Willis & Toews, PLLC | Walla Walla | Personal Injury Attorneys

I’ve had an auto collision, now what?

If you are involved in an automobile collision in the State of Washington involving injuries or property damage, there are some basic guidelines and steps you should follow. These steps will help you avoid hassles with claims adjusters, and assist you in obtaining fair compensation for your injuries and damages.

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We Know Personal Injury Law

Monte Willis and Debra Toews have 20 years of combined legal service. They opened their present office in 2006 and practice exclusively in the personal injury field.

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Victoria Buell

20:53 16 Nov 16

I was put in touch with Monte Willis by a family member who noticed I was trying to sort through and handle everything that comes along with dealing with insurance companies. I was hit by a car that had run a stop sign while I was on my bike, and Monte was fantastic in helping me any way he could in this claim that ended up being open for well over a year. He stepped in and took over everything, and I was especially struck by his ability to read each situation and recognizing when I needed a little extra guidance and information when making the crucial decisions. He paid closed attention to each concern I expressed, never making me feel belittled or uninformed. He went the extra mile, and I would not hesitate to recommend him to anyone who is in need of a personal injury attorney.

Jay Neil

23:27 06 Jun 16

Then:A cyclist hit: broadsided by a car failing to yield the Chestnut St crosswalk. A first-time bike commuter crossing over 5 lanes of 12th street traffic. A too-fast traffic light: immediate entry as green lights up, yellow warns before midway across, and red shocks -- while still desperate to get beyond the last of 5 lanes. A hurried SUV driver, staring up at the other lights, remains oblivious to who or what is still in the intersection before his hood. If... If it'd been a child - they would've died by the full throttle power forces applied. That time...2013. Still to date:No citation given. The creepy hit & run driver: seeing the unmistaken carnage, both to his vehicle and in the intersection's wake from his rear view mirror: all other vehicles frozen, immobile in view of the apparent tragedy just witnessed him to cause -- this guilty driver slowly returns from a side street minutes later, arriving unnoticed by the first-responders from WWPD. His dis-ingenious first impression words "that biker hit my car". A blatant lie. I was hit, left lying for dead across 2 lanes, and there was an entire intersection of voices giving witness. WWPD was silent, but did make notes. Their photos still speak; a damaged white SUV parked in a funny angle on a side street, smeared by brown Trek bike paint across its now-marred front bumper. I pointed to the guilt-evidence seen but by my eyes in real time, now captured by an investigator's camera for the future. Legal captivity: This road-wise cyclist who clearly understood his (lack of) obligation to provide access to his personal auto policy for that driver's auto damages? "But I didn't hit him, I wasn't driving! He hit me, on my bike. My auto policy doesn't cover any vacuous bike-liability!" The Allstate brass heard, were shocked, furious, and corporately vehement in keeping this injured-silent cyclist-client safe 'in their hands'. Refusing to bow before that driver's opposing insurance policy's aggressive brutish start-up stratagem. Their style seemed "Burn anything and anyone in the name of profit.""I'm sorry; neither I nor Allstate can accept this threat...on the other hand, you and your insured driver appear to still face some growing legal challenge..."My case was nearly tragic. A rider with fewer miles might have suffered more by not utilizing maximum passive protection. A double jersey layer / less road rash; wearing the best fitted helmet / the better to absorb and/or split sacrificially. Though outwardly crushed, torn and ripped - my helmet hit and shattered the driver's entire door mirror system. It was just clothing torn; my body deeply bruised, but no blood??!! My very vulnerable brain impacted asphalt still cradled in styrofoam remnants - still very much awake, and alert, thinking grateful thoughts while lying still. Grateful to "be", listening in silence as that moment of incredible awe lingered on. "I'm alive, I can still move and feel. I'm hurt, but I'm not broken".... Interrupted only by a horrified witness screaming through her cell at 911 "he's dead..." After six months:It was clear that I was right, but alone - against an intransigent bully insurance company, a silent police force, and facing an unknown but potentially longer term healing trajectory with ongoing neck and shoulder spasms, and a classic commuter bike loss uncompensated... I turned to Willis & Toews. And now, 3 years have flown. Walla Walla no longer works for me. It's not all about that driver either... I still bike commute all 4 seasons; but on a fatbike in the mountains of Maine; cross country, old RR beds, and snow-packed subzero snowmobile trails, even studded tires on frozen rivers... It's fresh every day and rich. It doesnt matter how long, or which route - I know I'll get there. Willis & Toews - were partners in this change. They fought when I was broken. The tables were turned. I have a just settlement in the bank. My bike was replaced, and my health expenses compensated. Best of all, I didn't have to let that one very bad day ruin a still-good ride.

Domianna Smith

15:34 02 Apr 18

I was referred to Monte Willis by a close friend after having my car totalled by someone as well as having bodily injuries. I could not be more satisfied with all the help from Monte, he definitely made it so much easier to deal with. This was my first big accident so I had no idea what to do. I am very thankful for Monte and all of his hard work. It is so obvious how much he truly cares about his clients and I would advise anyone and everyone to call Monte if you ever need a lawyer 100%!