Seattle Car Accident Lawyer Blog

A 31-year-old woman from Mill Creek was hit and killed on Friday night by a suspected drunken driver as she was standing outside of O'finnigan's Pub located at 13601 Highway 99 in South Everett.

King 5.com reports that the pedestrian accident happened when a vehicle traveling northbound on SR-99 struck several parked cars and then hit the woman, killing her.

The unidentified motorist was arrested for driving under the influence (DUI).

The driver will most likely be charged with Vehicular Homicide. Washington State vehicle code RCW 46.61.520 provides that a driver can be charged with Vehicular Homicide if someone is killed and the driver was under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time.

When a driver is charged with Vehicular Homicide, he or she is tried by the State of Washington. In addition, the family of a person killed as a result of Vehicular Homicide can bring a suit for wrongful death.

With the help of The Farber Law Group, a Washington law firm experienced and knowledgeable in handling auto accident cases and wrongful death, you may be able to recover damages for wrongful death.

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.

The U.S. Department of Transportation has released a new survey which found that nearly 8% of all drivers – 1 in 12 – admit to driving under the influence in the previous year.

The report entitled National Survey of Drinking and Driving Attitudes and Behaviors, which was conducted in 2008, also reports that 20% of motorists also admit that they have driven a motor vehicle within two hours of consuming an alcohol beverage.

The survey was done to determine society's attitudes to alcohol and driving in hopes of being able to determine ways to change behavior.

The survey also found that 8% of people over the age 16 said that they have ridden with a driver who may have been under the influence. Young males are particularly at risk; approximately 24% reported they had ridden with an impaired driver.

Nearly every year, there are approximately 700 fatal car accidents in Washington State and almost 45% of those were alcohol related.

If you or a loved one has been a victim of a drunken driver, you have a right to be compensated for your damages. An experienced personal injury attorney can work to protect your rights and seek the compensation you deserve.

This information is provided by Seattle Car Accident Lawyer blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent victims of drunken drivers and their families.

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.

Ben Garnet Holt, 69, of Edmonds, has been charged with vehicular homicide in the November car accident that killed John Spudich, 62, also of Edmonds.

According to The Seattle Times, Holt was driving at speeds of up to 70 mph when he rear-ended Spudich's minivan as Spudich was stopped at a red light.

Washington state vehicle code RCW 46.61.520 – Vehicular Homicide – states that a driver can be charged if a person is killed in a car accident and the driver was under the influence of alcohol or drugs, driving recklessly or driving without regard for the safety of others.

In bringing the charges, the Snohomish County prosecutors office said that Holt had a history of motor vehicle accidents, did not possess a valid driver's license and was heavily medicated with anticonvulsant medications at the time.

When a driver is charged with Vehicular Homicide, he or she is tried by the State of Washington. In addition, the family of a person killed as a result of Vehicular Homicide can bring a suit for wrongful death.

This information is provided by Seattle Car Accident Lawyer blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We have more than 30 years experience representing car accident victims and their families.

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.

A two-car accident in Arlington killed a woman and seriously injured a man on Thursday afternoon.

The car accident occurred on 67th Avenue, north of 152nd Street in Arlington around 2:40pm reports KOMO News.com of Seattle. The stretch of road where the car accident occurred is described as narrow and curvy.

The report did not provide details of what caused the fatal car accident but said that the Snohomish County sheriff's office is investigating.

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.

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 young women riding in a KIA sedan were killed in a 3-car accident when their car rolled over after crashing with a Ford Explorer and a Mitsubishi sedan in Kent reports The Seattle Times.

The car accident occurred at108 Avenue SE and SE 208 Street in Kent when the northbound KIA, while attempting to make a turn, collided with a southbound Ford Explorer. The KIA then struck the Mitsubishi and flipped on its side.

The drivers of the Ford and Mitsubishi were not injured in the motor vehicle accident.

The Seattle Times reports that police hope to determine from a surveillance video recorded by nearby businesses who might have been at fault in the accident. They are also checking the traffic signals at that intersection. Police believe that speeding may have been a factor in the accident.

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 from the negligent party.

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.

An 88-year-old woman from Bellevue was hit and killed in a pedestrian accident on Monday when she crossed Richard Roads at SE 26th Street.

