Articles Posted in Automobile Accidents

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A recent washingtonexaminer.com article has revealed some startling statistics regarding the increase in deaths caused by drug use and overdose in comparison to a decrease in traffic-related fatalities. Washington State is among 16 others in the United States where it would seem that motorists are becoming more cautious when driving but taking more risks when it comes to drugs. So, can this information lead us to simply conclude that the legal and illegal use of prescription painkillers is on the upswing? And, has driving really become safer?

The article stated that based on recent CDC data, the drug-related death rate has almost doubled from the late 1990s to 2006. On the other hand, a decrease in auto accident fatalities is supported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, revealing that throughout the U.S., traffic fatalities dropped by approximately 6.5 percent from 1999 through 2006 (a drop from 15.3 deaths per 100,000 people to 14.3 per 100,000).

Aside from Washington state, the other locations in which drug-related deaths have risen above traffic fatalities include: Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, and Illinois. Although it is not apparent at this time as to why these particular U.S. States have experienced such a change, experts are wondering if certain drugs in particular may be more of an issue in some states than they are in others.
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The latest American Chronicle article by Kirk Bernard provides six pointers on what kind of compensation auto accident victims can expect for their particular situation. The article begins its discussion by stating that the devastation of an auto collision can impact a victim’s quality of life for many years, if not indefinitely. Furthermore, the article states that it is very common for injury victims to not know their legal rights or the types of compensation that they may be able to receive. It is for this very reason that the article goes on to discuss different kinds of compensation injury victims should be aware of.

Read the entire article to learn the specifics about the top 6 points regarding auto accident victim compensation.

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PRWEB announced on October 22, 2009 that Kirk Bernard, founding partner of The Bernard Law Group, declared that partner and personal injury attorney Elizabeth Lindquist reached a settlement at mediation in September 2009 for $425,500 in a Washington motorcycle accident injury case. This news reflects a successful outcome for a motorcycle passenger who suffered a burst facture of her lower back due to a negligent motorist that drove past a stop sign, pulled into an intersection, and directly into the path of the motorcycle. Now that the female plaintiff represented by Ms. Lindquist has received compensation to help pay for her pain and suffering, as well as much needed medical surgery and treatment, she can focus on rehabilitation.

The entire press release can be accessed on PRWEB for those who wish to learn more about this specific personal injury case and the efforts of The Bernard Law Group.

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Last February, a 39 year old father was killed when he was hit by a car while riding his bike to work.

His widow says, “…I don’t want it to happen again.” Speaking at a crowded bicycle summit at Seattle City Hall on Wednesday night in support of tougher laws against dangerous drivers, she said, “The person behind the wheel was negligent; their behavior was the cause of someone’s death. Why are they allowed to get behind the wheel of a car?”

A Seattle city ordinance that made it a misdemeanor to kill or injure someone in a traffic accident was overturned by the state Court of Appeals in August of this year.

As a result, drivers involved in deadly crashes can only be charged with felony vehicular homicide, and the charge only applies if they were drunk, on drugs or acting recklessly at the time of the crash.

KOMOnews.com reports that according to statistics, some 500 people are killed or badly injured in traffic accidents in Washington state every year. But many of the offenders can’t be charged with any type of felony, and instead are just given traffic tickets.

One man at the summit said, “It just seems like you can break a whole lot of laws at the same time and you’re still not being reckless in the legal sense.”
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A recent king5.com article reported that two teens have suffered serious chest, leg, and head injuries from a head-on collision that took place on the morning of September 29, 2009. According the story, Washington State Patrol said that the 16-year-old driver was driving at speeds too great for the wet road conditions. As she was headed northbound on Morris Road and approached a curve, her 1985 Oldsmobile Cutlass crossed over the center line and hit a GMC truck. The teen driver is reported to be in critical condition and her passenger is in serious condition. The 43-year-old driver of the truck did not suffer any injuries.

As we hear of more and more auto accidents in Washington taking place, we can only hope that those injured have a smooth recovery. As a result of receiving the proper care auto accident victims need to recuperate, unfortunate accident victims are often saddled with steep medical bills after the fact. When it is determined that another driver’s negligence caused such financial consequences in addition to serious physical and emotional calamities, an injured victim may be able to seek compensation to help pay for such expenses.

With some of these consequences in mind as to what the aftermath of a car accident can be like, please alter your driving speed during wet road conditions so that you do not lose control of your vehicle. Although we all know that it is extremely important to drive safely, it is even more vital to do so during or after inclement weather. No matter how late you are for school, work, or if you’re in a hurry for any other reason, your well-being is more important than arriving on time.
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Much debate has circulated around the use of camera vans and the effectiveness of fixed camera installation to help prevent speeding in school zones. Lakewood school zones in particular have had camera vans in position to catch such speeders. However, according to a report from thenewstribune.com, these roving vans should be removed within two to three weeks due to an amended contract with Redflex Traffic Systems. Lakewood’s city council voted 3-2 to install fixed cameras near Park Lodge Elementary and Lochburn Middle School, in addition to having uniformed officers periodically patrol the school zones.

