Seattle Car Accident Lawyer Blog

The Washington State Patrol issued a Media Release announcing they will be targeting motorcyclists in the Puget Sound region in the near future. The will be focusing on the following violations: speed, driving under the influence (DUI), aggressive driving and failing to wear an approved helmet. This comes after the Patrol has seen an increasing number of fatal motorcycle accidents in the past few months. According to the Patrol, there have been 9 motorcycle accident fatalities in the past 12 weeks in the Puget Sound region.

Calling most motorcycle accidents preventable, troopers say that they have noticed riders with little or no experience getting into accidents on bikes so powerful that they can travel in excess of 150 mph. They have also noticed a trend among older riders who purchase large cruising bike without having the experience to ride them.

The Patrol says they will also ticket any motorcyclist caught riding without the proper motorcycle endorsement on their license. Approximately 40% of riders who are killed do not have the proper endorsement. The Patrol say they may impound motorcycles whose riders do not have the endorsement.

According to the Washington State Department of Licensing, a motorcyclist can get the endorsement by:

• Passing a motorcycle knowledge test
• Passing the motorcycle riding test or,
• Completing and passing an approved rider course at a motorcycle training school.

This information was brought to you by Seattle Car Accident Lawyer blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured and the family of those killed in Motorcycle Accidents. Often motorcycle accident victims face special circumstances when they are involved in an accident. Severe injuries can include fractures, spinal injuries, traumatic brain injuries and even the loss of a limb. With the help of The Farber Law Group, a Washington law firm experienced and knowledgeable in handling motorcycle accident cases, you may be able to recover your damages.

Contact The Farber Law Group today.

Two people were killed in a cross-over car accident in the southbound lanes of Interstate 5 in Federal Way reports KOMONews.com. The accident occurred around 6pm on Thursday night when a driver headed north on the I-5 in Federal Way crossed over the center line and caused a multi-car crash at south 296th Street. It is not known at this time how many people were injured in the accident.

A "cross-over" crash is when one vehicle crosses over the median or center line and collides with vehicles going in the opposite direction. Barriers are often put in place which prevent a cross over crash. Barriers have been quite controversial in Washington State of late as some people say the cable barriers are not as effective as concrete ones. See the Washington State Department of Transportation Report on the efficacy of cable barriers in one section of I-5.

This information was brought to you by Seattle Car Accident Lawyer blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. Located in Bellevue, Washington, our firm has represented car accident victims and their families for more than 30 years.

Contact The Farber Law Group today for a free case evaluation.

The Everett Herald Net reports that Todd Olson has been convicted of driving under the influence (DUI) ten times. He also has three hit-and-run convictions and 14 convictions for driving with a suspended license. Now he is going to prison for seven years.

Because of a 2007 law that says that a person with more than five DUIs in 10 years, Olson is going to be spending seven years in prison for felony drunken driving, hit-and-run and first degree driving with a suspended license after a car accident in May according to the Herald Net. He is the first person in Snohomish County to be convicted under the new felony DUI law. Drunken driving is usually treated as a gross misdemeanor with prison sentences of one year.

Olson, who has struggled with alcoholism for years, started drinking beer as a boy.

With more than 18,000 people killed a year in alcohol related automobile accidents, it seems like the Court had no alternative but to take Olson off the street before he kills someone.

At The Farber Law Group, we have more than 30 years experience in representing victims of drunken driving accidents and helping the victims recover compensation for the damages they suffered.

If you or a loved one was the victim of a drunken driver and you sustained serious injuries, contact The Farber Law Group for a free case evaluation.

The Automobile Association of America (AAA) reports that traffic fatalities increase 30% when Halloween is on a weekend. They recommend using a designated driver, calling a cab and if you're giving a party, to not let any guests drive when they are impaired.

"Halloween is, in fact, a pretty scary holiday," says Mike Mitchell, Chief of the Bonney Lake Police Department and chair of the Tacoma Pierce County DUI Task Force. "It can be as dangerous to be on the road as it is on New Year’s Eve."

The Tacoma Pierce County DUI task Force has announced that they will be targeting drunk drivers starting tomorrow -- Halloween -- and continue throughout the weekend. The Washington State Liquor Control board will also be working to insure that liquor stores, bars, grocery stores and taverns comply with liquor laws.

Last year, nearly 45% of the 700 traffic-related fatalities in Washington State were alcohol related. In Washington State, all DUI offenses are gross misdemeanors. RCW 9A.20.021, 46.61.502(5) & 46.61.504(5).

At The Farber Law Group, we are experienced in representing victims of drunken 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.

If you or a loved one was the victim of a drunk driver, please contact The Farber Law Group today to arrange for a free consultation.

Victims of Drunken Driving Resources

The Wenatchee World reports that Andrew Sandoval, a 56-year-old security guard, will be issued a citation for "Negligent Driving -- Second Degree (RCW 46.61.525)" in the accident that seriously injured Dr. Ed Farrar, 57, a prominent Wenatchee orthopedic surgeon and father of pro-cyclist Tyler Farrar.

Dr. Farrar was hit head-on by Sandoval while riding his bicycle. Sandoval was negligent because he took his eyes off of the road, crossed into the other lane of traffic to retrieve a dropped item when he hit Farrar. Read our entry from last week about this accident.

Dr. Farrar is still in Central Washington Hospital where he is in serious condition with a spinal injury a week after the accident.

This information was brought to you by Seattle Car Accident Lawyer blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured and the families of those killed in automobile, truck, bicycle, motorcycle and pedestrian accidents.

Contact The Farber Law Group for a free and confidential case review.

We wanted to update you on the blog we posted yesterday about the 70-year-old man who drove the wrong-way on the I-5 in Olympia, Washington, crashing into a pickup truck and killing the driver. The driver of the truck has now been identified as Andy D. Russo Ramjak, 29, of Olympia. Ramjak was married and a father of three children. The Thurston County Coroner, Gary Warnock, determined that Ramjak died as a result of "blunt force trauma from the car crash, not as a result of the fire," according to The Olympian.