The Bellevue Reporter reports that a pickup truck driven by a 22-year-old Mercer Island man hit the woman as he was turning onto Richards Road.

The force of the collision knocked the woman to the road.

Preliminary investigation reveals that drugs or alcohol where not factors in the accident.

Every year, approximately 5,000 pedestrians are killed in accidents and another 64,000 are injured. While the elderly have fewer pedestrian accidents, the likelihood of them sustaining a serious or fatal injury is much worse than others.

When pedestrians are hit by pickup trucks are SUVS, the initial contact is much higher than a passenger car which can cause a person to be knocked down.

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 their wrongful death claims.

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.

Richard Wittegenstein, 59, of Bellevue, was killed in a motorcycle accident on Highway 395 near Deer Park when the driver of an SUV crossed the centerline and hit him head-on.

The Bellevue Reporter reports that Wittgenstein was traveling southbound on Highway 395 when he was hit by a car driven by Richard A. Handley, 65, of Loon Lake.

The report said that charges were pending against Handley.

Washington State vehicle code states that Vehicular Homicide can be charged if a person was killed in a motor vehicle accident and the driver was driving under the influence of alcohol, driving recklessly, or driving without regard to the safety of others.

In addition to criminal charges, the family of someone who is killed due to the negligent or criminal act of another may file a wrongful death lawsuit in civil court.

This information is provided by Seattle Car Accident Lawyer blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We are a personal injury law firm located in Bellevue, Washington and have more than 30 years experience representing families with their wrongful death cases.

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.

The driver of a Dodge sedan was killed in a motor vehicle accident in Seattle on Thursday around 5pm in the 7600 bloc of Airport Way South.

The Seattle Times reports that the car accident occurred when as the driver of the Dodge was headed south and a black Chevrolet Suburban pulled out in front of him.

The driver was taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle for treatment.

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.

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.

Every year, there are approximately 280,000 rollover vehicle accidents in the U.S. and approximately 10,000 of these accidents result in a fatality. Rollover accidents, those in which a vehicle tips over onto its side or roof, are some of the most deadly after head-on collisions.

Causes of rollover motor vehicle accidents

The following lists some of the most common causes of rollover accidents:

• Excessive speed when vehicles turn a corner or travel on a hard curve. Most passenger vehicles will slide or skid in a curve or hard turn if the vehicle is traveling at excessive speed. However, SUVS, vans, pickup trucks, buses and heavy trucks have more of a tendency to rollover over because of their height, higher ground clearance and because of they are more top heavy.

• Collision with another vehicle. Side impact car accidents are the most likely to cause a vehicle to rollover.

• Vehicles crossing a ditch or slope. Vehicles can roll especially if they are on a slope that is steeper than 33% grade.

• Driver over-correcting. If a driver veers out of their lane, they often over-correct – jerking the wheel back in the other direction too forcefully – causing it to flip.

Popular SUVs are more apt to rollover than other passenger cars. In one year – 2003 – Some of the vehicles with the worst rollover record are Ford Broncos II, Suzuki Samurai, Jeep CJ, Ford E-Series, Mitsubishi Pajero/Montero and Isuzu Trooper.

Vehicle manufacturers are working hard to improve vehicle designs to both decrease the likelihood of a rollover accident and to improve the roof structure of the vehicle to protect the occupants from being crushed in a rollover accident.

Seatbelts also play a crucial role in saving lives in rollover car accidents. Seatbelts prevent passengers from being ejected in a rollover accident.

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.

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.

The News Tribune of Tacoma reports that a 27-year-old Lakewood man was killed in a 2-car accident in Thurston County and three other people were injured, one critically.

The car accident occurred on Thursday morning around 2:15am when the Lakewood man lost control of his Chevrolet Tahoe on the Niqually Cut-off Road from Martin Way and went into the opposite lane and hit a Nissan Sentra driven by a 28-year-old Olympia woman.

The Lakewood man was not wearing a seat belt and he died at the accident scene.

The Olympia woman was taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. Her passengers, a 20-year-old woman and a 9-month old baby girl, both of Olympia, were taken to St. Peter Hospital in Olympia.

Police are investigating the cause of the accident.

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.

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.

