Seattle Car Accident Lawyer Blog

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" »

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.

Related Posts:

What if my accident was caused by someone using a cell phone?

Worker's compensation awarded to nurse who crashed car after checking cell phone

Cell phone usage "key factor" in fatal Washington D.C. duck boat accident

Cell phone usage may have caused accident that killed Seattle music director

Continue reading "Texting driver sentenced in pedestrian death" »

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.

Related Posts:

Too many fatal bicycle accidents in greater Seattle

Family settles wrongful death lawsuit with Metro after pedestrian killed in bus accident

How To Get the Most From Your Accident Settlement

Continue reading "In a bid to reduce pedestrian accidents, web-site shows accident videos" »

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.

The 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.

Related Posts:

Getting the Most Out of Your Auto Accident Settlement

Filing An Auto Accident Claim

Who Is Eligible for a Car Accident Settlement

Continue reading "How to Find a Personal Injury Attorney" »

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.

In 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.

Related Posts:

What is a Personal Injury Claim?

Understanding Personal Injury Law

Who Is Eligible for a Car Accident Settlement

Continue reading "Filing An Auto Accident Claim" »

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" »

Halloween can be dangerous for young pedestrians. According to Safe Kids USA, twice as many young pedestrians are killed in pedestrian accidents on Halloween compared to the other days of the year.

To prevent a tragedy, parents should talk with their children about pedestrian safety on Halloween and accompany them while trick or treating. Don't assume they will remember the spiel you gave them last year.

Here are some child safety tips for the holiday:

• Children under the age of 12 should be acocmpanied by an adult. Children younger than 12 often forget safety rules when they are excited.
  
• Walk on sidewalks and paths.
  
• Walk facing traffic, if there is no sidewalks.
  
• Look both ways before crossing the street and cross in crosswalks.
  
• Make sure wigs, hats and masks don't obscure a child's view.
  
• Make sure your child's costume is not so long as to cause them to trip.

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.

Related Posts:

Fall walking/jogging safety tips for pedestrians

Safety tips to avoid car-pedestrian accidents

Pedestrian safety in school zones

Continue reading "Pedestrian safety on Halloween" »

In February, The Farber Law Group, Bellevue personal injury law firm, added the Bikewise.org Seattle Bicycle Accident Tracker to our web-site.

Bikewise.org is a service of the Cascade Bicycle Club and allows bicyclists to enter information about bicycle accidents, street hazards such as missing stop signs and potholes, and bicycle thefts.

Bikewise now has a iPhone app which allows bicyclists to report bicycle crashes, thefts and hazards using the app.

According to Bikewise, they estimate 75% of bicycle accidents go unreported. The App allows cyclists to conveniently report accidents and the web-site then collates the data and reports it to the relevant agencies and makes the statistics available. Often, local transportation authorities will take corrective action after a problem has been sufficiently reported.

This information is provided as a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured in bicycle and pedestrian accidents caused by the negligence of another. With our help, you may recover compensation for your damages.

Related Posts:

Too many fatal bicycle accidents in greater Seattle

Seattle bicycle accident tracker

Continue reading "Bikewise bicycle accident and hazard site adds phone app" »

In the past few years, motor vehicle accidents deaths have been declining in every area except pedestrian accidents. In the past three years in Washington State, there have been 61 pedestrian killed in each of the three years.

Here are some pedestrian safety tips if your vehicle becomes disabled on the side of the road. Far too often, we have read reports of pedestrians killed in and around the greater Seattle metropolitan area when their vehicle became disabled on the I-5 or I-450.

Pedestrian safety tips

1. If your vehicle becomes disabled, try to get it completely off the roadway so that you are safe when changing the tire, tending to your vehicle or waiting for help.
2. Be aware of traffic and never turn your back to traffic.
3. If your car is disabled and you are waiting for help, stay in your car and keep your seat belt on in case your car is hit.
4. If you exit your car, stand far away from the roadway and behind a barrier or guardrail if one is near.
5. Avoid standing behind or between cars.
6. Do not try to run across a highway.
7. Even if you have to walk further, only cross at crosswalks.
8. Assume drivers do not see you.

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.

Related Posts:

Tow truck driver hit and killed in Highway 14 accident near Vancouver

Driver killed in I-5 car accident in Seattle near Boeing Field

Continue reading "Pedestrian safety: safety tips if your vehicle becomes disabled on a roadway" »

The father of Donald Barrett, 40, who was struck and killed by a bus, settled a wrongful death lawsuit with Los Angeles County Metro Transit Authority (Metro) for about $1.43 million. Barrett was a pedestrian on a city street and in an intersection when he was struck and killed.

In the case of Barrett V. Los Angeles Co. Metro. Transp Auth, the attorneys representing Barrett's father and estate sued the bus driver saying that the bus driver was negligent and did not keep a proper lookout and yield to pedestrians.