The wrong-way driver was Donald Sullivan, 70. The Washington State Patrol are trying to determine why Sullivan made such a grievous error. Was his age or mental condition a factor in the accident? A drug recognition expert have determined that Sullivan was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the car accident.

Police have not decided whether they will press criminal charges against Sullivan.

This information was brought to you by Seattle Car Accident Lawyer blog, a service of The Farber law Group. If you are seriously injured in a car accident, or someone you know is injured or possibly even killed, call the personal injury attorneys at The Farber Law Group. We handle personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits that are the result of auto accidents in Washington State every day.

Contact The Farber Law Group today for a free and confidential case evaluation..

A man was killed on the I-5 after the truck he was driving was hit head-on by a wrong-way driver on Interstate 5 below the Plum Street overpass in Olympia, Washington around 8:30 pm on Monday night. The man who died has not yet been identified. The pickup he was driving was owned by LeMay Enterprises.

The accident occurred when a white Buick driven by 70-year-old Donald Sullivan of Olympia with his wife Udelia, 69, as his passenger, entered the I-5 southbound lanes going in the wrong direction. Johnson reportedly side swiped at least one car before he ploughed head-on into the pickup truck. Sullivan was said to be traveling at a "very high rate of speed."

Several people called 9-1-1 before and after the accident. The truck reportedly burst into flames after it was hit. The identification of the driver will be done by checking dental records.

Both Sullivans were taken to Providence St. Peter Hospital with serious but not life threatening injuries.

It is not known if criminal charges will be filed in the accident or whether alcohol was a factor.

Information for this posting was reported by Jeremy Pawloski in The Olympian.

If you are seriously injured in a car accident, or someone you know is injured or possibly even killed, call the personal injury attorneys at The Farber Law Group. We handle personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits that are the results of auto accidents in Washington State every day.

Contact The Farber Law Group today for a free and confidential case evaluation..

The Washington State Patrol is searching for a driver of a blue Honda which pulled out in front of a Trooper, causing a car accident, and then left the accident scene. The Trooper was attempting to stop a speeding vehicle on eastbound SR 502 near 50th Avenue, just west of Battleground, Washington when the Honda pulled out in front of the Trooper, who had his emergency lights on. The Honda stopped abruptly and the Trooper, Todd Gates, ran off the roadway attempting to avoid crashing into the Honda.

The patrol car ended up on its side after skidding across both lanes of SR 502 and landing on its side. The blue Honda left the scene of the accident, driving right past the Trooper's vehicle.

Trooper Gates sustained minor injuries.

Anyone who may have witnessed the accident or has information about the blue Honda should contact Detective Matt Hughes at 360-260-6333. Trooper Gates believes the driver may have been a woman.

It is inconceivable to think that someone would leave the scene of an accident. Every witness is morally obligated to stay at the accident and call 9-1-1 for help for the injured person. In the case of a head injury, getting immediate help could mean the difference between life and death.

A person can be indicted for leaving the scene of an accident that resulted in great bodily injury if:

• The defendant was operating a motor vehicle and was involved in an accident
  
• The defendant knew that he/she was involved in an accident
  
• Defendant knowingly and unlawfully left the scene of the accident and
  
• The accident resulted in serious bodily injury to another person.

This information was brought to you by Seattle Car Accident Lawyer blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a car accident, or a loved one killed, due to the negligence of another, you should contact a personal injury attorney. The Farber Law Group has more than 30 years experience representing car accident victims in Seattle, Tacoma, Kent, Olympia, Everett, Redmond and Bellevue.

Contact The Farber Law Group today for a free case evaluation.

A couple of weeks ago, my sister and her husband from Wenatchee were visiting their son and his wife in Lynnwood, Washington. While driving on 184th St SW in Lynnwood, my brother-in-law stopped at an intersection and then made a right turn on Alderwood Parkway. Everyone in their car saw a bright flash as the car next to them ran a red light. My nephew, a school teacher, said from the backseat, "Someone just got their picture taken when they ran that red light." The following week, my brother-in-law received a ticket in the mail.

The ticket imposed a $124.00 for running a red light. Along with the ticket was a photograph showing a picture of my brother-in-law's Blazer which was clearly behind the white line, had its brake lights on and the wheels were clearly turned to the right.

Hopefully, after my brother-in-law writes a letter to the court, his ticket will be dismissed.

I was curious, however, are red light cameras effective? Do they reduce car accidents? I Googled "red light cameras" and found that the cameras are controversial. They are designed to take a pictures of a car's license plate when a driver runs a red light in the belief that people will run red lights less often. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 22 percent of all traffic accidents are caused by people running red lights. Red light cameras are meant to change the behavior of drivers, but do they really do that?

Report says Cameras Cause Crashes

A report by the University of South Florida College of Public Health and published in Science Daily in March of 2008 says that red light cameras increase crashes because drivers attempt to abruptly stop at camera intersections. The USF report cites a Virginia Transportation Research Council study that found that the cameras were linked to increased crash costs and a paper by the Office of the Majority Leader, U.S. House of Representatives which said that cameras are "a hidden tax levied on motorists." Some cities often set yellow lights too short to increase their fines. (University of South Florida Health (2008, March 12). Red-light Cameras Increase Crashes,  Florida Researchers Find. ScienceDaily.  "

Initiative 985

Tim Eyman's Initiative 985 says red light cameras are not about safety but are a revenue generating device. I-985 takes the money generated from the cameras away from the cities and applies it to a centralized fund. "If you take the money away, they're going to take the cameras down and illustrate which cities are in it for the money," Eyman said. In January of this year, a KOMO news article said that the city of Seattle collected more than a million dollar in fines "in the first year from the cameras at four intersections."

