Seattle Personal Injury Attorney Chris Thayer
Seattle Personal Injury Attorney Chris Thayer
Handling Personal Injury Claims in the Seattle Area and Throughout Washington Since 1995

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

The Seattle Personal Injury Blog

"Lowballing": Tricks Used by Insurance Adjusters

Posted Tuesday, June 25, 2013 by Chris Thayer

personal injury lawyer in SeattleThe entire role of insurance adjusters revolves around the ability to lower the amount of compensation provided to you. This is particularly unfortunate given that victims of accidents caused by another are often vulnerable, and are led by insurance companies to believe that they are on their side. If you’re having trouble with these adjusters, speak to a personal injury lawyer in Seattle.

Adjusters Have Their Own Personal Injury Lawyers in Seattle
Just as you have a personal injury lawyer in Seattle on your side, adjusters have theirs as well. The adjuster may have his or her personal injury attorney in Seattle draft a letter saying your case is worth less than it truly is.

Personal Injury Lawyers in Seattle Understand the “Geographic Defense”
The geographic defense is when adjusters offer less to claimants who don’t live in the state where the accident took place. They assume that the cost and inconvenience of pursuing the claim in another state will make the claimant take the first offer that is made. Stand up against such adjusters with the help of a personal injury lawyer in Seattle.

Personal Injury Lawyers in Seattle for the “Social Stigma” Defense
Personal injury attorneys in Seattle are often called upon when adjusters employ the “social stigma” defense. This is when adjusters offer less for a claim because an assumption is made that the victim’s social status would by seen as unfavorable by a jury. For instance, if you belong to a motorcycle gang, adjusters know that even though this may have nothing to do with what caused the accident, juries can reduce your award because of assumptions they make about you.

Speak to a Personal Injury Lawyer in Seattle
You don’t have to stand up to unscrupulous and unethical insurance adjusters alone. In fact, doing so can even hurt your case and decrease your chance at fair and appropriate compensation. Get a skilled personal injury attorney in Seattle like Chris Thayer to help. Call him today at (206) 340-2008.

How Adjusters Look at Physicians in Your Case

Posted Thursday, June 20, 2013 by Chris Thayer

slip and fall attorney in SeattleWhen insurance adjusters evaluate physicians for personal injury cases, they are looking for specific facts they can use to stir up doubt in your claim. Adjusters are not on your side, and do not want to see your claim succeed. If you have been injured in a slip and fall accident due to another party’s negligence, this is why it is important to have a skilled slip and fall attorney in Seattle on your side.

Slip and Fall Attorneys in Seattle Choose Doctors with Good Reputations
If your slip and fall attorney in Seattle referred you to a physician, it is likely because that physician has experience and skill. However, adjusters will often try to make the physician look like they’re running a “plaintiff mill” – one you are involved in to jack up your medical costs and potential compensation.

How Slip and Fall Attorneys in Seattle Defend Against Adjuster Accusations
Your slip and fall lawyers in Seattle will seek to minimize accusations and mischaracterizations made against these doctors. They may argue, for instance, that the physician has many patients not because he or she is running a “mill,” but because the doctor has the knowledge and ability to treat patients well.

Slip and Fall Attorneys in Seattle and Frequency of Treatment
Another thing adjusters look closely at is the frequency of treatment. If they feel it is disproportionate to your injury, that is another item that slip and fall attorneys in Seattle can help you with. Your slip and fall lawyers in Seattle can get reports from other physicians stating that the frequency of your treatment is appropriate for your particular condition.

Speak to a Slip and Fall Attorney in Seattle
You don’t have to stand up to insurance adjusters alone. In fact, doing so can even hurt your case, decreasing your chance at fair compensation. If you have been injured because of someone else’s negligence, you may be able to gain compensation. Insurance adjusters do not want this, and will fight to undermine your claim. Call a skilled and practiced slip and fall lawyer in Seattle for help. Chris Thayer is available at (206) 340-2008.

The Adjuster’s Role in Evaluating Cases

Posted Thursday, June 13, 2013 by Chris Thayer

Spinal cord injury lawyer in Seattle, WAWorking with insurance adjusters can be tricky, and is often best left to an experienced spinal cord injury lawyer in Seattle, WA. Oftentimes accident victims are left wondering exactly what the role of adjuster entails.

The Truth from a Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer in Seattle, WAThe truth is that the insurance adjuster is not on your side. In fact, he or she is likely to try and determine your liability in the case. Could it be argued that you are guilty of comparative or contributory negligence? Do you bear any responsibility for the accident? Spinal cord injury lawyers in Seattle, WA see this all the time. The adjuster is looking or any reason he or she can find to decrease your compensation offer.

Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers in Seattle, WA are on Your SideYour spinal cord injury lawyers in Seattle, WA need to be very thorough when dealing with these adjusters. You don’t want to let them get away with providing less compensation than you need, yet they will be more than happy to leave you with a settlement inadequate to pay your medical and other expenses. Any investigator working for your spinal cord attorneys in Seattle, WA must supply a detailed – and preferably favorable – report to any adjusters.

Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers in Seattle, WA and Defending Your CaseYour spinal cord injury attorneys in Seattle, WA must present facts to adjusters the same way they would to a jury. This is done in order to convince the adjusters that their attempts to decrease your compensation may not hold up in court. Make sure that any legal representative you hire has an excellent track record in working with adjusters.

Speak to a Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer in Seattle, WASuffering an injury accident is difficult enough. Having to deal with uncooperative insurance adjusters just makes matters worse. If you have additional questions about the adjuster’s role in your case, speak to spinal cord injury attorney in Seattle, WA Chris Thayer. He can be reached at (206) 340-2008.

A Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Seattle Talks Lowballing by Insurance Companies

Posted Friday, June 7, 2013 by Chris Thayer

A Motorcycle Accident Attorney in SeattleClaims representatives from insurance companies try several techniques to lowball claimants. Claims representatives often will tell people their claims are being decreased because they won’t pay taxes on the general damages being paid. A motorcycle accident attorney in Seattle can explain that the claims representative is taking credit for the fraction of taxes the claimant usually gets when earning money. Insurance company representatives also will try to use a dislike for attorneys against you. Then, the claimant will be offered a low settlement, knowing the claimant won’t try to discuss it with counsel.

You Only Get What You Ask For

A motorcycle accident attorney in Seattle can explain insurance companies don’t offer to pay anything that isn’t demanded by a claimant. But, if an insurer fails to disclose the insured person’s rights under the policy, they could be committing bad faith. Insurance industry practices and rules require insurers have a duty to let policyholders know all coverage they are entitled to following a claim.

A motorcycle accident lawyer in Seattle will warn that policyholders should never be left to guess about benefits. Claims representatives also may try to avoid paying a full cash settlement on a claim by offering a structured settlement, which means a person is paid over time instead of in one lump sum. A motorcycle accident attorney in Seattle can tell you it is beneficial to an insurance company because it doesn’t need to surrender all of the money at once.

Finally, insurance companies will try to play the diminutive value card. A motorcycle accident attorney in Seattle can add, a claims representative will refuse to pay this value of a claimant’s vehicle are repairs are completed. Sometimes, certain makes and models lose market value even if they are repaired because they are no longer the factory original. This happens more often with very expensive vehicles.

Contact a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Seattle for Legal Advice

Insurance company try many ways to get claimants to take reduced settlements. If you need legal assistance with your personal injury claim, call Chris Thayer, a motorcycle accident attorney in Seattle, at 206- 340-2008.

Seattle Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Explains Why It Is Vital to Properly Establish Liability in Personal Injury Cases

Posted Thursday, May 30, 2013 by Chris Thayer

Seattle Motorcycle Accident LawyerA key component in any personal injury case is to identify the party that is actually liable for the injury. The insurance company will attempt to find a party other than the insured to place the blame on. In order to establish liability, you must be able to successfully demonstrate that the named party was the negligent cause of your accident. Your Seattle motorcycle accident lawyer can evaluate the information that you provide regarding your case to ensure that the proper party is named.

Investigators

If it is unclear who is responsible for your accident, your Seattle motorcycle accident attorney can hire an investigator who will attempt to find more evidence supporting your claim. The more information regarding your accident that you are able to provide to your Seattle motorcycle accident lawyer, the better leverage your Seattle motorcycle accident attorney will have when negotiating with the insurance company. It is important that you work with your Seattle motorcycle accident attorney to explain any gaps or holes in your story.

Liability

Another consideration that can have an effect on liability is the accident victim’s fault. Washington is a comparative negligence state. This means that if it found that a victim somehow contributed to their accident, they may still be entitled to some compensation. If the victim in some way contributed to the accident that caused the injury, then the amount of their compensation reward will be reduced by the percentage of which they contributed to the accident. Your Seattle motorcycle accident lawyer will work with you to determine whether you share liability in your case.

Contact Our Seattle Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

If you have been the victim of an accident caused by someone else’s negligent actions, contact experienced Seattle motorcycle accident lawyer Chris Thayer to discuss the details of your case. Our experienced Seattle motorcycle accident lawyer will evaluate the circumstances surrounding your accident and will help you determine whether or not you have a valid personal injury claim. Call our office at (206) 340-2008.