The main argument residents seem to make in regard to speeding cameras and the tickets that result is that the cameras are error-prone and the tickets are more difficult to challenge than those issued directly by an officer. In opposition to the amendment to install fixed cameras, a councilman referred to the process as a “disproportionate reaction, or solution, to a problem we don’t have.” Undoubtedly behind the councilman’s statement is the fact that officials have noted there hasn’t been a serious pedestrian-auto accident in a school zone in Lakewood’s 13-year history. However, in argument against the councilman’s stance, perhaps the reason for this is the very existence of the cameras.

Pertaining to the complaints of residents that the cameras are inaccurate in “capturing” speeders, local Police Chief stated, “Technology has bugs, and we will try our best to work them out”.
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Any kind of auto accident is tragic, especially when such an incident is caused by a preventable factor like speeding, cell phone use, or impaired driving. A recent car collision reported by seattletimes.nwsource.com is a reminder of how detrimental speeding can actually be, and should serve as a powerful deterrent next time a motorist thinks of violating the speed limit. According to the article, high speed driving influenced the accident in SeaTac, causing an SUV carrying three people to run off the road, crash into a building, and catch fire. Sadly, all three people in the vehicle did not survive the fiery collision.

Although the report did not mention how fast the vehicle was traveling, it can be assumed that speeds were quite extreme considering that the car jumped a curb after passing the center line, broke a utility pole support wire, and proceeded to crash into the building. Apparently, residents consider the particular street that this accident occurred on to be a common spot for speeding. One resident said she has contacted police many times to either increase their patrol of the area or do something about putting in speed bumps to help curtail speeding.

Negligent drivers put passengers, pedestrians, and other drivers at great risk of suffering catastrophic injury or even death. Auto accidents in Seattle can be devastating, partly because they are so unexpected, and often result in life-changing consequences.
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The investigation continues into the cause of a serious motorcycle accident in Seattle that took the life of one man and left another motorcyclist in critical condition with severe injuries. Seattle Police reported that even though there is no indication that the two motorcycles hit each other, they were both involved in the accident that occurred at around 2 a.m. in downtown Seattle. The man who was killed has been identified and was 36-years-old.

The two men in this incident were members of the “Drama Boyz” motorcycle club, its headquarters located in very close proximity to the scene of the crash. The two crash victims were on their way to the club at the time of the accident, its cause unknown at this time. According to an article from nwcn.com, the debris field stretched over two city blocks. It is speculated that high speeds may have played a determining factor in the accident.

Riding a motorcycle can be an exhilarating experience and provide a person with a more gas-conservative means of transportation; however, it’s no secret that motorcyclists are more exposed to the many threats that a collision poses. According to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 2007 motorcycle report, there were 5,154 motorcycle fatalities. The report also stated that helmets saved an estimated 1,784 lives in 2007 in which 800 more lives could have been saved if all motorcyclists had worn their helmets.
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Saturday afternoon, two people went to Harborview Medical Center after their car hit a Sound Transit train. The collision happened at Martin Luther King Junior Way South and South Kenyon Street.

Seattle Fire Department spokeswoman Dana Vander Houwen said that their injuries were not life-threatening. The auto accident in Washington happened at about 3:20 p.m.

Vander Houwen also reported that no train passengers were injured. Seattle police spokesman Mark Jamieson said officers conducted traffic control after the collision, but did not have additional details about the incident.

According to Sound Transit spokesman Bruce Gray, the car was going southbound in Martin Luther King and made an illegal left turn on Kenyon. The train had front end damage and service was disrupted for about 30 minutes and passengers were taken by bus to the Rainier Beach station.
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On the afternoon of Sunday, August 2, 2009, a serious car accident took place in Washington, killing three men, all identified as brothers from Yakima. According to a kings5.com report, the three brothers were riding in a Jeep Wrangler, which swung into oncoming traffic and ran into a Ford Expedition that had a boat in tow. Seven others suffered injuries in the crash and were taken to local area hospitals to be treated. According to Washington State Patrol, the driver of the Jeep was 21-years-old, his two sibling passengers ages 15 and 11.

There could be any number of reasons why this tragic accident occurred; however it is not known at this time why the Jeep drove into oncoming traffic. Regardless, life was lost, grief is now undoubtedly being felt by many, and pain and injury are the nagging remnants of reckless driving gone awry. The aftermath of an auto accident in Seattle or anywhere in the state of Washington can create unimaginable challenges for an individual and his or her family to overcome. Far too often, a passenger or driver must endure catastrophic injuries such as spinal injury, brain injury, or severe burns. No one ever expects that they will be injured in an auto accident or that a loved one will be lost due to the negligence of another driver, but it unfortunately does happen on a regular basis.

The Washington State Department of Transportation continues to implement new ways to improve the safety of our roads and to decrease congestion. According to WSDT, the number of traffic fatalities in the state of Washington is among the lowest in the nation. However, such a number could always be lower, and certainly does not mean that preventative measures seeking to improve Washington roads and highways should at all decrease or be called off.
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