I'll let you know if my brother-law's ticket is dismissed. But until then, here is a list of the red light existing and planned in Seattle:

EXISTING LOCATIONS OF THE RED LIGHT CAMERAS

Eastbound and Westbound Denny Way
and Fairview Ave, Seattle WA 98109
Eastbound Roosevelt Way NE
and NE 45th St., Seattle WA 98105
Northbound and Southbound Rainier Avenue S.
at Orcas Street, Seattle WA 98118
Eastbound 5th Ave. and Spring St., Seattle WA 98104

NEW LOCATIONS OF THE RED LIGHT CAMERAS

North Seattle
EB NW Market @ 15th NW*
WB NW Market @ 15th NW *
SB 15thNW @ NW 80th
SB Stone Way @ NW 40th
NB Aurora @ NW 85th
EB NE 80th @ 5th NE
EB NE 45th @ Union Bay Place (Five Corners) *
WB NE 45th @ Union Bay Place (Five Corners) *
NB NE 45th @ Union Bay Place (Five Corners) *
Central Seattle
SB 6th @ James*
SB 5th @ Spring
SB 1st @ Marion
NB Broadway @ Olive (Ped)
EB Olive @ Broadway (Ped)
SB Broadway @ Pine* (Ped)
SB Boren @ James
SB 23rd @ E John
NB 9th @ James (Ped)
South Seattle
NB 14th S @ Cloverdale NB Rainier @ S Orcas
EB Cloverdale @ 14th S SB Rainier @ S Orcas
WB Avalon @ 35th SW
SB 35th SW @ SW Thistle
NB Rainier @ S Massachusetts
WB S McClellan @ Martin Luther King

This information was brought to you by Seattle Car Accident Lawyer, a service of The Farber Law Group. We have more than 30 years representing car accident victims and their families.

Contact us today for a free case evaluation.

A 24-year-old man suffered serious head injuries and a broken leg in a pedestrian accident after he was hit by a Ford Mustang driven by a 25-year-old man on Broadway near Pike in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood.

The pedestrian was taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle with "life threatening" injuries reports The Seattle Post Intelligencer. Witnesses said that the pedestrian may have stepped into the crosswalk while the driver had a green light. The driver of the Mustang was not arrested but was taken to Harborview for testing of possible impairment or intoxication.

This information was brought to you by Seattle Car Accident Lawyer blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured in car accidents, bicycle accidents and pedestrian accidents.

Contact The Farber Law Group today for a free case evaluation.

The impact of a two-car collision in Sammamish, Washington on Thursday afternoon around 5:10 causing a Honda Pilot to flip and land on its top according to J.B. Wogan reporting for the Sammamish Review.

The accident occurred at the intersection of NE 37th Way and Sahalee Way NE in Sammamish according to the report. The driver of the Honda Pilot, a 16-year-old, turned left onto NE 37th Way in front of a Subaru. There were six people involved in the accident between the two cars but only two were taken to the hospital with injuries.

The 16-year-old driver of the Honda was cited for failing to yield the right of way which carries with it a $175 fine. The WIP 70.02.01 statute provides

a driver intending to turn to the left within an intersection shall yield the right of way to any vehicle approaching from the opposite direction which is within the intersection or so close thereto as to constitute an immediate hazard. The right of way, however, is not absolute but relative, and the duty to exercise care to avoid collisions at intersections rests upon both drivers. The primary duty, however, rests with the driver turning to the left which duty must be performed with reasonable regard to the maintenance of a fair margin of safety at all times.

Contact The Farber Law Group today for a free case evaluation.

The Seattle Times reports that a 16-year-old Kent girl received minor injuries when she crashed her car because she was distracted while reading a text message.

According to the report the girl said to police, "But officer, I just looked down to read a text from my boyfriend."

Motor vehicle code RCW 46.61.668 prohibits sending, reading or writing a text message while driving.

Driver distraction, such as text messaging, is a major factor in 33% of all crashes and 27% of near crashes. A recent accident on I-5 was thought to be caused by a man adjusting his cell phone. You might want to read, "What if my accident was caused by someone using a cell phone?"

This information was brought to you by Seattle Car Accident Lawyer blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured in car accidents, bicycle accidents and pedestrian accidents. We have more than 30 years experience representing clients in Western Washington including Everett, Renton, Redmond, Seattle, Bellevue, Tacoma and Kent.

Contact The Farber Law Group today for a free case evaluation.

The Seattle Post Intelligencer reports that a 70-year-old Auburn woman was killed while walking in the 3100 block of Auburn Way South around 1pm on Thursday in a pedestrian accident. She was hit by a 200 Geo Tracker driven by an Enumclaw woman.

According to the report, an off-duty paramedic and an emergency room nurse who happened by the accident both performed CPR on the woman but she did not survive.

Auburn police are investigating the cause of the pedestrian accident.

This information was brought to you by Seattle Car Accident Lawyer blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. Specialists in personal injury, we represent people who have been seriously injured and the families of those killed due to some one's negligence.

Contact The Farber Law Group for a free and confidential case evaluation.

I recently reviewed a report entitled Driver Distraction: A Review of the Current State-of-Knowledge published in April by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. This report looked at many studies having to do with Driver Distraction. With cell phones becoming so ubiquitous I was interested in how they affect driving performance. In fact a blog we posted yesterday about a bicyclist who suffered a serious spinal cord injury was caused by driver distraction.

The report cited studies that found that approximately 10.5 % of car accidents which were serious enough so that at least one car had to be towed away from the scene was due to a distracted driver. Another study found that distraction was a major factor in 33% of the crashes and 27% of near crashes.

What is Driver Distraction?

Driver distraction can be caused by every day activities including eating, smoking, changing radio stations, setting a GPS device and the usage of cell phones and text messaging.

Studies have broken distractions into several categories.

Inside the car distractions:

• Purposeful -- for example changing a radio station
• Incidental -- answering a phone or eating
• Uncontrolled -- examples are being distracted by a child, pet, sneezing or coughing.

People are often in the habit of performing purposeful secondary tasks and some might even be beneficial to help break boredom and to counteract fatigue.

External distractions:

• Animals running in front of a vehicle
• Weather conditions like a blinding sun
• Oncoming headlights
• Sirens
• Advertising

Several laws have been enacted to prohibit text messaging while driving and to prohibit talking on the cell phone without a hands-free device while driving. Remember, though, it's not just cell phones that can cause you to be distracted.

