Recent Blog Posts
DO I HAVE TO GIVE A SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER FOR MY CASE?
Do I have to give a social security number for my case? There is no good answer to this question. On the one hand, you may be uncomfortable giving out private information, or information you don’t have. On the other hand, the law may require you to provide the information or the insurance company… Read More »
STAPLES AND THAYER TABBED AGAIN TO MODERATE JUDGES’ PANEL
Schauermann Thayer partners Bill Thayer and Scott Staples have been selected again to be the moderators of the National Business Institute’s local Judicial Forum, which is being held on November 8, 2019. This year’s participating judges include Hon. Gregory Gonzales (Clark County Superior Court), Hon. Suzan Clark (Clark County Superior Court), and Hon. Stephen… Read More »
SCHAUERMANN THAYER ATTORNEYS ATTEND 2019 ANNUAL WSAJ INSURANCE LAW SEMINAR
Each year the Washington State Association for Justice (WSAJ), puts on its annual Insurance Law Seminar. Each year WSAJ brings in speakers from across the state—and sometimes across the country—to educate plaintiffs lawyers on developments in the law and new approaches to help in representing our clients. This year was no different. On May 8, the… Read More »
WILL THE JURY KNOW WHAT WAS OFFERED TO SETTLE?
Often times in the practice, I hear a client say something like, “Well, the jury will at least decide to award the amount that the insurance company offered, right?”. Since that’s not a safe assumption, let’s talk about why. Usually, before a case gets to trial, settlement negotiations have indeed gone on between the injured party… Read More »
WILL MY INSURANCE RATES GO UP IF I REPORT A CRASH?
WILL MY INSURANCE RATES GO UP IF I REPORT A CRASH? As long as you were not in any way at fault, insurance companies in Washington cannot raise your rates. I commonly am asked this question by people who are fault-free in automobile crashes. USE YOUR REQUIRED INSURANCE POLICY AFTER ACCIDENT It is required… Read More »
WHO IS RESPONSIBLE WHEN A BICYCLIST IS HIT BY SOMEONE OPENING A CAR DOOR?
There are few things better than getting out and riding your bike on a nice day. Maybe you are soaking in the sun or thinking about the things you need to do later in the day. Maybe you are not paying full attention to the parked car ahead. As you near it, the car… Read More »
USAA AND DENIAL OF PIP BENEFITS
Being a personal injury attorney, we can often see patterns in how insurance companies adjust and resolve claims. Sometimes, for example, the pendulum swings toward settling claims and saving on defense costs (meaning, the insurance company might be okay paying a little bit more to settle a claim if it means that it doesn’t… Read More »
I WORK FOR A TEMP AGENCY AND WAS HURT ON THE JOB, DO I HAVE A CLAIM?
Most workers who get jobs through a temporary employment agency are immediately sent out to work in facilities owned and managed by the agency’s clients. For purposes of this post, we’ll call the temp agency’s client “the factory” (I picked this just because a lot of the temporary workers I have represented get sent… Read More »
PEDESTRIAN DEATHS IN THE UNITED STATES ON THE RISE
Some 6,227 people died as pedestrians around the nation after being hit by motor vehicles in 2018. More than in any year since 1990. According to a Wall Street Journal article published Thursday, February 28, 2019, entitled “Pedestrian Deaths Highest Since 1990”, pedestrian traffic fatalities are up. The WSJ article discusses a recently published… Read More »
SETTLING AN INJURY CLAIM TOO QUICKLY CAN LEAVE YOU WITHOUT FULL COMPENSATION
Settling quickly without knowing your damages happens far too often. It leaves people feeling taken advantage of, and in most cases, without any options to get the medical treatment needed for injuries. We’ve already shown you how to deal with “threats” from an adjuster, and explained how difficult it can be to overcome an advance… Read More »
