The Seattle Personal Injury Blog
Posted Monday, April 1, 2013 by
Chris Thayer
Brain injuries can have a significant impact on the injured victim’s life, as well as the lives of his loved ones. These types of injuries are devastating because they often lead to emotional, physical and financial hardships. If you or a loved one has suffered brain injuries from an accident that was caused by another person, you should hire a Seattle traumatic brain injury attorney to get just compensation.
Brain injuries are generally categorized as mild or severe. The evidence needed to prove each type of brain injury is different, but what all cases have in common is the complexity and expensive nature of the litigation and the need to prove the elements of the case.
Proving a Severe Brain Injury ClaimIt is generally easier for a Seattle traumatic brain injury attorney to prove a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) case than a mild TBI case. The main reason is that individuals suffering from a severe TBI will generally have more readily identifiable symptoms. They will also display readily apparent physical and mental disabilities that can be easily proven in a court of law.
Additionally, the Seattle traumatic brain injury attorney can use MRI and CAT scans which demonstrate the specific area of the brain damage to prove the case. In other words, the patient’s medical records alone will be a clear indication of the severity of the injuries suffered if these tests were conducted.
The defense typically has a very hard time disputing a severe TBI claim.
Proving a Mild Brain Injury ClaimMild TBI cases, on the other hand, are harder to prove in court because the symptoms and physical and mental disability may not be readily apparent. In fact, patients suffering from a mild TBI may look, act and sound quite normal. Additionally, their CAT scans and MRIs may not show significant damage. As such, it is much easier for the defense to dispute a mild TBI case.
In order to prove a mild TBI case, a Seattle traumatic brain injury attorney must look at the victim’s medical records immediately following the injury, psychological records, marital counseling records, employment records and any other documents that show a change in behavior and activity since the accident.
It may also be necessary to retain the expert opinion of a reputable neuropsychologist to prove the symptoms and show the injuries.
We Can HelpRegardless of whether you suffered a mild or severe TBI, you may be entitled to just compensation. Hire a Seattle traumatic brain injury attorney who is both experienced and aggressive.
To schedule a complimentary consultation, call Seattle traumatic brain injury attorney Chris Thayer at (206) 340-2008.
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Posted Thursday, February 28, 2013 by
Chris Thayer
When you meet with your Seattle motorcycle accident attorney for the first time, he will ask you to explain the specific details of your case. He will also discuss with you some things you need to do to help your case.
Your Most Important Job
Your Seattle motorcycle accident attorney will likely explain that your primary job is to do all you can to heal. While much of why this is important should be self-evident, it is also important because the insurance company will use against you any evidence that you are not keeping appointments with your treating doctor or in any other way thwarting the progress of recovery.
Specific Tasks You Will Be Asked to Do
During the first meeting your Seattle motorcycle accident attorney will ask you to do a number of things to assist him in developing your case. Among these are:
• Not Contacting the Insurance Company: If the insurance company calls you, explain to them that you are now being legally represented. Try to get the name of the adjuster and give it to your attorney.
• Staying Home from Work: Your attorney will have you discuss with your doctor whether it is necessary for you to remain out of work for a time. • Your Motorcycle: You will be asked to take photographs of the damage to your motorcycle and get an estimate of repairs.
• The Police Report: Make sure to get a copy of this to your attorney.
• Witnesses: Your attorney will ask you to provide the names of witnesses, along with their addresses and phone numbers. Avoid discussing your case with any of them, however—even if they are close friends or co-workers.
• Documentation: A very important job of yours will be to provide your Seattle motorcycle accident attorney with all documents pertinent to your case. This includes ongoing medical bills, instructions from your treating doctor, prescription medications, etc.
Make sure that when you are scheduled to meet with your attorney you do so and are not late. The more you assist with your case, the better your chances will be of achieving a fair settlement.
If You Have Been Injured
If you are injured in a motorcycle crash due to the negligence of someone else it may be in your best interest to hire a Seattle motorcycle accident attorney. Call Chris Thayer to arrange a free consultation today at (206) 340-2008.
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Posted Thursday, February 28, 2013 by
Chris Thayer
After your accident, you will spend time waiting for your insurance company and the other person’s insurance company to work on your case. You will probably not receive a lot of communication about this, so you may wonder what is going on with your case. It may be tempting to reach out and contact the person who caused your injury (also known as a “tortfeasor”) for more information or to ask questions. But your Seattle auto accident attorney will advise you against doing this.
What Happens to the Responsible Party?
