Philip J. Welchman
philw@freise-welchman.com
Tel: 206-587-6570
Toll Free: 888-742-0244
Fax: 206-624-7999

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Philip J. Welchman is a partner at Freise & Welchman and has been with the firm since 1988. He has handled personal injury claims, full time, for over 20 years. His cases have involved moderate to several injuries, including death. He handled all kinds of injury claims, including car and truck accidents, slip and falls, dog bites and defective products. He has tried many jury trials throughout Washington State.

Mr. Welchman comes from a family of non-lawyers and so is used to explaining how the legal process to non-lawyers. Thus, he can comfortably explain to you how the legal process will apply to your case in a way that you will understand. He also has a great deal of experience working with many insurance companies and can explain how an insurance company will evaluate your claim. He knows how to negotiate the best settlement for you.

Mr. Welchman has served as an arbitrator approximately 50 times in King, Pierce and Snohomish Counties on personal injury lawsuits. Many personal injury lawsuits are put into this procedure which is quicker, less expensive and less stressful than a trial. An arbitration is a preliminary procedure to a trial. The arbitrator acts as a judge, deciding the value of a case. The arbitrator’s rulings often become the final decision.

Prior to earning his law degree at the University of Puget Sound Law School, he managed restaurants in Portland, OR and Bellevue, WA. He ran these businesses successfully for 5 years.

The restaurant business brought him to Kirkland in 1976 and he has lived there with his wife and children since then.

Practice Areas:
Personal Injury; Automobile, Motorcycle and Truck Accidents; Slip and Fall; Insurance Coverage; Wrongful Death.

Experience:
Has been a Washington trial lawyer for over 20 years. Has tried jury cases in eight Washington State counties: including Seattle (King County), Tacoma (Pierce County), Everett (Snohomish County) and Port Orchard (Kitsap County), Vancouver (Clark County), Spokane (Spokane County), Ritzville (Adams County) and Ephrata (Grant County).

These cases have involved car, truck and boating accidents, falls and other injuries on business premises, assaults, fires, wrongful termination and insurance coverage.

Has served as a court-appointed arbitrator as described previously.

Admitted:
1984, Washington, U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington and U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit

Law School:
University of Puget Sound, J.D., 1984

College:
University of Notre Dame (B.A., 1970; M.A., 1973)

Member:
Washington State Trial Lawyers Association; Washington Defense Trial Lawyers Association; King County, Washington State and American Bar Associations; DRI