We handle a wide range of injury claims, including:

• Automobile accidents
  
• Pedestrian versus car accidents
  
• Injuries from falls in malls, shopping centers, parking lots, etc
  
• Other serious injuries
  

All personal injury cases are accepted on a contingency fee basis and the first consultation is free. In other words:

Free Initial Consultation
No Recovery - No Fee

In the beginning of the case, we will help our clients in resolving their property damage claims so that they can get their car repaired or replaced. We assist our clients in filing for no-fault benefits to pay their medical bills and social disability when applicable. We will also work diligently on developing their cases.

We develop and handle each case individually by obtaining police reports, photographs of the property damage to the automobiles and of the bodily injuries. Our medical team will examine the medical records making sure that all necessary records were received, will prepare a demand package and obtain witness statements, if necessary.

We prepare each case as if we are going to trial. Seeing our thorough preparation the insurance industry knows we are always ready to go the court room. By being prepared, we are able to settle a high percentage of our personal injury cases without the necessity of a trial.

10 things you can do to help your personal injury claim

Frequently Asked Questions

1. I got into a car accident, what do I need to do next?
First, if no one called the police, you need to contact them. However, if your accident happened on a private parking lot, the police will not be able to write a report.

Second, you need to call your insurance company to report a claim. You will be asked a number of standard questions necessary to open your claim.

Third, you need to determine if you want to hire an attorney to represent you or would rather handle the claim yourself. For more information on that question, please look at #3.

Fourth, if you decide to hire an attorney, your attorney will inform your insurance company about representation.



2. How is my claim evaluated by insurance companies?
Generally, when evaluating any bodily injury claim insurance companies look at following factors:

(a) Who is at fault. If they think you could be comparatively liable for the accident, they will reduce the total amount of the compensation by the respective percentage.

(b) Property damage, which includes repairs estimate to your car and to the car of their insured. If your car repair is estimated to be less then $1,000.00, then the accident was likely to be a minor accident, thus reducing amount of potential compensation.

(c) Injuries you sustained. The more significant the injury, the higher the compensation.

(d) Types of doctors you saw and treatment you received. Sometimes people incur high bills but the majority of those bills are for diagnostic tests such as CT-scans, MRI tests, X-ray test, etc. If those tests did not show any significant injury, the insurance companies do not give much weight to them.

(e) Length of treatment and when you first sought medical attention. It is necessary to remember that it is possible to receive more treatment then necessary. However, I would recommend trusting your doctor in making medical decisions or, in cases of doubt, seeking a second opinion.

This list is by no means exhaustive. There are other factors that are also taken in consideration both by insurance companies and attorneys. Hence, when comparing your case to someone else’s case, please make sure to find out all the details of their cases.


3. Do I need an attorney or should I try negotiating with insurance companies myself?
In most cases, especially if you or your passengers received significant injuries, it is best to hire an attorney. Otherwise you risk losing money by handling a larger case yourself for the following reasons:
        - You might not realize what type of injuries you have,
        - You might not be aware of all the types of damages you can recover,
        - You might get tripped up by insurance issues,
        - You might miss possible defendants,
        - You might not have the leverage to persuade the insurance company to pay the full amount,
        - etc.



4. What can an attorney do for me?
In most cases, Rubinstein Law Offices will do the following:

(a) Assist you in getting paid for the damage to your car

(b) Evaluate your claim properly by reviewing your medical records, pictures of the property damage, your injuries and accident scene. Also we will contact witnesses to the accident

(c) Work with your medical providers by giving them timely information about available Personal Injury Protection insurance, health insurance and other ways to pay your medical bills

(d) Prepare and send a demand package to defendant’s insurance company

(e) Conduct settlement negotiations on your behalf

(f) Recommend a course of action, either it is a recommendation to accept the settlement offer or to take your case to the trial



5. Right after the accident I do not feel any pain. Do I need to see a doctor?
Please remember that often right after the accident, people are in shock. They are so agitated that do not feel any pain at all. However, within the next few hours or days they could start developing pain.

Once you start feeling discomfort in your neck and/or back, please schedule an appointment with your family doctor or a chiropractor. Do not wait too long because most likely with time the pain may only get worse.



6. What to expect when my claim needs to be sent to trial?
If there is no way to settle your claim, you need to make a decision about taking it to the court. Before making that decision it is a good idea to consider following factors:

(a) It takes more then 6 months to litigate your claim. That means that most likely the trial on your case will be scheduled in a year from the date your case is filed

(b) Litigation is expensive. First, there are court fees. For example, filing fee in the king county superior court is $250.00. Second, expert witnesses ask even higher fee for their trial testimony. For example, surgeons often ask $1,500 to review and write a report on medical records and bills, if they are not too complex. For trial testimony they often request a retainer in the amount of $1,000 or $2,000

(c) It is almost impossible to predict the outcome of your case. Even if liability is not an issue, it is still hard to tell how much the jury will give you for your injuries

(d) Preparing your case to the trial will take a lot of work both from your attorney and you. You will have to answer interrogatories (written questions from opposing party), give a deposition (oral examination under oath) and produce documents. Your attorney will help you by explaining the procedures to you, by informing you about potential pitfalls and ways to avoid them, and by dealing with all other legal matters

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