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.
Posted Thursday, September 10, 2015 by
Chris Thayer
A personal injury attorney Washington state may review several tips on how you can provide effective testimony at your hearing or settlement conference. However, he or she will also likely explain that it can sometimes be years between the accident and your testimony date. In order to help you keep track of how you were feeling that long ago, your lawyer may suggest that you keep a journal detailing your symptoms and treatment.
Legal Assistance
If you would like more information about symptom journals, contact a personal injury attorney Washington state such as Chris Thayer. You can reach him at (866) 884-2417.
An injury attorney Washington can explain the facts about when an insurance company’s Special Investigation Unit will move forward with a fraud investigation.
Personal Issues That Could Spur A Fraud Investigation
Insurance companies and claims adjusters might become suspicious if the following circumstances are in place:
1) Being evasive with identification. If the claimant is unable to provide believable and credible identification, it could lead to an adjuster believing fraud might be occurring.
2) Questionable addresses. A claimant might not have a fixed address or prefer to use the address of a friend, relative, or even a P.O. box in lieu of a fixed address.
3) The claimant chooses not to use the mail for documents and opts for hand delivery. This might be a sign that the claimant is concerned about mail fraud.
4) The claimant is behaving with an aggressive attitude. Claimants like this are demanding, seek a fast settlement, or are overly knowledgeable about how the claims process works.
5) A claimant has financial issues. Before the claim was submitted, the claimant was having personal problems with finances or in the home. This might show that he or she is motivated to exaggerate the aftereffects of an accident.
6) An inconsistent lifestyle. The claimant’s income is listed at one level, but the lifestyle suggests something different. If the claimant is living in an ostentatious manner without a reputable, documented income, the adjuster might wonder where the money is coming from. It might be via illegal behaviors or “sub rosa” employment that could contradict a claimant’s assertion that the accident caused injuries or disabilities.
Call An Experienced Injury Attorney Washington
If you have questions about plaintiff fraud and investigations, call (866) 884-2417 to speak to injury lawyer Washington Chris Thayer today.
If you have been injured by the negligence of another person, it is a very natural response to ask, “How much is my case worth?” That is a very difficult question to answer, especially early in the case. As the full extent of your injuries become clearer, and other factors such as lost income and pain and suffering damages are determined, your lawyer will sit down and discuss a fair settlement amount for your case.
The Strategy
Other than calculating your actual damages, your lawyer will consider such issues as how you might perform as a witness if the case were to proceed to trial and which insurance company is involved. With your agreement, an acceptable settlement range will be arrived at; but the number your lawyer will present to the insurer will be different.
Rejecting the First Offer
Knowing that insurance adjusters will almost always reject the first settlement demand, knowledgeable counsel will initially submit a number exceeding the agreed upon range. The actual dollar amount will be crafted to allow each side room to negotiate in an effort to ultimately arrive at a final settlement within the desired range.
Excessive Demands
Although it may seem a good idea to the plaintiff to demand a large amount in hopes of getting more out of the settlement than anticipated, that tactic can back-fire. Insurance companies will often cut off negotiations with a party who makes what they consider to be unreasonable demands and force the matter to trial, which involves more time, more expense and greater uncertainty.
Contact Experienced Injury Lawyers Seattle for Legal Advice
Understanding the process a personal injury claim evolves through is a key factor in receiving a fair settlement. For any questions at any stage of your case, call Chris Thayer, a personal injury attorney 98101, at (866) 884-2417.
An accident lawyer Seattle WA can explain how signing a waiver may or may not affect your legal rights. These forms are often required when a person is engaging in an activity that may be considered risky and when an injury is possible and foreseen. However, whether signing such a waiver really releases a person’s legal rights depends on the particular circumstances involving the waiver and those involved in the accident itself. A personal injury lawyer can provide a better assessment.
For more information on this topic, watch the following clip and then contact accident lawyer Seattle WA Chris Thayer at (866) 884-2417.
If you have been bitten or otherwise injured by a dog, a Seattle accident attorney can explain the three steps that you should take immediately.
Seek Medical Attention
Your injuries may be mitigated if you receive prompt and competent medical attention. You may need surgery or cosmetic work in order to have scars removed or your mouth repaired.
Identify the Dog
In order to potentially recover monetary compensation for the injuries you sustained, try to identify the owner of the dog or the person responsible for the dog at the time of your injury.
Contact an Attorney
Contact Seattle accident attorney Chris Thayer at (866) 884-2417 to start your legal process of recovery.