This information was brought to you by Seattle Car Accident Lawyer Blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured, or the families of those killed, in motor vehicle accidents due to the negligence of another person. We have more than 30 years experience in Bellevue, Washington. With our help, you may receive compensation for your damages including pain and suffering.

Contact The Farber Law Group today for a free case evaluation.

Read also, What if my accident was caused by someone using a cell phone?

The Wenatchee World reports that Dr. Ed Farrar, a prominent Wenatchee orthopedic physician and father of professional bicyclist Tyler Farrar, sustained a "serious spine injury" in a bicycling accident when a car hit him head-on. The 57-year-old physician has been an orthopedic surgeon at Wenatchee Orthopedics for 25 years.

The accident occurred around 7:15 am when Andrew Sandoval, a 56-year-old security guard driving a patrol for Merchant Patrol Security was distracted, crossed the center line and hit Dr. Farrar head-on. Sandoval may be cited and/or face criminal charges.

Around 50,000 bicyclists are seriously injured in accidents every year and bicycle accident fatalities account for about 2 percent of traffic fatalities each year according to the National Center for Statistics and Analysis of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

This information was brought to you by Seattle Car Accident Lawyer blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have sustained serious injuries due to the negligence of another person. We have more than 30 years experience in representing people who have been injured and the families of those killed in bicycle accidents, car accidents, pedestrian accidents and motorcycle accidents.

Contact us today for a free case evaluation.

October 19-25 is National Teen Driver Safety week.

Every day people die in car accidents across the Nation. The National Transportation Safety Board provides the following teenage driving statistics: the fatality rate for teenage drivers, those between 16-19 years old, is four times higher than the 25-69 age group; Every year, 7,000 teenagers are involved in fatal car crashes.

Ride Like a Friend

This year, the Theme of the National Teen Driver Safety Week is "Passengers." The "Ride Like a Friend" web-site is dedicated to helping get the point across that distractions to a driver may cause accidents. It raises awareness that teenagers should "Drive Like a Friend" and "Ride Like a Friend." The site allows a teenager to draft a list of Rules to be used in their own car. We highly recommend that you sit down with your teenager and review the web-site with them and help them set the rules of the car.

The Graduated Driver's License in Washington State restricts the number of passengers a teenage driver can ferry and this is one excellent way to reduce distractions. When the graduated licenses was instituted, accidents by 16-year-old teenagers were reduced by 11%.

Other Factors in Teenage Deaths

• Seat Belts - teenagers have the lowest seat belt use of any population
• Emotions - teenagers need to work on their emotions and not drive when they are upset.
• Drowsy Driving - teenagers often do not get enough sleep and fatigue is just as dangerous as drinking
• Alcohol & Drug Usage - Around 64 percent of teens involved in a car accident have a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08 or higher even though the use of alcohol for this age group is illegal. While teens are less likely to drink and drive than adults, their crash risk is far greater even when they have a low BAC.

This information was brought to you by Seattle Car Accident Lawyer blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. If you'd like further information on teenagers and driving, see our Teenage Driver Resources.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured or a loved one killed in a car accident due to another person's negligence, contact The Farber Law Group today for a free case evaluation.

The Washington State Patrol is conducting a speed emphases patrol on Interstate 5 between Vancouver and Bellingham, Washington on October 22nd and 23rd. The Patrol will be looking for "speeders and aggressive drivers," according to The Seattle Times.

Aggressive drivers exhibit two or more of the following behaviors:

• Unsafe lane changing
  
• Following another vehicle too closely -- "tailgating"
  
• Failing to signal lane changes
  
• Failing to yield

Washington State Patrol Chief John R. Batiste says, “We are using these speed emphasis patrols as a way to change driver’s behavior, we want drivers to slow down and drive safely.”

37 motorcycle troopers will be conducting the patrols.

This information was brought to you by Seattle Car Accident Lawyer, a service of The Farber Law Group. Our attorneys represent victims of serious injuries caused by car accidents, motorcycle accidents, trucking accidents and boating accidents.

Contact The Farber Law Group today.

A Lynnwood, Washington woman, Michelle Sawyer, 29, was killed along with three others when the car they were riding in was rear-ended by a suspected drunk driver on I-84 in Oregon.

John C. Carlgren, 46, 0f Carlton, Oregon has been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and driving under the influence. In Oregon, as it is in Washington State, a driver is deemed intoxicated who has a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 percent. Any driver with a BAC at or above .08 are intoxicated in the eyes of the law.

Nearly half of the approximately 700 car accident fatalities that occur every year in Washington State are related to alcohol. Drunken drivers leave their victims seriously injured, disabled and cause traumatic brain injury and spinal cord damage.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured or a loved one killed due to the actions of a drunk driver, you should contact The Farber Law Group. With more than 30 years experience in representing car accident victims, we will insure that your rights are protected.

Contact us today to arrange a free consultation.

See our Victims of Drunken Driving Resources.

ROAD RAGE:

an assault with a motor vehicle or another weapon by an driver or passenger or one motor vehicle against the driver or passengers for another vehicle because of an incident that occurred while driving.

The Farber Law Group represents people with serious personal injuries and the families of those killed due to motor vehicle accidents, trucking accidents, bicycle accidents, car accidents, motorcycle accidents and pedestrian accidents. We also represent the victims of drunken driving.

Contact The Farber Law Group today.

AGGRESSIVE DRIVING:

a driver commits two or more moving violations which are likely to endanger other persons OR, a driver commits a single moving violation that requires another driver to perform a defensive maneuver.

Aggressive driving can include:

• Tailgating -- following another vehicle too closely
• Speeding
• Honking the horn when not necessary
• Flashing head lights at other motorists to annoy them or to make them move over or get out of ones way
• Braking suddenly to annoy the following driver
• Passing traffic and then slowing down to annoy other drivers
• Speeding to beat a red light

The Farber Law Group represents people with serious personal injuries and the families of those killed due to motor vehicle accidents, trucking accidents, bicycle accidents, car accidents, motorcycle accidents and pedestrian accidents. We also represent the victims of drunken driving.

