Automobile Accidents

• Pedestrian Dies After Being Struck by Truck

  Mark McLean | June 25, 2007 9:44 AM | 0 CommentsSeattle, WA

  A 56 year old Bothell woman was killed when she was hit by an out-of-control truck just after getting off a bus in Kenmore. It was about 4 p.m. Tuesday when the out-of-control truck hit a nearby front-loader and then slammed into a group of pedestrians, killing Kathy Cook and injuring seven other people.Witness Brian Stambuk said he was behind the front-loader at the traffic light. When the...

• Teen Suffers Personal Injuries in Car Accident

  Mark McLean | June 25, 2007 9:32 AM | 0 CommentsSeattle, WA

  A Lake Stevens teenager suffered serious personal injuries when she was struck by a dump truck on Highway 92 in Lake Stevens last week.The woman apparently was making a left turn onto 127th Drive NE when her car was struck broadside by a dump truck and trailer rig about 7:15 a.m., Washington State Patrol Sgt. Harlan Jackson said.The woman, who reportedly was alert and conscious at the scene, was...

• Pedestrians Suffer Personal Injuries on Seattle Waterfront

  Mark McLean | June 25, 2007 9:07 AM | 0 CommentsSeattle, WA

  Two pedestrians suffered personal injuries when they were struck by a pickup truck in an accident along Alaskan Way on Seattle's Downtown Waterfront on Friday. A pickup truck struck two people walking across Alaskan Way on Seattle's waterfront Friday, police said. The two were taken to Harborview Medical Center.A witness told KIRO 7 Eyewitness News the two -- a man and a woman -- were crossing...

• Spoliation of Evidence - the Complicated Way to Say that Destroying Evidence Can Lead to Significant Consequences

  Michael Myers | June 04, 2007 11:45 AM | 0 CommentsSeattle, WA

  Spoliation of evidence is a legal term associated with the destruction of evidence. The destruction of evidence by a party to a lawsuit can result in significant consequences. For instance, if the defendant destroys evidence, the court can actually enter a default judgment against that defendant. If a plaintiff purposefully destroys evidence the suit he or she has filed can be dismissed.An...

• Suprises at Trial

  Michael Myers | May 29, 2007 9:22 AM | 0 CommentsSeattle, WA

  Each day at trial is filled with highs and lows. No matter how well orchestrated the trial, inevitably, there are surprises and set backs. Surprises and setbacks can come as a result of malfunctioning technology, unfortunate rulings from the bench or surprises originating from opposing counsel. Sometimes parties to a lawsuit hold on unrealistic expectations about what a trial should look...

• Pain Diaries? No Way!

  Michael Myers | May 09, 2007 4:33 PM | 0 CommentsSeattle, WA

  Personal injury clients are oftentimes asked whether they keep journals, diaries or calendars related to their symptoms. Some attorneys advise that clients maintain diaries so that their pain is "documented". I have a different view. Keeping a pain diary is somewhat unnatural and causes there to be a particular focus on the discomfort. The more time and attention that is spent thinking about...

• Help Increase Insurance Executives' Bonuses--Don't Make Claims When Injured by a Family Member

  Michael Myers | April 03, 2007 7:45 PM | 0 CommentsSeattle, WA

  An 82-year-old Ocean Shores man died following in car accident on Friday. The man was riding with his 79 year old wife. The wife struck a telephone pole. In caes like this the family can recover under both the liability and UIM policies purchased from the auto insurer. No doubt policy payments were made to the insurance comapny for years. Failing to make a claim only adds to the insurance...

• Washington State Law Offers Virtually No Deterrence

  Michael Myers | March 08, 2007 1:07 PM | 0 CommentsSeattle, WA

  Washington law offers very few remedies for the families of unmarried adults. And, as a result, does very little to deter negligent and reckless behavior on either an individual or corporate level. Not only does Washington law fail to provide for punitive damages, it fails to impose any real consequences on those who--through their negligence or recklessness--cause the death of an unmarried...

• Talking to Juries

  Michael Myers | March 08, 2007 9:25 AM | 1 CommentSeattle, WA

  Jury service has been described as one of the most valuable civic functions. In fact, many people think it second only to serving one's country on the battlefield. These types of statements are made in almost every closing argument. However, they are often cloaked in archaic formality. It's not a great strategy to Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln or other historic figures who do not...

• PIP versus Health Insurance.

  Michael Myers | March 08, 2007 9:09 AM | 0 CommentsSeattle, WA

  This seems to be an ongoing question among injured persons and health care providers. Which insurance policy should pay for the injured person's treatment? PIP is always primary to health insurance - except when it is exhausted. This means that your health care providers need to bill your PIP carrier until there is no more coverage. When coverage runs out under the PIP policy your health...