With thousands of clients served, hundreds of millions recovered, and countless 5-star reviews, it’s easy to overlook the individual stories that reflect why we do what we do. In striving to make a positive impact in the life of anyone who enlists our help, we’ve had the great fortune of meeting and assisting a lot of amazing people.
Here are client stories and testimonials from a few people our firm has had the pleasure of representing:
Steven Snoland
Collision with a Car that Failed to Yield
In November of 2018, Steven Snoland was traveling northbound on 1st Avenue in Seattle, Washington when he struck the side of a vehicle that failed to yield at a stop sign. The force of the impact caused injuries to Steven’s back, neck, hips, and legs. His resulting medical expenses totaled $30,000.
Prior to the collision, Steven was a carpenter and enjoyed regular exercise like hiking and biking. As a result of the injuries, Steven now suffered from numbness in his legs, loss of sleep, and anxiety while driving. He had difficulty sitting, walking, or driving for extended periods of time without experiencing immense pain.
Due to the collision, Steven was unable to return to work as a carpenter and subsequently lost his job.
Finding the Right Firm
After realizing he’d need someone fighting on his behalf, Steven hired a well-known Seattle personal injury firm. Unhappy with the way he was being treated and the lack of communication regarding his case, Steven ultimately decided to switch firms and enlist The Advocates.
A Long Fight for Fair Compensation
Because of the massive and irreparable impact the accident had on his life, Steven rejected the initial offer from the insurance company and decided to pursue litigation.
With the help of The Advocates’ litigation team, a final demand of $750,000 was issued and ultimately rejected by the insurance company. The insurance company said the case would have to be tried, and a date was set for late November of 2022.
Just weeks before trial, following a slew of successful motions from his attorney and The Advocates’ team, Farmers Insurance returned with a $1,000,000 offer. Steven accepted the offer and was finally able to resolve his claim nearly four years after the accident occurred.
Thanks to his personal bravery in forgoing a lowball offer, as well as the persistence of The Advocates team, Steven received far more money than the insurance company was initially willing to give for his severe and life altering injuries.
Al Tuley
Rear Ended While Going Through a Car Wash
In March of 2022, Al Tuley was going through the Brown Bear Car Wash in Issaquah, Washington when another customer failed to place their vehicle in neutral and rear ended him. The force of the impact caused left shoulder, neck, and back injuries as well as head pain. Al’s total medical bills exceeded $10,000.
Above and beyond the medical bills, Al was suffering significant difficulties in completing daily chores, constantly having to schedule around various medical appointments, and unable to follow through with a major international trip that had been planned prior to the accident.
After retaining our services, The Advocates requested that Farmers Insurance Company provide Al with the full policy limits of their insured, at-fault party.
Fighting for Appropriate Compensation
Following a low final offer, Al decided to move into litigation.
With the help of multiple attorneys in the firm, Al was ultimately able to resolve his claim prior to deposition and without going to trial. The insurance company increased their offer, providing Al with a sum he felt fairly compensated him for the injuries and medical bills he’d sustained.
Al has been kind enough to publicly share his positive experience with our firm, saying, “I was quite pleased with the service provided. My team was attentive, and they did exactly what they said they were going to do for me. I think the most important thing about the Advocates there was no letdown in service between one person and another. Everyone functioned as one team.
I have no reservation in recommending the Advocates, I am truly grateful.”
Daniele Tavenner
Hostile Work Environment at the Department of Corrections
Daniele Tavenner was employed as a corrections officer at Airway Heights Corrections Center in 2019. While undergoing training, one of her supervisors called her into his office and offered her “protection” from male staff members and inmates in exchange for sex.
Daniele reported the offer, along with other inappropriate comments, to human resources and asked to ensure interaction with the offending supervisor could be avoided in the future.
Her request was shot down and she resigned the next day.
Trying to Hold the DOC Accountable
Following her resignation, Daniele consulted with an attorney from The Advocates. With representation from John Harper and Stefanie Collins, she filed a lawsuit against the Department of Corrections.
Spokane Jury Awards $175,000
Following a 6-day trial and less than a day of deliberation, the jury found there was indeed a hostile work environment and awarded Daniele $175,000.
Although Daniele says she’s ready to move on with her life, she hopes the verdict will help bring change to the Department of Corrections.
In a story that ran in the Spokesman-Review following the verdict, Daniele commented, “Hopefully, it says that things need to change there. That people shouldn’t be put in these positions, and that when allegations are made, they need to be taken more seriously.”
Arnold “AJ” MacEachern
Two Accidents, Two Years Apart
After being rear ended in 2017, AJ suffered from neck, back, and hip pain. He enlisted The Advocates to assist with recovering medical expenses along with general damages resulting from the negative impact the injuries had on his life.
The firm secured a favorable settlement and AJ was able to move on.
In 2019, AJ was once again rear ended while stopped at a red light, this time suffering injuries to his back, neck, and right arm. In addition to the injuries, AJ was experiencing headaches and loss of sleep.
