After a crash, paperwork and photographs are the last thing on your mind. You are hurting, the insurance calls are starting, and life is still moving. But some of the most useful proof in an injury claim is fragile: a damaged bumper gets repaired, security video gets recorded over, a phone gets traded in. This is a plain walk-through of what to hang onto after an injury in Washington, how to...Read More
Bringing an injury claim means opening up parts of your life to scrutiny — that’s an unavoidable feature of putting your physical condition at issue. But it doesn’t mean every private detail is fair game or destined for a public file. Washington’s rules provide tools for protecting genuinely sensitive information in appropriate circumstances. Understanding what those tools...Read More
An arbitration award is not always the end of the road. Washington’s civil arbitration rules give either side the right to reject the award and start over with a fresh trial in superior court. This is called a trial de novo — Latin for “anew.” It is a powerful right, but it comes with a firm deadline and a real financial risk, and both are worth understanding whether you are...Read More
When you answer written discovery early in a lawsuit, your answers reflect what’s true on the day you sign them. But cases don’t stand still. You may get more treatment, your symptoms may change, or new evidence may come into your file months later. Washington’s rules don’t expect your original answers to freeze the case in place — they expect the record to keep up with...Read More
At some point in an injury claim, you may be asked to attend a medical examination arranged by an insurance company or by opposing counsel — commonly called an “IME.” The name can be a little misleading, since the examiner is chosen and paid by the other side rather than by you. Knowing what kind of examination you are dealing with, and what your rights are, takes much of the...Read More
Here’s a scenario that surprises many people: your PIP or health plan pays your medical bills after a crash, you later recover from the at-fault driver, and then you’re told some of that money has to be paid back. This is called reimbursement or subrogation, and it’s one of the least understood parts of an injury claim. Understanding it early helps you avoid unpleasant...Read More