The lawsuit also claimed that the bus driver did not follow Metro policy when the driver began the turn before the signal light had changed to green.

The defendants in the lawsuit claimed that Barrett stepped into a crosswalk without a walk signal and also failed to take into account a bus making a turn.

Both parties settled the lawsuit before it went to trial for about $1.43 million.

A "wrongful death" is when a person is killed due to a wrongful or negligent act of another. Often wrongful death lawsuits arise from motor vehicle accidents but they can also arise from criminal attacks, on-the-job accidents or activities such as school sports.

In Washington state, the family of a person who was wrongfully killed may file a lawsuit asking for damages on behalf of their deceased loved one.

This information is provided by Seattle Car Accident Lawyer blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We hare more than 30 years representing families with their wrongful death claims.

Related Posts:

Pedestrian injured in Seattle metro bus accident

School bus driver caught on camera texting and driving

Portland city bus accident kills 2 pedestrians, injures 3 others

Continue reading "Family settles wrongful death lawsuit with Metro after pedestrian killed in bus accident" »

We saw an article posted on Transportation for America, an organization that campaigns for pedestrian safety, about a mother who was charged and found guilty of vehicular homicide after her young son was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver.

How could this happen? Raquel Nelson, of Atlanta, was crossing the street with her children after stepping off of a bus at a bus stop located directly across from her apartment complex. Nelson and other people who lived at her apartment complex routinely crossed the road there to get home because the nearest crosswalk was a half mile away.

Nelson's youngest son was struck and killed by a driver who than drove off. Nelson was charged and convicted because she had failed to walk the half mile in the dark to go to the nearest traffic signal. The jury convicted her of vehicular homicide and a judge sentenced her to probation and community service.

A charge of vehicular homicide is generally reserved for a person who is driving recklessly or driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs so it was quite a surprise that the Cobb County prosecutor decided to charge a grieving mother with a serious crime when she didn't even own a car.

Transportation for America has started a campaign to get Nelson's conviction overturned. We'll quote them here:

What about the highway designers, traffic engineers, transit planners and land use regulators who allowed a bus stop to be placed so far from a signal and made no other provision for a safe crossing; who allowed – even encouraged, with wide, straight lanes – prevailing speeds of 50-plus on a road flanked by houses and apartments; who carved a fifth lane out of a wider median that could have provided more of a safe refuge for pedestrians; who designed the entire landscape to be hostile to people trying to get to work and groceries despite having no access to a car?

This article certainly makes one think about the plight of the approximately 4,000+ people killed in pedestrian accidents every year. Of those killed in pedestrian accidents, the old and the young are the most common victims because these are the citizens who walk. The elderly, age 70 and over, are the most at risk for being killed in a pedestrian accident with the rate of pedestrian accident death approximately 62% higher for people 70 and older than for people under the age of 70.

For more information about Transportation America's campaign on Nelson's behalf, click here, "Demand full pardon for Raquel Nelson".

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.

Related Posts:

Pedestrian injured, dog killed in Gresham, OR drunk driving accident

Pedestrian critically injured in accident on Aurora Avenue in Seattle

Pedestrian accidents, a concern for the elderly

Continue reading "Shocking story: pedestrian convicted of vehicular homicide even though her son was killed by hit-and-run driver" »

One pedestrian was critically injured and another suffered minor injuries when they were struck by a car while standing in a parking lot on Aurora Avenue reports Seattle's King5.com.

The Seattle pedestrian accident occurred around 7:30am this morning when a vehicle making a right hand turn into the business parking lot was rear-ended by another vehicle in the 11500 block of Aurora Avenue North.

The force of the rear-end accident propelled the first vehicle forward causing it to strike the pedestrians. The second car then hit a tree.

In all five people were injured, including the two pedestrians.

Police shut down Aurora Avenue North to investigate the accident. It is unclear at this time whether the following driver was distracted, speeding or following too closely. It is likely the second driver will be cited. Washington State vehicle code RCW 46.61.145 specifies that a driver of a motor vehicle shall not follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent.

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.

Continue reading "Pedestrian critically injured in accident on Aurora Avenue in Seattle" »

Seattle's KOMO News reports that a 16-year-old Carli Alvarado was found guilty of Vehicular Homicide in the death of Anna Marie Brulotte and the injury of Anna Marie's mother. The unidentified teen driver was distracted when she struck Anna Marie and her mother while they were crossing a Bellingham crosswalk along with two other siblings.

The pedestrian accident occurred in September 2010 on Cornwall near Assumption Catholic school. Brulotte rear-ended a car that had stopped to let the family cross the street. Brulotte was distracted driving according to the report when she hit the stopped car, pushing it into the crosswalk.