Contact us today for a free case evaluation.

Car and truck accident attorneys spend a lot of time talking to people who've been in accidents. We see how accidents affect lives and how they have cause permanent physical and emotional scars.

Personal injury attorneys tend to look at reports and literature that try to figure out why accidents occur and how cars and trucks can be made safer to reduce the number of accidents. I was looking at the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety and saw an interesting report about car and truck accidents. While the report is a few years old, I suspect that it is as valid today as it was prepared by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute. It's a lengthy report so let me share with you some of the highlights I gleaned from it.

Car & Truck Accident Statistics

In a given year, more than 5,000 people are killed and 140,000 injured in crashes involving trucks that weigh more than 10,000 pounds. In those accidents, 98% of the fatalities involving a car and a large truck were to the occupants of the car.

In reading the report, the most significant thing that I learned is that drivers of cars need to learn how to drive around large trucks. Maneuvers performed by a car near a large truck carry a higher crash risk than the same maneuver around another car. Since actions of car drivers contribute more to Car & Truck accidents, car drivers need to be educated about safe lane changes around trucks, following distances and fields of vision.

There are four driver factors which are more likely in Car & Truck crashes than in Car & Car crashes. These are:

• Driving while sleepy, fatigued or drowsy
  
• Following too closely
  
• Driving while vision is obscured by snow, rain, fog, smoke, sand, dust
  
• Making improper or erratic lane changes.

If you want to learn more, you might want to read the complete report prepared for AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, Identifying Unsafe Driver Actions that Lead to Fatal Car-Truck Crashes.

Safety Tips for driving near Trucks

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's web-site also has some tips for motorists when driving around trucks:

• Don't cut in front of a truck because trucks take a longer distance to stop. When passing, make sure you see the front of the truck in your rear view mirror before you move in and don't put on your brakes.
  
• Use your seat belt. Enough said.
  
• Watch for blind spots -- Large trucks have blind spots around the front, back and sides of the truck. They can't see you! Rule of thumb, if you can't see the driver of the truck in the driver's side mirror, then they can't see you.
  
• Pay attention to driving conditions, truck brake lights and signals.
  
• Don't be an aggressive driver - speeding, running red lights and stop signs, making frequent lane changes, and pulling too quickly in front of a truck when passing are all aggressive driving maneuvers and they can cause an accident.
  
• Be aware that trucks make wide right turns. Don't get in-between a truck and the curb.
  
• Don't drink and drive so you can react quickly to situations and use correct judgment.

This information was brought to you by Seattle Car Accident Lawyer blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. Car and truck accident attorneys located in Bellevue, contact us if or a loved one has been seriously injured, or a loved one killed because of a car or truck accident. With our help, you may recover compensation for your damages.

Contact The Farber Law Group today for a free case consultation.

The Washington State Patrol blame a head-on collision on Interstate 5 in Mountlake Terrace, Washington on a Lynnwood man who was distracted while fiddling with his cell phone while driving.

The auto accident occurred around 8am as the man was headed north on the I-5. According to trooper Keith Leary, the man was attempting to put his phone in speaker mode when he lost control, went over the center median and hit a South bound car head-on.

Three people were taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle for treatment of "non-life threatening" injuries.

Vehicle code RCW 46.61.667 governs the usage of wireless communications devices like a cell phone while driving. This law requires drivers to use a hands-free device, speaker phone, headset or ear piece. This vehicle code makes it a "secondary offense" which means that an officer can only charger a driver with this infraction if another infraction was involved. The fine is currently $124.

If you've been in an accident that you believe may have been caused by a cell phone user, read "What if my accident was caused by someone using a cell phone?"

This information was brought to you by Seattle Car Accident Lawyer blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured and the families of those killed in automobile accidents. With more than 30 years experience in Western Washington, we will insure that your rights are protected and we may recover damages for you including pain and suffering.

Contact The Farber Law Group today for a free case evaluation.

The information for this report was compiled from The Everett HeraldNet.com and KIROTV.com.

Two teenage boys were hit by a car after they apparently tried to dash across a street to catch a bus. The pedestrian accident occurred Tuesday afternoon at 4:10 pm at North 85th Street and Greenwood Avenue North.

According to the witnesses, the young men were attempting to cross 85th from south to north when they were hit. Both boys were taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

This information was brought to you by Seattle Car Accident Lawyer blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured in car accidents and pedestrian accidents because of another person's negligence.

Contact us today for a free case evaluation.

This report was compiled from The Seattle Post Intelligencer and KiroTV.Com.

Two Women from Grandview, Washington were injured in a car accident on Monday when the car they were driving in was hit by a semi-truck and trailer that was making an illegal U-turn on Interstate 82.

According to a press release issued by the Washington State Patrol, Mary Galaviz, 77, and Dolores Smasne, 58 both suffered injuries and were taken to Sunnyside Community Hospital. Smasne, whose injuries were more severe, was then transported to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. Galaviz was treated for her injuries and released from the hospital.

The automobile accident occurred just two miles west of Sunnyside around midnight on Monday night reports the Yakima Herald.com. The driver of the semi truck, Roperto Gomez, 39, of Alliance, Nebraska was using a Department of Transportation crossing to make the illegal U-turn. Gomez was not injured.

This information was brought to you by Seattle Car Accident Lawyer blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured in car accidents. With our help, you may recover compensation for your injuries including pain and suffering.

Contact The Farber Law Group today for a free case evaluation.

Most automobile accidents are caused by driver error. Driver's get tired, their attention lags, they are preoccupied or they're not feeling well or the sun is shining too brightly or it is raining too heavily and -- in a blink of an eye -- an accident occurs. In a perfect world, drivers would always be attentive and alert thus avoiding accidents. But they aren't. That's why making cars work smarter could avoid a lot of accidents and save a lot of lives.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, if a driver had an extra second of warning, 90% of all rear-end crashes would be prevented.

