If you want to drive in Washington State, car insurance is mandatory. Your insurance policy covers property damage and bodily harm in case of a collision. But if you’ve ever actually in a collision, you might have discovered that getting your insurance company to pay what’s fair isn’t always easy.  Today we want to cover some common insurance disputes that could arise when you file a claim.  Refusal to pay medical benefits  Your Personal Injury Protection coverage on your own auto insurance policy should cover your initial medical bills. If your insurance companies denies or delays coverage, this can be

The term “duty of care” is an important one in personal injury law. If you’ve been injured and are considering legal action, chances are good you’ve heard this term. But what does it mean, exactly? And what are the implications? In this post, we’ll help you better make sense of this concept.  What is a Duty of Care? Simply put, a duty of care is the legal responsibility a person or business has to keep others from being harmed. Their behaviors should make reasonable effort to keep others safe.  Examples of Duty of Care Relationships  It’s important to understand that

Wrong-site surgeries are tragic, preventable events. This type of error can have catastrophic consequences for patients and their families. The term “wrong-site surgery” can be used to describe several different types of errors:  Wrong side surgery (e.g., left limb instead of right)  Wrong site surgery (e.g., wrong location on spine) Wrong procedure  Wrong patient  Thankfully, these incidents are very rare. However, because they happen so infrequently, it’s easy for doctors and staff to think that they could never happen to them. This type of thinking can become dangerous if it prevents doctors from taking proper precautions and learning from others’

Fall is a beautiful time of year here in the Pacific Northwest. But with the changing seasons, it’s important to recognize some of the potential hazards on the road. In our post today, we wanted to share some simple tips for driving safely this fall.  Tip 1 – Watch for Shifts in Daylight. With the sunrise coming later and the sunset coming earlier, your commute may now be in the dark. Or, you might be staring directly into the sun during that time. Either way, make sure your headlights are working, and keep a pair of polarized sunglasses in your

A wrongful death is a preventable death caused by someone else’s negligence or maliciousness. If this has happened to a family member, under Washington State law, you may be able to file a claim. Common situations include victims of drunk drivers and medical malpractice.  Why File a Wrongful Death Claim?  The purpose of a wrongful death claim is for dependent family members to seek a settlement. In other words, it’s a civil action. Depending on the circumstances of your case, the guilty party may also face criminal charges. But this is a separate legal action.  Some of the benefits of pursuing a

Negligence is an important concept when it comes to personal injury law. Without negligence, you likely don’t have a path forward to receive compensation if you’ve been injured. In our brief post, we’ll explain this term and provide some examples. Duty of Care There are many roles we have in life where we owe others a certain amount of care. For instance:  Coaches and teachers have responsibilities to keep kids safe. Drivers must obey traffic laws to avoid collisions with other vehicles.  Property owners must keep their premises free of hazards for guests.  Not surprisingly, many of these basic duties