According to the report, Brulotte was directing a friend in searching for something in her backpack which was on the floor of the car when the accident occurred. Alvarado was driving on a restricted license which disallowed her driving a car with two friends in it. She was also exceeding the speed limit.

Vehicular Homicide, Washington State Code RCW 46.61.520, can be charged if a person is killed in a car accident and the driver with driving recklessly, driving with reckless disregard to the safety of others or driving under the influence of alcohol of drugs.

Washington state has a graduated driver's license which imposes special rules for teenager drivers for the period after licensure. These include:

• For the first 6 months after receiving a driver's license, the teen driver can not drive with passengers under the age of 20 unless they are members of the driver's immediate family.
  
• For the following 6 months, the teen driver is not allowed to have more than 3 underage passengers in their vehicle.
  
• For the first 12 months, the teenage driver is not allowed to drive between 1am and 5pm unless driving with a licensed driver 25 years old or older.
  
• Teenager drivers are not allowed to use wireless devices including hands-free devices.

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 died.It will be interesting to watch this case and see how lenient the judge will be based upon the defendant's age. The sentencing range is from 3-9 months in jail.

Continue reading "Teenager found guilty of vehicular homicide in car accident death of 2-year-old, mother" »

We came across an article by Tina Susman writing for the Los Angeles Times, Crosswalks are increasingly deadly for the elderly. In the article, Susman discusses a serious problem cities across America and that is pedestrian safety. Of special concern is the safety of our increasing elderly population who are disproportionately killed in pedestrian accidents.

In 2009, there 4,092 people killed in pedestrian accidents. The rate of pedestrian deaths to the elderly -- those 70 and over -- is 62% higher than for people younger than 70 according to the Federal Accident Reporting System (FARS). In 37% of the fatal accidents among people age 60 or older, the pedestrian occurred at an intersection.

Susman's article quotes Noah Budnick, the deputy director of Transportation Alternatives who says,

"… older people simply don't have enough time to cross the street."

One study that appeared in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) in 2002 found that marked crosswalks with out signals or stop signs were more dangerous for pedestrian-motor vehicle accidents to the elderly than those without signals or stops.

Elderly people have various problems associated with crosswalks including:

• difficulty with curbs
  
• difficulty in judging vehicle speeds
  
• confusion with the Walk, and Don't Walk signal indicators
  
• difficulty seeing signal indicators
  
• difficulty in anticipating turning drivers
  
• discourteous drivers

Transportation officials are looking at ways to make walking safer for all pedestrians including street designs which slows down vehicles, improving visibility, retiming signals, creating median refuges or sidewalk "bulb-outs", creating curb ramps, creating sidewalk seating, improving lighting and signage and improved pavement striping that will benefit walkers and drivers alike.

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.

Continue reading "Pedestrian accidents, a concern for the elderly" »

The U.S. Congress is considering federal legislation aimed at making roads and highways safer for people on bicyclists and pedestrians. The House is considering H.R. 1780 the Safe and Complete Streets Act of 2011, and the U.S. Senate is considering Senate Bill 1056 led by U.S. Senator Tom Harkin.

The Washington State Legislature also has two bills pending which would amend the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) to ease design standards giving cities and municipalities more leeway in road design projects following “Complete Streets” principles: HB 1700 and HB 1701.

Between the years 2000 and 2009, 47,000 Americas were killed in pedestrian accidents and another 688,000 pedestrian were injured. The startling fact is that an American is injured or killed in a pedestrian accident every seven minutes.

Continue reading "U.S. Congress looking at "complete streets" in effort to reduce pedestrian and bicycle accidents" »

Seattle's King5.com reports that a woman was injured in a pedestrian accident when she was hit by a Metro bus near the Northgate transit center.

The report quoted witnesses saying the woman crossed the street against the light. It also said the woman was struck by a mirror on the bus.

Every year, more than 4,000 people are killed in pedestrian accidents. Pedestrian often taken chances and make poor choices which can lead to fatal results. Common mistakes pedestrians make include:

• Failure to yield the right-of-way
  
• Crossing in the middle of a block instead of at an intersection
  
• Walking along a roadway in the wrong direction
  
• Failing to wear light colored clothes and reflective materials late at night.

Common mistakes drivers make include:

• Failing to yield for a pedestrian at an intersection when going straight
  
• Failing to yield for a pedestrian when turning
  
• Backing up
  
• Driver distraction -- not paying attention -- including cell phone or texting while driving
  
• Driver impatience -- jumping a light or running a red light
  

If you or a loved one has been injured in a pedestrian accident due to the negligence of another, you should contact The Farber law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured in pedestrian accidents and the family of those who have died.
Related posts:

King County Metro Transit settles wrongful death suit for $1.5 million in bus accident that killed man

Bus driver was using cell phone during fatal pedestrian accident

Bellevue woman critically injured in pedestrian accident

Continue reading "Pedestrian injured in Seattle metro bus accident" »

The News Tribune of Tacoma reports that Olympia police are seeking the driver of an SUV that struck a 21-year-old female pedestrian as she crossed East Bay Drive Northeast near Fourth Avenue around 12:18am on Sunday morning.

