Seattle Car Accident Lawyer Blog

The Seattle Post Intelligencer reports that a Yelm Man, Thor Aksdal, was arrested after he drove his car the wrong-way on the Interstate-5 near Olympia. The State Patrol said that Aksdal drove his Mercury Mystique north into the southbound lanes, hitting a Chevy Tracker and seriously injuring the driver. The State Patrol arrested Aksdal, who was also injured, for suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol. The State Patrol closed the I-5 for nearly three hours after the accident.

In Washington State, almost half of all traffic fatalities are caused by drunk drivers. All DUI offenses are gross misdemeanors. RCW 9A.20.021, 46.61.502(5) & 46.61.504(5).

If you have been injured or had a loved one killed due to someone driving while under the influence or alcohol or drugs, you should contact The Farber Law Group. We ill aggressively gather the facts including whether the driver had previous DUI charges, whether a bar or a restaurant illegally served the person or whether the drunk driver was in the course of their employment.

Contact us today for a free case review.

The Seattle Times reports that Chase Anderson of Bellevue, Washington was killed while skateboarding near the University of Washington. Anderson apparently left his studies around 1:30 am in the University District to grab a bite to eat. Traveling westbound on 45th, he ran into the side of an articulated bus at University Way and fell under a wheel. He was pronounced dead at the scene after "suffering crushing head injuries," reports the medical examiner's office. The bus had a green light at the time.

Anderson was a freshman at the University of Washington where he was on the Dean's List and a member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. He graduated from Bellevue High School in 2007 where he was a leading member of their basketball team. Bellevue High School will hold a candlelit vigil for Anderson in their football stadium tonight at 8:30 pm.

This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney, a service of The Farber Law Group. Located in Bellevue, Washington, we represent people with serious personal injuries and wrongful death. Contact us for a free case evaluation.

As cell phones become more and more common, some States have enacted laws regulating their use while driving. In Washington State, text messaging on a cell phone has been banned starting in July 2008 and violators are subject to a $101 ticket. That is because tests show that people talking on a cell phone or text messaging are as impaired as someone who has been abusing drugs or is under the influence of alcohol. In other states, laws regarding the use of the cell phone while driving vary and you can check them at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Often, the use of a cell phone can cause a driver to be inattentive and the cell phone usage can be a significant cause in any accident.

If you are in an accident and you believe that the other driver was talking on a cell phone at the time, here are some steps you should take:

• As in any accident, try to stay calm and then start collecting the facts. Note the time of the accident because this is important if your lawyer needs to look at the other driver's cell phone records. Be sure to mention to the police officers when they arrive at what time the accident occurred.

• Ask witnesses if they saw the driver on the cell phone. Or, when you talk to the other driver, you might ask, "Were you using a cell phone?" If they admit they were, your witnesses may be able to testify to that fact.

• Ask the police officer to check their cell phone, record their cell phone number and the last few calls made and received and note the times of these calls. If the person refuses to let the officer see their phone, then ask the officer to obtain their cell phone number.
  
  

  
  
• After you receive medical attention, be sure to contact an experienced automobile accident attorney who may be able to legally preserve the person's cell phone records and connect them with the time of the accident. This can help you prove your case in court.
  

The Farber Law Group is a Washington law firm with more than 30 years experience in handling auto accident cases. Contact us if you have received serious personal injuries or severe whiplash. We are happy to meet with you and provide a free consultation.

A 17-year-old girl from Kent, Washington was hit by an Amtrak train today as she walked across the tracks near James Street reported KiroTV.com. There was no crossing signal or barrier on that portion of the tracks.

The girl, who appeared to be talking on a cell phone while she walked, apparently did not notice the oncoming train.

The King County Medical Examiner is conducting an investigation. The name of the girl has not yet been released.

This information was brought to you by the Washington Injury Attorney Blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent accident victims and their families. Contact us today if you or a family member has suffered a serious personal injury or wrongful death due to the negligence of another. We will provide you with a free case consultation.

