Seattle Car Accident Lawyer Blog

ALFORD PLEA:

An Alford plea allows a defendant in a criminal case to enter a plea that asserts the defendant's innocence but acknowledges that there is sufficient evident for the court to find the defendant guilty. Upon entering an Alford plea, the defendant can be sentenced as if he/she was found guilty of a crime. The Alford plea is the equivalent of entering a guilty plea and it originated in the United States Supreme court case, North Carolina v. Alford.

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.

The Kitsap County Sheriff's office is investigating the cause of a head-on car accident that killed two drivers. Mark Thoman, age 25, of Silverdale and Steve Cockerham, age 47, of Poulsbo were both killed when their vehicles collided head-on near the Kitsap County treatment facility on Tuesday morning around 9:30 am reports The Seattle Times.

Apparently, Thoman was headed north in a 2002 Volvo in the 12300 block of Brownsville Highway when his car crossed the center line on the curve and collided with Cockerham's pickup trip.

Kitsap County Sheriff's spokesman Scot Wilson in the Kitsap Sun said they are looking into the following factors in determining the accident cause:

• Speed of both vehicles
  
• Seat belt use by both drivers
  
• Weather and road conditions
  
• Shifting loads in the pickup truck.

Heartfelt condolences go out to both men's families.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a serious car accident or a loved one has been killed, you should contact the law offices of The Farber Law Group. We have more than 32 years experience representing clients during a very difficult time in their life dealing with the aftermath of an automobile accident.

Contact The Farber Law Group to discuss your case.

Kristin M. Rieb, 27, of Brewster, suffered injuries to her left side and a cut to her head after she crossed the centerline on Highway 97A three miles north of Chelan and was broadsided. She was taken to Central Washington Hospital in Wenatchee where she is listed in "satisfactory condition" according to The Wenatchee World.

The report said that Rieb was driving her 2001 Ford Explorer too fast for the snowy and icy conditions and she lost control and went across the centerline. Rieb's SUV was broadsided by a 2002 Ford F150 pickup truck driven by Byron R. Webster, 50, of Chelan. Webster suffered shoulder injuries and he was taken to Lake Chelan Community Hospital.

Both vehicles were totaled in the accident. The State Patrol will probably cite Rieb for her part in the accident.

The information was brought to you by Seattle Car Accident Lawyer blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people all over Washington State and the Pacific Northwest in automobile accident cases.

Contact The Farber Law Group to discuss your case.

The Washington State Patrol issued a media release reporting that twice as many of their vehicles were hit by drivers who were impaired by alcohol in 2008 than in 2007. In 2007, 11 Patrol vehicles were hit but in 2008, 25 trooper vehicles have been involved in alcohol-related car accidents. Luckily, no officers have been killed in the accidents.

More than 50% of the vehicles that have been hit were parked along side a road or highway while the officer was dealing with another traffic accident or traffic violator.

WSP Chief John R. Batiste said, "How drunk do you have to be to run into a marked police car with its lights flashing?"

On Christmas Eve, we reported a Patrol officer who was injured on the I-90 when he was stopped to perform an accident investigation and a driver slammed into his car pushing him into the parked car that had been involved in the previous accident.

If you or a loved one has been injured by a drunk or impaired driver, or if a loved one has been killed, contact a personal injury attorney to insure your rights are protected. At The Farber Law Group, we have more than 32 years experience representing people who have been seriously injured by drunken drivers. With our help, you may recover compensation for your injuries.

Contact us today.

A tanker truck carrying 10,000 gallons of unleaded gasoline owned by Reinhard petroleum of Federal Way, Washington, crashed and burned on Interstate 5, killing the driver. According to Seattle's KOMONews.com, the driver, William Neil Adams, age 56, of Scappoose, Oregon, was driving the truck from Linton, OR to Salem when the truck went off the road, hit an ice berm, rolled and then caught fire.

Adams had only been with the company for about a year but according to reports, he had a long career in trucking. He was the father of two teenage children. The family recently lost their home in a fire and were reportedly living with relatives.

