Attorneys who specialize only in specific areas of law bring a level of skill, strategy, and insight that others simply can’t match.
What makes Ruiz & Smart different?
Every member of our team could work anywhere else that they’d like. When they came to the fork in the road in their careers, they all made the choice to fight for real people and change the world one case at a time. This is our calling.
Giving back to the community is important. Managing partner Isaac Ruiz grew up working in farm fields in South Texas. Isaac learned the value of hard work by selling watermelons on the side of a road in his hometown each summer.
Many of our team members split off from a big, well-known Seattle firm. By making that decision, we could finally and proudly declare that our firm will never represent big corporations or insurance companies.
We’re Ruiz & Smart. Nice to meet you.
Browse our team’s bios to learn about our notable cases, community contributions, and industry leadership.
We are a tight-knit group here at Ruiz & Smart. We long ago entered “finishing each other’s sentences” territory.
What areas of law does Ruiz & Smart focus on?
Ruiz & Smart primarily handles cases related to wrongful death, personal injury, insurance recovery, insurance bad faith, and employment-related disputes, including discrimination and retaliation.
What is Ruiz & Smart's client approach?
Our firm prides itself on a compassionate, detailed approach, ensuring each client receives dedicated attention, from initial consultation through litigation or settlement.
Does Ruiz & Smart represent clients outside of Washington?
Yes. Although we are based in Washington, we handle cases in other states depending on the specifics of the legal matter and jurisdictional requirements.
How do I know if I’m within the statute of limitations to file a claim?
The statute of limitations varies by case type. Contact us immediately after an incident to ensure your claim is filed within the correct timeframe.
Does Ruiz & Smart handle insurance disputes?
My goodness, yes. We are among Washington’s leaders in disputing insurance claims denials, negotiating with insurers, and litigating bad faith insurance practices to secure full recoveries.
Does Ruiz & Smart charge a fee for a consultation?
If we hold an initial consultation with you, there will not be a fee.
Does Ruiz & Smart handle cases on a contingent fee?
Yes, we handle most cases on a contingent-fee basis. A contingent fee is when a lawyer only gets paid if they successfully recover money for their client through a settlement or court verdict. Instead of charging an hourly rate or a flat fee, the lawyer takes a percentage of the client’s recovery. If the case is lost, the client does not owe the lawyer any legal fees. Contingent-fee agreements are the industry standard in personal-injury cases.