According to the Blog, GeekDad from Wired.com, that is where Ford Motor Company's Adaptive Cruise Control technology comes in. Previously only seen in high-end automobiles, Adaptive Cruise Control has a radar which "compares closing distance and speed with objects in the car's path." If the car's computer thinks you're on the path to rear-end another car, it will warn you with red lights projected on your windshield and sound an alarm so that you can adjust your driving. If you still are on that collision path, the Collision Warning System precharges your car's brakes in preparation for a sudden stop.

The Collision Warning system give a driver between 1.5 to 2.5 seconds to avoid a crash.

Along with the "MyKey" -- a teenage driver safety device -- it seems like the next generation of autos will work smarter and be safer.

This information was brought to you by Seattle Car Accident Lawyer blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. At The Farber Law Group, we represent people who have been seriously injured in car accidents because of another driver's negligence.

Contact The Farber Law Group today for a free case evaluation.

The Farber Law Group works with a lot of clients that have been involved in a Washington State automobile accident. Often, a police report is made of the accident and we request a copy of the report for the client's record. Sometimes a local police department will write the report. Other times, the Washington State Patrol (WSP) is involved and investigates and reports on a motor vehicle accident. Clients ask us this question, "When does the Washington State Patrol investigate an accident?" The WSP web-site provides that answer and we thought we'd paraphrase it here.

The Washington State Patrol has a Major Accident Investigation Team (MAIT) and it investigates "catastrophic collisions" within their jurisdiction. Their criteria is based upon the severity of the accident and the following factors:

• Accidents involving an on-duty State Patrol or Department of Transportation personnel.
  
• Fatal collisions involving state owned vehicles.
  
• Collisions with three or more fatalities.
  
• Multi-vehicle collisions with one or more fatalities which involve a commercial vehicle.
  
• Any collision involving a school bus carrying passengers in which a person is killed or sustains a major injury.
  
• Any collision which resulted in a fatality or major injury where a high likelihood of a tort claim against the state exists.

This information was adapted from the Washington State Patrol web-site.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a serious auto accident which resulted in a serious injury or a fatality, you should contact a personal injury attorney so that your rights are protected. With the help of The Farber Law Group, we may recover compensation for your injuries or for the wrongful death of a loved one.

Contact The Farber law Group today for a free case evaluation.

Have you been in a car accident and wondered what to do? As a Seattle Car Accident Lawyer, we can recommend you do the following things immediately following your accident:

• Call the police and wait until they arrive.
• Take pictures of the accident. If you have a cell phone camera, that will work. Otherwise, carry one of those disposable kind in your car emergency kit.
• Be sure to write down pertinent details including
  • Name, phone number, address and insurance information of the person who was involved in the accident with you.
  • Note the date and time of the accident.
  • Note the location of the accident, street name and what direction you were heading in.
  • Gather the name and phone numbers of any witnesses.
  • Note the driving and road conditions -- sunny, rainy, foggy, lots of traffic, etc.
  • If you suspect the other person was talking on a cell phone at the time of the accident, click here for more information.
• Call your insurance company immediately. Your insurance agent should be able to give you information on obtaining a rental car and offer advice if the motorist who hit you was uninsured. Keep your claim number and policy number handy.
• Keep records such as names, dates, times of everyone you talk to in conjunction with the accident including your insurance company, police officer and your doctor.
• Hire an attorney if you have permanent scarring, loss of a limb, traumatic brain injury, whiplash, had to spend a night or more in the hospital, had to miss many days work, or if you will have to have ongoing therapy.
• Contact the insurance company of the person who hit you and tell them you want to file a third party claim. Be careful, however, if they pressure you to make a statement or sign documents of settlement.
• Get the name and phone number of your claims adjuster who is assigned to assess the damages to your car. If the car is totaled, research your car's value on Kelly Blue book, Edmunds.com and recent auto advertisements. Be prepared to negotiate an equitable settlement for your car. Be sure to itemize special features of your car including brand new tires, high end stereo systems, etc.
• Have the repair estimate authorized before repairs begin.
• Do not settle the medical part of your claim until your treatments are concluded. If you settle too early, you can not be reimbursed for any additional medical costs.

This information was provided by Seattle Car Accident Lawyer blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. If you have been seriously injured in a car accident you should contact The Farber Law Group with more than 30 years experience in representing motor vehicle accident victims. We represent victims on a contingency fee basis; this means you pay nothing unless we recover a settlement for you.

Contact The Farber Law Group for a free case evaluation.

The Washington State Patrol has asked the Kitsap County Prosecutor's office to charge Cole Riley Satran, of Belfair, with Vehicular Homicide after a car accident which resulted in the death of Thomas Gamblin, 42, also of Belfair. Satran was driving on Highway 3 when he crossed the center line and hit a semi-truck which then hit an SUV driven by Gamblin; Gamblin died at the scene of the accident.

When Washington State Patrol searched Satran's truck, they found a 4-1/2 inch pipe bomb and other explosive making devices. Later when officers from the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives searched Satran's house they found two rifles, ammunition and other gun parts. Satran has a previous criminal record including a conviction for methamphetamine possession. As a juvenile, he has a conviction for a burglary. As a felon, Satran is not allowed to possess weapons.

Troopers said that Satran was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the accident.

It is unclear why Washington State Patrol is asking that the prosecutor's charge Satran with vehicular homicide. This charge is usually filed when the driver that caused the accident was under the influence of alcohol or drugs, driving recklessly or driving without regard to the safety of others.

This information was brought to you by Seattle Car Accident Lawyer, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured or killed because of someones negligence. With the help of The Farber Law Group, you may be able to recover compensation for you injuries, including pain and suffering.

Contact The Farber Law Group today for a free case evaluation.

This report was compiled from information provided by The Kitsap Sun.

A small baby -- 5-month-old Kellan McCarty of Georgia -- died after a single car crash on Wednesday morning. Trooper 1st Class Josh Taylor with the Georgia State Patrol said that preliminary investigation of the accident showed that the baby's child seat was improperly installed, according to the Florida Times-Union.

