It is not always possible to travel by personal vehicle. Residents and tourists in Seattle and elsewhere may rely on public transportation to get to and from their destinations. Whether it is to go to the store, work, school...

Residents in Seattle likely experience busy roadways on a daily basis. While many of these vehicles are likely individuals commuting to and from work, major roadways are also filled with large trucks seeking to make deliveries and shipments. Although...

The death of a loved one is a challenging event for anyone to cope with. Whether one sees it coming or not, it takes much time to process this loss. However, when a family member is killed because of...

In pushing for safety through the formation of a volunteer fire department in the city of Philadelphia in 1736, Benjamin Franklin wrote: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” In the case of bike helmets, and protection of the brain, nothing could be more true. In bicycle falls an...

I started my career working for the largest insurance defense law firm on the West Coast. I spent three years working directly with insurance adjusters as they evaluated cases, and determined whether to cover an insurance claim submitted by one of their insureds. After this experience I was off...

There's a short answer to that question, but it gives no context. Of course, there's a better answer which explains why a policy limit matters, but it's a little long-winded. Short Answer It's the most money an insurance company is contracted to pay out for its insured for a specific purpos...

You might not know that CoolSculpting is supposed to be done at the direction / prescription of a medical doctor.  By law, it is supposed to be performed by a physician, or by a trained technician in the physician’s office.  When you walk into a spa, and find that they offer CoolSculpting, you might well read more The post Did you receive CoolSculpting treatment in a local spa or salon? appe

No amount of money can make up for the unexpected death of a loved one. A successful claim could, however, give your family the financial stability to pay for funeral and burial expenses, make up for lost wages, and continue to pay bills while you grieve. Washington wrongful death law, Section 4.20.020 of the state read more The post How Do You Calculate a Wrongful Death Settlement? appeared first

Traumatic Brain Injuries are some of the most severe wounds a human being can suffer. While some milder traumatic brain injuries like concussions often entail minimal chance of long-term damage, the effects of a head injury are unpredictable and similar injuries can entail very different results for different victims. Any head injury has the potential read more The post How Does a Brain Injury Cau

Many people have long term care insurance, especially when they get older, because the cost of prolonged individual care due to an injury or illness can be significant.  For that reason, Long Term Care insurance is often part of people’s estate plan. Long Term Care insurance can be subject to problems because the premiums get … Continue reading Know Your Rights – Long Term Care&#

One of the ways in which ERISA protects insureds is by imposing a fiduciary duty on certain decision makers, requiring that decisions about coverage and benefits be made in the best interests of the plan participants and not in the best interests of an insurer’s profits.  A recent federal court ruling highlights the importance of … Continue reading UnitedHealth Unlawfully Denied Mental

Let’s say you make an insurance claim, and the insurance company denies the claim for reason A.  You think they’re wrong, so you take them to court and argue reason A is invalid and the company should have paid your claim.  In response, the insurance company admits reason A didn’t apply but now argues your … Continue reading Can the Insurance Company Retroactively Deny Your

No one steps onto the property of another with the expectation that they will be injured.

When you have been injured or hurt by the negligence or wrongful act of another, you might be considering filing a personal injury suit to receive compensation for the damages caused by your injuries.

While on vacation, the idea is to relax and not be encumbered with the stressors of everyday life. However, even trips to paradise can result in accidents and injury.

  Earlier this month, a Florida appeals court overturned a ruling which held that R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. was to pay a $5 million punitive damage award to the estate of a smoker who died of lung cancer. The estate of Valton Sheffield, who died in 2007, filed a lawsuit against tobacco companies including R.J.... The post Punitive Damages Ruling Overturned in Engle Progeny Tobacco Case appear

Earlier this week, the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles held that a personal injury lawsuit against Gilead Sciences Inc. may proceed, causing HIV patients across the state to cheer in a small, but promising victory. The lawsuit began in May 2018, when California patients living with HIV filed a personal injury lawsuit... The post California Court Rules HIV Drug Personal Injury C

The family of the woman struck and killed in Tempe, Arizona by a self-driving car last year has filed a Notice of Claim, which is a precursor to a lawsuit, against the City of Tempe, seeking $10 million. The lawsuit will seek $5 million each for the victim’s daughter and husband. Elaine Herzberg, a 49-year-old,... The post Family of Woman Killed by Driverless Uber Files Claim Against City appeared

Recent studies seem to indicate certain stroke patients will benefit from thrombectomy up to 24 hours after the onset of symptoms.

Improved communications between the technologist and the radiologist can improve patient safety.

Providing care to patients with limited English proficiency can be risky without the use of qualified translators.

