Recent Blog Posts
WASHINGTON STATE ASSOCIATION FOR JUSTICE ANNUAL CONVENTION
View from my hotel window, overlooking Elliot Bay Like years past, I had the opportunity again this year to attend the annual convention of the Washington State Association for Justice which was held in Seattle, Washington from September 18-20, 2019. Though Convention was held at the Seattle Bell Harbor International Conference Center, most of… Read More »
WASHINGTON MANDATORY ARBITRATION LIMITS
In previous posts we’ve at least touched on what an arbitration is, and what role it may play in a personal injury case—like here, here, and here. A lot of folks confuse arbitration with mediation. Mediation is where the parties to a lawsuit, by agreement or by court order, get together with a neutral person (usually a… Read More »
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT CLARK COUNTY COURTS
The Clark County Courthouse, seen from above, in 2008. Aerial photo courtesy of retired Schauermann Thayer partner and pilot Jeffrey Jacobs. Occasionally I am asked, which court in Clark County, Washington, should my personal injury, wrongful death, or property damage case (all of which are “tort claims”) be filed in? It’s a good question, and… Read More »
A SINGULAR FOCUS
Our firm really only does one thing. We practice personal injury and wrongful death law (with rare exceptions). Granted, we do it in two states—Washington and Oregon. Granted, there are many different types or contexts in which injuries or death can occur. So, our practice is diverse and complex in some ways. But, with… Read More »
ON SUING FRIENDS OR FAMILY MEMBERS
This is a question that commonly comes up in the context of a passenger injured in a motor vehicle collision. As personal injury attorneys, it is our job to allow our clients to make informed decisions about the important aspects of their case. This includes forecasting potential problems with our clients’ cases, researching solutions,… Read More »
WHAT IS EXPECTED OF ME IN LITIGATION AS A “PLAINTIFF”?
When it comes time to make a decision about whether or not my clients want to accept the top, pre-filing offer from the liability insurer or file a lawsuit and litigate the case, often times they want to know: “What is expected of me in the litigation process as the Plaintiff (the person bringing… Read More »
BACK TO SCHOOL ON CROSSWALK SAFETY IN WASHINGTON & OREGON
Because kids are now back in school, I am reminded about the importance of pedestrian/crosswalk safety. It’s vitally important that all drivers keep a proper lookout and respect pedestrian right-of-way’s, especially with so many more children on foot. It’s important not only to try and ensure everyone’s safety but it’s also the law. CROSSWALK RULES… Read More »
CAN I DROP MY CASE AFTER FILING IT?
People file lawsuits when they feel they have been legitimately harmed and the offer from the insurance company for the party-at-fault strikes them as unreasonable, unfair, and/or simply insufficient to remedy the harm/damages caused by the person whose conduct injured them. In our civil justice system, filing a lawsuit – commencing litigation – is… Read More »
HOW DO I GET MY MEDICAL RECORDS AND BILLS?
For better and for worse, a large part of proving damages in a personal injury case involves producing medical records and the associated billings to the insurance company or its attorneys. There are several different ways of obtaining medical records to be able to provide it to them. If the records are going to… Read More »
WILL I GET TO MAKE THE IMPORTANT DECISIONS IN MY CASE?
The general consensus when it comes to criticism of personal injury attorneys seems to be either the attorney is not responsive in communicating with the client or that the client feels as though attorney did not appropriately involve a client in making the substantive, important decisions relating to their case. Our attorneys are acutely… Read More »