The motor vehicle accident occurred when the infant's cousin, who was driving a sport utility vehicle, lost control of the vehicle. She over-corrected and hit a ditch and ran into a tree.

This tragic accident is a sober reminder to parents in Washington State that proper installation of car seats for both infants and small children is absolutely necessary to prevent injuries and deaths. According to studies, parents are more apt to incorrectly install an infant seat than a booster seat for small children.

See the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia web-site for instruction and videos which demonstrate the proper positioning and installation of child car or booster seats.

Inspection stations are available to verify that an infant seat or booster seat is properly installed. In Bellevue, AAA Washington performs the checks. In Seattle, Children's Hospital, Carter Motors, Odessa Brown Children's Clinic , The Car Seat Lady, and Swedish Medical Center perform the inspections. You can also check with The National Highway and Transportation and Safety Administration (NHTSA) for a list of other inspection stations near you.

This information has been brought to you by Seattle Car Accident Lawyer blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured in a car accident, motorcycle accident, trucking accident or bicycle accident through no fault of their own.

Contact The Farber Law Group today for a free case evaluation. With the help of The Farber law Group we may be able to help you recover compensation for your damages.

A multiple car and motorcycle crash last week on State Route 20 near Sedro-Wooley, Washington in Skagit County killed one man at the accident scene and now a second man has died a week after the accident at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

The accident occurred last week when a pickup truck crossed the center line and hit another car. Two motorcycles then rear-ended one of the crashed vehicles.

A Burlington man, Anthony M. Burwell, 21, died at the scene; he was one of the motorcyclists.

Tuesday morning, Shawn R. Tygret, 34, of Concrete died of his injuries at Harborview. He was driving in his Buick Sedan when the truck him head-on.

The driver of the truck has been arrested for vehicular homicide. Investigators believe he may have been under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident.

Vehicular homicide can be charged if a person's negligent operation of a motor vehicle results in a person's death within three years of the accident. Negligence includes being under the influence of alcohol or drugs or driving with reckless disregard to the safety of others.

If a you have been a victim of a drunken driver or a family member has been killed, you need to contact a personal injury attorney. At The Farber Law Group, we help victims of drunken driving recover compensation for the damages they have suffered.

We thoroughly investigate your accident and then aggressively pursue compensation on your behalf. We represent drunken driving victims on a contingency fee basis. That means you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.

Contact The Farber Law Group today for a free and confidential case review.

The accident information was compiled from KOMONews.com.

A 22-year-old male passenger in a 1990 Nissan Stanza was killed after the vehicle's driver ran a stop sign at a "T" intersection and ploughed into a tree. Police are looking for the driver of the vehicle who fled the car accident scene reports King5.com.

The motor vehicle accident happened at 46th Avenue South and South 352nd Street around 4 am in Federal Way, Washington.

One wonders the reasons why the driver fled. If it was because the driver was intoxicated, he/she could be charged with Vehicular Homicide. Washington State Vehicle statute RCW 46.61.520 provides that a person can be charged with vehicular homicide if a person dies as a result of negligent operation of a motor vehicle. Negligent actions can include driving recklessly, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs or driving without regard to the safety of others.

This information was bought to you by Seattle Car Accident Lawyer blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. With the help of The Farber Law Group, a Washington firm experienced and knowledgeable in handling wrongful death auto accident cases, the family of the victim may be compensated for the loss of their loved one.

Please contact us for more information and to schedule a free consultation.

A few years ago, techie friends of mine installed a device on their car that recorded certain aspects of their teenager's driving. They were aghast when they checked the device and saw that their son had reached a speed of 111mph at 1:30am one morning.

Given that approximately 5,000 teenagers die in car accidents in the United States every year, installing the device seemed very sane. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says teenage drivers have an accident rate that is 10 times more than that of drivers between the ages of 30 and 59.

For those parents who aren't tech savvy enough to install a device on their automobile, Ford Motor Company is introducing MyKey. I read in The Seattle Times today about MyKey, and because I have three teenagers, I was intrigued.

MyKey is a key with a computer chip in it. Parents can program the key with various limits and thus, control some of their teenager's driving habits. The key, which disables the car's ability to drive more than 80 mph, also allows parents to:

• Limit radio/audio volume of the car's stereo system.
  
• Provides continuous seat belt alerts if the driver and passengers do not fasten seat belts.
  
• Set chimes to ring when teens exceed other speed limits, for example 45, 55, or 65.

Ford will offer MyKey in selected cars and trucks in 2010. They plan to eventually provide the MyKey for all Ford, Lincoln and Mercury automobiles.

This information was brought to you by Seattle Car Accident Lawyer blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured and the families of those killed in auto accidents. We have more than 30 years experience in the Pacific Northwest including Seattle, Bellevue, Everett, Kent, Renton and Redmond, Washington.

Contact us today for a free and confidential case evaluation.

The Seattle Post Intelligencer reports that Ronald McKellar, 53, of Tacoma was killed in a pedestrian accident after being hit by a car and dragged or carried several blocks after impact.

The accident occurred on Pacific Avenue and police believe McKellar was hit between South 64th Street and South 72nd Street around 12:45 am.

Police are looking for the vehicle that hit McKellar. Police spokesman Mark Fulghum said that witnesses believe they heard the accident but no one they interviewed actually saw it. Descriptions of two different vehicles have been given.

Police are asking anyone who might know something about this accident to call Tacoma Police at 253-798-4721.

This information was brought to you by Seattle Car Accident Lawyer blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We have represented accident victims in Western Washington for more than 30 years.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured, or a loved one killed in an accident through the negligence of another person, contact us today for a free case evaluation.

In Washington State there are around 250,000 motor vehicle accidents every year. Of those accidents, there are approximately 1,500 fatalities and around 140,000 injuries. If you've been in a car accident, you might wonder, "Should I call a lawyer? What kind of lawyer should I call?"

Personal injury attorneys specialize in representing people who have been seriously injured in car accidents, bicycle accidents, pedestrian accidents and motorcycle accidents due to another person's reckless or negligent actions. If the other driver is cited in an accident, then the police officer has determined they were the negligent party. Sometimes it is not so clear and the court will have to assign degrees of blame.

