Seattle Car Accident Lawyer Blog

Seattle's KOMO News reports that a 58-year-old man was admitted to Overlake Hospital in Bellevue with a serious leg injury and other injuries after he was hit by a suspected drunk driver at the corner of Main and Bellevue Way in downtown Bellevue late Monday night.

Cause of the Pedestrian Accident
The report said the driver, a 25-year-old woman, was making a left from Main Street onto Bellevue Way when she lost control of her vehicle and struck the man before crashing into a light pole.

The unidentified woman was arrested for DUI and vehicular assault. Washington Vehicle code RCW 46.61.522 "Vehicular Assault" states that a driver can be charged if he or she seriously injures someone while driving recklessly, driving recklessly or driving with recklessless disregard to the safety of others.

Pedestrian Accident Personal Injury Liability
If it is determined that the driver was driving under the influence at the time of the accident, the liability will fall with her. In cases like this, accident victims are advised to contact a Bellevue pedestrian accident attorney who has handled DUI accident and can advise the victim on their legal rights. A personal injury attorney will work hard to receive the maximum compensation for the victim including medical expenses, lost wages, and for pain and suffering.

Source: KOMO News

Continue reading "Pedestrian injured by suspected drunk driver in Bellevue" »

It should come to no surprise that teenage drivers drive better when their parents are in the car.

The National Institutes of Health and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute used cameras and sensor to observe teenage drivers while driving alone, with friends and with their parents. They tracked accidents and near accidents and also measured risky driving procedures including:

• Accelerating rapidly
  
• Breaking hard
  
• Making hard turns

What they found was that teenager drivers had 75% fewer near crashes and their risky driving behaviors fell 67% when their parents were in the car.

When teenagers drove with other teenagers in the vehicle, they had as many near crashes as when they were driving alone. However, their risky driving behaviors were 18% less frequent than when the teenager drove alone.

Driving Behaviors Over Time
The study found that teenager drivers continued risky driving behavior even as they gained experience behind the wheel. The study found calculated the crashes and near crashes per kilometer driven and found that teens averaged 10 per 16,000 kilometers during the 18 months of the study while the parents averaged 2.

Graduated Licensing in Washington State
Washington state, like many states, has a graduated driver's license for teenage drivers. For the first 6 months after a teen obtains their driver's license, they cannot drive with passengers under the age of 20 unless the passenger is a family member. For the next six months, they are not allowed to carry more than 3 passengers who are under the age of 20 that are not family members.

The graduated driver license also prohibits driving between 1am and 5am unless with a driver age 25 or older. Teens are also prohibited from using a wireless device including hands-free cell phones.

Continue reading "No surprise: Teens drive better when their parents are in the car" »

The Yakima Herald reports that a Bellevue man was injured after being involved in a motor vehicle accident on Interstate 90 near Easton.

According to the report, Kirk Ferrier, 44, was taken to Snoqualmie Valley Hospital with undisclosed injuries.

The accident occurred when Ferrier, driving five miles east of Easton lost control of his 1999 Volkswagen Passat, hit a barrier and when his vehicle reentered the lane, hit a vehicle driven by Christopher Brooks, 21, of Kent. Brooks' was not injured in the accident.

Ferrier was cited for driving too fast for road conditions.

The article did not say what the road conditions were at the time of the accident but with the weather we have had in Western and Central Washington recently, the roads have been icy.

Washington state motor vehicle code RCW 46.61.400 sets forth basic rules and maximum limits for speed. It states:

No person shall drive a vehicle on a highway at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions and having regard to the actual and potential hazards then existing. In every event speed shall be so controlled as may be necessary to avoid colliding with any person, vehicle or other conveyance on or entering the highway in compliance with legal requirements and the duty of all persons to use due care.

The best advice for driving on icy roads is:

1. Slow down and leave plenty of room to stop. Leave three times space more than usual between your vehicle and the one in front of you.
   
2. Apply brakes gently.
   
3. Turn on lights so you are visible to other drivers.
   
4. Use low gears, especially on hills.
   
5. Do be especially careful on bridges.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney 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 killed. With our help, you may recover compensation for your damages.

