Police investigating Marysville accident that seriously injured woman and teenager

November 30, 2011 by The Farber Law Group

A 29-year-old Marysville woman and a 15-year-old girl were both seriously injured when they were involved in a high-speed rollover car accident on Highway 528 Monday afternoon.

Eric Stevic, writing in the Everett Herald, said that the woman suffered life-threatening injuries and was taken to Seattle's Harborview Medical Center after she lost control of her vehicle and it rolled several times.

The teen suffered serious injuries in the car accident and she was taken to Providence Medical Center in Everett.

Police are investigating the accident but it appears that a woman and a man who knew each other were in two separate vehicles and speeding down the highway when the accident occurred. Both parties may have been intoxicated at the time. According to one version of the story, the woman was trying to stop a man that she had a relationship with from driving intoxicated. He drove off and she apparently went after him according to investigator Robb Lamoureaux of the Marysville Police Department.

Both the woman and the man were speeding when the woman apparently clipped a pickup truck and a van and lost control of her vehicle.

Police later arrested the man and he is being investigated for drunken driving, vehicular assault, reckless endangerment and leaving the scene of an accident.

Witnesses said the man stopped to check on the woman before leaving the accident scene.
This accident also involved several other vehicles who were traveling eastbound on the highway. One other driver suffered injuries.

It is so tragic when people make the decision to drink and drive. The Washington State vehicle code provides that if a person is seriously injured in a motor vehicle accident and a driver was driving under the influence or recklessly then the driver can be charged with vehicular assault.

This information is provided by Seattle Car Accident Lawyer blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured in motor vehicle accidents and the family of those who have died.

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Passenger sues driver for damages after single-car accident

November 28, 2011 by The Farber Law Group

People often ask whether they can sue a friend or relative after a car accident in which they were injured. Regardless of whether it is a close friend or a relative whose negligence caused the accident, a passenger can make a damage claim.

Take for example the case of Fawlkes v. Fox. Barbara Fowlkes, 20, was riding with Seth Fox when Fox started driving erratically. He was joking and swerving and ended up losing control of his vehicle and running into a concrete wall.
bellevue motor vehicle accident attorney
Fowlkes received a serious ankle injury and subsequently required two surgeries. Even after the surgeries, she continues to experience pain. Her injuries will limit her future employment opportunities.

Fowlkes filed suit alleging Fox was negligently driving at the time of the accident. She asked for $54,500 in compensation in filing suit against Fox, and under the uninsured motorist coverage of Encompass Insurance Co. and AIU Insurance Co.

The parties in the case settled and Fowlkes received a $507,500 settlement with $52,500 awarded from Fox, $430,000 awarded from Encompass and $25,000 from AIU.

While filing a lawsuit against a friend or a relative is not easy, the passenger whether they are a spouse, child, cousin, or friend are entitled to make a car accident claim.

Passengers should not hesitate to file a claim even though it was a friends or family's car. They purchase premiums which covers them and their passengers.

This information is provided by Seattle Car Accident Lawyer blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We are a Seattle personal injury law firm and we represent people who have been seriously injured in motor vehicle accidents.

Source: Fowlkes v. Fox, No. 08-7229 (Tex., Dallas Co. Jud. Dist. June 2011).

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Grandmother, granddaughter receive $3.5M bus accident settlement

November 23, 2011 by The Farber Law Group

A grandmother and her granddaughter, who were hit by a bus while in a controlled intersection, have settled their negligence lawsuit for $3.5 million against the owner of the bus company.

LaVerne Fleming, 50, was walking with her granddaughter Maraisha Jones, 4, when a Sunrise Transportation, Inc. bus, turned left and hit them in the crosswalk.

Both the grandmother and the mother of Maraisha Jones, sued the bus driver Vernon Rudd, and Sunrise Transportation Inc., claiming that Rudd was negligent in providing a proper lookout as well as failing to yield to pedestrians.

