Litigation & Trial Representation

Why Trial MattersTrial Preparation Is What Produces Fair Settlements

This is the thing most PI websites don't say plainly: the vast majority of personal injury cases settle before a jury ever hears them. But they settle on fair terms only when the insurer believes the other side is genuinely prepared to go to trial. An attorney who settles every case — or who the insurer knows will — has less leverage than one who the insurer knows will actually try one.

The cases that proceed to trial are typically those where an insurer refuses a fair offer, where liability is seriously disputed, or where the damages are large enough that the insurer prefers to fight. In those situations, we go.

The ProcessHow a Personal Injury Lawsuit Moves Through Court

Once we decide that filing a lawsuit is the right step, the process generally moves through these stages:

1. Filing the complaint in Pierce County Superior Court, naming the defendants and stating the claims. This starts the formal litigation clock and signals to the insurer that the case is real.
2. Service and the answer. The defendant is served and has a set time to respond. Once answered, the case is in active litigation.
3. Discovery. Both sides exchange evidence — medical records, interrogatories, depositions of witnesses and experts. This is where the case is built and where both sides learn the other's strengths and weaknesses.
4. Motions. Either side may file motions to shape what evidence or arguments are available at trial.
5. Mediation. Washington courts typically require mediation before trial — a structured settlement negotiation with a neutral mediator. Many cases resolve at this stage, even those that started as hard disputes.
6. Trial. If mediation doesn't resolve it, we try the case — jury selection, opening statements, witness examination, expert testimony, closing argument, and verdict.

This page provides general information about Washington civil procedure and is not legal advice. Timelines and procedures vary with the facts and the court's schedule; contact us to discuss your specific situation.

Washington LawThe Deadline and the No-Cap Advantage

Who Tries Your CaseYou Work With the Same Attorneys Through Trial

At many large PI firms, a client meets the intake attorney, gets handed to a case manager, and then meets the trial attorney for the first time when the case is already in litigation. That's not how we work.

Rob Lloyd and Tim Greene handle your case from the first free consultation through trial. They conduct discovery, take depositions, argue motions, and — when the case goes to trial — try it themselves. By the time a jury is seated, they know the facts of your case as well as anyone in the room.

That continuity matters: the attorney who built the relationship with you, who knows the full history, and who prepared the case is the same attorney presenting it to the jury. Pierce County Superior Court is our local court. We handle insurance negotiation on a contingency-fee basis — no attorney fee upfront, a fee only if we recover for you.

Be HonestWhen Trial May Not Be the Right Path

Trials are expensive, time-consuming, and uncertain — even strong cases can produce unexpected verdicts. We tell clients that honestly. There are situations where a negotiated settlement, even one that doesn't feel fully satisfying, is the better outcome given the risks and timeline of going to trial. We explain those tradeoffs clearly so you can make an informed decision.

Filing a lawsuit doesn't mean you're going to trial. The majority of cases filed in court still settle before a jury hears them — often because filing itself changes the insurer's calculus. The decision to file is a strategic one, and we make it together.