On Friday, two Newport High School students from Bellevue, Washington were involved in a three car collision as they returned from visiting Washington State University reports KIROTV.com.

Taryn L. Gillies, an 18-year-old Newport High senior was killed along with the driver of the car, 56-year-old Matthew Andresen. Injured in the crash were mother and daughter, Deborah K. Turner, 55 and Callie B. Turner, 17. Both Turner women were taken to Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane. One other driver was treated at Ritzville Rural hospital but he was not admitted to the hospital.

The accident happened on Highway 26 in Adams County, Washington around 2 p.m.

The cause of the collission has not been specified.

This news has been brought to you by the Washington Injury Attorney Blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured or killed in a car accident, do not hesitate to contact us immediately. We have more than 30 years experience in representing victims of serious personal injuries.

Highway 527 near the I-5 at the Everett, Washington mall was the scene of a big rig accident reports KiroTV.com. One of the operators of one of the semi trucks was killed at the scene of head-on crash. The condition of the other driver is unknown. Police are investigating whether one of the big trucks ran a red light.

This information is brought to you by the Washington Injury Attorney blog sponsored by The Farber Law Group. If you or a loved one is seriously injured or killed in a motor vehicle accident, contact us for a free case evaluation.

The Garfield High School's girls softball team was involved in a bus crash in the Washington Park Arboretum as they were returning from a game in Kirkland, Washington reported The Seattle Times. Of the 22 students, coach and driver on board, five were taken by ambulance to Harborview Medical Center with neck and back injuries reported the Seattle Fire Department. Later, the remaining passengers were later taken by charter bus to Harborview for evaluation. No serious injuries were reported.

The accident occurred when the private charter bus operated by Journey Lines tried to drive under a 9-foot underpass in the 2100 block of Lake Washington Boulevard East. The bus is 11 feet 8 inches tall. The driver apparently ignored a sign on the overpass that warned of "low clearance. "

The girls reported that glass rained down on them. The roof of the bus was badly damaged and several windows were shattered.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a motor vehicle accident or suffered from whiplash, contact The Farber Law Group with more than 30 years experience in representing victims of motor vehicle accidents. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.

The Seattle Post Intelligencer reports that the Washington State Patrol is making a concerted effort to convince drivers not to carry unsecured loads; they will be ticketing drivers if they catch them on a trip to the dump or moving household goods, etc. if the load is not properly tied down. According to the Washington State Department of Ecology, every year there is an average of 400 accidents in Washington State caused by road debris, and some of these accidents result in serious personal injury and even death. RCW 46.61.655 is the Revised Code of Washington which outlines the penalties for carrying an unsecured load. Drivers can expect fines of $216 for unsecured loads. If an unsecured load injures someone, you may be fined $5,000 and be sentenced to a year in jail.

The case of Maria Federici, a Renton resident, brought the dangers of unsecured loads to the forefront. Federici was awarded $15.5 million by a King County jury after she was blinded and disfigured by furniture that crashed into her car when it flew out of a rented U-Haul trailer.

The State Patrol asks that if you have witnessed or been a victim of objects that have fallen off of a vehicle, you should call 911 immediately.

View Secure Your Load Video which was produced by the Washington State Department of Ecology. It tells the story of Maria Federici and other drivers who have been seriously injured due to flying debris.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured or killed by debris from an unsecured load, you need to contact a personal injury attorney immediately. The Farber Law Group has more than 30 years experience in representing people with serious injuries and wrongful death. Contact us today for a free case consultation. You are entitled to compensation for your medical costs and for consideration of future medical costs.

The Hearld Net reported that the Washington State Patrol is investigating an accident that occurred at U.S. 2 and Highway 9 near Snohomish, Washington involving three motorcyclists and a fuel tanker truck on Saturday afternoon. Troopers at the scene said that it appears that three motorcyclists were traveling together when the one motorcyclist clipped another one, and lost control of his motorcycle careening into the tanker truck. One motorcyclist was killed and the other was taken to Everett Medical Center.