Continue reading "Bellevue man injured in I-90 car accident near Easton" »

Drivers in Seattle have had so much to contend with this week in Seattle due to severe weather and snow and ice on the roadways. Then, a suspected drunken driver drove the wrong way on Interstate 405 early this morning causing a head-on car accident.

An unidentified 24-year-old woman from Newcastle apparently headed north on the southbound lanes of Interstate 405 in her Subaru after getting onto the freeway at the 124th street ramp. One report said she drove several miles before colliding head-on with a Jeep reports the Seattle P-I.

The wrong-way driver was taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle with serious injuries. The driver of the Jeep was taken to Evergreen Hospital in Kirkland.

Spate of Wrong Way Drivers in Seattle Area
This is the third wrong-way driving accident in the greater Seattle area in the past ten days:

• On January 11th when a 60-year-old retired schoolteacher drove her car 17 miles in the wrong direction on Interstate 5. The Washington State Patrol was able to stop the woman using spike strips before she caused an accident.
• On January 16,a wrong-way driver on I-5 in Tukwila hit a carload of teenagers sending one to Harborview and injury four others.

Causes of Wrong Way Driving

Most of the time when there is a wrong way car driver, the wrong-way driver is under the influence of alcohol and or drugs and misinterprets off ramps. Signage that says "Wrong Way" or "Do Not Enter" can help but if a person is so intoxicated, they often do not notice these warnings.

Another cause of wrong way drivers are elderly drivers who are confused or disoriented while driving and they make a mistake.

Some times, wrong way driving errors are caused when the local or state transportation agencies fail to provide proper signage.

Car Accident Injuries
Wrong way driving accidents often leave the injured with catastrophic injuries. The law of physics provides that the force of impact of two vehicles colliding at 50mph is the same as a one car running into a fixed object at 100mph. Often accident victims will suffer traumatic brain injuries, blunt force injuries and cuts and bruises. Often, victims are killed.

Continue reading "2 injured in Bothell I-405 wrong-way driving accident" »

Just a few days ago we wrote about a Washington wrong way driver who drove nearly 17 miles on Interstate 5 before police were able to stop her. In that wrong way driving incident, no one was injured.

Unfortunately, another wrong-way driver — again on Interstate 5 — has been involved in an accident early Sunday morning, this time sending 6 people to the hospital.

This wrong-way accident occurred on Interstate 5 in Tukwila near the South center exit around 3:30am when the wrong-way driver collided head-on with a car with 5 teenagers on board.

All but one of the injured were taken to Valley Medical Center. The most seriously injured was taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle according to KOMO News.

Police suspect that the wrong-way driver was under the effects of alcohol at the time of the accident.

In the other wrong way driving incident, Pamela Drawsby a 60-year-old retired teacher from Olympia, drove at high speeds of up to 100 mph. The Highway Patrol reports that her blood alcohol content (BAC) at the time she was arrested was 0.12 percent. They also believe that she may have been under the influence of prescription medications. Drawsby has entered a not guilty plea.

Head-On Car Accidents

When two cars collide head-on, the results are often deadly. The combined force of two vehicles colliding at 50mph usually totals both vehicles.. Often, the results are deadly.

Continue reading "Tukwila wrong way driving accident on Interstate 5 injures 6" »

Today on Mercer Island, a new ordinance goes into effect which holds parents and homeowners responsible if teenagers drink at their homes.

The Ordinance
The ordinance cites homeowners or parents even if they are unaware that drinking occurred at their home. If cited, the homeowner will have to pay a fine of $250 regardless of whether they were aware of the underage drinking.

This new ordinance is highly contentious and is likely to be contested in court as it is the first of its kind in Washington state. A coalition of parents on Mercer Island, Communities that Care Coalition, lobbied for the new ordinance as one strategy to reduce underage drinking. The law might make sense for parents of teens under the age of 18 but most parents don't feel the need to provide supervision of teens 18 and older who are legal adults in every aspect except for alcohol.

Teenage Drinking
Teens who drink often binge drink. Binge drinking is often done in groups and the intent is intoxication. While binge drinking is more prevalent among teenage males, teen girls also engage in the risky behavior. Binge drinking is statistically linked to alcoholism in later life and it increases the chance for a teen to participate in risky behaviors such as drinking and driving.