This information was brought to you by Seattle Car Accident lawyer, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been killed in motor vehicle accidents and represent families in wrongful death suits.

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

Western Washington, including Seattle, Bellevue, Everett and Kent have been inundated with snow this past week making roads slippery and treacherous for all motorists who venture out. West of the Cascade Mountains, people don't seem to take the necessary precautions when driving in snowy conditions. As I drive around town, I see people driving around with sometimes up to a half a foot of snow on top of their car. Ice and snow covered cars are can cause serious problems and car accidents.

Police officers see ice and snow on top a car a safety concern and they see that it causes accidents. Flying ice from the roof of a car has been known to hit the following vehicle and crack a windshield. In other cases, flying snow and ice can cause other motorists to swerve, causing an accident. Ice from the top of a car can also slide down onto a driver's windshield impairing visibility.

Before you drive:

• Clear the snow from your hood and car top
  
• Clean your headlights
  
• Fill up on windshield fluid
  
• Defrost your windshields

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 due to the negligence of another person.

Contact The Farber Law Group today for a free and confidential case evaluation. With offices in Seattle and Bellevue, we are here to help you with your case.

The driver of a semi-truck was seriously injured in an accident when his truck crossed the median and slid down onto the street below the Interstate-5 highway, crashing into a retaining wall. The truck accident occurred at in Kelso at Allen Street and the I-5.

The truck driver was taken to St. John Medical Center in Longview, Washington after he was extricated from his truck. According to Seattle's KOMONews.com, the driver was trapped in his truck for almost an hour.

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, trucking accidents, bus accidents and motorcycle accidents.

Located in Seattle and Bellevue, we will provide you a free and confidential case evaluation. We represent people on a contingent fee basis; that means you pay nothing unless we recover a settlement for you.

A 8-year veteran of the Washington State patrol, a 32-year-old-man, was injured in a car accident when his patrol car was hit by an out-of-control pick-up truck on Interstate 90 east of Issaquah. The officer was parked alongside the highway investigating a previous accident when his patrol car was hit.

According to The Seattle Times report, the driver of the pick up truck, a 2005 Dodge Dakota, was driving too fast for the icy and slushy freeway conditions. Apparently, the driver lost control and the truck slid across three lanes of traffic, slamming into the rear of the state patrol car. The force of the accident pushed the patrol car into the parked Volvo that was involved in the accident the officer was investigating.

The patrol car has serious damage from the accident with the entire rear end of the car crumpled.

The State Patrol is investigating the driver for driving too fast for the conditions. A motorist must exercise due care and caution when driving during winter conditions. Often this requires the driver to drive under the posted speed limit.

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 have 32 years experience in representing people who have been seriously injured in a motor vehicle accident due to the negligence or recklessness of another person.

With offices in Seattle and Bellevue, Washington, we will work to help you recover compensation for your injuries. Contact us for a free case evaluation.

A Bellevue man was arrested late Sunday night after he his car struck a pedestrian who was walking along State Route 202 in Fall City reports The Seattle Post-Intelligencer. According to the report, Matthew R. Mahaffey, 34, of Snoqualmie was taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle after the accident.

Washington State Patrol booked the 53-year-old Bellevue man on suspicion of Vehicular Assault because they believe he may have been under the influence at the time of the accident. Vehicular Assault , Washington State Statute RCW 46.61.522, can be charged if a person was under the alcohol or drugs in an accident that caused serious injuries to another person.

When a person criminally with the Vehicular Assault statue, the victim can also make a claim civilly for loss of wages, medical costs and for pain and suffering. In this case, a person should retain an experienced personal injury attorney.

At The Farber Law Group, we have more than 30 years experience of representing victims of drunken driving.

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

At least 13 young adults were injured on Friday when two charter buses crashed on Seattle's snowy and icy streets, smashing through a guardrail leaving one bus dangling 20 feet above the Interstate 5 (I-5) freeway in downtown Seattle, Washington.

