personal injury lawyer bellingham | Tario & Associates, P.S.

by Michael TarioSeptember 3, 2026Personal Injury Attorney Blog Bellingham0 comments

How Are Personal Injury Attorneys Paid? Understanding Contingency Fees

When a person is injured in an accident, stress usually shoots through the roof. There is so much to deal with, starting with seeking medical care for any resulting injuries. But, with medical care comes medical bills and the potential for lost wages during recovery. The good news is that a personal injury claim may be an option for recovering damages caused by your accident, including medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, disability, and more. As personal injury attorneys, we understand that handling your own injury claim on top of everything else can seem impossible. And many worry about the cost.

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by Michael TarioSeptember 1, 2026Personal Injury Attorney Blog Bellingham0 comments

A Step-By-Step Timeline For Negotiating Personal Injury Settlement

People who are seriously injured in an accident due to the negligent behavior of another may face significant challenges. The injured person may require surgery, hospitalization, or a lengthy recovery involving significant pain and suffering. These challenges can also result in time away from work and mounting medical bills. Trying to manage a personal injury claim to recover a settlement can seem impossible under these circumstances.

That’s where a personal injury attorney comes in. A personal injury attorney manages the legal and insurance aspects of the personal injury claim so you can focus on recovery. One question that many injured people have is how long it takes to negotiate a personal injury settlement.

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by Michael TarioJuly 23, 2026Personal Injury Attorney Blog Bellingham0 comments

Understanding Negligence in Personal Injury Claims

Negligence is the foundation of most personal injury claims. Negligence occurs when a person or entity fails to use reasonable care, causing someone else to be injured. To recover compensation, the injured person must prove that the other party had a responsibility to act safely, failed to meet that responsibility, caused the injuries as a result of that failure, and that those injuries resulted in damages such as medical bills and lost wages. These are the four elements of negligence that insurance companies and courts use to determine who is legally responsible for an accident and whether compensation is owed to the plaintiff (injured person).

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by Michael TarioJuly 20, 2026Personal Injury Attorney Blog Bellingham0 comments

Slip and Fall Claims for Accidents on Wet Pool Decks and Water Park Surfaces

A day at the pool or water park should end with fun memories – not a trip to the emergency room. Unfortunately, an unexpected slip on a slippery surface can turn a great day into a painful and expensive injury. When a slip and fall injury was caused by negligence, the injured person may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages.

If you or a loved one was injured in a slip and fall accident on a wet pool deck or water park surface, you do not have to face your recovery alone. An experienced, local slip and fall accident attorney can review your accident, assess the value of your claim, and fight for the settlement you deserve.

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by Michael TarioMay 28, 2026Personal Injury Attorney Blog Bellingham0 comments

Understanding the Timeline for Personal Injury Lawsuit

When a person suffers an injury because of the negligent behavior of another, they may be entitled to pursue a settlement through a personal injury claim. Personal injury attorneys represent injured clients, working to gather evidence to support their claim and negotiate the maximum settlement possible. In about 95 percent of cases, personal injury claims are settled without ever going to trial. Settlements typically fall into two categories:

Pre-suit settlements where the claim is resolved directly with the insurance company through demand letters and negotiations before any formal lawsuit is filed.
In cases where the insurance company refuses to agree to a fair settlement, a personal injury attorney typically files a lawsuit in court to apply legal pressure. The vast majority of these personal injury lawsuits are settled before a judge or jury ever gets involved through renewed negotiation or a mediation or arbitration process.

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by Michael TarioMay 5, 2026Personal Injury Attorney Blog Bellingham0 comments

Recovering Damages for Mental Health Issues in Personal Injury Cases

When most people think about personal injury cases, they picture physical injuries, hospital bills, future medical expenses, and time away from work to recover. Those losses are real and they do typically make up the bulk of a personal injury settlement but they are not the whole story. Many injuries leave behind something less visible but just as serious: emotional and psychological harm.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, which makes this a great time to discuss the link between personal injury claims and mental health. If you or a loved one has been injured by another person’s actions, personal injury laws allow you to seek compensation for all damages. This includes the less visible effects of an injury, such as stress and loss of enjoyment of life.

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by Michael TarioApril 7, 2026Personal Injury Attorney Blog Bellingham0 comments

Understanding Liability for Outdoor Injuries Claims

With spring in full bloom in the Pacific Northwest, more people are taking advantage of the warmer weather to spend time outside. Whatcom County is home to countless beautiful public outdoor locations from parks, to trails, boardwalks, docks, and beaches. As these outdoor spaces get busier, there is inevitably more crowding and debris that can lead to outdoor injuries.

If you or a loved one was injured in a public outdoor space, you have enough to deal with. Contact a local, experienced personal injury attorney to discuss your legal rights. An attorney can evaluate your case, explain your options, and handle the legal process so you can focus on recovery.

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by Michael TarioApril 3, 2026Car Accident Attorney Blog Bellingham0 comments

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month. What To Do If You Are Hit by a Distracted Driver.

April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, a month dedicated to reducing fatalities caused by behaviors like texting and eating while driving. Law enforcement will increase “Put the Phone Away or Pay” patrols, with high-visibility enforcement from April 6–13, 2026. Distracted driving has become a deadly epidemic on our roads with cell phone use – including texting, talking, and social media browsing – being the most common distraction. In 2024, thousands were hit by a distracted driver, killing over 3,200 people and accounting for eight percent of all fatal crashes.

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by Michael TarioMarch 19, 2026Car Accident Attorney Blog Bellingham0 comments

Spring Increases Risk of Car Accidents in the Rain

In Washington State, Spring often comes as a great relief after months of cold weather, even though early Spring is associated with rain. As we transition to Spring 2026, we are experiencing a very wet and gray period of weather in the Pacific Northwest, which brings a unique set of driving hazards with wet and slippery roads at the top of the list. Drivers can reduce their chances of being involved in Spring car accidents in the rain by understanding the dangers and taking safety precautions.

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by Michael TarioMarch 16, 2026Car Accident Attorney Blog Bellingham0 comments

What to Know About a Car Accident Claim Against a Drunk Driver

Drunk drivers are responsible for thousands of crashes every year, contributing to about 12,429 traffic deaths in the United States in 2023 alone. Driving under the influence can lead to criminal charges, but injured victims can also pursue compensation through a civil claim. When a drunk driver causes a crash, the driver’s impairment often provides strong evidence of negligence and can significantly strengthen an injury claim.

However, even with clear evidence of intoxication, cases involving drunk drivers can be complex and contested. Injury lawyers who have experience handling personal injury claims against drunk drivers know how to gather evidence to build a favorable case. If you or a loved one was injured in a collision involving a drunk driver, hiring an experienced local car accident attorney can greatly improve your odds of receiving a full and fair settlement.

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