Seattle rarely has snow, but, when it does, the city comes to a standstill.  This is true not only in the downtown area, but throughout the local region. Why does Seattle shut down in the snow? Based upon my experience of living in Seattle for nearly my entire life, I think there are a number [...] The post Seattle in the snow – not a winter wonderland appeared first on Coluccio Law.

Garrett was 15 years old when he was killed by a distracted semi-truck driver at 60 mph on a Washington State highway. Before he died, Garrett wrote that “a legacy is something you leave behind.” Garrett knew that his own legacy was still unknown, but wrote that he “planned to change the whole world.”  He was interested in [...] The post A clean water legacy for a teenage crash victim appe

Snow, freezing rain, and high winds are in the forecast for western Washington State this week. While that shouldn't come as a surprise - it's standard winter weather for most of the Pacific Northwest - there are always too many drivers who are caught off guard. The result is often a slew of predictable, often [...] The post 5 quick tips for preventing a winter weather crash appeared first

You have a Facebook page; You tweet; You Instagram - and you have an injury at work. BEWARE

If you have a Longshore claim with an unscheduled injury, your permanent disability is based on your loss of wage earning capacity. If you have a scheduled injury, your permanent disability is based on a number of weeks of compensation for that particular type of injury. What the heck does that mean? Well, I can … Continue reading It’s complicated

Is a structured settlement of your L&I claim right for you? I know the department sends out form letters to injured workers who are at least 50 years old and have allowed claims informing them that they may be eligible for a structured settlement of their claim. What is a structured settlement, and is it … Continue reading L&I and Structured Settlements

If you are in a motorcycle accident, the first thing to do is to check yourself and others for injuries. Of all the traffic accidents that occur in Washington, motorcycle wrecks can cause catastrophic injuries and emotional devastation to accident victims. This is due, in part, to the lack of protection a motorcyclist has compared to drivers of enclosed passenger vehicles.What Should I Do at the S

It can be a joy to ride your bicycle on the hills around Seattle, but a tumble or crash can ruin the experience. Here are the top ten safety tips for bicycling in the hills around Seattle:Ride single file through the hills rather than two or three across. Riding on hills is more dangerous than on flat stretches because drivers may not be able to see you from afar. They may crest a hill or turn a c

We have bad news for Seattle commuters. If you thought it was taking longer than ever to get to work, a new study shows you are correct. The Washington State Department of Transportation recently released its 2017 Corridor Capacity Report (2017 CCR), which says that congestion on the five freeway corridors they monitored was 22.3 percent worse in 2016 than in 2014.The 61-page report explores in de

During a recent visit to Seattle from the Philippines, long-time client Ms. Flores stopped into the office to thank Ms. Foster for her work in securing her lifetime benefits.

Social Media has become a big part of many peoples’ lives.

Medication-Assisted Treatment for Opioid Addiction

I was born in Tacoma in December of 1939, making me 75 years old.  My first home was with my parents, Italian immigrant grandparents, and my four maternal uncles. Italian was my first language.  My grandfather used to say, “Quando si passa quarant’ anni, la vita e nelle divine mani,”  meaning, “When you pass 40 years [of age], your life is in the hands of God

My grandparents came to the United States from Italy. I am proud of my Italian heritage.  I am not proud of the Italian criminal justice system.  It is dysfunctional and unfair.  There are long delays before an accused person gets his or her day in court.  There is no presumption of innocence. Strict rules of evidence do not apply. Judges go into the jury room to “help&rd

Today, January 6th, is the date of the Epiphany, which is more celebrated in many countries than Christmas.   Generally, this Greek-originated word means an “aha” moment, when one suddenly sees or understands something in a new or very clear way.  Religiously, it is a Christian holy day honoring the travel of the three kings to visit the Christ child. The concept of gif

Wearing a bicycle helmet is a must for all bicyclists, both young and old. Bicycle helmets save lives and prevent traumatic brain injuries. An Institute of Medicine review of bicycle accident concussions found that wearing a helmet reduced the risk of a traumatic brain injury by almost 70%. In the past twenty years, 90% of […]

Tailgating is when one driver follows another vehicle too closely and fails to leave enough room to stop to avoid a collision in a situation in which a sudden stop is required. When weather is good, it is daylight and driving conditions are optimal, a following driver should be at least 3 seconds behind the […]

The Washington State Patrol, in a media release, said they are investigating a four-car accident in which a pedestrian — a 59-year-old Arlington man — was seriously injured, requiring the amputation of both of his legs. The accident occurred on April 17 at the intersection of 23rd Street and Rockefeller Avenue at 11:45am. The WSP […]

I was stopped by the police last year; the encounter was peaceful and went fairly well.  Thinking back about it, however, I realized there were some things I wished I knew/remembered when the police stopped me on the highway.  Here are the top 5 things everyone should know when they are stopped by the police […]