Introduction

A $16 million recovery for a family whose members required multiple surgeries stands among the results that define NextLaw PLLC’s approach to personal injury and criminal defense work in Washington State. Founded by Daniel J. Gerl, an attorney with over 30 years of experience and a background as a former DUI prosecutor, the firm operates from 949 Market Street, Suite 701, Tacoma, WA 98402, and serves clients across the Puget Sound region, including Bellevue, Seattle, Olympia, and the surrounding communities.

Practice Areas

NextLaw PLLC focuses on two primary areas: personal injury representation for accident victims and criminal defense for individuals facing DUI charges in Washington State.

Car Accident Representation. The firm handles the full range of motor vehicle accident cases, including head-on collisions, rear-end crashes, side-impact accidents, drunk driving incidents, distracted driving cases, and aggressive driving collisions. In the Tacoma area, dense population and tourist traffic increase accident risks, and the firm’s attorneys conduct independent investigations into each case. This includes gathering police reports, witness statements, and medical records, as well as identifying all liable parties including drivers, manufacturers, and employers. The team calculates both economic damages (medical bills, lost wages, future earning capacity, property damage) and non-economic damages (pain and suffering, emotional distress), then negotiates with insurance companies and prepares cases for litigation when settlements prove inadequate.

Washington operates under a fault-based system that allows injured parties to file claims with their own insurance and seek reimbursement from at-fault insurers, file directly with at-fault drivers’ insurance, or bring personal injury lawsuits. The state also permits recovery even when the injured party is partially at fault, though compensation is reduced by the claimant’s percentage of fault. NextLaw’s attorneys counter insurance company tactics designed to shift blame and minimize payouts.

DUI and Criminal Defense. Daniel J. Gerl brings more than 30 years of experience and a former career as a DUI prosecutor to the defense side. The firm handles DOL hearings and pays the $375 DOL hearing fee as part of its “NextLaw Edge” program. Defense strategies include challenging police stops conducted without due cause, contesting BAC test procedures, and arguing cases where drivers were not impaired at the time of arrest. The firm offers flat fee pricing with payment plans when necessary and represents clients through all stages of DUI proceedings in Washington State courts.

Bellevue Car Accident Practice. With over twenty years of experience, the firm represents Bellevue residents injured in wrecks that were not their fault. The attorneys handle everything from minor fender-benders to catastrophic crashes, taking on insurance adjusters who attempt to derail claims through pressure tactics, lowball offers, and bad faith practices. Washington’s three-year statute of limitations requires prompt action, and the firm monitors all applicable deadlines.

Attorney Profiles

Daniel J. Gerl, Lead Attorney. Daniel Gerl founded NextLaw PLLC and brings a dual perspective to the firm’s practice. His career began on the prosecution side, where he served as a DUI prosecutor before transitioning to defense work. This prosecutorial background gives him insight into how the state builds its cases and where weaknesses can be found. With more than 30 years of legal experience, Gerl leads both the firm’s personal injury and criminal defense practices. He can be reached directly at (253) 238-2558.

Location and Service Area

NextLaw PLLC is located at 949 Market Street, Suite 701, Tacoma, WA 98402. The firm serves clients throughout western Washington, with offices covering Tacoma, Olympia, Seattle, and Bellevue. The practice extends to surrounding communities including Federal Way, Kent, Renton, and Auburn.

The Tacoma location positions the firm to handle cases arising on major highways and in urban corridors where accident rates are elevated due to traffic volume. The firm’s DUI defense practice operates throughout Washington State courts.

For more information, visit calldannext.com

Client Focus

NextLaw PLLC operates on a contingency fee basis for personal injury cases, meaning clients pay no upfront fees and the firm collects payment only after securing compensation. For DUI defense, the firm offers flat fee pricing with payment plans available when necessary.

The firm’s case results demonstrate the scale of recoveries it has achieved for clients. Beyond the $16 million family recovery, notable results include $2.8 million for a rear-end truck crash victim, $875,000 for an Uber driver who needed surgery, $750,000 for another Uber driver with significant injuries, $740,000 for a client requiring back surgery following a crash, and $500,000 in an additional case. These outcomes reflect the firm’s willingness to prepare cases for trial when insurance company offers fall short of covering actual damages.

The firm’s approach to insurance negotiations is adversarial by design. NextLaw’s attorneys understand that insurance companies prioritize saving money and routinely employ tactics to minimize or deny claims. The firm pushes back against bad faith practices, gathers comprehensive evidence, and builds cases that account for both immediate and long-term financial impacts on clients.

Frequently Asked Questions

What areas does NextLaw PLLC serve?
The firm serves clients throughout western Washington, including Tacoma, Seattle, Bellevue, Olympia, Federal Way, Kent, Renton, and Auburn, from its office at 949 Market Street, Suite 701, Tacoma, WA 98402.

Can I recover compensation if I was partially at fault for an accident in Washington?
Yes. Washington State allows injured parties to seek compensation even when they share some responsibility for the accident. However, the recovery amount is reduced by the claimant’s percentage of fault. Insurance companies frequently attempt to inflate the claimant’s fault percentage to reduce payouts, which is one reason having an attorney is valuable.

What is the NextLaw Edge for DUI cases?
The NextLaw Edge is a program where the firm pays the $375 DOL hearing fee on behalf of clients as part of its DUI defense representation. This hearing is a separate proceeding from the criminal case and addresses the administrative suspension of driving privileges.

How long do I have to file a personal injury claim in Washington?
Washington’s statute of limitations for personal injury claims is three years from the date of the accident. Filing promptly is important because evidence can deteriorate, witnesses can become unavailable, and insurance companies may use delays against claimants.

What does NextLaw charge for personal injury cases?
The firm handles personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning there are no upfront costs. The firm collects a fee only if it recovers compensation for the client. DUI defense cases are handled on a flat fee basis, with payment plans available.

Closing

Daniel Gerl’s trajectory from DUI prosecutor to defense attorney and personal injury advocate gives NextLaw PLLC a perspective that few firms in the Tacoma area can match. The firm’s record of multi-million-dollar recoveries in accident cases, combined with its specialized DUI defense practice, reflects a practice built on preparation and an unwillingness to accept inadequate settlement offers. Clients in western Washington can contact the firm at (253) 238-2558 or through calldannext.com