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 Monday, December 3, 2018 by Chris Thayer
Emergency rooms are seeing more patients who have been seriously injured while riding electric scooters. Lime, Bird, Skip and Spin scooters can cause orthopedic injuries.
If you or a loved one has been injured while riding an electric scooter, please contact Seattle Personal Injury Attorney Chris Thayer at 206-340-2008.
Posted Thursday, November 29, 2018 by Chris Thayer
What should have been an average day for one family turned into a tragic accident. A Kent mother was pushing her two children in a stroller when she was struck by an SUV. The mother was walking in the crosswalk when an SUV turned a corner and struck and killed her, according to KOMO News. The accident occurred around 2 p.m. in the afternoon at the intersection of Smith Street and State Avenue.
Witnesses to the accident stated that the woman was in the crosswalk, “doing everything right,” only moments before the SUV turned the corner. After striking the woman, the SUV dragged her for approximately 35 feet. Unfortunately, the woman succumbed to her injuries and died after being taken to the hospital. The children were reportedly unharmed in the accident. Witnesses also say that this intersection is becoming more and more dangerous and they are witnessing more crashes that usual. Police do not suspect that alcohol or drugs played a role in the accident.
Unfortunately, the story above is not uncommon. Accidents happen and people get injured, and sometimes die, way too often. If you have been injured in a car accident, you have options. Recovering from an accident can be difficult. There are medical expenses, lost wages from being unable to work, and a whole host of other issues that can arise during recovery after an accident. A personal injury attorney can help you recover the compensation you need following an accident, but there are some things that you should do immediately following an accident before you contact an attorney.
The personal injury attorneys at Pivotal Law Group are here to help you following an accident. We know that an accident can be devastating and the following recovery can be daunting. Let us help you recover the compensation you deserve. Our attorneys are dedicated to your case and want to help you achieve the best result possible under the circumstances. Contact us today for a consultation.
(image courtesy of Bethany Legg)
Posted Friday, November 23, 2018 by Chris Thayer
Accidents, whether major or minor, can be life changing and devastating. These effects are often only magnified when the accident involves a semi-truck, 18-wheeler, or tractor-trailer. Truck accidents need to be treated in a different way than an average car accident. Usually, a car accident is a mix of fault between the two parties or solely one party’s fault, but this is not always the case in truck driving accidents. Even in accidents where is seems like the car is to blame for causing the accident, the responsibility of the truck for the accident must be considered. Each truck accident must be specially investigated. When determining fault in a truck accident, there are two main parties that come to mind - the truck company and the truck driver. Both the driver and the trucking company can be found liable for the damages caused by the accident.
The Trucking Company
The trucking company is one of the first parties considered in determining who is liable for the damages of the accident. Most people think that the company is automatically responsible for the accident because of its relationship to the accident. For the most part, employers are held responsible for the accident when the acts of their employees are unintentional in nature and are also done within the scope of their employment. This means that a truck company could be liable for the damages caused by a driver if the driver did not intentionally cause an accident and was driving the truck under the terms of his or her employment with the company.
For example, there are strict federal requirements that outline the number of hours a driver is allowed to be on the road without sleep. Sometimes, however, truck companies are trying to meet deadlines or deliver as many goods as possible and might encourage their drivers to drive over the set limit of hours to make deliveries. Fatigued truck drivers often cause serious accidents, which would be the responsibility of the truck company.
On the other hand, studies have shown that 29% of accidents involving a semi-truck are caused by a failure within the vehicle. Oftentimes, these failures extend beyond the control of the driver, placing the blame on the company that owns the truck, maintains the truck, loads cargo onto the truck, or even manufactures the truck.
The Truck Driver
Sometimes the driver of the truck is responsible for a truck accident. In the above-mentioned study, it has been found that truck drivers cause up to 87% of the accidents in which they are involved. This percentage is a mixture of decision errors, driver recognition error, and performance errors. Whether the driver has made the decision to drive too fast, or has fallen asleep at the wheel, these are all errors that could make the driver at least partially liable for the damages caused by accident. Driver error could be considered driver negligence, causing his or her potential liability.
If you have been involved in an accident with a semi-truck in Kent, Renton, or Burien, the personal injury attorneys at Pivotal Law Group are here to help you. We know that recovering from an accident can be difficult. Our attorneys want to help you recover the compensation to which you are entitled. Contact us today for a consultation.
