Seattle Car Accident Lawyer Blog

Small pickup trucks rated for rollover roof strength

Sun, 07 Feb 2010 17:03:50 -0800

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) recently conducted tests on the roof strength of small pickup trucks. Roof strength is especially important in rollover motor vehicle accidents.

The IIHS tested five small pickup trucks and found that the Nissan Frontier/Suzuki Equator has the strongest roof and earned a rating of Good. The Chevrolet Colorado was rated the worst n the group.

A rating of Good is given to vehicles that have roof strength that is twice the minimum federal standard. None of the trucks tested received the Top Safety Pick award though the Nissan Frontier came close.

The IIHS noted that 10,000 people are killed every year in the United States in rollover motor vehicle accidents. Stronger roofs save lives because they do not crush and people who are not wearing safety belts are less apt to be thrown from the vehicle because of doors or windshields opening or breaking when the roof crushes.

Small Pickup Trucks Tested

Nissan Frontier / Suzuki Equator - Good (4.11)
Ford Ranger - Acceptable (3.32)
Dodge Dakota - acceptable (3.23)
Toyota Tacoma - marginal (3.08)
Chevrolet Colorado / GMC Canyon - Marginal (2.86)

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 and truck accidents and the family of those killed. With our help, you may recover compensation for your damages, including pain and suffering.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or attorney@hgfarber.com to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

Lynnwood boy injured while jaywalking across Highway 99

Sat, 06 Feb 2010 14:14:29 -0800

A 13-year-old Lynnwood boy was injured in a pedestrian accident on Friday night around 5:30pm as he and several other people attempted to jaywalk across Highway 99 near 148th Street SW. The teen was taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle for treatment.

According to a report in the Everett Herald Net.com, the boy was waved across the road by several vehicles that had stopped for the teen and several other pedestrians when he was hit by a car driven by a 48-year-old Edmonds man.

Every year, thousands of pedestrians are seriously injured or killed while crossing streets. Jaywalking -- crossing the street other than a regular crossing or against a traffic light -- significantly increases a person's chance of being seriously injured.

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 due to the negligence of another.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or attorney@hgfarber.com to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

Union Gap man killed in single-car accident near Toppenish

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 17:15:41 -0800

Police are investigating what caused a 45-year-old Union Gap man, Paul D. Wahpat, to lose control of his car causing it to veer across the oncoming lane of traffic and crash into a ditch reports the Yakima Herald.

Wahpat was killed in the single-vehicle accident that occurred outside of Toppenish around 6am.

The Washington State Patrol says that Wahpat was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or attorney@hgfarber.com to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

Semi-truck rear-ends other semi-truck on I-5 north of Marysville

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 16:57:34 -0800

A two semi-truck accident occurred on the northbound Interstate 5 north of Marysville on Thursday night.

One of the truck drivers was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle for treatment of undisclosed injuries.

According to The Everett HeraldNet.com, the first semi-truck slowed down in heavy traffic when the second semi rear-ended the first truck.

Washington state vehicle code, RCW 46.61.145 Following Too Closely, states that the driver of the following vehicle shall not follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent, with regard to the speed of the preceding vehicle and the traffic conditions of the highway.

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 killed. With our help, you may recover compensation for your damages including pain and suffering.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or attorney@hgfarber.com to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

Snohomish man pleads guilty to 'vehicular homicide' in death of Kirkland mayor's family, 2 others

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:03:56 -0800

Matthew McDonald, 27 of Snohomish, pleaded guilty to four counts of vehicular homicide in the car accident death of former Kirkland Mayor Bill Woods' son and daughter-inlaw, Tom and Hilda Woods, and their friends, Brad and Melissa Agerup.

McDonald had a blood alcohol level of .123 after drinking beer for 12 hours when he hit car carrying the Woods and the Agerups. Both couples were killed in the car accident and McDonald initially fled.

A sentencing hearing will be held March 6 and the prosecutor will ask for a 6 1/2 year sentence reports The Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Vehicular Homicide can be charged if a person is killed in a car accident and a driver is under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or attorney@hgfarber.com to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

Driver critically injured in White Center three-car accident

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 15:34:38 -0800

A driver was critically injured in a multiple-car accident in White Center this morning. White Center is an unincorporated neighborhood of Seattle west of state Route 99. According to a report in The Seattle Times, a car and a pickup truck were stopped at a red light at First Avenue South and South 112th street when another pickup truck ran into them.

The driver of the car was taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. The driver of both pickup trucks suffered minor injuries.

There was no indication of what caused the pickup truck driver to hit the two stopped vehicles.

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 and the family of those killed. With our help, you may recover compensation for your damages, including pain and suffering.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or attorney@hgfarber.com to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

Tenino teen killed in Thurston County car accident

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 18:31:41 -0800

The Seattle Times reports that a 17-year-old Tenino boy was killed in a car accident near Millersvania State Park in Thurston County.

The teen apparently drifted off of Highway 12 and over-corrected and went into the other lane and was hit by a car.

The cause of the car accident has not been determined. Driver inattention or inexperience may have been factors in the crash.

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 and the family of those killed.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or attorney@hgfarber.com to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

Bellevue begins fining drivers caught by red-light cameras

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 14:44:28 -0800

The warning period is over. The City of Bellevue begins issuing $124 tickets to motorists who run red lights starting on Wednesday. Up until now, Bellevue has only issued warnings to drivers caught on camera.

For the past month, Bellevue has sent out 1,000 warnings to drivers who were caught running lights heading north and south on 148th Avenue Northeast at the Bel-Red Road intersection and southbound at the Main street intersection.

