Joel D Sturm

In December, 2019, I was rear-ended by a large utility vehicle and had to be taken to the ER by ambulance. I had a concussion, a jaw injury and symptoms of vertebrae injury. My car was totaled. The next day, uncertain of how to proceed, I called Joel Sturm, a lawyer I knew through my work. He was immediately responsive and met with me to hear more about my situation and discuss how he could help. He was warm, friendly and personable, and I felt relieved to have someone navigating insurance company hassles, and making sure I got the medical care I needed. My medical rehab took a long time, and on one occasion Joel met with a consulting doctor to discuss the case. When my medical was complete, the insurance company lawyers demanded a deposition to interview me. Joel, and his partners Ben and David Eder, sat with me ahead of time and educated me so that I was fully prepared for that deposition. Afterwards Joel negotiated with the attorneys for the insurance companies, and did a masterful job of laying out the consequences of them not agreeing to settle for the maximum amount of money possible. They agreed to pay the full limits of the policies which was gratifying to me in that it was fair, and it acknowledged the permanent physical damage with which I live. Joel, Ben and David are very experienced at depositions and trials and I would absolutely put my confidence in them again. I highly recommend them for their professionalism, expertise and kindness.

I read good reviews about the lawyers at Thuemmel Uhle and Eder. Honestly, it’s hard to know based on reviews if the lawyers good or not. In retrospect, I wish I had hired Thuemmel Uhle and Eder right after the accident. I waited because I thought I didn’t need a lawyer. I was rear ended. It wasn’t my fault. But the other driver’s insurance company was not even willing to pay all of my medical bills. I would have never guessed that I needed lawyers ready to take my case to trial, but that’s what happened. Ben, Joel, David and Andrew clearly cared about my case. My lawyers put in hours of time with me to get me ready. We had meetings during the week and on weekends. Despite all the attention on my case, I was nervous about going to trial. At trial Ben and Joel were confident, calm and collected. They were engaging with the jury. In comparison, the insurance defense lawyer seemed flustered and didn’t seem as prepared. When I testified, it felt like I was having a conversation with Ben. He made me feel at ease as he guided through the accident and how it affected my life. My fiancé felt the same way when he testified. Joel’s cross examination of the insurance defense’s orthopedic surgeon was like a masterclass in medicine. The lawyers at Thuemmel Uhle and Eder were honest, experienced and backed up their reputation in and out of the courtroom. They have so much trial experience it was like they could see things before it happened. There always seemed to be a plan in place. I don’t think I would have won without fantastic lawyers in my corner. In addition to being wonderful lawyers, they were also wonderful people. I highly recommend all the lawyers in the firm.

While sitting at a stop sign on my way to work, I was involved in a serious car accident with an uninsured DUII driver who had fled the scene. Upon being hit, my car collided with a house and I was injured. Navigating the aftermath of the accident became overwhelming. As the victim in this accident, most of my time outside of work was being funneled into fielding questions from insurance companies or from the District Attorney’s office, on top of caring for my family and coordinating medical care for myself. Never having gone through an experience like this, I reached out to a lawyer for help in building a case, and I was referred to Joel Sturm at Thuemmel Uhle & Eder. Joel immediately set up a consultation. During that initial session, Joel’s professionalism, knowledge of the legal process, and his friendly nature, immediately set my mind at ease. Throughout our time working together, Joel checked in with me consistently, and never left a conversation until all of my questions had been thoroughly answered, and until I felt comfortable. His guidance and reassurance throughout the process gave me an incredible peace of mind, and allowed me the time and opportunity to focus on my own healing and medical care. I knew that behind the scenes, Joel was battling with insurance companies to make sure my medical care was covered, and that I was being fairly compensated. I was struck by how deftly he navigated the ever constant roadblocks the insurance companies seemed to be dropping. My case was further strengthened by the work done in Joel’s strategy sessions with his partners, David and Ben. I would, without hesitation, recommend Joel and his team at Thuemmel Uhle and Eder to anyone seeking legal advice. I attribute the highly successful outcome of my case to their skill and expertise, and I felt so fortunate to have them in my corner. Huge thanks to Joel and his team for such a positive experience. They brought welcomed relief during a traumatic and overwhelming time, and it was an absolute privilege working with them.

Initially, I was working with a different firm in Portland after my car crash. I was a bit unhappy about the communication so decided to part ways and find a different firm to work with. I spoke to some doctors about what was going on and they suggested I call David Eder at Thuemmel Uhle & Eder. When David met with me, he instantly had a plan. I knew I had made the right decision to switch. Within a few months, my entire case had been turned around. I know David, Andrew, Ben and Joel (all partners at the firm) worked extensively setting up consultations with my medical providers and setting my case up correctly. At the end, I am walking away with 9 times what the first firm told me was their target goal. I was in disbelief and knew that my decision to work with David and his Partners was the right one. I would encourage anyone injured in a motor vehicle accident to call Thuemmel Uhle & Eder. They will ensure that you are taken care of properly.

After not one, but TWO collisions, I found myself in need of surgery on my neck. I needed help navigating the complexity of negotiating two claims at one time with insurance companies that placed road blocks at every level. I am beyond grateful that I was referred to Joel Sturm at Thuemmel Uhle and Eder. For 4 years, through a pandemic delay, Joel never quit fighting for me on my case. He was always there to promptly answer any questions I had along the way. He was knowledgeable and skilled at every phase of the claim all the way through mediation and ultimately a very large settlement. Even our mediator was impressed by the final settlement. I would absolutely recommend Joel and the others on his team, David, Ben and Andrew, to represent anyone who has been injured. I couldn’t have done this without them. In a world where insurance companies prey on those overwhelmed by logistics, these guys will have your back. I sing their praises and highly recommend to everyone I know.