Jones was seriously injured in the pedestrian accident, suffering a fractured pelvis and a vaginal tear. The fractured pelvis left her with posture and gait problems and surgeons foresee a possible hip implant. Her vaginal tear has left her susceptible to urinary track infections and she suffers from urinary urgency and incontinence. The settlement provides her with $2.33 million dollars which provides for his past and future medical costs and for future lost wages.

The grandmother, LaVerne Fleming, suffered injuries to her left shoulder which required surgery and may require rotator cuff surgery in the future. She also suffered a degloving injury to her foot. A degloving injury is a serious injury in which the skin is completely torn off and the blood supply is severed to the underlying tissue. The settlement provided $1.17 million for her damages.

When a pedestrian accident involves someone who is driving for a company, as in the case of Vernon Rudd, who was driving fro Sunrise Transportation, the injured parties can allege respondeat superior liability which is a legal doctrine that states that an employer is responsible for the conduct of their employees when the employee is acting in behalf of their employer. This allows the injured parties to collect from the insurance company of the employee.

This information is provided by Seattle Car Accident Lawyer blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured in pedestrian and bus accidents and the family of those who have been killed.

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In a bid to reduce pedestrian accidents, web-site shows accident videos

November 21, 2011 by The Farber Law Group

Every week in Florida, an average of 9 pedestrians are killed and 21 are injured in pedestrian accidents. As part of the "See the Blind Spots" campaign, they made a controversial call and placed a graphic video of a pedestrian accident on their web-site. Now, a Florida state senator is calling for them to take the video down.

bellevue pedestrian accident attorneyFlorida Senator Mike Fasano says the videos are too "horrific" to be shown.

The web-site does warn " The following video contains graphic footage and may be unsuitable for small children. Viewer discretion advised."

One video clip shows a car slamming into a pedestrian and the pedestrian being thrown up onto the vehicle's hood and then crashing to the pavement. Other videos show body bags.

The web-site educates both pedestrians and drivers and because in nearly 50% of all pedestrian-car collisions the pedestrian disobey traffic laws and made judgment lapses when trying to cross a street. The following safety tips for pedestrians because drivers aren't always looking out for pedestrians:

  1. Be alert and attentive and don't cross until its safe.
  2. Obey the Walk and Don't Walk signals.
  3. Look left-right-left before crossing.
  4. When crossing a street, continually check for traffic, especially for cars and trucks turning right on red.
  5. Don't assume drivers see you. Make sure you make eye contact.
  6. Use sidewalks when available. When they aren't available, walk facing traffic.
  7. Don't walk along or across highways and freeways.
  8. At dusk or at night time, wear reflective clothing and carry a flashlight.
  9. Be care about your alcohol consumption as 35% of those pedestrians killed are under the influence.
  10. Supervise children when they are crossing streets as they do not always have the right judgement to assess the situation.

This information is provided by Seattle Car Accident Lawyer blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured in pedestrian accidents and the family of those who have been killed.

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Vision problems can affect night driving

November 16, 2011 by The Farber Law Group

We recently changed the clocks to coincide with daylight savings. Turning the clocks increased the risks of car accidents in Seattle and Western Washington because more drivers are having to commute during dark evening hours .

Some drivers have impaired night and cannot drive as safely or comfortably at night time. Not all drivers are even aware of their problems. We start seeing vision problems in drivers around the age of 50. As we age, our pupils do not dilate as much, our cornea and eye lens is not as clear and age-related eye changes can occur.