The bus accident occurred on Friday around when two Northwestern Trailways buses slid down East Thomas on Capitol hill, crashing into each other and going through a guardrail on Melrose Avenue East directly above the Interstate highway in downtown Seattle. It was quite a site for Seattle residents as they saw a bus hanging over the freeway below.

It was a harrowing experience for the approximately 80 students on board the charter buses as they felt the buses careen down the street and lose control. 11 young adults were taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle for injuries including cuts and bruises caused by debris and broken glass. Students jumped out of windows and through emergency exits.

People writing on the Seattle Post-Intelligencer blog were wondering why the buses didn't have chains or why Seattle doesn't have a more comprehensive snow removal plan, closing streets when the weather conditions are so adverse and dangerous.

The citizens of Seattle are certainly grateful that no one was killed in this terrifying accident. A great tragedy was adverted.

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 bus accidents, car accidents, truck accidents and motorcycle accidents.

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

Information from this blog is from The Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

The good news is that auto theft in Washington State decreased in 2007 by 18% over 2006. The bad news is that Washington ranks 5th among all the states for motor vehicle theft. In 2007, 37,622 vehicles were stolen in our state.

During winter months, people often provide the window of opportunity for a car thief by leaving their car running while they allow it to warm up and let the windows defrost. Statistics tells us that around 30% of all cars are stolen while they are running.

Why are cars stolen? Cars and trucks are stolen to sell the entire vehicle, to chop them up and sell their parts, to go for a "joyride" or provide transportation, to trade for cash, to commit fraud and to use for committing other crimes.

In Washington State, 1992 Honda Accords and 1995 Honda Civics rank on the list of "most stolen."

Theft Prevention Tips

• Don't leave your keys in the car.
  
• Lock your car.
  
• Don't leave a hide-a-key on your car.
  
• Park where it is well-lighted.
  
• Use attended parking lots in the city.
  
• Don't leave your car running while your run into a store or dry cleaners and don't leave it running in your own driveway.
  
• Lock your valuables in your trunk.
  
• Turn your wheels towards the curb when your park.
  
• Use a wheel locking device like "The Club."

This information was provided by The Seattle Car Accident lawyer blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. Contact us if you have been a serious car accident where you or a loved one received serious injuries including whiplash.

The Washington State Department of Transportation (DOT) is warning motorists that they should not attempt to travel on a roadway that has been closed due to an emergency. Sometimes roads are closed to insure the safety of DOT crews who are doing maintenance on the road such as snow removal or avalanche control. Other times, the road is simply impassable because of too much snow, standing water or a severe traffic accident.

This week, the DOT had to close sections of SR 27 and SR 21 to enable crews to work and several motorists ignored the signs and tried to traverse the road anyway.

The DOT is warning drivers who do not obey closure signs that may be fined up to $124. RCW 47.48.040 is a statute that provides for "Road Closed" signs. According to the statute, only police, fire, emergency vehicle or WSDOT vehicles are permitted to bypass these signs.

This information was provided by Seattle Car Accident lawyer blog a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured in automobile accidents. With our help, you may be able to recover compensation for your injuries including medical costs, property damage and for pain and suffering.

Contact the personal injury lawyers at The Farber Law Group today.

An Olympia woman was taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle with life-threatening injuries in a single-car accident after she lost control of her truck and crashed into a tree reports Seattle's King5.com.

The motor vehicle accident happened on Highway 101 close to the Mason/Thurston county lines around 9:30am on Monday morning. Police had to extricate the woman out of her truck.

Police said that the woman was driving too fast for the road conditions and that she was not wearing a seat belt. They also said her rear tires were almost bald.

Police caution drivers to take the following precautions when driving during winter months:

• Keep a full tank of gas
  
• Wear your seat belt
  
• Keep a safe distance from the car ahead of you
  
• Drive for the road conditions and keep your speed down
  
• Avoid streets that are under water or are steep and icy
  
• Check the Department of Transportation web-site and local news for traffic advisories
  
• Make sure your windshield is defrosted and clear of ice and snow.
  
