Washington Car Accident Legal Questions

That is true. Most third party carriers will not advance payment for wage loss or medical bills. They only pay when the case is settled. If you had Personal Injury Protection (PIP) or Medpay on your personal auto policy, that coverage will pay your wage loss and medical bills (up to your limits) now. When your case settles, your company will attempt to get whatever they paid back from the third party carrier. Making a PIP claim should not affect your premium rates.... Read More

You need to look at your fee agreement. If you don't have a copy have your attorney send you one. Many fee agreements have a provision for reimbursement of costs such as postage and parking fees but others include those cost into the cost of doing business. If your fee agreement will also state the contingency fee percentage. The attorney is bound by the percentage set out in the fee agreement.... Read More

Medical records are usually collected by a records copying company and the company charges a service charge along with a cost per page. Consequently, the cost depends on the amount of records. If you are still treating when the original records are received a second request for updated records is necessary. RCW 70.02.010(15) Provides as follows: "Reasonable fee" means the charges for duplicating or searching the record, but shall not exceed sixty-five cents per page for the first thirty pages and fifty cents per page for all other pages. In addition, a clerical fee for searching and handling may be charged not to exceed fifteen dollars. These amounts shall be adjusted biennially in accordance with changes in the consumer price index, all consumers, for Seattle-Tacoma metropolitan statistical area as determined by the secretary of health. However, where editing of records by a health care provider is required by statute and is done by the provider personally, the fee may be the usual and customary charge for a basic office visit. It sounds like you have another question in there somewhere but I'm not sure what it is.... Read More

If the minor did not have a license she more likely than not was not covered under the terms of her parents policy. If this is the case, the insurance company does not have to accept liability. If you have uninsured motorist coverage, your insurance company should take care of all your damages. This response is general in nature and is not legal advice. No attorney client relationship is formed by it. Further, the response does not represent the opinions or views of LexisNexis or its affiliated companies.  ... Read More

See an attorney, you are going to have a fight on your hands. Be prepared to PROVE you were able and attempted to make the payment, and read the letter very closely. I would take cash to the agent involved. If the payment is not made (if the company, post accident, can be forced to accept it) then the cancellation in effect on the 12th, and the accident not covered.... Read More