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Car Accidents
3 Reasons to Hire Phillips Webster

Our attorneys have decades of experience negotiating with insurance companies regarding all types of vehicle accidents. If you have been injured in a wreck, contact us today.

  1. We represent EVERYONE in need anywhere in Washington - Minor and Major Injuries
  2. Experienced trial attorneys that will fight for your right to recover compensation
  3. FREE Case Review and we only get paid if you get paid
Learn more about our:
Seattle Car Accident Lawyers

Verdicts & Settlements

$20 MILLION - Commercial Injury
Confidential settlement for a commercial injury case

$19  Million - Grant of Coverage
Grant of coverage in insurance coverage case

$2 MILLION - INSURANCE BAD FAITH
Settlement in insurance bad faith case

$1.5 MILLION - CAR ACCIDENT WRONGFUL DEATH
Vancouver, Washington car accident that resulted in a death

$1 MILLION - DUI ACCIDENT VICTIM
Settlement for young man hit by a drunk driver

Our jury trial experience shows in the results we get both inside and outside of the courtroom.

More Verdicts and Settlements

 

Posts Tagged ‘insurance companies’

Seattle, Washington Accident Lawyers Can Help

Auto Accidents, defense attorneys, injuries, insurance companies, Seattle Washington accident lawyers

October 6th, 2009: Washington Law Blogger

Thousands of auto accidents occur in Washington every year, and the majority of them occur on the crowded roads in and around Seattle. This makes perfect logical sense, as heavy traffic along with seasonal rain can create extreme difficulties when it comes to driving safely. Therefore, all-too-many people understand what it’s like to be involved in a collision, which is why Seattle accident lawyers are regularly fielding incoming inquiries regarding certain situations and attaching legal rights.

As frequently as Washington accident attorneys are retained by those involved in accidents, however, there are still too many people in the area who attempt to handle the aftermath of an accident on their own, and that’s always at their own peril. The reason is that a person who is injured in an accident is generally working against experienced and skillful defense attorneys who work for the other driver’s insurance company.

These defense attorneys are generally measured in terms of their success by way of the amount of potential liability that they help their clients/employers avoid, which is why when an accident is reported and the insurance company is notified, it usually doesn’t take long for the injured party to hear from the other side’s insurance carrier. Generally, that initial contact is made in an effort to secure a statement in furtherance of an offer of compensation, if one is made at all.

If you have been involved in an accident in Seattle, you need to take immediate steps to secure the help of an accident attorney in order to protect your own interests. If you do so, you’ll be able to defer all of these steps to your attorney and you will not have to spend countless hours learning the jargon that is tied to this situation as well as the law and the procedure that must be adhered to should the possibility of litigation arise.

An experienced Seattle auto accident attorney will also be able to help you determine if a settlement offer is fair given the facts of the case. Such a determination is not always clear, and you need to be able to present to the other side the real possibility that you’re ready and able to bring a matter to court if necessary. Therefore, if you’ve been harmed in an accident in Seattle, you need to contact Phillips & Webster today to schedule a free initial consultation.

Why Insurance Companies Operate as They Do

attorneys, injuries, insurance companies, liability, policy holders, profit, Seattle auto accidents

June 22nd, 2009: Washington Law Blogger

Many of us have been conditioned to believe, at least to an extent, that insurance companies will do the right thing when necessary. For instance, if you or someone you love has been injured in an auto accident that was the other driver’s fault, many would assume that the driver’s insurance company would move forward with coverage of the damages for medical expenses and property damage up to the policy limit if necessary.

What many people have found out is that this is not the case. Clients have expressed not only frustration and outrage at some of the positions taken by these insurance companies, but also surprise. Given the expectation of fairness, clients in the past have willingly given statements to the representatives of these companies when they’ve been in touch following an accident, which is not something anyone should do.

The reason is that when it comes down to it, insurance companies are for-profit corporations. They are governed largely by their stock value, and their employees and in-house defense attorneys are given one mission – to minimize the liability that their companies will face when one of their policy holders puts them in a position to protect themselves.

Therefore, you need to keep in mind that another driver’s insurance company is not working in your best interests, but rather that of its own and its policy holder as a result. If you have been in an auto accident in Washington and you get a phone call or a letter from that insurance company, you need to politely decline to give any statement or offer of evidence until you speak with your own attorney. It’s simply the best way to protect your interests.

If you need help with this sort of situation, you need to contact the Seattle auto accident lawyers at Phillips & Webster today to schedule a free initial consultation.

Be Wary of ‘Discount’ Health Insurance Plans

denied claims, discount health plans, health insurance, insurance attorneys, insurance companies

May 11th, 2009: Washington Law Blogger

The United States is mired in a debilitating recession, and one of the emerging problems on a large scale is that as people lose jobs and watch their incomes shrink, the ever-rising cost of health insurance becomes a much tougher pill to swallow. Rather than join the millions who do not have health coverage, though, many consumers are purchasing ‘discount’ health plans. The companies selling these plans are marketing them aggressively to consumers, and many are promising ‘full coverage’ at much lower rates than more traditional plans.

However, according to an article in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, many of these consumers are not getting what they thought they had paid for, and legal rumblings are beginning to appear as a result:

“Since 2003, more than 400 people have complained to state regulators about discount health plans.

“Generally, what happens is people bought the plans and thought they had full insurance,’” said Stephanie Marquis, spokeswoman for the state Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

“Then they had a serious illness and found out their coverage is very limited.”

She said the recession is exacerbating the situation, in which some companies have become aggressive in marketing low rates to people struggling for health care.

“The consumer has a certain responsibility to be a smart shopper, but people are desperate,” she said. “They’re worried, they’re looking for an affordable alternative. The sad part is that a lot of these plans are not always sold in the most honest manner. … I think some of these plans may be hazardous to your health.”

She said consumers generally need to be aware of two types of policies: Discount health plans, and fixed-payment plans, which are also called fixed-indemnity plans, or “plans of limited benefit.”

Insurance companies can be unpredictable, and you need to be careful before assuming you’re fully covered with a low-cost health plan. If you are having trouble with your insurance company, you need an experienced attorney to help you through the process. Contact the Seattle insurance lawyers at Phillips & Webster today to schedule a free initial consultation.