Types of Night Vision Problems that Can Affect Driving

  • Blurred vision -- Drivers in their 40's or 50's can suffer blurred vision in dim light. As a person ages and they become presbyopic they suffer from blurred vision when the light is dim even though they have sharp vision in daylight. Being fitted with the proper "night driving glasses" can remedy this problem. bellevue car accident attorney
  • Problems with Glare and/or Halos -- Some drivers can see just fine during the daylight hours but at night, they experience glare or halos around lights. This can greatly impair a driver's vision and has been known to cause fatal car accidents. This problem can be cause by a problem with the cornea, as a side effect of LASIK surgery or can indicate a cataract, a vitamin deficiency, or an eye disease such as retinitis pigmentosa or glaucoma. Drivers with this type of problem should see a qualified eye surgeon, an ophthalmologist. Once the health of the eye is determined, the physician can sometimes recommend a specially tinted eyeglass (not a sunglass) or other treatment such as cataract surgery. In some cases, the driver should limit their night time driving.
If you are a driver and you have vision problems at night time, you should not drive at night unless you have a correction or treatment and have a visual acuity of 20/30 or better, have a visual field of 110 degrees or more and have proper training for night time driving.

A driver who drives with impaired vision is a negligent driver and could be cited in a motor vehicle accident. If you know you have vision problems at night, you should not drive in the same way that an epileptic who has uncontrollable seizures should not drive.

There is no doubt about it, driving is more hazardous after dark. We recommend seeing your eye doctor once a year because the test they give at the department of licensing only tests for visual acuity and can not always detect vision problems that only occur after dark.

This information is provided by Seattle Car Accident Lawyer blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured in motor vehicle accidents and the family of those who have died.

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Driver that caused fatal Lake City car accident had received plea bargain in previous fatal car accident

November 15, 2011 by The Farber Law Group

On Sunday afternoon, Laura Sheard, a graduate student at the University of Washington, and Kristopher Martin, a musician, were killed when a speeding SUV slammed into the back of their Hyundai as they waited at a light on Lake City Way in Seattle. The couple were both killed in the fiery collision.

This made for a very deadly Veteran's Day weekend in Western Washing as a total of 8 people were killed in three separate accidents.

An eyewitness to the accident said that Daniel Ray Habeeb, 43, who was driving the SUV, had been traveling at speeds of "at least 70, 80 miles an hour" prior to running into the Hyundai with his SUV.

Habeeb was injured in the accident along with his two passengers, 10 and 11 year-old girls.

Now it has come to light that Habeeb had previously been charged with Vehicular Homicide in a 2009 accident that killed Susan Peek, 65. In that accident, he had been speeding and weaving in and out of traffic when he hit Peek's vehicle. He was offered a plea agreement by the prosecution in that case and he pleaded guilty to reckless driving and reckless endangerment.

Vehicular Homicide, RCW 46.61.520, of the motor vehicle code can be charged if a person dies as a result of the negligent operation of a motor vehicle accident and the driver was driving recklessly, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol or driving without regard for the safety of others.

Right now, a lot of people in Seattle are incensed that Habeeb, who spent no time in prison for Peek's death, is responsible for killing two others and endangering the lives of two young girls.

At this point, Habeeb has not been charged with Sunday's accident as the investigation of the accident is ongoing.

This information is provided by Seattle Car Accident Lawyer blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured in motor vehicle accidents and the family of those who have died.

Source: The Seattle Times, SUV driver in Lake City fatal crash killed woman in 2009

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Motorists need to watch out for wildlife in the Fall

November 13, 2011 by The Farber Law Group

The Washington State Patrol (WSP) , in a media release, is warning drivers to watch out for wildlife during the fall. Collisions between motor vehicle and deer is at the highest amount between October and December. The WSP says that when people turn their clocks back and the days are shorter and more people are driving in the dark morning and evening hours, the incidence of collisions increases.

According to the WSP, in Thurston and Pierce Counties, there have already been 128 collisions between motor vehicles and animals.

Collisions with deer and other large animals are costly but they can also be deadly. In approximately 2% of the car v. deer collisions there is a fatality. In motorcycle v. deer collisions, in 85 % of the cases the motorcyclist is killed.

The WSP reminds drivers to be cautions in early morning and evening hours, to pay close attention to animal crossing signs which are usually placed where there have been collisions in the past and do not swerve to avoid an animal.

Insurance Considerations

The Farber Law Group recommends that you have comprehensive coverage on your automobile. Comprehensive coverage will cover your vehicle if you are involved in an accident and will often cover the cost of a rental car and provide "gap" coverage if your car is a total loss which often happens in a deer collision.