Westbound U.S. 2 was closed for several hours. The Washington State Patrol has not released the name of the dead cyclist.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured or killed in a motorcycle accident, you should contact a motorcycle accident specialist. The Farber Law Group has more than 30 years experience in representing cyclists with serious personal injuries. Contact us today for a free consultation.

The Tri -City Herald reported that a West Richland, Washington grandfather and his 9 year-old granddaughter were injured in a motorcycle accident on April 9th. The grandfather, Charles Wadley, 63, was riding his motorcycle in Kennewick with his granddaughter accompanying him when Donald Coates, 68, turned in front of him.

Both Wadley and his granddaughter were taken to Kadlec Medical Center where the granddaughter was treated for road rash. Wadley was admitted to the hospital where he was said to be in stable condition.

In about 80% of motorcycle accidents, the motorcyclist is not at fault. Many times motorcyclists are seriously injured due to the negligence of automobile drivers. Divers are often inattentive and make unsafe lane changes or fail to see the motorcyclist.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a motorcycle accident, you should contact a personal injury attorney with a successful track record of representing motorcyclists. Besides the damage to your motorcycle, you are entitled to compensation for expensive personal items such as your helmet and riding attire. You are also entitled to compensation for medical bills and consideration for future bills. With the help of The Farber Law Group, a Washington law firm experienced and knowledgeable in handling motorcycle accidents cases, you may be able to recover your damages. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.

The Yakima Herald-Republic newspaper reported that a freight train that derailed four tank cars was caused by human error. The four cars that derailed were carrying thousands of gallons of liquid propane at the time. Chris Bristol reported that a Federal Railroad Administration investigation in Washington D.C. found that the unmanned Burlington Northern Santa Fe train derailed because the operators had failed to set the brakes.

The S.S. Steiner hops warehouse on Washington Avenue was damaged along with the tracks but no one was hurt in the incident that occurred last April 8, 2007. The train wreck resulted in evacuation of parts of Yakima County but luckily, no propane escaped.

Warren Flatsu, a spokesman for the Federal Railroad Administration in Washington D.C. said that “human factors are the leading cause” of train accidents.

Train accidents that result in deaths are fairly rare occurrences. In the past four years, in Washington State, there have averaged from one to four deaths per year due to train accident according to the Federal Railroad Administration Office of Safety Analysis. The major causes of accidents are:

• Human factors – 38%
• Track defects – 35%
• Equipment defects -12%
• Signal defects – 2%
• Miscellaneous causes – 13%

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in an accident involving a train, you need to contact an experienced personal injury attorney. The Farber Law Group has more than 30 years experience in representing people with severe personal injuries due to the negligence of others. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.

Drunk driving accidents leave victims seriously injured, permanently disabled, paralyzed, brain damaged, or dead. Of the nearly 700 traffic fatalities in Washington State last year, almost 45% were alcohol related. In the United States, more than 500,000 people were injured and almost 18,000 killed in alcohol related accidents last year.

As a result of alcohol related accidents, injuries and wrongful deaths, the Washington State Legislature enacted anti-drunk-driving laws that lowered the blood alcohol intoxication standard from 0.10 to 0.08 percent and provided for automatic loss of licenses for drunk drivers. In Washington State, all DUI offenses are gross misdemeanors. RCW 9A.20.021, 46.61.502(5) & 46.61.504(5).

Whether or not the drunk driver, who injured you or a loved one, is punished through the criminal court system, you have a right to compensation for your injuries or for your loved one’s injuries or death.

At The Farber Law Group, we are experienced in representing victims of drunk driving accidents and in helping victims recover compensation for damages they have suffered.

We will aggressively gather the facts, determine all sources of potential liability, and advocate on your behalf.

We investigate to determine:

• whether the drunk driver had any previous DUI charges.

