Areas of Practice – in depth

Obtaining benefits from the complicated and often unresponsive workers compensation system is challenging and frustrating.

No one does it better than the attorneys at Rumbaugh Rideout Adkins & Wallace. We understand the financial hardship caused when a family member is hurt at work, and can’t return to the job. Our lawyers have proudly represented thousands of injured working people, from administrating claims with the Department of Labor and Industries to arguing workers’ compensation cases before the Washington State Supreme Court.

We know how to do what is necessary to obtain all the benefits that the industrial insurance system provides for people hurt at work. Recent cases include the benchmark Supreme Court decision of Cockle v. Department of Labor and Industries, 142 Wn.2d 801, (2001), which resulted in the working men and women in Washington State receiving millions of dollars each year in additional lost wage benefits. In Tharaldson v. T&T Trucking, Inc., 104 Wn. App. 1004 Lexus (2007), we stopped the Department of Labor and Industries from unfairly taking money away from our client for whom we made a recovery on a car crash case. Whether by negotiation, at trial, or in the Supreme Court, our lawyers have the experience and expertise to battle the state or self-insured companies to protect your rights to compensation.

Falls, trench cave-ins, equipment malfunctions and many more hazards are ever present on construction projects. In addition to your worker’s compensation benefits, the attorneys at Rumbaugh Rideout Adkins & Wallace are experienced at evaluating construction site claims to determine if Washington Administrative Code provisions or other industry safety standards have been violated.

Many times there is a negligent party causing injury who is not your employer or fellow employee. When this negligence is present, we will make sure you get the full amount of damages owed from the party responsible for your injury, not limited by workers compensation laws.

By carefully investigating the circumstances resulting in your injury, we will develop a winning legal theory, locating the evidence, and select the expert witnesses necessary to make your case a success.

While we have won recoveries of millions of dollars for some of our severely injured clients, each construction site case we accept will receive personalized, professional attention. Recovery of full compensation for your injuries and losses is our only goal.

The lawyers at Rumbaugh Rideout Adkins & Wallace know that the impact from a motorcycle crash or car and truck collisions do not end when the dust settles at the scene of the event.

The impacts can last through years of painful recovery, loss of earnings, enormous medical expenses and ultimately, in a broken body or in the loss of a beloved family member. The unfortunate truth is that while motor vehicle crash victims are trying to restore their health and stay afloat financially, the insurance industry is also working to escape its financial responsibility. We will make sure that insurance companies for negligent drivers, as well as your own insurance company, pays the full amount it owes under the insurance policy. Whether for medical bills, lost wages, loss of enjoyment of life or loss of life itself, the attorneys at our firm have the know how and determination to make sure your rights to recovery are fully protected. Don’t get shortchanged because an insurance company just does not want to pay the full amount of your claim. Put over 100 years of litigation experience in your corner, fighting for your rights.

When someone you love is killed because of the carelessness of someone else, it can feel like the world is falling apart. Let us help you through this difficult time. The attorneys at Rumbaugh Rideout Adkins & Wallace have years of experience helping families through these emotionally and financially difficult times. We will ensure that the responsible party is held accountable and that you receive the maximum compensation that is allowed by law.

These cases are often complex – factually, legally, and emotionally. You should have attorneys who are compassionate, and who have the resolve to put the energy and work into fully preparing your case. We will investigate every detail of the case and engage renowned experts, if necessary, to establish the cause of death and who was responsible.

Medical malpractice occurs when a healthcare provider provides treatment that falls below the required standards of care, and that failure injures the patient. Medical malpractice claims include all types of medical mistakes, including but not limited to birth injuries, medication errors, misdiagnoses, and surgical errors.

If you or a loved one has been injured by a healthcare provider, you should contact an attorney right away. Washington law only allows a short period of time to file a claim for medical malpractice, and the time limit applies to children too.

Medical malpractice cases require an attorney who has knowledge of medical issues and has access to medical experts who can assist with the case. The attorneys at Rumbaugh, Rideout, Adkins & Wallace, PLLC have substantial experience with medical malpractice cases.

The lawyers at Rumbaugh Rideout Adkins & Wallace have extensive knowledge about how the and receiving, or materials handling and storage business is supposed to be safely conducted. We are regularly litigating cases related to injuries which occur as a result of negligently operated forklifts or other powered industrial equipment. Improper materials storage or unsafe loading dock procedures have caused injuries for which we have made large damage recoveries for our clients. Through consistent research and litigation, our lawyers stay up to date on the latest WISHA, OSHA, and other safety codes that control how warehouse work should be safely performed.

If you have been injured in a warehouse or on a loading dock, we will carefully check whether the proper procedures were being followed when your injury occurred. The attorneys at Rumbaugh, Rideout, Adkins & Wallace will investigate to find out whether the operator of a piece of powered industrial equipment had been improperly trained or was simply unskilled when operating equipment that caused your injury. Whether materials were improperly stacked and stored, or dangerous materials were being improperly handled, the lawyers at Rumbaugh, Rideout, Adkins & Wallace have the specialized knowledge of industrial procedures that make them effective advocates for your rights.

The attorneys at Rumbaugh Rideout Adkins & Wallace can assist you in all phases of this process. There are several levels of decision-making with stringent time deadlines. We are experienced in representing claimants through the administrative hearing level and on appeal to federal court.

Nursing homes, including assisted living and retirement facilities, are supposed to give you and your loved ones a safe and comfortable place to live. These nursing home businesses are often dealing with some of the most vulnerable folks in our society. When nursing homes cut corners to save money, hire incompetent staff, or fail to use reasonable care to ensure you or your loved one’s safety, they should be held accountable for the harm they caused. We have experience in handling nursing home cases. We will investigate your claim, meet with you and your family members, interview the nursing home staff, engage experts where necessary, and pour over every detail of your situation. Our goal is to ensure the nursing home facility is held responsible for their misconduct, which will help prevent such wrongs in the future. We will also make sure that you are compensated for your losses to the maximum amount allowed by law.

When the government and its employees fail to abide by acceptable standards of care and as a result cause harm to a person, the law will hold them responsible. Examples of situations that may invoke government liability include negligent highway design, failure to properly supervise parolees, police chases, police officers who use excessive force, negligent release of mentally ill patients, and negligent placement of children who have been removed by the government from their parents or who are in the foster care system. The lawyers at Rumbaugh Rideout Adkins & Wallace, PLLC, have the experience and the resolve to see to it that the government is held accountable for their actions and that you are fully compensated for all of your losses.

Many of the categories above involve personal injury claims. The term personal injury is very broad and encompasses many types of injuries. For example, the phrase includes slip and fall injuries, dog bites, cycling accidents, boating accidents, swimming pool accidents, school athletic accidents, and the like. The lawyers at Rumbaugh Rideout Adkins & Wallace, PLLC are experienced in and handle all types of personal injury claims.

If you are unable to work due to disabling medical conditions, you may qualify for Social Security Disability benefits. The Social Security Disability Program (DIB) pays benefits to you and certain family members if you worked long enough and paid Social Security taxes.

The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Program pays benefits to disabled adults and children who have limited income and resources. In addition, to assessing the information about your medical condition, the Social Security Administration looks to your work and educational background to see if you qualify for disability under their rules.