The injured pedestrian was taken to the hospital with head lacerations.

Witnesses described the vehicle that hit the woman as an light metallic blue SUV.

Olympia police sergeant Dan Wojtech described the intersection where the woman was hit as "really hazardous for drivers and pedestrians because they sometimes don't see each other very well."

Washington State vehicle code RCW 46.52.020 is a statute that prescribes that a motorist involved in an accident in which a person is injured or killed must remain at the scene of the accident and provide vital information to law enforcement. In addition, the driver must provide reasonable assistance of caring for and insuring the injured person receives medical treatment. Failure to do so can result in a felony.

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.

Related Posts:

Man killed in Blaine hit-and-run pedestrian accident

Auburn man killed in hit-and-run pedestrian accident on SR 164

Pedestrian critically injured in Federal Way hit-and-run accident

Continue reading "Driver sought in Olympia hit-and-run pedestrian accident" »

The Washington state legislature has before it two House Bills before which would help in the creation of "complete streets." Complete streets is urban planning/engineering so that all the users of a street -- pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists -- can navigate safely.

Complete streets usually include sidewalks, bicycle lanes, wide shoulders, well-designed crosswalks, medians, bus lanes, pedestrian signals, and traffic calming techniques including street trees, planter strips and staggered parking.

The Seattle Bike Blog has a couple of before and after photos of a complete streets project at 15th Ave S and S Lander St. The difference is dramatic and makes the street much more safer for bicyclists and pedestrians.

The two House Bills are:

HB1070 - which eases design standards which allows municipalities more leeway in designing road projects.
HB 1071 - which creates a complete streets grant program

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 Seattle and Bellevue pedestrian and bicycle accidents and the family of those killed.

Related Posts:

House Bill 1018 adds responsibilities to both drivers and bicyclists

Washington state bills seeks to increase penalties for DUI

Washington bill seeks to increase penalties for Vehicular Assault and Homicide

Continue reading "Washington state legislature mulls two "complete street" bills " »

William Lamson, 20, was critically injured in a Oak Harbor pedestrian accident when he was hit by a motorcycle and then by a Subaru on Thursday evening around 7:30pm. Lamson suffered critical injuries in the pedestrian accident and was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

The pedestrian accident occurred on Regatta Drive near Highway 20 when Lamson was refueling his vehicle. He was hit by a Yamaha motorcycle driven by John Newell, 22 of Oak Harbor. Lamson and was in the roadway where he was then hit by a Subaru Legacy driven by Ryan Wright, 23.

Newell was also injured in the accident and was taken to Whidbey General Hospital.

Police are investigating who was responsible for the pedestrian accident. It is unclear whether Lamson was standing on the road shoulder or if he was out in the street. Police are investigating. At this point it does not appear as if alcohol or reckless driving were factors according to the report in the Seattle PI.

This information is provided by Seattle Car Accident Lawyer blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We are a personal injury aw firm that helps pedestrian accident victims and their families.

Source:
Oak Harbor pedestrian suffers serious injury after being struck twice
by Justin Burnett
Whidbey News Times

Related Posts:

Seattle man injured in Whidbey Island car accident

2-car accident on Highway 101 injures 5, 1 critically

Oak Harbor man arrested for DUI after hitting car driven by sheriff's deputy

Continue reading "Man airlifted to Harborview Medical Center after Whidbey Island pedestrian accident " »

A 65-year-old man was injured in a Auburn pedestrian accident this morning outside of Donut Star when he was hit by a suspected drunken driver.

The News Tribune of Tacoma reports that the man was loading his car in a parking lot in the 900 block of Auburn Way South when a vehicle headed northbound on Auburn Way South failed to negotiate the turn, entered the parking lot and hit the man.

The injured man was taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

Auburn police arrested the driver and may charge him with Vehicular Assault because they suspect he was under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the accident. Washington vehicle code RCW 46.61.522 states that a person can be charged with Vehicular Assault if a person is seriously injured in a motor vehicle accident and the driver was impaired.

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 medical costs and for pain and suffering.

Related Posts:

Auburn man killed in hit-and-run pedestrian accident on SR 164

Man killed, 2 injured in Everett car accident

Auburn, WA teenager killed in pedestrian accident on Interstate-5

Continue reading "Man seriously injured in Auburn pedestrian accident" »