Placing Trust in The Advocates
No one wants to be a repeat client with a personal injury firm, but knowing the team had treated him well in the past, AJ once again enlisted the help of The Advocates.
Because there was no significant damage to his vehicle, the insurance company made every attempt to minimize the impact the accident had on AJ’s life and avoid offering fair compensation. The insurance company continued to push an offer of $24,000, with AJ and his attorney expecting significantly more to make things right.
Trial Prep Forces Resolution
Just days before trial was set to begin, the insurance company came back with an offer of $45,500, which AJ accepted. The willingness to aggressively fight for a favorable outcome allowed him to ultimately resolve his case for nearly double what was previously on the table.
As is frequently the case, the insurance company failed to provide a reasonable offer until it was clear the firm and the client were not going to back down.
Elshan Karimov
Backed Into by Vehicle While Stopped
In August of 2018, Elshan was stopped on 4th Avenue in Seattle when another driver reversed their vehicle and backed into him. As a result of the collision, Elshan suffered from head, neck, and back pain.
At the time of the accident, Elshan was working 40-60 hours each week as a driver for LYFT. As a result of the collision, he was no longer able to sit for extended periods of time and could not maintain his previous driving schedule.
A Friend in The Advocates
Elshan enlisted Jamal Amirzade of The Advocates for help getting fair compensation and reimbursement for his injuries.
Because the damage to his vehicle was minimal, the claims department questioned whether Elshan “could have reasonably sustained the injuries described,” and rejected the claim. With over $7,000 in medical bills accumulated during three months of treatment, The Advocates continued to push for a reasonable offer.
Vindication and Compensation
Nearly 16 months after the accident occurred, Elshan was finally provided a fair offer for the injuries he’d sustained in the collision. Although the settlement was a relatively small sum, it provided coverage for the medical bills he’d accumulated, and wages lost following the accident.
Elshan’s case serves as a reminder that not all settlements are life changing sums of money, but each of them should provide adequate and fair compensation for any injuries sustained. Without the help of Jamal and The Advocates, it’s possible his claim would have remained rejected and he would have been on the hook for the medical bills necessary to get back in good health.
Mohamed
T-Boned by SUV
In 2020, Mohamed was driving home and an SUV T-boned his car on the passenger side. Mohamed was hospitalized with a concussion and later suffered memory loss, painful headaches, loss of sleep, and depression.
Composing the Perfect Defense
Mohamed really wanted to avoid the time and stress of trial, so Stefanie worked hard with Mohamed to have him prepared for his deposition to make sure the defense understood his story and his damages completely. As a result of their hard work the defense ultimately paid a settlement of $250,000 – five times the defense’s previous offer before filing the case.
David
Motorcycle vs. WSDOT
David was on his motorcycle driving down I-5 and attempted to change lanes, but there was a recession on the roadway that caused him to lose control. From this accident, David tore his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and damaged a meniscus that was later corrected through surgical intervention.
Forced to Step Back from his Career
Before the accident, David worked for a small local business that installs custom doors. The company has only three employees, including the 80+-year-old owner, but they’ve all been there for upwards of ten years, and it’s a tight-knit group. David tried to go back to work while on crutches but couldn’t manage all of the moving and walking. Even today, he still has difficulty straightening his leg, even though he did everything he could; he went to all his doctor’s appointments, follow-ups, and physical therapy.
Making WSDOT pay
While fighting for David, Stefanie Collins masterfully shared his story with the jury so they could understand his trauma and compensate him accordingly. The jury awarded him $325,000 to help him get back on his feet.
Cynthia
Slip and Fall
Cynthia slipped and fell on a wet floor in the aviation pavilion at the Museum of Flight and injured her cervical and lumbar spine. After multiple trips to the hospital, Cynthia ended up getting surgery for her cervical injuries. The surgery resulted in decreased mobility, which had a significant impact on her life and her family.
Leaving her Team Behind
Before her slip and fall, Cynthia spent her time coaching the Drill Team for underprivileged kids, taking care of her grandchildren, and going for long walks. After the fall, Cynthia had difficulty keeping up with the kids on the drill team, playing with her grandchildren, and could only walk with a cane.
Getting the Story Straight
Once Cynthia hired the Advocates, we went to work and discovered that the museum had reported many other falls in that same spot. While in deposition, the defense tried to conflate previous injuries with the injuries she suffered at the museum. Still, we came prepared with a medical expert and evidence to the contrary. Ultimately, we showed how this has impacted Cynthia’s life, and our client was happy with a $300,000 settlement on a very difficult premises case.
Robert
A Trip to Walmart Gone Wrong
In November of 2019, our client was unfortunately involved in a car accident in Tacoma. Robert was struck by another vehicle as they were leaving Walmart. Due to this unfortunate incident, our client suffered injuries to their lower back, ribs, neck, and even experienced a loss of sensation in their hands. This was an incredibly distressing experience for our client.
