Posted Friday, February 28, 2014 by
Chris Thayer
Clients of a Seattle personal injury attorney often ask how the settlement value of a case is determined.
A Seattle Personal Injury Lawyer Will Study Your Entire Case When Deciding on a Fair Settlement Amount
When deciding on a fair settlement amount, your attorney will examine the following:
- Was the client placed under evaluation and analysis regarding pain and suffering?
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- Can the plaintiff’s pain and suffering be corroborated by witnesses?
- Do the medical records and testimony from doctors provide documentation as to the plaintiff’s pain and suffering?
- Can the pain and suffering be demonstrated by photos, video or film?
- What can be done to lessen the pain and suffering?
- Have there been changes to the lifestyle of the client to alleviate the pain and suffering?
- Did the client need to take a different job or duties at work?
- Was it necessary to buy medical devices to help reduce or treat the pain?
- Have there been any therapeutic procedures done on the client?
- Is the pain from the physical problems as well as the psychological effects?
- Can the psychological issues be documented by the medical records?
- Do the medical reports and testimony from the doctors and psychiatrists match up with the issues the client is suffering from, and are they related to the incident that caused the injury?
- Is the client taking any medication?
- Are medical experts available to testify?
- Is the client able to engage in normal socializing and outside activities?
- Has the client’s view of life been altered?
- Is the client’s personality different from what it was before?
- Can witnesses provide testimony as to the personality changes?
Contact an Experienced Seattle Personal Injury Attorney
If you have questions about how the settlement value of your case will be determined, a Seattle personal injury lawyer can help. Call Chris Thayer at (206) 340-2008 today.
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Posted Monday, February 24, 2014 by
Chris Thayer
Any Seattle personal injury lawyer can tell you that the way your case will progress depends on the type of insurance company you are dealing with. Some companies, such as large, conservative national carriers, are no stranger to litigation and taking cases to lawsuit, while other mid-sized carriers are easier to work with and more likely to settle. 
If you and your Seattle personal injury attorney are dealing with a particularly conservative insurance carrier, you should try to understand how they operate and think.
Pay Attention to DetailsEvery claim that the insurance company receives will be closely scrutinized with a host of details such as causation and medical bills.• Liability: Can our client’s liability be questioned?• Coverage: Are there any facts that would lead to a coverage defense such as failing to pay a premium or to cooperate?• Does the claimant have any contributory negligence?• Does the claimant have any pre-existing or prior injuries?• Does the claimant have a history of making prior injury claims, including workers’ compensation, auto accidents or other claims involving a Seattle personal injury lawyer that would appear in the insurance claim index?• What is the reputation and credibility of the claimant’s Seattle personal injury attorney?
The insurance company will ask all of these questions in your case to try to determine if it is worth paying out.
It Pays to Be CynicalYou should understand that most large carriers believe it is not unfair to settle cases for cheap amounts because they consider that their duty to the policyholder or potential defendant. They also believe that many claims they see are exaggerated and phony claims looking for a quick payout. They see many claimants who claim the resurgence of pre-existing injuries that have been worsened or aggravated by the recent incident. Additionally, they do not trust personal injury attorneys, as they have seen many such attorneys exaggerate small-to-medium claims well beyond what they are actually worth. As such, they do not immediately trust information given to them by injury attorneys.
If you have more questions about how to deal with the insurance company, contact an experienced Seattle personal injury lawyer. Call Chris Thayer at (206) 340-2008.
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Posted Monday, February 24, 2014 by
Chris Thayer
If you are requested by the opposing party to take a defense medical examination, you must learn about your rights and obligations that apply when you are being examined by the independent doctor. Your personal injury attorney will help you review everything you need to know about the exam, including the following information listed below.
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Posted Tuesday, February 18, 2014 by
Chris Thayer
As you move forward with your personal injury case, it is important to realize that you will play the most important role. There are seven ways that you can strengthen your case. Your Seattle personal injury lawyer has explained these steps below so that your claim has the greatest chance of success.
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Posted Friday, February 14, 2014 by
Chris Thayer
Before your personal injury claim can be settled, you’ll be required to give a deposition. An experienced Seattle injury lawyer won’t let their client testify unless they are fully prepared. To get you ready, your Seattle injury attorney could set up practice deposition sessions. This will allow you to get comfortable with the range of questions you’ll be asked and help you form your answers. 
Making a Good ImpressionThe goal of your deposition is to tell your side of the story and make a good impression. As your lawyer will advise, understanding the questions is vital to giving thorough answers. If a question comes up that you don’t understand, ask for it to be repeated. Your Seattle injury lawyer doesn’t want you giving an answer to any question that doesn’t make sense to you.
If there is a question that you feel isn’t relevant, let your Seattle injury lawyer raise the objection. A qualified Seattle injury attorney will always jump in with that objection. They will also instruct you not to answer the question until the objection is resolved. Your lawyer will want you to get into the habit of sticking to the direct answer to a direct question. You don’t have to elaborate with additional details.
Staying on Topic
Your lawyer will stress the importance of sticking to the truth of your claim. You shouldn’t exaggerate your level of pain because that can ultimately be used against you. Just as you wouldn’t want your Seattle injury lawyer interrupted, you shouldn’t interrupt the defense attorney when they are asking a question. Let them finish, take a moment, and then provide your answer.
Staying on topic also means that you shouldn’t let the defense attorney make assumptions about your incident. If they make a statement or frame a question as an assertion, your Seattle injury lawyer will want you to correct the defense with the truth.
Follow the Lead of Your Seattle Injury Lawyer
During your deposition, your Seattle injury lawyer will be right by your side. You are well within your rights to depend on them to help clarify questions and to make sure your answers are on point. Chris Thayer is a Seattle injury attorney with years of experience in personal injuries cases. Find out how he can help you file a claim by calling his offices today at (206) 340-2008.
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