Teenage Drinking and Driving
While teenagers are less likely than adults to drink and drive, when they do drive after they drink there car accident risk is substantially higher -- almost twice as much -- than adults even at low or moderate blood alcohol concentrations (BAC). Every year approximately 1,900 teenagers under 21 die from alcohol-related car accidents.

Social Host Liability
Although the definition of a "social host" can vary from state-to-state, a social host is a person who provides alcohol as an act of hospitality to a guest or condones the use of alcohol by a guest on property that the host controls. The property can be a home but it might also be a boat, a beach or a hotel room.

Social Host Liability finds that the supplier of alcohol may be liable to persons injured as a result of an intoxicated guest's actions because the social host has a duty to the public to reduce risk of injury and to serve alcohol responsibly.

If a parent allows alcohol to be served at an underage party, and a drunken teen leaves on their own and is involved in a motor vehicle accident, that parent can be held strictly liable under the law.

Continue reading "Mercer Island's social host ordinance targets underage drinking" »

Washington State Trooper Guy Gill is calling the death of two men in a head-on collision on River Road near Tacoma on Monday evening a "tragedy."

One of the men, Jerry Neal, 28 of Bonney Lake, was headed to Tacoma General Hospital to pickup his girlfriend and newborn baby when the car accident occurred.

The accident occurred around 4pm when Neal, driving a Kia Sorento southbound, crossed the double center turn line and collided head on with Dodge Neon driven by Gregory Stevens, 30, of Puyallup. Stevens was returning home after running errands according to Stacey Mulick writing in the Tacoma News Tribune.

The Washington State Patrol is investigating the cause of the accident. There was no indication that Neal was distracted at the time of the accident or that he attempted to avoid the collision.

Head On Collisions

Head on collisions are some of the most deadly accidents because of the combined force of two vehicles hitting each other at a high speed. Fatalities are even higher when the vehicles are mismatched, say a pickup truck and a compact car colliding.

The main causes of head on collisions are failing to negotiate a turn, passing a slower vehicle, driver drowsiness or distraction in which the driver drifts into the opposite lane, icy or snowy road conditions or sometimes suicide.

The Effects of a Head On Car Accident

In a head on car accident the lives of those involved changes in an instant. Sometimes the drivers and passengers suffer catastrophic injuries such as brain damage, paralysis, and broken bones. In this case, presumably two families are grieving the loss of their loved one. It feels especially tragic that a newborn infant will never know his or her father.

The WSP will determine the factors that contributed to this fatal car accident outside of Tacoma. The family of the deceased may choose to file a wrongful death claim to compensate for the death of their loved one which may include burial costs, loss of consortium and future earnings.

Protect Your Rights

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured or killed in a Washington motor vehicle accident, you may want to consult with an experienced personal injury attorney. At The Farber Law Group, we provide a FREE and CONFIDENTIAL case evaluation. We will provide an honest assessment of your case with no obligation or pressure. Call us at 1-800-244-9087 or use our contact form.

Continue reading "2 killed in River Road head-on car accident, one was father of newborn" »

King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg along with Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney Mark Lindquist and state Representative Christopher Hurst, D-Enumclaw, are supporting changes to existing Washington state DUI laws to increase the penalties for Vehicular Homicide and Vehicular Assault.

Citing drunk driving accident statistics, Satterberg noted that 170 people were killed by impaired drivers in Washington state in 2010 compared with 154 people killed by murder.

Vehicular Homicide, vehicle code RCW 46.61.520, provides that a driver can be charged if a person dies within three years of injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident and the driver was driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, driving recklessly or driving without regard to the safety of others.

Vehicular Assault, vehicle code RCW 46.61.522, provides that a driver can be charged if a person is seriously injured in a motor vehicle accident and the driver was driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, driving recklessly or driving without regard to the safety of others.

Examples of driving recklessly include speeding, racing or aggressive driving. Examples of driving without regard to the safety of others include engaging in unsafe behavior even though the driver knows it is unsafe including texting while driving, talking no a cell phone or other distracted behaviors.

Currently the penalty for Vehicular Homicide, DUI, is between 2-½  to 3-1/2 years in prison. The new bill proposes that the penalty be increased to 6- 8-½  years.

