Probably Not. The insurance company is trying to get rid of your case for as little money as possible. They are trying to preserve their assets, not make fair offers.

Usually what they offer is far below what your claim is worth. And they will often try to convince you that you are getting the same amount or more, without a lawyer, because you aren’t paying an attorney fee.

So the question is "Should you believe the insurance company is telling you the truth when they have a financial interest in misleading you?" The answer is almost always NO!

This is a common tactic by the insurance companies. Remember they are trying to get rid of your case for cheap. So if they convince you that you are partly at fault, then they can reduce their already cheap offer even more.

I’ve seen insurance companies try to claim that a client was partially at fault when they got rear-ended while stopped for a pedestrian at a marked crosswalk. This happened again when another client was t-boned by a driver who shot out of an alley across three lanes!

Most likely they are making it up to see if you are dumb enough to accept some liability so that they can write a smaller check. Don’t make that mistake. They are trying to cheat you.

I’m one of the only carpenters/cabinetmakers turned lawyers in the country. I own two table saws. I understand table-saws in a way that other lawyers just never will. You need a lawyer who can tell the story of your injury to the jury with conviction and understanding. The best person to do that is a lawyer who has seen a friend’s finger laying on the table-saw like I have.

Probably. Half of my practice is devoted to small business issues. So I can help with contract issues, lease issues, employee issues, and disputes with contract providers. I’ve helped a local deli, doctor, dive shop, spa, and others deal with their established business issues. Give me a call to see if I can help you.

Yes. I offer a primer for small businesses on the law and how it affects them starting up and when they get established. I’ve helped a local restaurant, family therapist, spa, and other lawyers, deal with start-up issues, by positioning themselves to avoid problems later on. Since I own two businesses, I also offer practical advice on running the business and avoiding common pitfalls.

Mainly because you get better service with a small firm. Remember that a big firm has HUGE overhead. They have to burn through A LOT of cases to pay the bills. Big firms pawn the work off on paralegals, and push for quick settlements, because they would rather have 1/3 of a small settlement, than work to achieve a larger settlement or jury award. They’d rather move onto the next easy case.

Small firms don’t do that. We work with our clients to position their case for the best result, because if we don’t — we starve. So you get much better service from us, and as a result you get a better result in your case.

For more information, please read What to look for when choosing a lawyer to represent you.

No. There are about 20 lawyers, ‘Lions of the trial bar’ (none in WA), who everybody is afraid of, even judges. For everybody else, what dictates the value of any case is how the defendant (read: insurance company lawyers) feel the facts of the case will play to the jury, basically how well the plaintiff’s lawyer tells the client’s story.

Big firm lawyers don’t know their clients as well as the small firm lawyers; they can’t. They have too many cases. So the question for you is "Who would be better at telling my story to the jury?" A big firm lawyer who barely knows me and has all their work done by paralegals OR a lawyer who is directly involved with my case and has been with me every step of the way?

Maybe. I only do a limited amount of defense work. If you’re the right kind of client and case I might be able to help you.

If you are being sued because you were involved in a car wreck, please call your insurance company — they have a duty to defend you.

Please read my page for defendants. I don’t do insurance defense work.

No. I don’t do criminal law. But I can refer you to a good friend of mine who does criminal defense, and is very good. Please contact me if you would like a referral.

If you’ve been arrested, when they tell you that you have the right to remain silent, say to yourself "Excellent idea. I’ll do that!" And when they say you have the right to an attorney, say "Another excellent idea, I want one of those!"