• Watch for "black ice" on freeway overpasses, bridges and shady areas
  
• Brake gently

This information was brought to you by Seattle Car Accident Lawyer blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. Located in Seattle and Bellevue, we represent people who have serious injuries due to car accidents, truck accidents, bicycle accidents and pedestrian accidents.

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

Janice Tucker, a 65-year-old Port Angeles woman, was killed in an unlikely vehicle accident when she was trapped between a US Bank drive-up ATM machine and her van.

Although details for the accident are a little sketchy, according to The Seattle Times, Winfield was found partially outside of her van. It appears as if her van hit the ATM machine at a low speed. Perhaps she forgot to put her van into park as she leaned out of the window to conduct her transaction.

Police are going to review bank surveillance tapes and interview witnesses before they release any further details.

This information was provided by the Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We specialize in representing people who have received serious injuries due to faulty or dangerous products, medical malpractice, motor vehicle accidents and constructions accidents.

To discuss your case, call The Farber Law Group today.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) has announced the closure of Chinook Pass, Cayuse Pass and the North Cascades Highway for the duration of the winter reports The Seattle Times.

The DOT reviewed snowfall accumulations and determined that the risk of avalanche on these roadways is too great to allow for traffic.

Every year during winter, Chinook Pass, Cayuse Pass and North Cascades Highway are closed because of hazardous driving conditions and avalanche risk. The DOT says if a driver were to be stranded in any one of these wilderness areas, it could be hours or even days before a stranded motorist might be found if an accident or mishap were to occur. These passes have a low number of travelers crossing them in the winter, little or no cell phone service and extreme weather conditions.

Following is exact closure information:

• Cayuse Pass (State Route 123) in Mt. Rainier National Park - closed from SR 410 junction to Stevens Canyon Road
• Chinook Pass (State Route 41) - closed milepost 74 to milepost 57
• North Cascades Highway (State Route 20) - closed at milepost 134, east of Diablo and at milepost 170, 14 miles west of Mazama.

This information is 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 car accidents. Located in Bellevue, Washington we have represented clients all over the Pacific Northwest for the past 30 years.

Contact The Farber Law Group today.

Click here for DOT Statewide Mountain Pass Information.

Eleven people were injured, six seriously, in a three-car accident in Proebstel, WA, just east of Vancouver. According to the Columbian.com, the accident was caused by a 2001 Honda that pulled out of the Creekside Market parking lot, failing to yield to oncoming traffic.

According to the report, the car accident occurred at 18040 NE Fourth Plain Road directly in front of the Creekside Country Market. The Honda made a left turn out of the parking lot onto Fourth Plain and was hit by a 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse and then was hit head-on by a 2006 Toyota Corolla.

In all six people were seriously injured and they were transported to trauma units in three different area hospitals. Two other people were injured and were transported to hospitals in stable conditions. Three other people suffered minor injuries.

Washington State Patrol are investigating the accident but they said there was no snow and only standing water on the roadway at the time of the accident.

Vehicle Code RCW 46.61.205 says that a vehicle entering a highway from a private road or driveway shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles approaching on the highway. It is not known whether the driver of the Honda has been cited.

If you or a loved one is seriously injured in a automobile accident, you should contact The Farber Law Group. We have more than 30 years experience representing people who have been seriously injured in car accidents due to the negligence of another driver. With our help, you may be able to recover compensation for your medical costs, property damage and for lost wages and pain and suffering.

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

The Washington State Patrol has released a Media Bulletin informing the public that they are stepping up their efforts to apprehend drivers who are intoxicated during this holiday season. Working with local law enforcement agencies, the Patrol is working overtime shifts, especially on Friday and Saturday nights when many people may be intoxicated after attending holiday parties.

The Patrol reports that there were 31 alcohol-related deaths during the holiday season last year due to drivers who drove while intoxicated.

The Patrol urges people who are drinking alcohol at parties and restaurants to use a designated driver or to call a taxi cab. They also ask people to call 9-1-1 if to report drunk drivers.

