Bill Coats Law

$234,466

Car Accident

On an icy January night, Mr. O’Brien was going too fast down an onramp to I-5 and lost control of his Ford Explorer. He ended up facing southbound in the northbound lane. At the time, his license had been suspended and he shouldn’t have been driving at all. The driver of the car Nicolette was riding in was unable to avoid a collision. Nicolette injured her neck and tried everything her doctors recommended to get better. Unfortunately her neck did not heal and after further testing it was determined that she would need surgery. What Nicolette didn’t expect was for her health insurance company to refuse to approve the surgery. After calling and writing virtually every day for a few weeks, Bill Coats, a dedicated personal injury attorney in Bellingham, was able to get the health insurance company to approve the surgery. We recovered the limits of all of the insurance money available, a total of $203,360 plus a waiver of the $31,106 health insurance reimbursement claim for a net benefit to Nicolette of $234,466.

$260,000

Bicycle Accident

Lynn loved to ride her bike. Every workday she rode to her job at Joint Base Lewis McChord. Lynn was well aware of the dangers of riding and always rode safely with a sharp eye out for hazards. She was in the bike lane as she approached an intersection. The light turned green and Lynn proceeded straight when the commercial vehicle to her left turned suddenly and hit her, crushing her bike and breaking her leg. The driver and insurance company claimed that the collision was Lynn’s fault because he had his blinker on and was already turning and that she had driven into him! Lynn said that there was no blinker and that she was already well into the intersection when he turned. It was a classic “he said/she said” case. Whatcom County personal injury lawyer Bill Coats filed a lawsuit and took the drivers deposition where he was able to bring out inconsistencies in the story and raise doubts about his credibility. Before trial the insurance company agreed to settle the case for $260,000. When a bike and a truck are involved in an accident, it’s almost always the cyclist who loses. That doesn’t have to be true in the recovery process. Bill Coats can fight for these rights so you don’t have to. Contact Bill for a free consultation about your case at his downtown Bellingham office. For more information about his approach, visit the Practice Areas page on bicycle accidents.

$295,000

Distracted Driving Accident

Kim was driving to her Bellingham home after work when her VW Beetle was rear-ended by a large pickup truck. The impact forced Kim’s car into the car in front of her, broke her seat, and injured her back. She tried less invasive treatment but eventually needed spinal surgery. Bill Coats negotiated a settlement of $295,000. Bill Coats can take on the individuals and companies so you don’t have to. Contact Bill for a free consultation about your case at his downtown Bellingham office. For more information about his approach, visit the Practice Areas page on auto accidents.

$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.

$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.

$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.