According to a report in The Seattle Times, Bellevue police officers review and confirm the pictures of the cars caught by the cameras before citations are issued.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or attorney@hgfarber.com to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

Woman injured in Buckley single-car accident

Sun, 31 Jan 2010 18:14:34 -0800

A 30-year-old woman was seriously injured when her car hit a tree around 9:25pm Saturday night. The single-car accident occurred on Highway 165 near Buckley.

According to the report in The Olympian, the woman was driving a 2001 Mazda 626 when she went off the road near 133rd.

The woman was taken to Madigan Army Medical Center in Tacoma for treatment.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or attorney@hgfarber.com to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

Two sisters injured in Kirkland pedestrian accident

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 19:02:10 -0800

Seattle's King5.com reports that two sisters -- a 16-year-old girl and her toddler sister -- were hit as they crossed in a crosswalk in the 12600 block of 100th Avenue NE in Kirkland.

According to the report, both sisters were taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle for treatment of possible fractures and a head injury.

The pedestrian accident occurred as the girls crossed the crosswalk when one vehicle stopped for them but a second vehicle failed to stop and struck both girls.

Vehicle Code, RCW 46.61.235, states that whenever a vehicle is stopped to allow a pedestrian to cross the street, another vehicle approaching from the rear shall not pass the stopped vehicle.

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 killed. With our help, you may recover compensation for your damages including pain and suffering.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or attorney@hgfarber.com to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

Pedestrian suffers life threatening injuries in Seattle pedestrian accident

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 20:02:15 -0800

A 23-year-old pedestrian suffered life-threatening injuries and was taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle after being hit by a car near the University of Washington. The pedestrian apparently struck his head after he was hit.

According to a report in The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, the pedestrian was crossing the street on 43rd when a car driven by a 36-year-old man turned onto 43rd and hit the man.

Police are investigating the pedestrian accident.

Washington State Vehicle Code, RCW 46.61.235, which pertains to pedestrians in crosswalks states that a vehicle should remain stopped to allow a pedestrian or bicycle to cross the road if the pedestrian or bicycle is upon or within one lane of the half of the roadway upon which the vehicle is turning onto.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or attorney@hgfarber.com to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

Man booked on 'vehicular assault' charges after baby critically injured in Fife accident

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 19:17:16 -0800

The Tacoma News Tribune reports that a hit-and-run car accident critically injured a 3-month-old baby boy in Fife around 10pm on Sunday night.

According to the report, a car driven by a 26-year-old man with a suspended driver's license ran a red light and hit the car that the baby was riding in. The 26-year-old man then fled the accident scene and was arrested a few hours later. He was booked on suspicion of vehicular assault.

The car accident occurred on 20th Street East and 70th Avenue East.

The injured baby was taken to Mary Bridge Children's Hospital in Tacoma where his injuries are considered life-threatening. His father, who was driving the car, was treated for minor injuries.

A person can be charged with vehicular assault of a person is injured in a car accident and the driver was driving with reckless disregard to the safety of others or driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs..

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or attorney@hgfarber.com to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

Department of Transportation applies ban to texting by commercial truck and bus drivers

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:41:53 -0800

The Department of Transportation is getting tough with professional drivers who text message while driving, prohibiting all truck and bus drivers from sending text messages -- texting -- while driving a commercial vehicle.

The penalty for texting includes civil or criminal penalties and fines up to $2,750 says the DOT.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Research shows that drivers who text message take their eyes off of the road from between 4-6 seconds while texting. If the driver is moving at speeds of 55 miles an hour, they will have driven the length of a football field before their eyes look at the road.

A Vancouver, Washington man was just sentenced to 5 years in prison for Vehicular Homicide after a fatal car accident attributed to the fact that he was texting while driving. Antonio Cellestine hit and killed a bicyclist, Gordon Patterson, who was riding his bicycle at the time. Cell phone records show that Cellestine had been texting prior and during the accident.

The message is getting out to all drivers: no texting while driving!

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured and the families of those killed in car accidents and pedestrian accidents.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or attorney@hgfarber.com to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

Toyota suspends sales of recalled vehicles due to accident risk

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:07:14 -0800

Toyota Motor Co. has suspended the sale of eight of their vehicle models which they have recalled to fix a problem with accelerator pedals that stick.

Toyota has now recalled 6.5 million Toyota and Lexus car and vehicles total due to sticky accelerator pedals and problems with floor mats. In one case, a car accident killed the members of a man's family when an accelerator pedal got stuck on a mismatched floor mat.

Recalls include the following vehicles:

2009-2010 RAV4
2009-2010 Corolla
2009-2010 Matrix
2005-2010 Avalon
2007-2010 Camry
2010 Highlander
2007-2010 Tundra
2008-2010 Sequoia

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed due to a defective automobile, you may be eligible for compensation for your damages. Contact The Farber Law Group, a Washington personal injury law firm that specializes in representing motor vehicle accident victims and their families.

Call The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or attorney@hgfarber.com to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation. We have offices in Seattle and

Light-rail vs. car accident in Rainier Beach area of Seattle

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 16:22:18 -0800

A car was hit by the Sound Transit light-rail train in the Rainer Beach area of Seattle on Sunday reports The Seattle Times. No injuries were reported.

According to the report, the motor vehicle accident occurred a little before 6pm when the car turned left in front of the train.

The Sound Transit light-rail service began in July and this is the fourth accident involving a car. Anecdotal evidence in other cities suggests that collisions between the light-train and cars lessens after drivers of automobiles become accustomed to the trains.

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 killed.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or attorney@hgfarber.com to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.