Bill Coats Law

$3.3M

Workplace Injury

This was a confidential settlement involving an industrial accident in Snohomish County. Our client suffered pelvic injuries as well as foot and ankle fractures which required surgeries and a lengthy hospital stay. When things go wrong in an industrial setting, people can get hurt. If this has happened to you or someone you love in Bellingham, Whatcom County, or beyond, find out more on personal injury law and what you can do next. Bellingham personal injury law firm Bill Coats Law is here for you.

$2.5M

Wrongful Death

Zac’s mother contacted Bellingham personal injury attorney Bill Coats to seek a second opinion after her initial lawyer advised that a wrongful death claim was not worth pursuing. Since her son Zac had died in a jet-ski accident when he and his friend collided, the other lawyer concluded that the claim had no value. Bill determined that homeowners insurance provided coverage for failure to supervise use of a jet-ski while the family was on vacation. The Estate of Zachary Springer recovered $2.5 million for his tragic death in the jet-ski accident. The claim arose when Zac was invited to accompany a friend and his father on vacation. The friend’s father and his adult friends had rented two houseboats, a ski boat, and two jet skis, signing a rental agreement that explicitly prohibited use of the jet skis by anyone under 18. State law requires that minors use jet skis only after being trained and certified, and then only under close adult supervision. Instead of supervising Zac and his friend, the father partied while letting the 15-year-old boys ride the jet skis, contrary to the rental contract, state law, and common sense. The tragedy occurred on the afternoon of the first full day of the vacation on a lake similar to Lake Whatcom, in Bellingham. This was Zac’s first use of a jet ski ever, and he was operating with absolutely no adult supervision more than a mile from the anchored houseboats. The boys were operating their jet skis at about 25 m.p.h. when Zac’s friend t-boned Zac’s jet ski, which then stopped in the water. Zac was hit and knocked off the jet-ski. His friend jumped into the water to hold the unconscious Zac afloat. They were in the water together for nearly 30 minutes before help arrived. According to investigators, it took 20 minutes for the “adult supervisors” to get a ski boat launched to rescue the boys, and another 20 minutes of CPR before they could figure out how to work the marine radio, either because no one knew how to operate the radio, because there was something wrong with this particular marine radio, or because the operators were too intoxicated to figure it out. Liability arose from the father’s failure to supervise his son, but also from the father’s failure to supervise Zac’s use of the jet-ski after his parents allowed the father to act in loco parentis, promising to take responsibility for Zac’s safety during the vacation. Punitive damages were requested for “...conduct that manifests a knowing and reckless indifference toward, and a disregard of, the rights of others.” An investigation determined that the rental agent who gave the jet ski instruction noticed that “...they wasn’t (sic) interested so much in my instruction. I felt they just wanted to leave quick...” Although the rental party “...indicated to me they were experienced boaters...,” at the time the houseboats were turned over, people were already “drinking and partying...” In fact, the members of the rental party were not experienced boaters. Several witnesses at the scene verified that the father knew that no one under 18 was allowed to use the jet skis and that the two boys had not attended the boating safety course required by Utah law or obtained the required boating safety certificate. In sum, the adult’s failure to supervise the young boys on the powerful machines led to Zac’s death. The claim was brought the state wrongful death statute. Recoverable damages included funeral and medical expenses, the value of services the decedent might have rendered to the household, the amount of money the deceased child might have earned, if his projected income would have exceeded the cost of his maintenance and care, and the loss of society, companionship, protection and affection, which constitutes the heart of the action. The State Constitution provides that the amount recoverable for a wrongful death claim can never be limited, so there is no limitation on a jury determination of value. The recovery came from the entire policy limits of the friend’s father’s homeowners’ policy, a source of recovery found when Zac’s mother sought a second opinion from Bellingham lawyer Bill Coats.

$1.4M

Personal Injury

Bellingham lawyer Bill Coats’ client Beth was only 13 years old when she was a guest at a holiday party hosted by the owners of a gravel pit near Ferndale. During the party, the teenage son of the hosts recklessly fired off a bottle rocket which struck Beth in the right eye. Beth consequently was blinded in that eye. The host had bought the bottle rockets at a local Indian reservation and had allowed the kids at the party shoot the fireworks without any supervision. Personal injury attorney Bill Coats filed a claim with the hosts’ homeowner’s insurance company, and also with their business insurance company. The homeowner’s insurance company was willing to pay the limits of the policy, but unfortunately this amount was not enough to fully compensate Beth for her permanent injury. The business insurance company denied coverage for the loss, claiming that the incident was not covered under the policy. Bill Coats filed a lawsuit in Whatcom County Superior Court and through his comprehensive investigation, he determined that the holiday party was actually a business function, and the court would most likely rule that the incident was covered by the business insurance policy. He informed the out-of-state business insurance company of his findings, and advised them of Washington’s Insurance Fair Conduct Act, which could subject them to additional penalties if they unreasonably denied coverage. After a mediation session, Beth’s parents and the insurance company agreed to the highest settlement in Washington for injury to a single eye. The settlement was structured so that Beth will receive more than $1,400,000 throughout the course of her lifetime. Financial compensation can help accident victims cope with a lifetime of limitations incurred from injuries.

$1.3M

Personal Injury

Liam, a three-year-old toddler, was seriously injured at a friend’s home when he drank lye that had been left out from a soap making party that day. Bellingham Personal Injury Attorney Bill Coats recovered $1,300,00 for Liam and obtained court approval for the settlement, since Liam was a minor. The basis of the claim was negligence in leaving the lye out where a toddler could grab it. Bill determined that there was a $300,000 homeowners’ policy as well as a $1,000,000 umbrella policy that would cover this liability claim. As you can imagine, Liam suffered significant injuries to his esophagus, undergoing surgery that literally pulled his stomach into his thoracic cavity, creating a narrowing that will need endoscopic dilation in the future. He will always have acid reflux and will require medication for the rest of his life. He also underwent a jejunotomy tube placement because he now requires supplemental tube feeding for at least the next decade. Bellingham Personal Injury Attorney Bill Coats negotiated this settlement with the insurance company without going to trial.

$1.3M

Personal Injury

No parent ever wants their children to experience suffering that brings lifelong consequences, but for one Bellingham family, that is exactly what happened. On the morning of one New Year’s Day, an electrical fire broke out in the home of a Bellingham family with two young daughters. The family was renting the home. Sparked by an electrical problem in the walls, the fire quickly took over. The fire was so hot it burned the fence across a concrete walkway outside the home, and completely destroyed the house. Receiving the most severe injuries of all the family members, the young girls sustained burns and injuries that will have lifelong impact. Bill negotiated a settlement for the girls, and created a trust that will help sustain them for decades.

$1.1M

Motorcycle Accident

Ms. Sholtz, while riding on the back of her husband’s Harley Davidson, was found lying in a ditch by Medic One after a collision with a Volvo, driven by the Defendant, who was ticketed for failure to yield in an intersection (RCW 46.61.400). Seven surgeries later, including a bone graft to save her leg, Ms. Sholtz continued to require assistance in walking on uneven surfaces. She will never have full range of motion in her left ankle again. The case was filed under Cause No. 06-2-10016-4. After a low insurance offer of only $300k, the case was taken to mediation where a settlement agreement was reached for $1,150,000. Although Attorney Bill Coats has successfully represented many motorcycle crash victims, he was not involved in this case.