This information is provided Seattle Car Accident Lawyer blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured in motor vehicle accidents and the family of those who have died.

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6 killed in 2 separate motor vehicle accidents in Western Washington over Veteran's day weekend

November 12, 2011 by The Farber Law Group

Six men were killed this weekend in two separate motor vehicle accidents. These tragic accidents are devastating to the communities in which the victims lived and bring unfathomable grief to their families.

On Whidbey Island, three young adult men ages 19, 20, and 22 were killed when a 18-year-old Langley woman lost control of the car she was driving and struck a tree. The car burst into flames and only the driver escaped. The driver was taken to Whidbey Island General Hospital for treatment of unspecified injuries. According to KOMO News, she is being investigated for vehicular homicide because police believe alcohol may have been a factor in the accident.h

In Ethel, Washington, the driver of a pickup up truck, a 49-year-old Rochester man, was killed along with his two passengers, a 44-year-old Centralia man and a 46-year-old Rochester man when the pickup truck driver lost control on an icy road, crossed the centerline and was broadsided by a semi truck.

Our condolences to the victims' families.

This information is provided by Seattle Car Accident Lawyer blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured in motor vehicle accidents and the family of those who have died.

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School bus driver arrested after students report her for driving drunk

November 10, 2011 by The Farber Law Group

Students on a New Jersey school bus knew their bus driver wasn't right so they called their parents from their cell phones. They told their parents that their school bus driver was falling asleep and weaving in traffic.

Parents called the authorities at Westampton Middle School who called police. Police arrested Carole Crockett, 46, on suspicion of driving under the influence as well of other charges including endangering children's welfare. When they tested her, her blood alcohol level was at .25% which is almost three times the legal limit of .08%.

This is not the first time we have seen cases where a school bus driver was drunk with children on board. In March of this year, Betty Burden, an Orange County school bus driver, pled guilty to driving under the influence with 45 students on board her bus. In this case, Burden escaped prison but she was sentenced to 480 hours of community service and 2-1/2 years probation.

Bus drivers should meet a higher standard than other drivers and should exercise diligence to protect the lives of their passengers. If passengers are injured due to the negligent action of a bus driver, they can file suit asking for compensation for their damages including medical costs and for pain and suffering.

This information is provided by Seattle Car Accident Lawyer blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured in bus accidents and motor vehicle accidents due to the negligence of another.

Source:
N.J. school bus driver Carole Crockett charged with drunk driving, endangering students, newjerseynewsroom.com

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How to Find a Personal Injury Attorney

November 5, 2011 by The Farber Law Group

If you’ve been in an accident or hurt by someone and it wasn’t your fault, you may be thinking that you need to find a personal injury attorney. Of course, when you start the process of looking, you may be overwhelmed. Read on for advice on how to find a personal injury attorney that is right for your case.

bellevue car accident lawyerThe first thing to keep in mind is that you want to find a personal injury attorney that has experience in what you need. This means don’t just hire your friend or neighbor who happens to be a lawyer to help you because they owe you a favor. While any attorney is better than none, to really get the most out of your settlement, you want someone with experience to represent you.

You should also not just settle on the first lawyer you find. If you have a friend or family member who has had a similar experience in the past, you should ask them for advice, and a referral. A referral from a close friend or relative is often the best way to find a personal injury attorney, but just a recommendation does not mean you are done.

You should meet with the lawyer and talk over your case. Many lawyers offer free consultations, and you should take advantage of these if you can, but you also have to keep in mind that you want to act quickly. If you are going to file a claim, you want to do it as soon as possible after your accident in order to get the best results.

Talk to a few lawyers, and choose the one who makes you feel the most confident. Remember, price alone does not make a great lawyer. Each person and each case is different. If you don’t get along with your attorney, your case will probably not end well for you.

When you find a personal injury attorney that meets your needs, they can walk you through the process, determine how much they think your case is worth and what the settlement will be, and calm any fears or concerns you may have about your case.