We recommend you call a personal injury attorney if you have received serious injuries which may be permanent, or even life threatening. You should call a Washington Personal Injury Attorney in the following cases:

• If you suffered broken bones
  
• If you received cuts so severe that you'll have a permanent or disfiguring scar
  
• If y our injuries prohibit you from participating in your favorite activities or prevent you from working.
  
• If your injuries caused you to be hospitalized
  
• If you received a traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injury
  
• If your injuries necessitate long-term care or therapy
  
• If you lost a limb
  
• If an insurance company is not treating you fairly or trying to coerce you to settle your medical claim before your treatment is complete.

More questions? Then, call The Farber Law Group. We have more than 30 years experience in representing motor vehicle accident victims. With our help, you may recover compensation for the injuries you suffered, loss of wages and for pain and suffering.

Contact The Farber Law Group today for a free case evaluation.

In Washington State, vehicular homicide is considered a Class A Felony. Washington State vehicle code, RCW 46.61.520, provides the penalty for vehicular homicide

Vehicular homicide can be charged if a person dies of their injuries within three years of an accident caused by a driver who was:

• Driving under the influence of liquor or any drug or combination thereof. In Washington State, a blood alcohol content (BAC) over 0.08% is considered over the legal limit.

• Driving in a reckless manner.

• Driving with disregard to safety of others.

Vehicular homicide can be charged in car accidents, boating accidents, trucking accidents and motorcycle accidents.

The penalties for vehicular homicide can include the following:

• Revocation of a person's driver's license -- the driving privilege may be withheld until a person has completed an approved alcohol or drug treatment program.
• Jail time
• Electronic home monitoring
• Fines.

Wrongful Death

The family of a victim of vehicular homicide may also bring a civil suit against the driver for wrongful death. In a wrongful death suit, the family may recover damages for the negligent or wrongful act that caused their family member's death. Wrongful death suits are usually filed on behalf of the deceased by a surviving spouse, parent or child.

The Farber Law Group is a Washington legal firm experienced and knowledgeable in handling wrongful death claims. With the help of The Farber Law Group, you may be able to recover damages for the loss of your loved one.

Contact us today for a free and confidential case evaluation.

The driver of a Subaru Legacy and a male passenger were killed in a car accident in Thurston County this morning around 11am reports KIROTV.com. It was not reported whether the car's driver was male or female. Two children in the back seat were both injured. A 6-year-old boy suffered "minor injuries" and is being treated at Providence Centralia Hospital. A 10-year old girl was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle and her injuries are unknown.

The accident occurred around milepost 88 on the I-5. The Subaru was traveling Southbound when the driver lost control and crossed the median, went under the cable barriers, and crashed head-on with a Northbound semi-truck. The semi then pushed the car hundreds of feet before the truck smashed into the cable barriers which stopped it.

Cable barriers have been in the news lately with the release of a Washington State Department of Transportation study that found cable barriers effective in 95% of crossover accidents. In Marysville, however, the WSDOT is replacing some cable barriers with concrete ones in a dangerous 10 mile stretch of road where there have been multiple fatalities.

This information was brought to you by Seattle Car Accident Lawyer blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured in car accidents and the families of those that have been killed. We represent car accident victims on a contingent fee basis. That means you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.

Contact us today for a free case evaluation.

Ashely Wick plead guilty to vehicular homicide and was sentenced to three years in prison for the January 7th death of 25-year-old exchange student, Un Kyu Choi, reports The Seattle Times.

Wick, a former student at Western Washington University in Bellingham was under the influence of alcohol and a prescription tranquilizer at the time of the accident. According to court reports, she stopped for a short time after the accident and then drove off.

Choi was walking to his dorm when he was hit and killed. He was in the United States to study English for a semester and had only been in the country for a day.

A driver can be charged with vehicular homicide, Washington State statute RCW 46.61.520, if a person dies as a result of negligent operation of a motor vehicle when the driver was driving recklessly, under the influence of alcohol or drugs or without regard for the safety of others.

If you have had a loved one killed by a drunk driver, you should contact The Farber Law Group, a Washington law firm experienced and knowledgeable in handling auto accident cases and wrongful death suits.

Please contact us to schedule a free consultation.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), an independent and non-profit, scientific and education organization which is dedicated to reducing deaths, injuries and property damage in motor vehicle accidents, reports that 13 of the 41 child booster seats they examined could not be recommended.

Booster seats for children ages 4 to 7 years old reduce injury risk by 59% over seat belts alone reports a study by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Booster seats function is to elevate children so that seat belts designed for adults are positioned correctly on children. While all the booster seats the IIHS examined passed government standards in crash tests, variation in design means that some position the lap or shoulder belt better than others, thus providing a safer booster seat.

Click here to read the Insurance Institutes's news release on child booster seats and to see a video of the booster seat evaluations.

10 booster seats listed as "best bets" include:

• Graco TurboBooster
• Fisher-Price Safe Voyage
• Combi Kobuk
• Fisher-Price Safe Voyage
• Britax Parkway
• LaRoche Bros. Teddy Bear
• Safeguard Go
• Volvo booster cushion
• Recaro Young Style
• Britax Monarch

10 booster seats list as "not recommended" include:

• Safety Angel Ride Ryte backless
• Cosco/Dorel (Eddie Bauer) Summit
• Graco CarGo Zephyr
• Evenflo Big Kid Confidence
• Cosco/Dorel Traveler
• Compass B505
• Compass B510
• Evenflo Generations
• Dorel/Safety 1st (Eddie Bauer) Prospect
• Cosco Highback Booster
• Cosco/Dorel Alpha Omega
• Evenflo Chase Comfort Touch
• Safety 1st/Dorel Intera

This information was brought to you by Seattle Car Accident Lawyer blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We hare more than 30 years experience in representing car accident victims in Seattle, Bellevue, Everett, Tacoma, Olympia, Kent and Federal Way.

Contact us today for a free and confidential case evaluation.