necessarily. Many personal injury claims are resolved through negotiations without going to trial. If the parties cannot reach a fair resolution, filing a lawsuit and potentially proceeding to trial may be necessary.
Should I speak with the insurance company after an injury?
You may need to communicate with an insurance company, but you should be careful about providing recorded statements, signing authorizations, or accepting a settlement before you understand your injuries and the potential effect on your claim. If you are unsure about what an insurer is requesting, consider speaking with an attorney first.
How much does it cost to speak with a personal injury attorney at Greaney Scudder?
Greaney Scudder Law Firm offers free initial consultations for personal injury matters. Personal injury cases are generally handled on a contingency-fee basis, meaning attorney fees are paid from a settlement or award rather than requiring an upfront attorney fee.
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