Claims Against a Public Employee Require Additional Notice

The Court of Appeals recently ruled on the application of pre-suit notice statutes to public employees.[1] Our firm was not involved in this case. A public employee allegedly caused an injury accident while acting within the scope of a public agency’s employment and driving an agency-owned vehicle. The injured party filed suit against the driver and […]

Continue reading

If a chicken is injured crossing the road to change a tire, does insurance cover it?

Insurance policies typically provide coverage for injuries “arising out of” the “use” of a covered vehicle. This obviously means driving a car, but what if you are not driving?  What if someone hits you while you are changing your tire, or while out of your car exchanging information with another driver? This varies a lot […]

Continue reading

When At Fault Drivers Avoid Service of Process

Most personal injury cases settle out of court, but some cannot be settled because the at-fault driver’s insurance company simply will not make a reasonable offer. In that scenario the only recourse is to file a personal injury lawsuit against the other driver. It is important not to procrastinate in speaking to a personal injury […]

Continue reading

Foreign Driver Sued for Allegedly Injurying Washington Couple

A resident of Korea was involved in a motor vehicle accident in King County, Washington. The occupants of the other vehicle were residents of King County, Washington. The Washington residents filed a lawsuit less than two weeks prior to the statute of limitations deadline. Per Washington law, they then had 90 days to validly serve […]

Continue reading

Will the Real David Please Stand Up?

Susan was a passenger on a motorcycle. The motorcycle driver passed a line of cars. The lead vehicle turned left, struck the motorcycle, and Susan was injured. The police report named David as the vehicle driver, and Damiann (his mother) as the vehicle owner. David later testified at a traffic court hearing. Susan and her […]

Continue reading

Unpunished Good Deed – Insurance Coverage When Someone Else Lies

Perla was driving with Mirtha as her passenger when they got into a two-car collision. Both were injured. Perla and the other driver exchanged information. Perla lied to her insurance company, Allsate, and told them that she did not know the identity of the other driver, and that he had left the scene. Just before […]

Continue reading

What Emergency?

A car was in the front of a line of cars travelling in the same lane. The lead car stopped suddenly. The car behind it was able to stop. The third car back abruptly switched lanes and went around the other two without incident. The fourth car, however, slammed on the brakes, but not soon […]

Continue reading

Personal Injury Claimant Tries to Represent Herself at Trial

There is no legal rule requiring someone to have an attorney in a personal injury trial. Not having an attorney is, however, a very bad idea.

Continue reading

Harder Than It Looks

A man was rear-ended in a motor vehicle accident. He treated with his doctor and with physical therapy. Months later he suddenly felt severe pain in his neck, shoulders, and down his left and right arms. He was in such severe pain that he believed he would die. He went to the emergency room for […]

Continue reading

Wrong House

Michael ran a stop sign and hit a car, allegedly injuring people in it. Michael and his wife lived in Granite Falls, Washington at the time. Michael later lost his house in foreclosure. He moved in with his dad, and on a few nights slept at this brother’s house in Everett. Shortly afterwards Michael and […]

Continue reading