This information was brought to you by Seattle Car Accident Lawyer blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent the victims of drunken drivers who have been seriously injured in a car accident. Drunken driving accidents often leave victims with severe injuries including head injuries, broken bones, severe whiplash, paralysis and brain damage.

At The Farber Law Group, we have more than 30 years experience working with drunken driving victims to help them recover compensation for their damages. We find out whether the drunk driver had a previous DUI charge, whether they became intoxicated at a work-related party or whether a bar served them when they were obviously intoxicated.

Contact The Farber Law Group today.

The Seattle Times reports that a person was critically injured in a Boulevard Park, Washington hit-and run car accident on Friday night.

According to the report, the accident occurred at an intersection with a four-way stop at the corner of South 112th Street and Eighth Avenue South in Boulevard Park. Witnesses said that a Ford Explorer broadsided a Honda Civic. The impact of the accident pushed the Honda off of the road.

The driver or the Ford Explorer ran away from the accident scene but the police apprehended him a short time later. If it is determined that the hit-and-run driver was intoxicated or under the influence at the time of the accident, he could be charged with Vehicular Assault. RCW 46.61.522, vehicular assault, can be charged if a person was seriously injured when a driver was intoxicated or under the influence of drugs.

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 loved ones of those killed in automobile accidents, bicycle accidents and pedestrian accidents. We work with victims of drunken drivers to help them receive compensation for their injuries including loss of wages, medical costs, property damage and for pain and suffering.

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

The U.S. Department of Transportation, in a Press Release on December 11, said that the number of fatal motor vehicle accidents is expected to be almost 10% less in 2008 than in 2007. The number of people killed in car accidents may be at its lowest levels since the 1960s.

While 2008 is not yet over, the DOT is pretty accurate in its ability to estimate the number of deaths for the year based on the previous months. Their current data shows that approximately 31,110 people were killed in car accidents between January and October of 2008 compared with 34,502 fatalities in 2007 for the same time frame. The DOT reports that for 2008, 1.28 is the fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled while in 2007, there were 1.37 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled.

Click here to read Early Estimate of Motor Vehicle Traffic Fatalities from January to October 2008, a report prepared by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The Secretary of Transportation, Mary E. Peters, said that the nation's focus on safety has "led to one of the safest periods in our nation's transportation history."

This information was brought to you by Seattle Car Accident Lawyer blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. Car accident specialists in Western Washington, we work to insure that accident victims are fairly compensated for their injuries including medical costs, loss wages, property damage and for pain and suffering.

If you or a loved one sustained serious injuries due to a car, motorcycle, truck or bicycle accident, contact The Farber Law Group today.

The Washington State Department of Transportation announced that they have closed State Route 20 -- the North Cascades Highway-- between milepost 134, seven miles east of Diablo Dam and milepost 171, nine miles west of Mazama. Four inches of new snow fell on Wednesday night and forecasts are calling for up to 3 feet of over the weekend. With every inch of new snow, avalanche danger is greatly increased over the highway.

DOT crews will close gates so that no one is unexpectedly stranded between the two mileposts. The date of closure of the highway varies but crews usually close it between Thanksgiving and the middle of December. Motorists can expect it to open in the later parts of April or some time in May.

For more information, check the DOT's North Cascades Highway site. http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/passes/northcascades

This information was brought to you by Seattle Car Accident Lawyer blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people seriously injured in car accidents and the families of those that have been killed. We have more than 30 years experience representing accident victims in Everett, Lynnwood, Tacoma, Olympia, Seattle, Bellevue, Redmond, Renton, Kent and Federal Way.

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

Prosecutors have filed a warrant for Scott Michael Buskeness, 31, who they believe was responsible for a head-on car accident on Route 7 in Spanaway that killed Jamie Reinford, 33, and Richard Pennington, 34. Another person suffered a fractured ankle in the car accident. Buskeness is charged with two counts of vehicular homicide and one count of vehicular assault according to The Tacoma News Tribune.

