Melissa D Carter

PRO

Melissa D Carter

5.0
Rating: 10.0

Licensed for 26 years

Personal injury Lawyer at Seattle, WA
Practice Areas: Personal Injury, Insurance

333 Taylor Avenue North, Seattle, WA

Virtual Consultation Available

About Melissa

Practice Areas

2

Practice Areas

Personal Injury 75%

14 years

75%
Insurance 25%

25%

Fees and Rates

We have not found any cost information for this lawyer

Awards

Client's Choice
Client's Choice
2025 2024 2023
...
+ 10
AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating

Licenses

Licensed in Washington for 20 years

State: Washington

Acquired: 2005

Active

No misconduct found

Licensed in Massachusetts for 26 years

State: Massachusetts

Acquired: 1999

Administrative Suspension

No misconduct found

Location

Adler Giersch, PS

333 Taylor Avenue North, Seattle, WA, 98109

adlergiersch.com

Adler Giersch, PS

14710 SE 36th Street, Bellevue, WA, 98006

adlergiersch.com

Adler Giersch PS

4207 Colby Avenue, Everett, WA, 98203

adlergiersch.com

Adler Giersch PS

1111 West Meeker Street, Kent, WA, 98032

adlergiersch.com

Online Presence

Other places you can find Melissa online.

Melissa D Carter's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

5.0 /5.0

114 Client Reviews

Showing 26 - 30 of 41 reviews | Practice Area Knowledge

Posted by anonymous | October 31, 2019 | Hired Attorney | Personal Injury

Highly recommended, professional & compassionate service with results!

I suffered personal injury due to an accidental fall caused by hotel maid's cart hitting me where I was at no fault. I had to go through excruciating pain, eventually ACL replacement surgery and more than one year in recovery. It was not only physical but emotional trauma to me and my family for over... two years. I am grateful to have Melissa as my legal representative and my guide throughout the case. She delivered great result with good compensation outcome for me. What was more impressive is I was her out of state client as my accident happened in Seattle and I live in California. Melissa and her efficient staff excelled at their job and helped the process go very smoothly despite long distance client-attorney relationship. I can't say enough for the professionalism as well as the kindness she displayed. I would highly recommend her for personal injury legal representation I you want guaranteed goo result.

Posted by Nuria | May 28, 2019 | Hired Attorney | Personal Injury

Excellent lawyer!

I was lucky to count with Melissa and her team to represent me after a personal injury due to a car accident. Since the moment she visited me at the hospital, I could feel that she cared about me as a person. She listens with patience and she is very empathetic. She has a lot of experience dealing wi...th this type of cases and insurances - she shows professionalism and knowledge and explains every step of the process with detail. Melissa and her team have always been available to me, she is approachable and replied promptly to all my questions. They provide full service, they deal not only with the directly related parties in your case, but also with health providers and all different insurances that can be involved. This really helps to decrease stress and worries. Melissa accommodated to my needs and she was always available for in person meetings or phone calls. I would definitely recommend her services; me and my family felt that we were in very good hands and continuously supported. I received an excellent service and counsel and I am very happy I worked with such a reliable and kind attorney

Posted by Nancy | September 12, 2018 | Hired Attorney | Personal Injury

Supportive, Knowledgeable, Advocate

Our health - physical, emotional and financial are all improved due to the guidance and support we received as we engaged Melissa Carter after our 'no fault' accident. We know that without her, we would be in a far worse situation - all because we were stopped at a red light - and another driver did... not obey the driving rules. Thank you hardly covers our experience walking through this with Melissa's guiding support. Thank you so much - you made all the difference.

Posted by Robert | March 11, 2018 | Hired Attorney | Personal Injury

Full Limits Settlement, Hugely Helpful, and Amazing Advice and Suggestions

I was in a terrible motorcycle accident that required three surgeries over 13 months and over two years of physical therapy and counseling. When we started the process of finding an attorney days after the initial accident (guy hit me on my motorcycle while waiting for red light), we interviewed five... different attorneys/firms. Melissa was a clear standout among the bunch because of her compassion, professionalism, and advice. Melissa was immeasurably helpful with understanding the process involved with not just a settlement case, but also what I should expect from my medical providers, who I did and did not need to talk to, and suggestions for providers that may help me get better results than what I was originally getting. Melissa also always kept me up to date on the case, what my options were, and gave her suggestions for paths forward based on best and maximum outcome with regards to our risk tolerance. In the end, she was able to get us full limits for the settlement based on the policies involved, and saved us a ton of time and money with not having us chase useless litigation that had less than a 50 percent chance of winning (our threshold, not hers). If you have been seriously injured in an accident that was someone else's fault, I strongly recommend Melissa and her firm to represent you as there will suddenly be a torrent of people offering unsolicited and predatory help after a major accident.