After your accident, the other party will be contacted by his or her insurance company, and will give a recorded statement and report about what happened. The insurance company will use this statement, as well as statements from other involved witnesses, to conduct an investigation. During the investigation, there will be little to no contact between the insurer and their insured (the tortfeasor). In other words, neither you nor the tortfeasor will be kept in the loop about the day-to-day progress of your case; it is largely handled by the insurance companies, although your Seattle auto accident attorney might try to send them requests for information. While it may be frustrating to consider, the person who caused your injury is probably going about his or her normal life, hoping that the insurance company decides to settle the case without any more involvement from him or her.
What Happens if the Case Does Not Settle?
However, your case might not settle after all. Sometimes, the tortfeasor’s insurance company insists that you or someone else was mostly at fault, and that their client was not liable for what happened. If this happens, you and your Seattle auto accident attorney will file a lawsuit against the insurance company, who will retain counsel to defend and represent their insured, the tortfeasor. The tortfeasor will be required to take part in the litigation proceedings and sit for depositions, give further testimony, etc. The lawsuit will name the tortfeasor as the defendant, although the defendant’s insurance company will be the one to pay out a settlement or verdict if awarded.
We Can Help
Dealing with the fallout from an auto accident is a frustrating and aggravating process. Talk to an experienced Seattle auto accident attorney to help you get the compensation you deserve. Contact Chris Thayer at (206) 340-2008.
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Posted Thursday, February 28, 2013 by
Chris Thayer
When pursuing a personal injury claim, your Seattle serious injury attorney will expect to be paid for his work, time, experience, and effort. The fee also covers administrative overhead, such as secretaries, office rent, files, and other typical costs of running a law firm. There are also some out-of-pocket expenses that might be incurred specifically because of your case, listed below:
Out-of-Pocket Expenses
• Fees to obtain medical reports from doctors and hospitals. These reports may cost just a few dollars to make copies, or they may cost up to $100 or more if they have to be specially prepared by your physician.
• Copying charges. Insurance companies will demand copies of all your medical bills, reports, police reports, lost wage statements, and other relevant documentation. Your law firm has to pay to make these copies, and this cost might be added onto your final bill for each page.
• Photograph reproduction: If you have photographic evidence you plan to use in your case, having them prepared and enlarged (especially if you plan to use them at trial) will cost a certain amount.• Long-distance calls. If your case requires your Seattle serious injury attorney to make long-distance phone calls, the cost for those calls might be included on your bill.
• Other expert reports: Experts other than your treating physician may be asked to give a statement or testify in your case, and if so, they will charge your attorney a certain fee for their services, which will be included in your attorney bill.
• Litigation costs: The process of filing litigation incurs certain court costs and filing fees, which your attorney might include on your bill.
One thing that’s important to understand is that, while you may have a contingency fee agreement with your Seattle serious injury attorney (meaning their fee is contingent upon winning a settlement or court award), the out-of-pocket costs outlined above will not be contingent upon you winning your case. Your attorney might ask you to reimburse some of these costs as your case moves along prior to the settlement. Attorneys do not usually want to be in the business of financing all their clients’ cases out of their own company’s funds.
Contact UsIf you have been involved in a serious accident, you will need the help of an experienced Seattle serious injury attorney to get the compensation you deserve. Call Chris Thayer at (206) 340-2008.
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Posted Thursday, February 28, 2013 by
Chris Thayer
After you have been in a truck accident, you may be wondering how you are going to handle the medical bills that are piling up. There is no need to be overly anxious, however; your Seattle truck accident attorney can advise you regarding possible payment options that might be available to you.
What if I Can’t Pay My Bills as They Are Incurred?A common question that arises is whether doctors, hospitals and other medical facilities will wait for payment if you cannot pay the bills that you incur. In most cases, if there is no need to pay the bills immediately, many medical providers will agree to wait to be paid for their services until the case is ultimately resolved with a settlement or judgment in court. You will want to let your medical providers know as early as possible if you do not have health insurance or another means to take care of the bills, so that they will know what to expect.
How Will My Lawyer Ensure That These Medical Expenses Are Paid?Keep in mind that in many cases, your Seattle truck accident attorney will have the task of making sure your doctors and medical providers receive payment. Most lawyers will have money withheld from your settlement or court verdict; these funds will then be used to pay off the medical bills you have incurred. Many doctors and medical facilities will have you sign a form (called a subrogation or lien form) that allows the attorney to withhold a certain amount of money from the insurance settlement in order to pay off medical bills.
Why Doesn’t the Insurance Company of the Responsibly Party Pay the Medical Bills for My Injuries?Contrary to what you might expect, most insurance companies will not do this. For one thing, most insurers do not want to pay a large amount for current medical bills and then be faced with a remarkably large demand in the final settlement negotiations. Also, most insurers would prefer to conclude the claim with a single sum of money instead of an ongoing series of payments.
Contact UsA Seattle truck accident attorney can help you get the settlement you deserve for your injuries. Call Chris Thayer today at (206) 340-2008.
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