Recent Blog Posts
Proving Foreseeability in a Premises Liability Claim
There’s a lot of Legalese in that title, so let’s break it down. “Proving” means establishing a fact by a preponderance of the evidence (more likely than not). Victims don’t need to conclusively prove anything in civil court. “Foreseeability” of injury is the possibility of injury. An explosion aboard a spaceship bound for the… Read More »
Breaking Down an Alcohol-Related Car Crash
After trending downward for many years, the number of alcohol-related wrecks took a sharp turn the other way after coronavirus pandemic lockdowns. In 2021, the number of these incidents shot up to its highest level since 2007. Since traffic enforcement mostly stopped during 2020, many drivers picked up bad habits, such as driving while… Read More »
Physical and Emotional Dog Bite Injuries
Every year, animal attacks kill or seriously injure thousands of Americans. To obtain compensation for these injuries, these victims usually have several legal options. However, a number of insurance company defenses are available as well, mostly the provocation defense. Depending on the legal theory used and the extent of provocation, which is a physical… Read More »
Top Five School Injuries
For safety and health purposes, schools are basically surrogate parents. They have a legal duty to provide a safe and secure environment. Schoolchildren are invitees in Washington. Since the landowner (the school district) benefits financially when children come to school, the duty of reasonable care applies. Furthermore, children are vulnerable to injury in many… Read More »
If I Was Hurt in a Motorcycle Crash, Do I Automatically Get a Settlement?
You’d think so, given the serious injuries these riders usually sustain. Motorcyclists are thirty times more likely to die in collisions than vehicle occupants. But unfortunately, the answer to this question is no. Insurance companies care little or nothing about what’s right or fair, despite the claims they make in TV commercials. When the… Read More »
Catholic Dioceses File Bankruptcy to Avoid Sex Abuse Cases
As of September 2023, eighteen Catholic churches have reorganized their debts under Chapter 11 bankruptcy and another twelve are in proceedings. Three religious orders affiliated with the church have also filed for bankruptcy. Obstacles to Fair Compensation in Child Sex Abuse Claims Latent injury victims, like child sex abuse victims, are usually entitled to… Read More »
Obstacles to Fair Compensation in Dog Bite Cases
The total amount of dog bite claims shot up in 2022, to over $1 billion. Advances in medical treatments, along with higher medical costs, mostly fueled this increase. In other words, victims receive more money because they need more money. But insurance company lawyers care nothing about what victims need. They only want to… Read More »
Breaking Down a Minor Settlement in Seattle
The Supreme Court has held that underage individuals have basically the same legal rights as people over 18. Forming a contract, including a settlement agreement, is the primary exception. Car crashes and other personal injury incidents often injure children. So, attorneys must make special arrangements in these cases. Since over 95 percent of these… Read More »
At-School Injuries: Who is to Blame?
Online schools are more common today than ever before. But over 90 percent of Washington kids attend public school. School administrators assume responsibility for student safety, as well as student education, when kids walk through the doors. Schools are not above the law. Instead, they’re accountable to the same principles of negligence and injury… Read More »
The Three Worst Swimming Pool Accident Injuries
A backyard swimming pool is one of the most popular forms of recreation in the country. Over ten million Americans have a backyard pool. This fun activity, like all fun activities, has a dark side. If owners properly maintain their swimming pools and prioritize safety above everything else, the dark side is more of… Read More »