Posted by Richard | January 27, 2018 | Hired Attorney | Personal Injury

World Class Attorney

Every now and then you’re the recipient of good fortune. In my case the good fortune was to hire a World Class Attorney in the person of Melissa Carter, of Adler Giersch, LLC, to represent me after a severe rear-end automobile accident where I was seriously injured. Her professionalism and tireless e...fforts over a two-year period enabled me to receive all required medical treatment and arrive at a substantial settlement with the two insurance companies involved and Medicare’s COB&R(Coordination Of Benefits And Recovery) division . On 01/01/2016 we were on vacation in Nevada, where we used to live, driving a rental car during the early evening hours on our way to a whole foods grocery store. I stopped at a red light and was rear-ended by a woman going 45 miles an hour. She never hit the brakes and the impact drove us through the intersection and 1/2 City Block down a dark Boulevard in the middle of opposing traffic. I was able to steer into a third passing lane, located between the two active 45 mile an hour roads. When we finally stopped, there was no power in the car. We had no lights and our rear bumper was fused onto the grill of the car that hit us back at the intersection. It was traumatic to say the least and I had severe injuries to my neck and shoulders. During the ensuing 19 months. I underwent numerous medical procedures and physical therapy for my injuries. Dealing with the two insurance companies and Medicare was a task that was beyond my capability. Fortunately we retained Melissa Carter to take care of all the required detailed documentation and negotiations so that I could concentrate on getting better. Melissa is without a doubt a top attorney in her field and was unrelenting in ensuring the insurance companies lived up to their responsibilities. Melissa D. Carter, Attorney at Law, and the Firm of Adler Giersch, LLC get a five star rating from me.

See All Client Reviews

Melissa D Carter's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Melissa
Stacia R Hofmann headshot
Stacia Hofmann

Personal injury lawyer | Oct 25

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Melissa Carter, a former colleague, is razor sharp at all stages of litigation. She is at home in a courtroom, presenting her cases in compelling, persuasive, and logical terms. Add Melissa’s skills as a trial attorney to her passion for helping her clients, and you get a dedicated, top-notch personal injury attorney. I endorse Melissa Carter."

Martin W. Judnich headshot
Martin Judnich

Personal injury lawyer | Oct 21

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Ms. Carter is a very experienced attorney that often contributes to complex areas of the law."

Jacob W Gent headshot
Jacob Gent

Unknown lawyer | Sep 06

Relationship: Co-worker

"Melissa is a tenacious advocate. She is committed to obtaining excellent results and truly cares for her clients and their needs. Melissa is knowledgeable, creative, accessible and compassionate."

Michael Graham headshot
Michael Graham

Unknown lawyer | Mar 02

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I've known Melissa as a friend and fellow attorney for many years. She is dedicated to her work and her clients. Indeed, she taught me many things over the years as I started litigating. Her creativity, insight, and experience guarantee good results. I highly endorse Melissa. She's exactly the type of lawyer I would want if I ever needed one."

Gregory T Hixson headshot
Gregory Hixson

Personal injury lawyer | Feb 18

Relationship: Co-worker

"I have known Melissa for many years as a colleague and mentor. Melissa is an intelligent, quick witted and clever trial attorney that is passionate about advocating for her clients. I honestly believe Melissa is one of, if not the best, trial attorneys in the Seattle area. I strongly endorse Ms. Carter."

Angela R. Bagby headshot
Angela Bagby

Litigation lawyer | Feb 02

Relationship: Co-worker

"I worked with Melissa for several years and observed her consistently obtain excellent results for her clients. Her knowledge of the legal issues is exceptional, and, more importantly, she is very skilled at advising clients, negotiating with opponents, and advocating for her clients in the courtroom. I recommend Melissa without hesitation."

Jeffrey Joseph Donchez headshot
Jeffrey Donchez

Personal injury lawyer | Jan 31

Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

"Melissa Carter is an honorable lawyer and a worthy opponent. I am happy she is now doing plaintiff personal injury work. I would highly recommend her."

Scott Carness headshot
Scott Carness

Personal injury lawyer | Jan 31

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I have known Melissa as a fellow-attorney for several years. She and I have worked together on a number of cases, and we have spoken at seminars together. Melissa is without question one of the most able, talented lawyers with whom I've had the pleasure of working, and would recommend her to anyone in need of legal counsel."

