Seattle Car Accident Lawyer Blog

Clark County reported between 10-15 accidents yesterday during snowy conditions. Many drivers slid off the road and were waiting for tow trucks. Accidents occurred on Highway 14 at Cape Horn, another on Interstate 205 and another on state Highway 502. This was all reported in the Columbian.com, the news service serving Clark County.

Why so many accidents? Aren't people in Washington State and the Pacific Northwest used to driving in the snow?

More accidents occur in snowy conditions because people do not adjust their driving to suit the conditions. Here are some tips to avoid an a car accident:

Tips for Winter Driving

• Decrease your speed
• Allow lots of stopping distance -- three times the normal distance between you and the car in front of you
• Insure your tires are of good condition and have a decent amount of tread
• Use traction tires and chains when recommended
• Keep your headlights turned on to increase your visibility
• Use low gears on hills
• Never use cruise control
• Use extra caution on bridges and overpasses because they tend to become icy and freeze first
• Watch for black ice in shady areas
• Never pass snow plows and other heavy equipment doing work on the road
• Avoid driving in blizards and white-out conditions

This information is brought to you by Seattle Car Accident Lawyer blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have suffered serious personal injuries due to car accidents caused by the negligence of another driver. If you or a loved one suffered serious injuries in a car accident including whiplash, fractures, a visit to the hospital, you need to contact the personal injury attorneys at The Farber Law Group. With our help, you may be able to recover your medical costs and property damage.

Contact The Farber Law Group today.

A 1993 Lexus that was speeding in the 100 block of Point Brown Avenue SW in Ocean Shores, crossed the center line, smashed into a van parked in front of a residence, throwing the driver and passenger out of the car and severely injuring both. The impact was so intense that the car split in half and flipped over at least twice.

The 43-year-old driver was taken to Grays Harbor Community Hospital. The passenger was also taken to Grays Harbor Hospital and then transported to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

Komo News.com reports that Deputy Chief Russ Fitts of the Ocean Shores Police Department believes that alcohol and excessive speed were believed to be factors in the crash.

This information was brought to you by Seattle Car Accident Lawyer blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We have represented victims of drunken drivers for more than 30 years. Contact us if you or a loved one has sustained serious injuries due to a drunken driver and we will work to help you recover compensation for your injuries.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety recently published their report rating small cars in crash tests. With more people looking to purchase smaller cars because of high gas prices, it is important to look at what cars are going to be the safest in a car accident. All of the cars that were tested had high ratings in frontal crashes. However, many of them did not do as well in the side evaluation and rear crash protection.

Of the cars tested, the Suzuki SX4 and the Toyota Matrix had good ratings in both front and side crashes. The Ford Focus, Mini Cooper and Chevrolet HHR were given good ratings in front crash tests and acceptable ratings in side crash tests.

The Hyunda Elantra and Saturn Astra had good results in front crash testing but marginal results in side crash testing.

Of all of the cars tested, the Chrysler PT Cruiser performed the worst. While it had good ratings for front crashes, it has poor ratings in both side and rear crash tests.

The car makers still have some work to do when it comes to rear crashes in small cars. The Mini Cooper and Ford Focus both got good ratings in rear crash tests and the Hyundai Elantra and Saturn Astra got acceptable ratings.

To see the complete report, click here.

This information was provided by Seattle Car Accident Lawyer blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have serious injuries such as whiplash, brain injury or spinal cord damage due to car accidents. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured, contact the personal injury firm with more than 30 years experience, The Farber Law Group.

Call us today for a confidential and free case evaluation.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has released a report stating that while the number of older motorists -- ages 70 and older -- has increased about 10% the number of fatal accidents in this age group has decreased by 21%. The report covers a period of 10 years, 1997-2006. The report compares the age 70+ group with drivers between the ages of 35-54 years of age and said the 70+ age group had a greater decline in fatal car accidents in the same time frame.

Statistics show that per mile traveled, car accidents and fatal crashes begin increasing around 70 years of age and rise considerably after 80 years of age. This is due to slower reaction times, decreased cognitive ability, vision impairments and medical conditions.

One or the largest decreases in fatal accidents among the elderly were multiple car accidents in intersections. Statistically, this is an area where the elderly tend to have more accidents.

The report speculates that the reasons fatal accidents have declined among the elderly may be partially due to newer and safer automobiles along with the elderly self-limiting their driving including:

• Driving fewer miles
  
• Making fewer trips
  
• Avoiding night driving
  
• Driving shorter distances
  
• Avoiding interstate highways
  
• Avoiding driving in adverse weather conditions including snow and ice

This information has been brought to you by Seattle Car Accident Lawyer blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We are experienced personal injury attorneys with offices in Seattle and Bellevue. We represent people who have been seriously hurt in car accidents.

Contact The Farber Law Group today to discuss your case.

A man who appears to be in his 20's was seriously injured in a single-car accident in Bremerton on Tuesday evening reports The Kitsap Sun. The man, who was not identified, was in a Ford Mustang when it spun out of control and into a light pole. The Bremerton Fire Department had to cut the man out of the car before they could transport him to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

The driver of the car, another man who appeared to be in his 20's, was taken to Harrison Medical Center in Bremerton with minor injuries.

This information was provide by Seattle Car Accident Lawyer blog, a service of The Farber law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured in car accidents and the families of those killed. We work to help our clients recover compensation for their medical costs, loss of wages and for pain and suffering.

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

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

Take a few extra minutes to prevent that accident. While police officers may not ticket you for driving around with snow piled atop your car, you are liable if it causes an accident or damages some one's 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 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 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 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.