Christopher Michael Davis's Answers

Is my settlement worth more if the at fault driver was drunk?

I'm sorry to hear about your accident. The fact that the other driver was drunk or cited for DUI may have an impact on your settlement amount, but it really depends on the facts of your case and whether the defendant is accepting responsibility for causing the accident. The amount of your settlement is based on many different factors (too many to address here), including the individual facts of your case and the extent of your injuries and need for past and future medical treatment. I'd be...

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Motorcycle accident Insuarance claim?

Don't hire a lawyer from outside the state of Washington. Usually, out of state lawyers only act as a "broker" to find you a lawyer in the state of your jurisdiction. Now, you may not need a lawyer at all. Report the loss to your insurance company and the other driver's insurance company. If you have coverage for property loss, then your carrier may pay for the loss and look to the other carrier for reimbursement. if you don't have this coverage, you'll have to look to the other person's...

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I am currently with a Lawyer in a personal injury claim and I would like to replace him for what i feel is malpractice how do i?

I don't see any facts to suggest your attorney has engaged in malpractice. However, your attorney should have regular communication with you and explain what is going on. If your attorney believes the case is not ready to settle, then he or she should explain why so you understand. Often I encourage clients to try and work out any communication problems with their current attorney. However, I recognize that in some cases it may be too late for that, or that the client may not be a good fit...

How should I proceed after being struck by a vehicle while riding a bicycle? There was not a citation given at the scene.

Whether or not a citation has been issued by a police officer is inadmissible in a civil claim for damages. Washington law provides for comparative fault, which means that a jury will be asked to assess the percentage of fault against you vs. the driver of the vehicle. Since each claim is incredibly fact specific, there should be investigation performed to locate witnesses, collect evidence, etc. so that you can build a strong liability case against the driver. In Washington, you may be...

How do I file a lawsuit, while I interview attorneys?

You need to file suit promptly. Hopefully your girlfriend can be easily located and personally served with process (as required by law). I am willing to speak with you, but my time is limited, and I can't guarantee that I will accept your case. If I can't accept the case, I can give you some names of attorneys that may be interested.

Is company responsible for legal and finacial proceedings of a personal injury lawsuit, if working for them at the time?

It really depends on the specific laws in the state where the accident happened and also depends heavily on the circumstances involved. I don't think you should take any answer you find here as gospel. You should probably call an attorney's office and schedule a free consultation so the specifics can be determined and discussed.