• whether a bar or restaurant continued to serve alcohol to an obviously intoxicated patron who later caused the accident (DRAM Shop Claim).

• whether the drunk driver was in the course of his or her employment.

After a thorough investigation, we aggressively pursue compensation on your behalf.

Injured victims of drunk drivers may be entitled to recover damages for pain and suffering, medical bills, wage losses, as well as other economic losses. This may include future or even permanent losses.

We represent injured victims of drunk drivers on a contingency basis. You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.

If you or a loved one was the victim of an accident caused by a drunk driver, please contact us today to arrange for a free consultation.

KIRO TV reports that a Washington State trooper and two other people were injured when the trooper's car was rear-ended by a person who was taken into custody for driving under the influence. The accident took place in Pierce County.

The trooper had apparently pulled over an 18-year-old woman for suspicion of drunk driving. The trooper had the woman in his patrol car on the shoulder of north-bound Interstate 5. Also in the car, was a state patrol applicant who was in the car for a ride-along. While the patrol car was parked, it was rear-ended by an another apparent drunk driver. The patrolman and his passengers were all taken to the hospital.

According to the Alcohol Alert! citing US Department of Transportation statistics, every year in Washington state, there are approximately 270 alcohol-related fatalities. In Washington State, all DUI offenses are considered gross misdemeanors. Citation:§§ 9A.20.021, 46.61.502(5) & 46.61.504(5).

Many times, drunken driving victims are left seriously injured with severe injuries like paralysis or brain damage.

The Farber Law Group aggressively represents victims of drunken driving accidents. We investigate whether the victims had previous DUI charges or whether a restaurant or bar illegally served the person or whether the drunk driver was in the course of their employment. We aggressively pursue compensation for your damages. Contact us today for a free case consultation.

Whiplash is a common injury suffered in automobile accidents (usually a "rear-end collision") and refers to a sprain of the neck. The medical term for a whiplash is hyperflexion/hyperextension injury or a "cervical strain/sprain." The term whiplash can have a negative connotation implying that the injury is faked or not severe. However, whiplash, in some cases can cause severe and permanent damage. A cervical sprain is a painful injury as those who have suffered it will readily attest to.

Doctors diagnose whiplash with a patient history and by examining the head and neck. Usually, x-rays are taken to rule out any bone fractures and sometimes CAT scans or MRI’s are used. The course of treatment is the alternating application of ice and heat to the neck. Many times, a physician will also prescribe an anti-inflammatory medication and a muscle relaxant. Sometimes narcotic pain medication is also given in severe neck sprain situations. After 10 days of treatment, physical therapy can be started. The physical therapists apply ultrasound treatment and electrical muscle stimulation treatments that are designed to encourage blood flow into the damage tissues and maintain the strength and flexibility of the injured muscles.

The Québec Task Force (the association of automobile insurers for Canada) classifies a whiplash in four grades:

• Grade 1 – the patient complains of neck pain with stiffness and tenderness but the physicians sees no other physical signs of injury.
• Grade 2 – the patient has neck pain and stiffness and decreased range of motion.
• Grade 3 – the patient has neck pain, decreased range of motion and other neurological problems such as insomnia, weakness, and decreased tendon reflexes.
• Grade 4 – the patient, in addition to any of the above neck complaints has a fracture or dislocation to the spinal cord.

Whiplash is not a trivial condition and may require the services of a medical doctor, chiropractor and physical therapists. Treatment can last for months and patients can have lingering effects and even permanent damage. To ensure that you receive maximum compensation for your medical expenses, pain and suffering and loss of wages, you may need to contact an attorney who specializes in representing accident victims. Generally, lawyers handle auto accident cases on a contingent fee basis. That means they do not charge you any attorneys’ fees, until and unless they recover money for you. They then receive a percentage only of what they help you recover. With the help of The Farber Law Group, a Washington law firm experienced and knowledgeable in handling whiplash cases, you may be able to recover your damages.