(image courtesy of Deva Darshan)
Posted Friday, November 16, 2018 by Chris Thayer
Immediately following a car accident, many individuals feel confused and overwhelmed. Their adrenaline is pumping, and they worry about filing an insurance claim, their damaged vehicle, and dealing with the other parties involved.
Once a car accident victim gets home, calms down, and looks to get past the incident, he or she might be surprised to notice injuries that did not immediately present themselves following the accident. Injuries incurred in car accidents do not always manifest right away. Delayed injures are quite dangerous because if they are left untreated, they can lead to more serious, debilitating conditions.
The following are injuries that often do not show up immediately after a car accident, but that you should watch out for to avoid debilitating injuries:
Whiplash
Whiplash is a type of neck strain. It can be caused by “any impact or blow that causes your head to jerk forward or backward.” Essentially, a sudden force on your neck can tear the muscles and tendons in the neck. Whiplash symptoms do not always show up immediately following a car accident. Symptoms could show up the morning after an accident or several days after an accident. A stiff neck, dizziness, the feeling of being off-balance, decreased range of motion, and headaches that start at the base of the skull and radiate to the forehead are just a few of the symptoms that indicate whiplash. If you experience any of these injuries, it is important to get them checked out by a doctor.
Brain Injury
After a car accident, it is not uncommon to experience a headache. While this headache could just be a sign of stress, it could be an indicator that there are serious injuries manifesting. Headaches that are long lasting, extremely painful, or otherwise different than a usual headache could indicate a concussion or other traumatic brain injury. Brain injuries are extremely serious, and if you are at all worried about a brain injury, be sure to be checked out by a doctor.
Emotional Distress
Physical injuries are not the only ones that can occur in an accident; emotional distress and anguish often follow. A car accident can be traumatic and terrifying. Anxiety, depression, and changes in personality can all happen after a car accident. Mental health is just as important as physical health. As such, being sure to take care of your mental well-being following an accident is imperative.
Whether your injuries manifest immediately or days after your accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. The personal injury attorneys at Pivotal Law Group are here to help you following an accident in Bellevue, Kent, Renton, Burien, Mercer Island, and Issaquah county. We know that injuries after an accident, both physical and mental, are important. We want to help you recover from your injuries and get back to your normal life as soon as possible. Contact us today for a consultation.
(image courtesy of William Krause)
Posted Friday, November 9, 2018 by Chris Thayer
You have been in a car accident in Kent, in Burien, Mercer Island, or any of the cities surrounding Seattle. The car accident has resulted in an injury – a pain in your leg, a pain in your back, or anywhere else on your body. You might be overwhelmed, devastated, and overall wondering what you should do next. An accident is never expected or welcome. Even so, it can have devastating effects on your life. An injury can prevent you from going to work for a period of time. This results in worry about your budget being tight; how you will possibly keep up with medical bills, and other costs that come along with an injury? If the accident was the result of the negligence or wrongful act of another, you might be entitled to compensation through a personal injury attorney. However, a personal injury suit takes time. Who is responsible for medical bills as they occur? Should you use your personal health insurance for medical bills?
General Rules
You are responsible for your medical bills, or any other bills, as they occur. This is the general rule. Even if the injury is caused by another person’s negligence or wrongful act, the bills are your own responsibility as they come in. While you may be responsible for the costs at the outset, you may receive repayment for the bills. This repayment will not come directly from the at-fault driver deciding to compensate you for your injury, but through an award in a personal injury suit. A judge or jury could decide that the medical bills you incurred as a result of the car accident should be included in a damages award. The court could include the medical bills in their calculation of compensatory damages. Compensatory damages are meant to make an injured party “whole” again. The damages are meant to return the injured party to the life that they had before the accident. Other than the medical bills being included in the damages award in a personal injury suit, the other driver has no responsibility to pay your medical bills.
Personal Health Insurance
It is in your best interest to pay for medical bills through your insurance after an accident, as much as they will cover. Your personal insurance provider can be sent the medical bills you incur and they will pay whatever your plan allows. Your insurance might also include Personal Injury Protection (PIP)coverage that is used to defray the costs after an auto accident. The law does not require you to purchase this coverage, but your auto insurance coverage provider can inform you of this option.
If you have been injured in a car accident, you need the help of a qualified personal injury attorney. The personal injury attorneys at Pivotal Law Group are here to help you. Call upon us if you are in an accident in Kent, Burien, Mercer Island, or other cities surrounding Seattle, Washington. Contact us today.