When you start the process to find a personal injury attorney, it can be difficult, but it doesn’t have to be. By taking the time to find the right person, you will almost guarantee success.

This information is provided by Seattle Car Accident Lawyer blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We have more than 30 years experience represent people who have serious injuries due to motor vehicle accidents.

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Getting the Most Out of Your Auto Accident Settlement

November 5, 2011 by The Farber Law Group

It happens all the time. Thousands upon thousands of people file auto accident claims, and get way less than they deserve in their auto accident settlement, and the reason is simple: they don’t know how the system works.

There’s a lot of legal terminology associated with an auto accident settlement, and it can be a confusing and frustrating process for sure, but it doesn’t have to be.

774604_car_accident_1.jpgYour first question often is (or should be) “do I need an accident attorney?” This depends on several factors, starting with the severity of your accident. If you believe you are entitled to more than 500 dollars, hiring an attorney is something you should think strongly about. An attorney can help you get the most out of your auto accident settlement, and make it easier to understand all the terminology that people will be suddenly throwing your way. These types of attorneys deal with auto accident settlement cases everyday, and they have the experience to get you as much compensation as possible for your difficult time. If money is a concern, you usually will not be required to pay anything upfront.

An attorney will help you get all of the necessary information together so that when you submit your claim to your insurance company, they have everything they need. Plus an insurance company will take you more seriously if you have an attorney representing you. The insurance company will know that you are aware of your rights, and take you much more seriously. This means you will have a much higher chance of getting what you deserve.

Once your case is settled, it can take up to two years to get your settlement, but usually it happens much quicker than that. Judges generally do not want your case holding up other cases, so very often you can have your auto accident settlement in a few weeks.

An auto accident settlement is never an easy thing to deal with, but it can be much worse if you don’t know how much you are entitled to. Hiring an attorney is probably the best move you can make if you think you should get your fair share. Not only can the attorney answer your questions, but they will help you navigate tough and often confusing laws, making the process move much faster and be a lot less frustrating.

This information is provided by Seattle Car Accident Lawyer blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We have 30 years experience representing people with serious injuries due to motor vehicle accidents.

Continue reading " Getting the Most Out of Your Auto Accident Settlement " »

Filing An Auto Accident Claim

November 5, 2011 by The Farber Law Group

Car accidents are stressful regardless of whether or not there are any injuries. While you may not want to file an auto accident claim, sometimes you really don’t have any choice.

redmond car accident attorneyIn order to determine whether you need to file a claim, the first question you should ask yourself is if you can pay for the damage outright. Often times if you can pay for it yourself, filing an auto accident claim can hurt you more in the long run. If you can pay for it yourself without trouble, you should consider not filing a claim.

If you decide that you need to file an auto accident claim, that’s okay, but there are some things you should know. First of all, you need to file the claim as soon as possible with your insurance company, even if the accident is not your fault. If you take your time filing the claim, this may say to any insurance company involved that you don’t think this is important, or that you aren’t sure if you are not to blame. It doesn’t matter how busy you are, make the job of filing an auto insurance claim a priority and do it right away.

It’s not unusual to get a call from the other party’s insurance company, especially if there is a disagreement about who is at fault for the accident. If you get a call, don’t panic; they’re only trying to get as much information as possible. Make sure you write down the name of the person you talked to and when, and take notes documenting the call. The most important thing to remember is that you should always tell an honest account of what you think happened to both your insurance company and the one of the other driver.

Once you’ve filed your auto insurance claim, it may take some time for the insurance company to come to a resolution. Make sure you do what they say, and listen to them carefully, as they’ll be able to tell you what to expect next. Ask any insurance agent you talk to any questions you may have and be sure to write down the answers and keep them in a safe place until the whole issue is completely over.

Getting in an accident is no fun, but filing an auto accident claim doesn’t have to be a frustrating experience.

