Location: Washington state.
TL;DR: Complaint for Tort- Motor Vehicle against me in 2019. Order of Dismissal With Prejudice in 2020.
Motor Vehicle Negligence, Personal Injury Claim against me opened this month in 2025, from the same party.
What do I do? Reach out or wait to be properly served? Go ahead and reach out to a lawyer, and if so, what type?
Backstory: Nine years ago, I T-boned someone while going under 5 mph. I drove through a 4 way with a missing stop sign. We both exchanged insurance and no police report filed. A couple grand in body damage, and I was found at-fault. Nothing to do on my end, as I had insurance. A year or two later, I received a letter from my insurance stating the claim hasn’t been resolved, due to the other party claiming neck pain. Never heard anything else the past several years.
Today, I received a call about a summons attempt this morning for me at my prior residence. I searched my name through the court records. I discovered a summons, claim against me, and order of dismissal 6-7 years ago. I have requested the court documents of it. I then learned that this month, the other party filed the same claim against me.
Comments
Provide information on the suit to your insurance company from that time. They’ll handle it up to the limits of your policy.
Contact your insurance company.
>from the same party.
Self-represented, or via their attorneys ?
It is very likely that the other party has allowed the SOL to expire for a personal injury suit, just like they did for the motor vehicle damage tort back in 2019.
The good news is that your prior insurance company still has an obligation to defend you. They can choose to offer a very small settlement, or appear in court and (almost certainly) have the new claim dismissed.