According to reports, Buskeness crossed over the median while driving on State Route 7 near 146th Street around 1:35 am on Monday night. He ran head-on into a Dodge Colt with Reinford and Pennington and another passenger inside. Reinford was taken to St. Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma where he died late Tuesday night. Pennington was taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle where he died. The passenger of the Colt was also taken to Harborview for treatment of injuries.

Buskeness admitted to police that he he had smoked methamphetamine on the day of the crash and marijuana within the past week. Police did not arrest him but took him to Madigan Army Medical Center at Fort Lewis with a hand injury. Police said that they thought he was so impaired that he would remain at the hospital for a few days. Instead, he was released the next morning and police have been looking for him since then.

It is curious why police did not arrest him at the time of the accident as he currently faces a DUI charge in Thurston County and has 19 convictions for felony traffic offenses and violent crimes.

Vehicular homicide can be charged if a person dies while a person was driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol (RCW 46.61.520) and vehicular assault can be charged if a person sustains a serious injury while a person was driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol (RCW 46.61.522).

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured due to an automobile accident or if a loved one has been killed, contact The Farber Law Group. Our personal injury attorneys have more than 30 years experience in car accident and wrongful death cases.

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports that a bicyclist was killed in an accident while biking to work on Thursday morning around 6:30am in Skyway, Washington, south of Seattle.

According to one report, the man was riding his bicycle near 130th and Renton Avenue South when he was struck by a car driven by a man in his late 70's. Police said that alcohol or drugs were not a factor.

John Urquhart of the King County sheriff's office said the man was "riding legally" at the time of the accident.

Every year approximately 540,000 bicyclists are injured in accidents and more than 700 are killed. There is no state law requiring bicyclists to wear helmets but Snohomish, Pierce and King Counties do require them. It is unknown whether the cyclist in this accident was wearing a helmet.

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

Contact The Farber law Group today for a free and confidential case evaluation. We handle bicycle accidents on a contingent fee basis; you pay nothing unless we recover a settlement for you.

See our Bicycling Resources.

Hendricus MacKaay, 77, and Tryntge MacKaay, 79 a couple from Malakwa, B.C. were killed in a head-on car accident on Highway 97, six miles south of Tonasket around 6am Monday morning.

The Wenatchee World reports that the couple were driving northbound when a '96 Suburban driven by Roger T. Sanne, 74, of Tonasket crossed over the highway centerline and hit a Ford Explorer driven by Sheryl A. Dahl, 54 of Okanogan. After hitting Dahl's car, the Suburban then hit the Pontiac hatchback driven by Mackaay head-on. Hendricus Mackaay was killed at the accident scene and Tryntje Mackaay died shortly thereafter at North Valley Hospital in Tonasket.

Roger T. Sanne was taken to North Valley Hospital for treatment of facial cuts. His passenger, Shirley L. Sanne, 70, was taken to the same hospital for treatment multiple fractures to her foot, wrist and collarbone. Dahl was not injured.

According to the report both the Suburban and the Pontiac were inoperable after the car accident. The Explorer driven by Dahl was drivable.

Police are investigating the cause of 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 in car accidents. We also represent the families of those killed in car accidents in bringing a wrongful death suit against the negligent party.

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

Twenty-five students escaped serious injury early this morning when their East Valley School District bus was involved in a hit-and-run accident. The accident occurred 10 miles east of Yakima on Smith Road and State Route 24.

According to The Seattle Times, the accident occurred when the bus driver was making a left turn and a mini-van tried to pass it. The mini-van is described as a 1990's Chrysler or Dodge minivan with heavy damage to its right or passenger side. The driver of the mini-van then fled the accident scene and was last seen East Bound on State Route 24.

State Patrol is asking anyone with information about this accident to call them at 575-2320.

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, contact The Farber Law Group. Our knowledgeable and experienced personal injury attorneys will work to help you recover compensation for your damages including loss of wages and pain and suffering. We represent clients all over the Pacific Northwest including Ellensburg, Tri-Cities, Cle-Elum, Issaquah, Seattle and Bellevue.

