Client Testimonials

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.