My name is Chris Thayer and I am a personal injury attorney practicing in downtown Seattle. I handle personal injury, medical malpractice and wrongful death claims throughout the greater Seattle area, including Issaquah, Mercer Island and Kirkland.
I am here to help you.
Call for a free consultation (206) 340-2008
Posted Thursday, November 14, 2013 by Chris Thayer
A Seattle injury lawyer will often help select a jury if their client’s case goes to trial. It’s their responsibility to see that potential jurors are not biased against the client. In order to do this, specific questions are put to the would-be jurors during jury selection.
Posted Thursday, November 14, 2013 by Chris Thayer
Being injured in an accident is, unfortunately, not in itself enough to warrant an injury claim. When you meet with you Seattle injury attorney he will need to determine whether your claim has a likelihood of succeeding. He will evaluate a number of elements, which are described below.
The Instigator and WitnessesIf the claimant is completely at fault for instigating the accident that led to his or her injuries, a Seattle injury attorney may not be able to make a strong personal injury case.
In order to determine which party is liable for the accident—the plaintiff or defendant—a Seattle injury lawyer could ask a potential client clarifying questions such as:
Assuming that a claimant is not completely at fault for causing his or her incident, a Seattle injury attorney could be more willing to undertake the case if the claimant can provide evidentiary support like witness statements and photographs.
Time Elapsed Since the IncidentOne of the first factors a Seattle injury lawyer may want to discuss is the amount of time elapsed since the accident occurred. If the incident took place several months ago, an attorney could be hesitant to accept the plaintiff’s case for many reasons.
The Nature of the Potential Client’s InjuriesClaimants must be able to describe their injuries and degree of recovery. If a Seattle injury attorney believes that a potential client’s physical condition does not warrant the time and effort necessary to invest in a personal injury case, he or she could decline representation.
Receive a Consultation of Your CaseIf you’re unsure whether you should pursue a personal injury case, the best course of action is to consult a reputable Seattle injury attorney. Contact Chris Thayer at (206) 340-2008 to discuss your potential case.
Posted Thursday, November 14, 2013 by Chris Thayer
As much as facts, witness statements, and doctors’ reports might help bolster claimants’ personal injury litigation, a Seattle injury lawyer knows that photos and plaintiffs’ behavior can make or break many cases. Essentially, insurance adjusters and jurors want to feel that they are awarding damages for a good reason, and they want to provide compensation to claimants who seem to deserve it.
Jurors Hold the PowerAfter filing a claim, personal injury plaintiffs and their lawyers usually work with an insurance adjuster to attempt to settle the case. If things progress to the litigation stage, Seattle injury attorneys make their cases to jurors, who ultimately hold the power to decide a case’s fate.
Seattle Injury Lawyers Will Use Photos When AvailableHard evidence like police statements and medical reports are crucial to the prosecution’s case, but photos can be invaluable when trying to convince jurors that a claimant deserves compensation. If photos are available, a Seattle injury lawyer will most likely exhibit them in court to demonstrate the connection between the incident and the claimant’s stated injuries.
Personal injury attorneys can utilize photos in many types of personal injury cases, including:
Featuring photos of damaged vehicles after a collision or slippery walkways caused by negligent caretakers might aid a Seattle injury lawyer in his or her quest to prove that the plaintiff is an injured victim who deserves reparations.
Seattle Injury Attorneys Will Assess the Plaintiff and DefendantJurors are more likely to award benefits to someone who acts deserving and grateful than aggressive and antagonistic. The same trend applies to defendants; the jury might not want to severely punish a remorseful defendant who mistakenly causes an accident.
Seattle injury lawyers understand this trend and will assess the plaintiff and defendants’ behavior throughout the case. They may decide to focus on settling if they believe that a plaintiff’s chances at winning a trial are slim.
A Local Attorney May Be Perfect for Your CaseHave you been hurt in an accident and now you need someone to represent your case during settlement negotiations or trial? Practiced Seattle injury lawyer Chris Thayer may be the perfect attorney for your case, so call him today at (206) 340-2008 for a consultation.
Posted Thursday, November 7, 2013 by Chris Thayer
Certain items are red flags on your claim that invite adjuster scrutiny. A Seattle truck accident lawyer has a strong knowledge of what sorts of issues raise questions among insurance adjusters, and will work with you to determine what the strengths of your case are.
A Seattle Truck Accident Lawyer Knows How Insurance Adjusters WorkAn experienced Seattle truck accident lawyer understands the thinking of insurance adjusters, and what they are directed to look for in claims. Before they examine items on your claim, they have to examine whether or not they can apply their policies to them. If so, they then must determine to what extent they can apply the policies. Following that, they will see just how much they plan on spending in order to resolve the claim.
A Seattle Truck Accident Lawyer for Adjusters Who Question EverythingYour Seattle truck accident lawyer may be able to advocate for you with an adjuster – especially if you get stuck with one who questions every little item on your claim. Unfortunately, the adjuster has the right to scrutinize claims as much as her or she wishes, and for any reason. Anything that seems suspicious will be examined thoroughly, and this includes simply getting a “funny feeling” about the insured.
A Seattle Truck Accident Lawyer Who Knows the Red FlagsWhen adjusters are overzealous in their claim examination, it can make it difficult for your Seattle truck accident attorney to resolve the case on your behalf. Take a look at these red flags adjusters often see:
For more red flags, talk to a Seattle truck accident attorney.
A Seattle Truck Accident Lawyer Can Help with Your Injury ClaimIf you’re having problems with an insurance adjuster over your injury claim, talk to Seattle truck accident attorney Chris Thayer at (206) 340-2008.
Posted Thursday, October 24, 2013 by Chris Thayer
It should come as no surprise that insurance companies don’t want your case to settle. Regardless of how they represent themselves to you initially, their best interests are for you to receive minimal compensation, if any at all. A seasoned Seattle personal injury lawyer knows how to deal with insurance representatives, and won’t let you be taken advantage of.
Presenting Falsities Your Seattle personal injury lawyer will be prepared for the claims adjuster to present him with false accounts of why settlement is impossible. The adjuster may state that he must wait for authority from nonexistent offices or that he needs documents to be signed, even though you have already signed and sent in these documents. Your Seattle personal injury lawyer will warn that, even with documents signed, there will likely be more documents requested a little at a time. Thus, rather than asking for everything needed from you at once, the claims representative will space out his requests to delay settlement.
Abuse of Your CooperationYour Seattle personal injury lawyer will be sure that you cooperate in whatever way is necessary to secure a fair settlement. Despite this, adjusters may claim that you need to aid in some additional, often frivolous, way with the insurance company’s investigation.
Multiple AdjustersYour Seattle personal injury attorney will tell you to expect multiple adjusters to work on your case. This may be a tactic to delay settlement or due to the high turnover rates of poorly treated, low-paid adjusters at many insurance companies. As a result, your Seattle personal injury attorney will advise that you may be forced to submit duplicates of documents you have already submitted or go over details again and again with each new adjuster.
Obtaining the Help of a Seattle Personal Injury LawyerYour Seattle personal injury attorney understands the frustration that arises when your insurance adjuster is trying to delay settlement for your claim. That is why it is so important to find someone who is reliable and knowledgeable. Seattle personal injury lawyer Chris Thayer is eager to help you with your claim. Call (206) 340-2008 today to speak with a representative.