The Washington State Patrol constantly reminds drivers to secure their loads. Katya Yefimova, writing for the HeraldNet.com, says that Christmas trees are not an uncommon "lost load" this time of year. The Patrol takes lost or unsecured loads very serious. Two weeks ago, a lost ladder on the I-5 made a bus swerve and roll over with 38 Bellevue High School football players and coaches. Luckily, in that accident there were no severe injuries. Sometimes lost loads result in very serious injuries and even death.

Every year there are approximately 400 accidents in Washington State caused by lost loads. Vehicle code RCW 46.61.655 provides the penalty for a lost load.

This is the time of year when people shop for Christmas trees and tie them to the roof of the cars. If yours falls off, you are liable for a $216 fine for failing to secure your load and you could even face a criminal charge and serve up to a year in prison if someone is injured because of your dropped Christmas tree.

To prevent a lost load and potential collision:

• Secure your tree even if it is in the bed of your truck.
  
• Bring extra rope to tie your tree down.
  
• Attach a red flag or tape if your tree is sticking out of the back of your car.

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 car accidents, motorcycle accidents, trucking accidents and bicycle accidents. With the help of our knowledgeable personal injury attorneys, you may recover compensation for your injuries including lost wages and for pain and suffering.

Contact The Farber Law Group today.

The Seattle Time reports that two Everett men were killed after their speeding car went off the road and ran into a tree. Killed in the accident were the driver, age 39, and one passenger, a 27 year-old man. A second passenger, a 26-year-old Everett man, was treated for minor cuts and was released from the hospital.

The car accident happened around 1:30 am on Sunday at the 5500 block of Riverview Road in unincorporated Snohomish County.

Police says that speed an alcohol were factors in the car accident.

This information was brought to you by Seattle car Accident Lawyer blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people seriously injured and the families of those killed in car accidents. We also specialize in representing the victims of drunk drivers.

If you or a loved one been injured in a car accident and your injuries are the result of a drunken driver, you need a personal injury attorney so that your rights are protected. At The Farber Law Group, we have more than 30 years in the greater Seattle area. Contact us today for a free and confidential case review.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has just named their "2009 Top Safety Pick" awards. In rating vehicles from small cars to large pickup trucks, the IIHS recognizes vehicles which perform the best in protecting drivers and passengers in crash tests. All the vehicles that won have to be equipped with electronic stability control (ESC) which studies show greatly reduce crash risks.

The good news is that cars and trucks are getting safer. The IIHS awarded 72 vehicles this year which is more than twice the number of vehicles to garner the award in 2008 and more than 3 times more than the number of cars and trucks in 2007.

According to the News Release from the Institute, Acura, Honda and Subaru are the stand outs because they have a vehicle in each and every vehicle category in which they compete.

The "Top Safety Pick" designation has encouraged auto manufacturers to create safer designed cars that go above and beyond federal minimum. Autos and trucks are now safer in serious side crashes and seats and head restraints are doing a better job of protecting passengers and drivers from whiplash injuries.

To see the top 72 vehicles, read the 2009 TOP SAFETY PICK award.

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 and truck accidents including whiplash injuries. If you or a loved one has been hurt or a loved one has been killed due to the negligence of another driver, contact The Farber Law Group. With the help of our knowledgeable Washington State personal injury attorneys, we may be able to help you recover a settlement for you damages including pain and suffering. Located in Bellevue, Washington, if you are too injured to meet in our office, we are happy to come and talk to you about your case.

According to a Washington State Patrol media release, the patrol has arrested Kelly L. York Jr. on a charge of Felony Hit and Run charge after the Thanksgiving Day collision that killed a 37-year-old mother of four and injured four others.