The proposed change to Vehicular Assault would increase the current from 3 to 9 months to 6 months to 1 year.

Satterberg believes that current penalties for drivers who kill are not sufficient because these are preventable deaths. He said that when defendants get time off for good behavior their prison sentence can be reduced by a third.

Legal Recourse for Victims of Drunk Drivers

The Farber Law Group provides legal representation for people who have been disabled or injured in a drunk driving accident in Washington state.

A motor vehicle accident involving a drunken driver are different that other accidents because it is a preventable one. If only the driver would have called a cab, waited a few hours or stayed put, a drunk driving accident could have been prevented.

Washington Drunk Driving Accident Claims

If you have been seriously injured by a drunk driver or a loved one killed, your life has changed in a split second. Some people are left with catastrophic injuries which cause a life time of pain or leave them disabled. Other times, a loved one has died and that person may have been the bread winner for the family or a promising young student.

The Farber Law Group is here to answer your questions about Washington drunk driving accidents and we will fight to obtain the compensation you deserve for your injuries, medical costs, lost wages and for pain and suffering.

Call Us

If you or a loved one has been injured, disabled or killed in a Washington drunk driving accident, call us TOLL FREE at 1-800-244-9087. We provide a FREE CASE CONSULTATION.

Related Posts:

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Source: Prosecutors propose stiffer DUI sentences, The Seattle Times, by Sara Jean Green, January 9, 2012.

Continue reading "New bill seeks to harshen penalties for Drunk Driving Injury Accidents" »

A New York woman who suffered a serious knee injury after her vehicle was sideswiped by a man who was driving a company-owned van has settled a negligence lawsuit for $5 million with the man who hit her and the company he worked for.

Kimberley Benson was stopped in traffic which Matthew Yackern, driving a van owned by his employer, sideswiped her SUV. Benson suffered a serious knee injury requiring several surgeries. Benson suffered a potentially life-threatening side effect of one of the knee surgeries, a pulmonary embolism (PE). A PE is a condition in which a blood clot forms in one of the legs' deep veins and moves to the lung or other part of the body and blocks an artery. A PE can cause difficulty breathing, chest pain and is sometimes fatal. Benson is at increased risk of PE in the future.

Benson now walks with a cane and suffers from complex regional pain syndrome, a chronic progressive disease which can occur after injury and surgery.

Vicarious Liability

Benson filed an injury lawsuit against both Yackeren and his employer, World Wrestling Fedn. claiming that Yackeren had negligently operated his vehicle.

The lawsuit against World Wrestling Fedn. arose under the doctrine of vicarious liability. Vicarious liability -- respondeat superior -- is a legal doctrine that holds a person or a company responsible for the actions of another person or an employee. In this instance, World Wrestling Fedn. can be held legally responsible for the injuries to Benson.

In a case like Benson's, her personal injury attorney understood the doctrine of vicarious liability and how it could be applied to make sure the right persons were named as defendant's in Benson's injury lawsuit.

If you have questions about a Seattle personal injury lawsuit and who is liable for your car accident injuries, contact The Farber Law Group for free legal advice. We have more than 30 years experience representing accident victims and their families. With our help, you may recover compensation for your damages.

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RESPONDEAT SUPERIOR

Continue reading "Woman receives $5M award in sideswipe car accident" »

Most pedestrians should feel totally safe when they are walking on a walkway designated for pedestrians and protected from the adjacent highway by a concrete barrier. Unfortunately in a Washington pedestrian accident the day after Christmas, this proved not to be the case.

One pedestrian was killed and another injured when a suspected drunken driver drove onto a pedestrian walkway on U.S. Highway 2 and hit the two pedestrians, killing one, reports the Washington State Patrol.

In the media release, the WSP says that Darren Streeter, 47, of Chehalis, fell 40 feet to his death after he was hit by a vehicle driven by an unidentified 24-year-old Everett man.

Streeter and his companion, Thereesa Dubs, 55, were walking on a pedestrian walkway adjacent to U.S. 2 and separated by a concrete barrier when the Everett man drove his vehicle through an obstacle course of a dirt berm and around some metal pylons, striking Dubs with the vehicle's mirror and hitting Streeter.