This information is provided as a service of The Farber Law Group. We have more than 30 years experience representing clients who have serious injuries due to motor vehicle accidents. With our help, you may recover compensation for your damages.

More questions? Click here.

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Before Filing A Personal Injury Claim

November 5, 2011 by The Farber Law Group

If you’ve been hurt in an accident and you feel another party is to blame, you may want to file a personal injury claim. There is some information you should know however before doing so.

First of all, it’s important that you let the responsible for the accident know you believe they are responsible before you file your claim. You don’t necessarily have to know for sure who is responsible, but you have to have an idea. In the first part of your personal injury claim you don’t have to give anyone including insurance companies any information about your accident. Just simply state what happened and where, that you were hurt in this particular accident, and that you intend to file a personal injury claim.

If you aren’t exactly sure who is responsible or who you should notify about your personal injury claim, then notify everyone who may be responsible. Depending on what kind of accident you were in is going to depend on whether you know who exactly is to blame. In a car accident, for example, you probably know for sure that the other driver is to blame; if you are hurt in a company with a lot of employees, you may not know.

The correct way to let all parties know you intend to file a personal injury claim is to write letters informing them of your accident. Be sure to let them know you were injured. In some cases, it may be necessary to write and send more than one letter. For example, if you were hurt in a place of business, you would send a letter to the owner of the business as well as the owner of the property where the business resides.

You do not want to take your time in getting those letters out. There is no time limit, however in order to have the best possible chance to win your personal injury claim, you need to let all parties know as quickly as possible after your accident. Always send your letter through registered or certified mail so you know for certain they received it.

As long as you notify all parties involved prior to the claim, no one will be able to say they were surprises when the time comes for the claim.

Notifying all parties involved in your accident is the first step in filing a personal injury claim.

This information is provided by The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured in motor vehicle accidents due to the negligence of another. For more answers to your questions, click here.

Continue reading " Before Filing A Personal Injury Claim " »

Seattle motorcyclist sentenced in accident that injured two bicyclists

November 3, 2011 by The Farber Law Group

A Seattle woman, who fell asleep while she was participating in the Hoka Hey Challenge cross-country motorcycle race and hit two bicyclists, has entered a plea agreement which will cause her to be confined for up to 16 months.

Vik Livingston, 54, was riding in the 8,000 mile "Iditarod of Harley Davidson's" when the motorcycle-bicycle accident happened near Nenana, Alaska.

Livingston had claimed that she swerved to avoid a braking car when she hit Andy Hutten and Karen Schaad who were riding bicycles on the shoulder of the road. However, the accident was consistent with a rider who had fallen asleep.

Hutten suffered a bad cut to his leg . Shaad's injuries were much more serious and she suffered a chipped vertebrae and a cracked pelvis. Both bicyclists suffered bad road rash , a severe skin abrasion, because they slid approximately 30 feet on pavement.

Livingston was also seriously injured with cracked ribs, a punctured lung and a broken clavicle.

Livingston was originally charged with 2nd degree felony assault but the charges were reduced to 4th degree misdemeanor assault. It is unclear at this time whether Livingston will be sentenced to jail time or whether she will be electronically monitored at home in Seattle.

She was also ordered to pay restitution to the victims who have also filed charges in civil court for their damages.

The 2010 race was not without other accidents. Another rider died after falling asleep during the race and another died after losing control of his motorcycle and crashing.

The penalties seemed harsh to some who were writing in the blogosphere. However, falling asleep at the wheel is a negligent act because most drivers feel sleepy or drowsy before they fall asleep and have the opportunity to pull over, take a nap or drink coffee. There is a legal term, "Rebuttable presumption", which means that the court will view the driver negligent without the driver having a chance to explain.

This information is provided by Seattle Car Accident Lawyer blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured in car accidents, motorcycle accidents and bicycle accidents and the family of those killed. With our help, you may recover compensation for your damages.

Source:
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner - Charges set for motorcyclist who hit two people on bicycle 

Continue reading " Seattle motorcyclist sentenced in accident that injured two bicyclists " »