View All Endorsements
Elisabeth Ruff headshot
Elisabeth Ruff

Personal injury lawyer

Stacia R Hofmann headshot
Stacia Hofmann

Litigation lawyer

Jacob W Gent headshot
Jacob Gent

Personal injury lawyer

Raymond J Dearie JR headshot
Raymond Dearie

Personal injury lawyer

Gregory T Hixson headshot
Gregory Hixson

Construction and development lawyer

Angela R. Bagby headshot
Angela Bagby

Litigation lawyer

Jeffrey Joseph Donchez headshot
Jeffrey Donchez

Car accident lawyer

Experience

Rating:  10.0 (Superb)

Honors

2025

Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers

2024

Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers

2023

Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers

2022

Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers

2021

Super Lawyer, SuperLawyers

2020

Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers

2020

Super Laywer, SuperLawyers

2019

Super Laywer, SuperLawyers

2019

Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers

2018

Super Lawyer, SuperLawyers

2017

Super Lawyer, SuperLawyers

2016

Super Lawyer, SuperLawyers

2015

Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers

2015

100 Best Companies to Work For, Seattle Business Magazine

2015

Super Lawyer Honoree, Washington Super Lawyers

2014

Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers

2014

Super Lawyer Honoree, Washington Super Lawyers

2013

Peer Review Rated AV, Martindale-Hubbell

2012

Millon Dollar Advocate, Million Dollar Advocates Forum

1999

Public Interest Law Grant Fellow: JRI Health Law Institute, Suffolk University Public Interest Law Grant Fellow

1998

Public Interest Law Grant Fellow: JRI Health Law Institute, Suffolk University Public Interest Law Grant Fellow

Work Experience

2011 - Present

Managing Partner, Adler Giersch, PS

2009 - 2011

Senior Trial Attorney, Nationwide Insurance Trial Dvision (Seattle)

2004 - 2009

Attorney, Preg O'Donnell & Gillett, PLLC

2001 - 2004

Attorney, Zizik Powers O'Connell Spaulding & Lamontagne

Associations

2020 - Present

American Board of Trial Advocates

Member

2018 - Present

American Association for Justice, Traumatic Brain Injury Litigation Group

Member

2012 - Present

Washington State Association for Justice

Eagle Member

2012 - Present

Brain Injury Association of Washington

Member

2005 - Present

Washington State Bar Association

Member

2004 - Present

King County Bar Association

Member

2005 - 2011

Washington Defense Trial Lawyers

Member

2001 - 2004

Massachusetts Women's Bar Association

1999 - 2005

Massachusetts Bar Association

1999 - 2005

Boston Bar Association

Sample of Legal Cases

PTSD and Employment Disability

$350,000.00

Passenger in Drunk Driving Roll Over Collision

$1,700,000.00

Brain Injury from Trip and Fall Near Construction Site

$850,000.00

Car Surfing Fatality

$1,500,000.00 Settlement with Driver

Student vs. Seattle Private School

Confidential Settlement

Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Following Rear End Collision

$1,100,000.00

See More Legal Cases

Education

2012

Gerry Spence Trial Lawyers College

Certificate

2012

Gerry Spence Trial Lawyers College

Certificate

1999

Suffolk University Law School

Juris Doctor

1996

University of Washington

BA - Bachelor of Arts

Speaking Engagements

2019

Washington State Association for Justice Brain Injury Conference

Co-Chair Washington State Association for Justice Brain Injury Conference

2017

Washington State Association of Justice Brain Injury Conference

Multiple Traumatic Brain Injuries

2013

Whiplash, Spinal Trauma and the Personal Injury Case How Insurers Control All Aspects of the Personal Injury Case

2013

Navigating the Personal Injury Claim for Health Care Providers Personal Injury Claim Management for Health Care Providers

2013

Effectively Managing Your Personal Injury Cases from Start to Finish Managing Personal Injury Cases for Health Care Professionals

2012

Whiplash, Spinal Trauma, and the Personal Injury Case

Live Demonstration on Effectively Preparing and Presenting Chiropractic Testimony at Deposition

2012

Washington State Chiropractic Association Fall Conference

Documentation and Medical Records

2012

Handling the Traumatic Brain Injury Case

Common Mistakes Plaintiff's Attorneys Make in the Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Case

2012

Effectively Managing Your Personal Injury Cases, Insurers and Attorneys

How Insurers Attack Health Care Records and Deny Patient Claims

2011

ADR

Alternative Dispute Resolution: Arbitrations

2008

Pacific Claims Executive Association Annual Conference

Legal Implications and Electronic Data Recorders

2007

Gaining the Best Settlement in Auto Injury Cases

Put Your Best Foot Forward in Trial

2007

Fourth Annual Gaining the Best Settlement in Auto Injury Cases

Avoid Trial With Settlement Negotiations and Methods

2006

Third Annual Gaining the Best Settlement in Auto Injury Cases

Cover All the Bases in Pre-Trial Preparation

2006

Gaining the Best Settlement in Auto Injury Cases

Avoid Trial With Settlement Negotiations and Methods

Publications

Languages

English

Avvo Rating

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