The patrol has not identified the driver at this writing but it is suspected that he may have been under the influence of both alcohol and marijuana at the time of the accident. He is being treated for serious leg injuries at a local hospital.

The Everett man most likely will be charged with Vehicular Homicide and Vehicular Assault. Washington state vehicle code RCW 46.61.520 states that a person can be charged with Vehicular Homicide if a person is killed in a motor vehicle accident and the driver was driving under the influence of alcohol, driving recklessly or driving with reckless disregard to the safety of others.

Continue reading "Suspected DUI driver kills pedestrian on walkway off of US 2" »

A tire that broke loose from a trailer crashed through a Kirkland woman's windshield while she was driving on SR-520 sending her to Overlake Medical Center in Bellevue with undisclosed injuries.

Anita Manueltiqui, 47, was driving westbound on the highway when the tire crashed through her windshield and landed in the passenger seat.

The car accident occurred when the rim apparently failed on a trailer being towed eastbound. The lug nuts and center of the rim remain fastened to the trailer but the wheel and parts of the rim broke free, bounced on the highway and into oncoming traffic.

The article in The Bellevue Reporter said that the Washington Patrol are investigating the accident and it is unclear whether the driver pulling the trailer would be cited.

The investigation will probably determine whether the trailer was overloaded, if the tires were improperly inflated or what kind of mechanical failure was the cause of the car accident.

Nearly 13% of all motor vehicle accidents can be attributed to mechanical failure of some type. A driver can be negligent if they fail to properly maintain their vehicle. In some cases, mechanical failure can be caused by a product or manufacturing defect or a repair shop error.

The following are some mechanical failures that may result in a Washington motor vehicle accident:

• Bad Brakes – Brakes are a mechanical part that needs to be repaired or replaced on a routine basis. Brakes consist of many moving parts and replacement time depends on many factors including driving habits, quality of replacement parts, how a person drivers and where they drive. Brake pads need to be replaced between 20,000 and 50,000 miles. Failure to repair brakes, pads, rubber seals and hoses can cause breaks to fail.
  
• Faulty or Underinflated Tires – It is estimated that 8,000 car accidents every year are due to faulty tire failures. Failure to properly inflate tires can cause a blowout, especially on hot days, which can cause a serious accident. Other tire failures can be caused by using improper tires for the vehicle, carrying a heavier load than the tire is rated for or improper mounting or balancing of a tire.
  
• Wheel Bearing Failure – Wheel and axle bearings rarely require maintenance, however, in some cases depending on a driver's habits or damage to a vehicle, an axle bearing can fail causing the vehicle to lose a wheel.

If you were seriously injured and your car accident was caused by mechanical failure or from a lost load, call The Farber Law Group, a personal injury law who will provide a free and confidential case evaluation. With our help, you may recover compensation for your damages.

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How to prevent a tire-related accident

Continue reading "Car accident caused by lost tire sends Kirkland woman to the hospital" »

There are few things that can make a cyclist feel less comfortable than sharing the road with belligerent 1,500 metal beasts wearing only a plastic helmet, but lots of them do it every day. Whether commuting or just riding for pleasure, navigating busy streets presents plenty of dangers.

Of course it would be just great if cars were constantly on the lookout for cyclists, but that’s just not the case. Bicyclists shouldn’t rely on drivers or fast reaction times to keep them safe, instead they should take precautions to proactively protect themselves on the road. To that end, here’s a list of simple recommendations (beyond a helmet and “follow the law”) that will help you avoid collisions with cars:

1. Stay to the left. That’s right, it’s safer to ride closer to the cars! After all, if you’re in their way, they can see you. Cars hitting cyclists while pulling out of a side street or alley is one of the most common collision profiles. Allowing a little more space for reaction time (both yours and the drivers), and traveling further in the car lane so that you are in a position where drivers will be looking for cars, is important. The same principle applies to avoiding drivers who fail to yield and turn right directly in front of you. Riding a little farther to the left might cause drivers to honk a bit more, but at least it will keep you from plowing into the side of a turning Chevy. Keeping to the left can also prevent you from flying into an opened car door of a parked car. There are instances in which bike lanes will help you avoid this scenario, but it’s best to just stay away from the risk in the first place.
2. Don’t ride on the sidewalk. Again, it’s worth stressing that it’s important to only ride your bike in areas where drivers are looking for things not to hit. Generally, that means riding where cars are looking for other cars, ie- not on the sidewalk. Although the sidewalk is where cyclists are king (out of my way, pedestrian!) crossing a crosswalk at cycling speed is a risky proposition. When cars turn at an intersection, it is unlikely to account for you if you’re going 20mph in a crosswalk—no one runs that fast! If they aren’t looking for you, they might hit you. However if you must ride on the sidewalk for whatever reason, make sure to slow down before going across a crosswalk, and be sure to make eye contact with drivers before doing so.
3. Ride on the right side of the road. There’s a certain appeal to seeing cars moving toward you, rather than having them out of sight behind you. But doing so confuses those oncoming drivers, especially the ones turning right and pulling out into the road. Those drivers are watching for cars zooming from their left, not cyclists pedaling from the right. Riding on the left side of the road is an excellent way to implant yourself in an oncoming windshield.
4. Look before moving left. A number of accidents each year occur when a dead squirrel (or, more likely, a branch) pops up in a cyclist’s path, forcing him or her to veer left and into a trailing car. It’s much better just to slam on the breaks or fly up on to the sidewalk rather than risk a run-in with a car. There’s also a danger of this type of collision occurring when a cyclist uses a parked lane as a bike line. Seems safe enough until there’s a parked car in the way and the biker is forced into uncomfortable proximity to a vehicle approaching from behind.
5. Wear flashy clothes. This isn’t fashion advice, just some thoughts that can save your life. Especially in winter, when there is less daylight, it’s vital for cyclists to gear up: a reflective jacket or vest, reflective wheel guards, headlights and rear lights, front and rear lights, reflective wheel guards and coats, basically anything that makes you easier. It may not be the coolest look, but it will keep you from looking (and feeling) much worse.

The big theme is to bike in a way that makes you predictable and visible to vehicles. Believe it or not, cars don’t want to hit you, so if they can see you, and know what you mean to do, you’ll be much safer. Follow these steps. They may not lead to the coolest, or most expedient, ride, but remember: safety first!

Continue reading "Five ways to avoid being hit on your bicycle" »

The Kirkland police have arrested Nathan J. Godwin, 27, of Redmond and he faces charges of Vehicular Homicide in the death of an 36-year-old man who was killed in a bicycle accident early this morning.

According to Kirkland Views, the fatal bicycle accident occurred at the intersection of NE 124th Street and 132nd Avenue NE this morning around 3am.

The unidentified bicyclist was riding his bicycle home from work when he was hit. The report said that he was wearing the bicycling gear to make himself visible including a reflective vest, head lamp and blinking lamp.

One report said that Godwin initially left the accident scene but then returned. Police have booked him into King County jail after administering a blood alcohol test at Evergreen Hospital in Kirkland.

Vehicular Homicide, Washington Vehicle Code RCW 46.61.520 can be charged if a person is killed in a motor vehicle accident and the driver was driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) or drugs, driving recklessly or driving without regard to the safety of others.

This is the second fatal bicycle accident in Kirkland in the past six months. John Przychodzen was killed in Juanita on July 22. The teenage driver that killed Przychodzen was only fined $42. Przychodzen's family have filed a negligence lawsuit on his behalf in civil court because they are seeking answers to what caused the driver to swerve and hit Pryzchodzen.

Approximately 110,000 people are killed every year by drunken drivers. In Washington state, 40% of all fatal motor vehicle accidents had alcohol involvement.

As the investigation into this most-recent bicycle accident continues, the Kirkland police are asking people with information about the bicycle accident to contact Sergeant Brouelette, Kirkland Police Department at 425-587-3493 or vog.awdnalkrik@tteleuorbl. 

This information is provided by Seattle Car Accident Lawyer blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. Our personal injury law firm represent bicycle accident victims and their family.

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Continue reading "Suspected drunken driver arrested in fatal Kirkland bicycle accident" »

Joseph Brynda, 20, was sentenced to serve 7 years in prison for the pedestrian accident death of Phillip Rangel, 60, who was killed while walking in a crosswalk in 2009. According to testimony, Brynda was texting and driving with his knees when he hit and killed Rangel.