The journal Pediatrics just released a new study which compared the car accident injury rate among New York children before and after car booster seats were mandated for children between the ages of 4 and 7.

A child booster seat law went into effect in New York State in March of 2005. The study showed that the rate of car accident injuries in the 4 to 6 year old age group dropped by 18% after the booster seat law went into effect. Before the law went into effect, only 29% of 4-6 year old children were strapped into booster seats. After the law went into effect, usage went up to 50%.

Booster seats were designed for children who have outgrown traditional car seats but need to be raised in a position so that lap and shoulder belts correctly fit across the shoulder and hips.

In Washington state, a Child Restraint Law went to effect on June 1, 2007. The Washington state law requires children under the age of 8 years old to be in a booster seat unless the child is four feet nine inches or taller. The fine for improperly securing a child starts at $112.

Improper seat belt fit without a booster seat

Proper car seats are crucial for car safety. Last week, three children ages 2, 5, and 7 were injured --, one critically -- in a Mount Vernon car accident. None of the children were properly secured in child safety seats. on the same day, a 5-year-old child was critically injured after being ejected from a vehicle in Toppenish rollrover car accident; in this case as well, the child was not properly restrained.

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.

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.

Margaret Fox, 73, of Mukilteo was hit and killed by a flatbed truck on Thursday evening as she was crossing an intersection in Mukilteo.

According to a report in the Herald Net of Everett, Fox was crossing the intersection at Harbour Pointe Boulevard SW and Blue Heron Boulevard.

The pedestrian accident occurred around 7:45am when the woman and her friend were walking. The woman's friend was able to cross safely.

The driver of the 12-wheel flatbed truck was not identified but the report listed his age as 32.

Washington Vehicle Code RCW 46.61.235 regulates crosswalks. It states that vehicles approaching either an unmarked or marked crosswalk must stop and remain stopped to allow pedestrians or bicycles to cross the roadway when the pedestrian or bicyclist is within one lane of the half of the roadway upon which the vehicle is traveling or turning.

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. Washington State has a wrongful death statute which allows the family of someone who is killed due to the negligent act of another to ask for compensation on behalf of their deceased loved one.

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.

A 24-year-old Tumwater man and his 23-year-old passenger, a Lynnwood man, were killed in a car accident early this morning when the BMW they were riding in crashed into the rear of a Seattle Fire Department ambulance. The paramedics in the ambulance were taken to Harborview Medical Center for treatment of their injuries.

According to a report by Seattle's KOMO News, the accident occurred in the northbound lanes of Interstate 5 near Mercer Street around 2:45am.

Police believe that the driver of the BMW was under the influence of alcohol and speeding when he clipped another vehicle and then crashed into the ambulance.

This information is provided by Seattle Car Accident Lawyer blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent the victims of drunken drivers and their families.

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.

The 2010 and 2011 Ford Focus provides a safety feature for teenage drivers. A standard safety feature on all new models is the "MyKey Safety System" which provides a specialized car key for teen drivers which allows parents to set safety features for their teen drivers including:

• limiting the top speed of vehicle
• enabling alerts which provides a tone when the vehicle hits 45, 55 and 65 mph.
• enabling traction control
• muting the car radio until everyone in the vehicle buckles up
• controlling the radio volume

Ford also provides the MyKey system in Taurus and F-150 models and it plans to make it standard on other vehicles including the Fiesta in the future.

Ford also believes that the MyKey system will be a desired feature for fleet vehicles.

Car accidents are the leading cause of fatalities among teenagers. In 2008, 3,500 teenagers were killed and 350,000 were injured in motor vehicle-related accidents.

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.

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.

The Seattle Times reports that a single car accident near Soap Lake, Washington resulted in the death of three young men, including the teenage driver.

According to the report, Taylor Blackburn, 16, of Ephrata, died of a head injury at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane after being airlifted there after his car went off the road and hit a power pole.

Killed in the motor vehicle accident were Kyle Hartley, 17, of Ephrata, and Travis McAfee, 22, of Wilson Creek.

Soap Lake is a small town in Grant County, Washington, near the center of the state. Soap Lake is north of Interstate 90.

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.

Washington State Patrol (WSP) officers working in King County, Pierce County and Snohomish county reported that they arrested 57 impaired drivers over the July 4th holiday weekend.

