A car accident or an on-the-job injury can transform a life from ordinary to nightmare in seconds. Not only does someone facing injury have to work hard to rehabilitate their body, they may also have to battle against insurance companies, or face mounting medical bills.
“When people are in crisis they need to be taken care of quickly, and they need to know what they should and should not do,” said Kim R. Putnam, an attorney at Putnam Lieb Potvin.
If the accident was due to negligence, what happens immediately after the accident can make all the difference in the resolution of the case. These steps are important for all types of injury, from auto accidents, to on-the-job workers’ compensation, and they can be small or large cases.
“To protect your rights, the first step is to contact an injury lawyer and schedule a consultation, which should be free,” said Putnam. “Too often, people who’ve been injured close doors to their recovery because of things they inadvertently say or do immediately after the accident.”
Putnam also counsels not to discuss the case with anyone other than the attorney, physician and immediate family. “Any statements you make to others can be used against you later,” he said.
What about signing claims or documents? “No. Discuss with your attorney,” says partner Wayne Lieb. He adds, “Keep records of any out-of-pocket expenses incurred. Keep a dated record of how your problems affect your life, and be aware that the defendant may hire someone to investigate your personal activities to determine the nature and extent of your injuries.
“In addition, don’t wait and see how the insurance company or employer will handle your case before consulting with an attorney. Delays usually work against the victim, and in favor of the defendant,” he said. However, he notes that the statute of limitations for civil injury cases is three years from the time of injury. For a worker compensation case, the worker must file a claim within one year from the date of the injury.
Putnam Lieb Potvin has a philosophy articulated by Putnam, “Our function is to do the work to protect you, to make sure all the medical bills are paid and your economic losses recovered, so that you can focus on getting well.”
Injury law is different from other fields of law in that the attorneys are paid only if the case is successful, which is called the contingency fee. Their injury law teams consist of attorneys and highly experienced paralegals that serve Thurston, Pierce, Lewis, Mason, Grays Harbor counties, and beyond.
At Putnam Lieb Potvin, a high staff-to-attorney ratio allows them to use this team approach to injury law. Every case has three people assigned to it – one attorney and two paralegals, each with years of experience.
As soon as someone calls the office, they’ll talk to a paralegal. A meeting is set up as quickly as possible. “We evaluate the case from a liability and damages perspective. The team concept comes into play here. The team will get all the medical records up to that point. Another team member will get the police report, track down the witnesses and then interview them. Throughout this process, we’ll work with the doctors so that we understand the diagnosis of the condition and the prognosis. We’ll work with insurance companies as well,” said partner Kathy Potvin.
The client is able to focus on recovery while the team takes care of the complexities of the case.
“Our philosophy is that you have to work up a case with the intention of going to court. We’re very comfortable in the courtroom and this litigation experience and mindset contributes to our success. However, the goal is not to have every case go to litigation, but instead consider what offer is fair and what offer can make the plaintiff whole,” said Potvin.
The team approach and philosophy both contribute to their success, but Putnam also credits success to the individuals that make up the team at the 34-year-old firm.
“Our staff is phenomenal. They come to work here and they don’t leave. Many members of our team have been here between 18 and 30 years. I think we keep great people because we really care about each other and we care about family,” describes Putnam.
“We have a nursery upstairs. When someone on our team has a baby, they get two months of maternity leave, and then they bring the baby to the office until the baby starts walking,” adds Putnam. “We also believe that no parent should ever miss his or her child’s sporting event. You miss those things and you’ll regret it. Our team approach extends beyond our approach to law; it is also how we treat each other at work.”
For more information visit:
907 Legion Way SE
Olympia, WA 98501
800.225.4529
Areas of Practice:
- Personal Injury
- Work Accidents/Workers’ Compensation
- Automobile Accidents
- Motorcycle Accidents
- Truck Accidents
- Boating Accidents
- Animal/Dog Bites
- Defective Products
- Slip and Fall
- Brain Injury
- Wrongful Death