The Cook County, Illinois, jury heard that Brynda was also driving under the influence of marijuana and freon when the pedestrian accident occurred.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported that Brynda had a history of driving offenses. According to their report, Brynda had eight previous driving offenses ranging from failing to yield to emergency vehicles, speeding, disobeying traffic signals. He had also previously been involved in an injury accident.

Everyone knows that texting while driving is illegal yet there are so many instances of people who have been killed because of texting drivers.

It is not uncommon for a a driver who was texting while driving to also be under the influence of alcohol or drugs as in this case. People who engage in high risk activities such as drinking and driving will often engage in other high-risk activities such as speeding, flagrantly disobeying traffic laws and texting.

In April of this year, Danae Marie Miller, a 22-year-old California woman, was charged with vehicular manslaughter when she hit and killed bicyclist Armine Britel, 40. Like Brynda, Miller was texting when the bicycle-car accident occurred and she was under the influence. Like Brynda, Miller had a history of numerous traffic citations including one for using a cell phone while driving.

Studies show that texting while driving delays a driver's response time by 35% and increases the probably of an accident 23 times. Combine texting with driving and alcohol or drugs and you are an accident waiting to happen.

Plainly stated, texting while driving puts anyone who uses the road — drivers, walkers and bicyclists — at risk.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a car crash, or a loved one killed, and someone else was texting or driving drunk, you may be able to file a civil suit in King County, Washington seeking compensation for your damages. The Farber Law Group, a personal injury attorney specializing in serious personal injuries and wrongful death, will work to help you obtain the compensation you deserve.

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Continue reading "Texting driver sentenced in pedestrian death" »

Bicyclists are advised to make sure they have adequate insurance in case they are involved in a Seattle bicycling accident.

At one time or another, every bicyclist has been involved in some sort of bicycle accident. Whether you have hit a pot hole, been knocked off your bike by a car or gone down when riding with a group of friends, you know that at least you will wind up with bumps and bruises but just as easily you can end up with a fracture, road rash or a traumatic brain injury.

It is important to be adequately insured so that your medical expenses will be covered as well as being covered for loss of income.

Data from the U.S. Department of Transportation reveals that there are approximately half a million bicyclists treated in emergency rooms every year and of those, upwards of 67,000 have had a traumatic brain injury.

If you've been in a bicycle accident there are potentially several different insurance policies that could cover your damages including your medical bills.

1. If another driver was at fault for your accident, then their motor vehicle coverage may cover you.
2. Your own personal medical insurance will generally cover you for your injuries and then they will pursue claims against the policy of the person who hit you.
3. If the driver of the car that injured you does not have car insurance or if they are not sufficiently covered, then your own under/uninsured motorist coverage of your car insurance policy should be sufficient to cover any insufficiency of the driver's policy.
4. In the case that you injured another person while bicycle riding, your own auto insurance may cover the medical costs of the person you injured. However, you want to make sure you are sufficiently insured.

If you have been injured in a bicycle accident, you may want to considering hiring an experienced bicycle accident lawyer. Insurance companies are aggressive about limiting their own liability and that means they may fight your claim or low-ball your settlement. A qualified bicycle accident attorney will work to insure that you get the best settlement.

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 Bellevue bicycle accidents and the family of those killed.

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Continue reading "Bicyclists should have adequate insurance in case of a Seattle bicycle accident" »

Dakota Robinson, 12, and John H. Jones, 60, both of Concrete, were killed in a head-on car accident on highway 530 at Whitman Road near Oso around 10 am on Saturday morning.

According to Diane Hefley writing in the Everett Herald, Jones was driving a 1990 Toyota pickup truck west on highway 530 when he attempted a left-hand in the path of an oncoming Ford F350 pickup truck driven by a 29-hear-old Robert M. Boggs of Arlington.

Jones was killed along with his passenger, Dakota Robinson.

Boggs suffered injuries and was taken to Cascade Valley hospital. His condition is unknown.

Troopers are investigating the accident but they do not believe alcohol was factor.

This accident is a tragedy but one that is seen too often when a motorist makes an unsafe left hand turn. Our condolences to the family.

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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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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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.

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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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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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.

Florida 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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