Posted Tuesday, July 14, 2015 by
Chris Thayer
While some car accident cases can easily point to one liable party, a car accident attorney Seattle can explain this is not always the case. There may be several different people who may be financially liable for the accident, such as the vehicle’s owner, an employer, a property owner, a vehicle parts manufacturer, a contractor or a business. Governmental entities may also be to blame.
Legal Assistance
If you would like help in determining who may potentially to blame for your car accident, read over the following information. Then, contact a car accident attorney Seattle like Chris Thayer at (866) 884-2417.
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Posted Thursday, July 2, 2015 by
Chris Thayer
Seattle Injury Lawyers Discuss Independent Medical Exams
If one were merely to be exposed to the term “independent medical exam,” one would very naturally conclude that it is a neutral, objective, unbiased method for gathering more information in a personal injury claim. The reality, however, is quite different.
Not Independent IMEs have been employed with greater regularity by the defense or insurance carrier and would thus be more aptly considered “defense medical examinations” or “adverse medical examinations.” When the injured plaintiff places his or her physical or mental health in question as a result of a defendant’s actions, the defense has the right to obtain medical evidence that contradicts the plaintiff’s claims. However, many IME doctors realize the defense will benefit from a certain outcome of the IME report and skew the findings accordingly.
The Likelihood of an IME
Certain cases are more likely to involve an IME than others. If there is any reason to believe the plaintiff is less than forthright or exaggerating the claim, an IME will almost certainly be requested, for example. In other cases, a high demand by plaintiff’s counsel may trigger an IME.
Speak with Your Lawyer
If an IME is inevitable, it is important to discuss the matter with your lawyer. Among the guidance he or she may provide include:
- Explain how the particular doctor in question operates
- The value of taking notes regarding the examination
- Explain that certain test or procedures are not to be conducted based on your particular circumstances
- Explain that there are certain topics of conversation that you should avoid while undergoing the examination
Contact a Seattle Injury Lawyer for Legal Advice
Sadly, you cannot expect an IME to be fair. It is best to discuss the entire matter with experienced counsel. Call Chris Thayer, an injury lawyers Seattle group, at (206) 340-2008.
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Posted Tuesday, June 30, 2015 by
Chris Thayer
Seattle personal injury lawyers can explain the process of mediation and its benefits.
Process
Each party meets with the mediator in a general session to discuss the general information about the case. Then, the mediator meets with each side to determine what each side wants. If a resolution is reached, the parties come back together and agree to the result.
Benefits
Mediation helps create a communication bridge between the parties. Additionally, it helps the parties to view their position from a more objective perspective.
Legal Assistance
If you would like to know if mediation could assist your case, contact Seattle personal injury lawyers by calling (866) 884-2417.
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Posted Monday, June 15, 2015 by
Chris Thayer
In this article, an experienced Seattle slip and fall attorney explains the importance of collecting and protecting any evidence of your slip and fall accident.
Keeping The Evidence
Unless every effort is made to protect the evidence of your accident, it may be difficult to prove later on that it ever took place. It will be up to you and your attorney to acquire and safeguard anything that can be collected as physical evidence of your accident, so that when your case goes to trial, that evidence can be produced in court. Otherwise, you have nothing to substantiate your charges, and your case can be seriously jeopardized if not lost completely.
Your Shoes
Under no circumstances should you throw away the shoes you wore when you fell. In fact, they should be put in a safe place and not worn again, because their condition can have a bearing on your case. If you have thrown them away, it will be up to your attorney to find and obtain a similar pair and this can be difficult. It will also not carry the same weight that the actual pair of shoes you had on would carry. The property owner, manager or administrator is obligated to see that the flooring is safe and stable, and that it does not present a danger to people wearing shoes made from the materials most frequently used in the manufacturing process.
If it can be shown that the floor presented some kind of risk, this can demonstrate a clear failure of duty on the part of the property owner. However, it may be necessary to show that your shoes were not of a sort that would normally slide on a properly maintained, ordinary floor. In such a case, your own shoes must be examined in order to show that it was the floor, not the shoe, that was the problem.
Rugs Or Mats On The Floor
If you tripped on a mat or rug, it is important that the defendant not be allowed to get rid of it. Since these are often changed out when they get damaged or soiled and they take up valuable space in a storage room, businesses often simply throw them away. You and your attorney must be able to retrieve the mat for examination and testing, or the information it contains can be irretrievably lost.
Food Items
Produce dropped on the floor of a grocery store can often present a slipping hazard. You don’t need, however, to keep the spinach leaf that caused your fall. If you can snap a picture using your phone, that will serve the purpose. Any spinach leave will do for demonstration during the trial.
Your Slip And Fall Attorney Can Help
If you are trying to file a slip and fall lawsuit, you will need experienced counsel. Contact Chris Thayer, your Seattle slip and fall attorney, today.
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Posted Tuesday, June 9, 2015 by
Chris Thayer
When first meeting with accident attorneys Seattle residents often ask how much their claim is worth. There are several factors to consider.
Medical Costs
Be sure that you document all medical expenses that you have incurred to date. Also, consider the future cost of medical expenses that you anticipate.
Lost Income
Estimate how much wages you have lost due to the accident.
Pain and Suffering
The amount that you have had to endure is also compensable.
Legal Assistance
If you would like accident attorneys Seattle to assist you with evaluating the value of your claim, contact Chris Thayer at (866) 884-2417.
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