The WSP made fifty-three arrests during the time period of July 2nd-July 4th and the Bellevue police department made four arrests.

According to the WSP, there was only one fatal motor vehicle accident over the July 4th holiday but it has not been determined whether that accident was alcohol-related.

In Washington state, there are approximately 700 traffic fatalities every year and 45% of these are alcohol-related. However, the rate of drunk driving fatalities has been decreasing because of drunk driver emphasis patrols like the WSP conducted over the 4th of July holiday weekend.

This information is provided by Seattle Car Accident Lawyer blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent victims of drunken drivers and their family. 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.

Source:
Washington State Patrol Media Release
57 Impaired Drivers Arrested by Target Zero Teams Over Holiday Weekend
July 6, 2010

Renwick Dayton, 44, of Gig Harbor died at a Tacoma hospital after he was involved in a motorcycle accident at 40th Street Northwest and 80th Avenue Northwest in the Artondale area; Artondale is about 3 miles southeast of Gig Harbor.

The Olympian reports that Dayton's motorcycle collided with another vehicle around 12:35pm.

The report did not specify the cause of the motorcycle accident but said that the Pierce County Sheriff's office is investigating.

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 motorcycle 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.

There was a horrific car accident on Interstate 90 near North Bend earlier this week in which the parents of a 4-year-old were killed instantly. The Washington State Patrol says they believe the driver of the vehicle, Sean Mitchell, fell asleep at the wheel as the family returned from a camping trip.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that every year at least 100,000 car accidents are a result of driver fatigue, resulting in 1,550 fatalities and 71,000 injuries.

Drowsy diving is a dangerous problems and can cause fatal accidents just like driving under the influence of alcohol. Driving when you are sleepy lowers your reaction time, decreases your awareness, decreases your judgment and vision, decreases your performance and increases your risk of a car accident.

Some signs that you are drowsy and that you should stop driving are daydreaming, yawning, heavy eyelids, drifting from your lane, hitting a rumble strip, difficulty focusing and trouble keeping your head up.

Many people think that opening up the window or turning up the radio will help them stay awake but the Washington State Patrol these are not effective techniques to improve alertness.

Safety Tips

• Get adequate sleep -- between 7-9 hours at night
  
• Schedule breaks -- every 100 miles or every 2 hours
  
• Travel with a companion - travel with someone who you can converse with and can share the driving load
  
• Avoid alcohol and medications
  
• Don't drive between the hours of 1am and 6am
  
• If you're sleepy, STOP DRIVING. REST. DRINK A CAFFEINATED BEVERAGE.

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.

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.

A 30-year-old man and his 26-year-old wife, of Tacoma, were killed and three boys ages 4, 15, and 20 were injured when their car ran into a bridge abutment of an overpass on Intestate 90 near North Bend as they drove home from Eastern Washington after a camping trip.

The Washington State Patrol believes that the man may have fallen asleep at the wheel.

The 15-year-old boy was taken Harborview Medical Center in Seattle for treatment of a broken leg. The two other boys suffered minor injuries but were taken to Harborview for an exam. Police say the 4-year-old, who was the couple's son, was saved by his car seat.

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.

This is the second car accident in Western Washington this week that is believe to be caused by a driver who fell asleep while driving home from a camping trip.

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.

The Washington State Patrol reports that they arrested Juan C Lopez-Ramirez, 24, of Seattle after they received several calls from motorists about a Chevrolet pickup truck that they noticed was being driven erratically.

According to the WSP media release, the patrol started receiving calls from concerned citizens around 2:30pm. They reported seeing the vehicle on Interstate 5 in Federal Way.

The patrol was able to apprehend Lopez-Ramirez who had in his possession bras knuckles, methamphetamine and an on open beer container. His preliminary blood alcohol content test measured his BAC at .340% which is more than four times the legal limit in Washington state.

Lopez-Ramirez will be charged with DUI, misdemeanor warrants and Assault 3rd degree for attacking hospital workers and security guards at St. Francis Hospital where he was taken for his blood test.

The WSP asks drivers to phone 911 if they see someone driving erratically. And, in cases like this, it is legal to use your cell phone.

This information is provided by Seattle Car Accident Lawyer, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been victims of drunk drivers 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.