By

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.
Continue reading

By

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”.
Continue reading

By

A recent komonews.com article reported that the McNeil unit of Johnson & Johnson has issued a voluntary recall of 57 lots of liquid Tylenol products, intended for use on infants and children, due to a plausible bacterial contamination. Many parents are shocked to learn that the reputable company revealed that a B. cepacia bacterium was found in a portion of raw material that went unused in the finished product.

Although no bacteria were discovered in the finished product that reached consumers, Johnson & Johnson decided to recall the products as a precautionary measure after consulting with the Food and Drug Administration. As skilled Seattle product liability attorneys, we believe it is better to be safe than sorry in instances such as these, especially when the lives of infants and young children are involved.

According to the report, the recalled products were manufactured between April and June and are made-up of almost two dozen varieties that include Infants’ Tylenol Grape Suspension Drops ¼ oz., Children’s Tylenol Suspension 4 oz. Grape, and Children’s Tylenol Plus Cold/Allergy 4 oz. Bubble Gum. Despite there being a very slim chance that any medical events will take place since the bacterium was not present in the finished products, the company released the following statement: “It was decided, as a precaution, to recall all product that utilized any of the raw material manufactured at the same time as the raw material that tested positive for the bacteria.”
Continue reading

By

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.
Continue reading

By

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.
Continue reading

By

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.
Continue reading

By

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.
Continue reading

By

An alleged hit and run driver, fleeing the scene of one accident, slammed head-on into a Clallam County transit bus. The bus then hit another car. Five people are recovering from injuries suffered when the collision occurred.

The accident took place just before 6 p.m. Tuesday evening, on US Highway 101 near State Route112, west of Port Angeles. According to the Washington State Patrol, a 30-year-old man from California who was driving a pickup truck with a camper shell, had allegedly side swiped an SUV on Euclid Avenue near State Route 117 in Port Angeles and was fleeing that scene.

“The pickup truck that had a camper in its’ bed was involved in a minor hit and run collision about a mile and a half, two miles back,” said Trooper John Ryan. “The pickup truck continued westbound on 101 eventually crossing over the center line here where it hit head-on with a Clallam County Transit bus.”

A small car was pushed off the road after the bus was forced to the right. Both the small car and the bus ended up in a ditch. The California man’s pickup truck rolled over, trapping him inside. The 30-year-old suffered a serious leg injury and was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle after being removed from the wreckage.
Continue reading

By

On August 12, 2009, Seattle’s Department of Transportation announced its intent to increase safety in the Ballard Community by implementing a two-phase plan to impede speeding. In order to steer drivers in the right direction towards increasing safety, the program will focus on making motorists driving through neighborhoods aware of how fast they are driving. Representatives from the Department of Transportation stated that the program is aiming to fulfill neighborhood concerns regarding ways to ease traffic volumes and decrease the amount of cut-through traffic, as well as hinder traffic speeds in the process. In fact, it has been reported that a radar gun will supposedly be lent to residents that would like to measure and report the speed of drivers on their street so that they can play an active role in the department’s efforts.

The program’s Phase 1 measures include speed watch trailers, Neighborhood Speed Watch signs, Seattle Police Department enforcement requests, painted intersections, parking management measures, and yard-placed signs advocating driver awareness to reduce speeds. If these tools turn out to be ineffective at reducing speeds on residential streets, physical traffic calming devices such as speed humps, movable barriers, and traffic circles are likely to be installed as part of Phase 2.

According to the Washington State Department of Transportation’s 2005 Highway Collision Data Summary, speeding is consistently the number one contributing circumstance for auto accidents throughout all the regions of the state. When someone causes an auto collision because he or she was speeding, that person is responsible for committing a negligent and careless act in which he or she may be held financially accountable for the costs associated with another person’s injuries or property damage. Speeding accidents are one of the most preventable types of car accidents, and programs such as the Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program will hopefully remind drivers about how serious operating a motor vehicle truly is in order to create safer Washington communities.
Continue reading

Contact Information
900 Aurora Ave N #100
Seattle, WA 98109
Voice: (206) 298-9900
Fax: (206) 285-9400
Toll Free: (800) 418-8282

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Please do not include any confidential or sensitive information in a contact form, text message, or voicemail. The contact form sends information by non-encrypted email, which is not secure. Submitting a contact form, sending a text message, making a phone call, or leaving a voicemail does not create an attorney-client relationship.

Copyright © 2016 – 2024, Bernard Law Group
JUSTIA Law Firm Blog Design