Before Robert Lost Everything
Before the accident, our client had been working as a commercial painter since 2011. They have a wonderful family, including three step-kids, two grandchildren, and a loving wife. However, the pain and loss of sensation they endured created a sense of uncertainty about their future, leaving them unsure if they would be able to hold or play with their granddaughter again. Ultimately, our client could not continue working.
Establishing the Team
Throughout this challenging process, Tom McPherson and his team worked closely with the plaintiff’s experts to focus on the strongest evidence regarding liability and the plaintiff’s provable injuries and damages. This approach allowed us to streamline the plaintiff’s case and effectively counter any arguments from the defendants suggesting that the plaintiff was exaggerating their claims.
Getting the Results Robert Deserved
After filing motions to exclude two of the defendant’s experts, an initial settlement offer of $300,000.00 was made on April 20, 2023. Subsequently, we proceeded to mediation on August 29, 2023, where the defendants increased their offer to $525,000.00. Although a settlement was not reached at mediation, we made it abundantly clear to the defense that we were fully prepared to proceed to trial before a jury. This stance compelled the defendants to raise their offer once again to $1.25 million, just one month before the trial. Finally, they tendered their full policy limits of $2 million a mere two weeks before the trial.
Fletcher
Truck Bed Incident
Fletcher, an active-duty military firefighter, was injured while sitting in the bed of a truck with others and suffered major injuries to his face. The injuries resulted in the right side of his face being paralyzed, his jaw being wired shut, a plate being surgically implanted in his face, and dislocated teeth ending with a permanent retainer. Before the accident, Fletcher was on light duty because of previous injuries, which made his recovery that much more painful.
Seizing the Opportunity
Multiple claimants were involved, but they were unresponsive, so Jamal seized the opportunity and settled for $285,000 of the $300,000 global settlement. Fletcher was very happy with this, but we know we can do more, so we are currently pursuing more options for Fletcher.
Justin
Rollover Collision with a Semi-Truck
Justin came to the Advocates after being in a rollover collision with a semi-truck on the freeway. He suffered a broken femur, hip, and underwent surgery implementing a metal rod into his leg.
Life as a Father
Before this, Justin spent his time playing with his daughters, ages 12, 9, 7, and 2. Justin also enjoyed the outdoors; hiking, hunting, fishing, and camping, but after the accident, he visited Takhlakh Lake but could barely hike more than half a mile.
Coming Out Swinging
Once we got started, we aggressively prepared this case for trial through motion practice and retaining experts: an accident reconstructionist and a human factors expert who explained that the defendant was in the best possible position to avoid the collision. The defendants initially filed a counterclaim alleging our client was at fault. Along with the co-counsel, we got the counterclaims against our client dismissed.
Results
Progressive offered $28,000 pre-suit. We settled the claim for $340,000 (more than 12x the pre-suit offer) by showing we were prepared to take the case to trial, including dismissal of the counterclaims filed against our client by the responsible party.
Jeff
An Accident on the Highway
Jeff worked in construction and lived a very active life. All of that changed when a driver failed to yield on the highway, and Jeff ended up with severe injuries to his neck and shoulder with surgical follow-up.
Asking for Help is Never Easy
After the accident, Jeff could no longer work in construction and had a 10% impairment of the upper left extremity (shoulder through upper arm). Jeff is not the type to complain, so it was a big deal when he came to us. He knew he deserved better, and he chose the Advocates.
The First Offer is Never Good Enough
Shelbi and her team calculated his lost wages, previous medical bills, and future medical care. The team received an initial offer of 85K, but that would never cover the future costs of his injuries, so they pushed, and with the support of Jeff, they prepared for trial.
The Story that Won
During the trial, we shared Jeff’s story. The story of how he will be dealing with this accident for the rest of his life, dealing with his limited range of motion, the anxiety he now gets when he’s just driving down the street, and how he will never be able to do the job he loves again. At the end of the day, Jeff’s story resonated with the jury, and the Defense knew they lost. Jeffrey accepted a final offer of $315,000.
Deborah
A Family in Trouble
Deborah, was driving down a residential street with her child when a car t-boned them and spun the car. Deborah suffered injuries to her shoulder, while her daughter fortunately came out safe and sound.
Doing Everything Right
Following the accident, Deborah saw a chiropractor for months without any relief to her shoulder pain, so returned to the hospital. Ultimately, Deborah went in for surgery and physical therapy, and the pain in her shoulder got to a point where she could tolerate it.
Driving While Anxious
Life after the injury was very different. Deborah suffered anxiety anytime she was in a car, and that impacted the long drives she and her husband loved to take. Physically, Deborah never regained full use of her shoulder; she now has to be mindful of lifting items and playing with her daughter.
Doing What it Takes to Win
At first the defense offered an initial settlement of $100,000 but Stefanie knew that Deborah deserved more, so we prepared for trial. While we prepared, the defense continued to push their offer, but we stood strong until they met Deborah’s demands. We settled for $300,000, enough to help Deborah get back on her feet and be the mom her daughter deserves.