The car accident occurred on Thanksgiving day around 5:00 pm at the intersection of Branch and Wierman Road near Toppenish, Washington. Investigators believe that York, driving a 1997 Jaguar, ran a stop sign as he was heading north on Wierman Road and broadsided a Nissan Sentra. Rosa Magana, 37, of El Mirage, Az, who was a passenger in the Nissan, died shortly after the accident. The 17-year-old driver of the Nissan and four other passengers, ages 6 to 16, were transported to Memorial Hospital. Three of the victims were later transferred to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

According to police, Kelly York Jr., and a passenger fled the scene of the accident on foot. The WSP arrested York on December 2nd at a residence on Weikel Road.

This information was provided by the Seattle Car Accident Lawyer blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured and the loved ones of those killed in car accidents, bicycle accidents, bus accidents, trucking accidents and pedestrian accidents. With our help, you may recover compensation for your medical costs, lost wages and for pain and suffering.

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

The drivers of Washington State are blessed to live in such a beautiful state. Geographically our state has many varied weather patterns and driving conditions. Rain forest, rain shadow, desert, glacier and rugged mountain passes are all within a few hours driving distance. During winter, every driver should check the weather conditions, pass reports and be prepared in case of an emergency. Whether you are driving North-South on the I-5 or East-West on Highway 2 or Interstate-90, the Washington State Department of Transportation web-site can give you the most up-to-date road conditions.

Driver safety tips for winter driving in the Pacific Northwest:

• Give your car a once-over and check your fluids, motor oil and anti-freeze to make sure they are proper levels.
• Install a set of snow tires .
• Install new windshield wiper blades and if you're going to be driving the snowy passes, it's not a bad idea to carry an extra jug of windshield wiper fluid; Visibility is very important in the winter weather.
• Check driving conditions by using the Washington State Department of Transportation web-site and web cams before you begin your trip. As weather patterns can vary widely in a 24 hour period here, postpone your trip for a day if weather conditions are treacherous. http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/
• Adjust your speed for the snow and ice. If the speed limit is 65mph and it is snowing, do not over drive your headlights. Many accidents occur because people do not take into account snow and ice and the increased stopping distances these road conditions require.
• Practice using your anti lock breaks.
• Don't drive tired. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that 100,000 car accidents a year involve driver fatigue. If you are feeling drowsy, stop and take a short nap rather than blasting the radio or opening windows.

  

• Be prepared for the unexpected by carrying an emergency kit including:
  
  • Blanket
    
  • Candle and matches (provides heat and light)
    
  • Road flares
    
  • Bottled water
    
  • Extra food and energy snacks
    
  • First aid supplies
    
  • Snow/ice scraper
    
  • Bag of kitty litter (to give traction to spinning wheels)

This safety information is 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 those killed in motor vehicle accidents. With more than 30 years experience in the Pacific Northwest, we will work to help you recover compensation for your injuries, including pain and suffering.

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

In the aftermath of the four-vehicle injury accident involving a charter bus carrying the Bellevue High School Wolverine football team last Saturday, the Washington State Patrol has published a Media Release urging motorists to secure their loads.

"The Washington State Patrol takes lost load collisions very seriously and urges motorists to recognize the hazards with failing to secure loads. This instance was fortunate not to have become more severe but it only takes a second to secure your load and do your part to make sure no one else is injured or killed by unsecured loads. Take the time to secure your load and report people who don’t secure theirs."

The multi-vehicle accident occurred when a charter bus ferrying the Bellevue High football team varsity players to the state semi-final game at the Tacoma Dome lost control after veering to avoid a lost load in the southbound lanes of Interstate 5 north of 216th street and overturned. Of the 38 bus passengers, 7 had to be taken to local hospitals for treatment of injuries.

The WSP are now looking for a "red pickup truck with racks in the bed and sides" that lost the ladder in the southbound lines. The troopers said the driver of the truck did not stop when the load was lost. The driver faces criminal charges according to RCW 46.61.655 -- Dropping Load, Other Materials -- Covering.

In all, there were four vehicles involved in the collision:

1. 2007 Hyundai Accord
2. 1998 Toyota Avalon
3. 1991 MCI Bus
4. 2003 Freightliner Tractor-Trailer

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 car accidents because of the negligence of another person.

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