2009 November Archive

If you have been injured or have lost a loved one in a Seattle car accident, you know the pain and devastation that accompanies such a terrible event. It’s a harrowing experience emotionally and a tremendous strain financially, not to mention the pain and suffering related to the injuries. What many car accident victims or victims’ families don’t realize is that they may be entitled to seek compensation for their injuries and damages, specifically if the accident and injuries were caused as a result of someone else’s negligence.

We see examples of negligent or reckless driving almost everyday in Seattle and Washington State. The Seattle Times recently reported a fatal car accident, which claimed the life of a 63-year-old Edmonds man. The man was apparently driving a van which was stopped at a red light. According to the news report, another man approaching the red light slammed into the back of the van pushing it into the rear of a pickup truck stopped in front. The van’s driver was transported to an area hospital where he reportedly died of injuries sustained in this auto accident.

In cases where negligence or wrongdoing is involved, car accident injury victims may be able to recover damages for physical pain and suffering, emotional distress, medical and rehabilitative expenses, past and future loss of income or permanent disability. In auto accident cases that result in the victim’s death, the victim’s family may file a wrongful death claim against the negligent party, which could cover funeral costs, loss of earning and other related damages.

Experienced Seattle personal injury attorneys who have an excellent track record representing injured car accident victims and their families will be able to analyze an incident from various angles and determine who or what caused the accident in question. A knowledgeable car accident lawyer like Kirk Bernard will look at all possible scenarios including the involvement of other vehicles, auto product defects and a dangerous or defective roadway. For a free consultation of your auto accident or personal injury case, please contact the Bernard Law Group. We will fight for your rights and make sure you receive fair compensation for your injuries, damages and loss.

Source:http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010291787_dige18m.html?syndication=rss

A Seattle pedestrian accident seriously injured a 22-year-old woman who was crossing the street in a crosswalk on Northeast 50th Street near 15th Avenue. According to a news report in the Seattle Times, a 20-year-old man was driving a Honda Civic just as four pedestrians ran across the crosswalk. Seattle police said the driver told them he saw the group run across the street as the traffic signal changed to green for eastbound traffic on Northeast 50th. The driver then continued through the intersection when he said the victim suddenly ran into the path of his car in the same crosswalk. The driver of the Honda said he could not stop in time and struck the pedestrian. The female pedestrian sustained serious head injuries and was transported to a Seattle hospital. Police said drugs or alcohol were not a factor in this major injury accident.

Any car accident investigation is complex. In most auto accidents that we deal with, there are many different accounts of how the accident occurred. Who had the green light? Who broke traffic laws? Did someone fail to yield right-of-way? The big question that all these little questions point to is: Who was at fault for this accident? And the bigger question: Who should take financial responsibility for the victim’s serious injuries?

In auto accidents that involve major injuries, it is extremely important for victims or their families to retain the services of experienced Seattle personal injury attorneys who have the resources to conduct an independent investigation and help make a determination as to who was at fault and who should be held accountable. In this particular case, if the driver of the Honda was at fault, he could be held liable for the accident and resulting injuries. The victim could seek compensation to cover medical expenses, cost of hospitalization, rehabilitation, therapy and even long-term care. However, the key, in any auto accident case, is to prove that the other party was at fault or negligent.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a car accident in Seattle, please contact Kirk Bernard at the Bernard Law Firm to find out how we can help. Our skilled and aggressive personal injury lawyers will follow up with the official investigation, interview eyewitnesses and utilize accident reconstruction experts to determine exactly what occurred and who should be held responsible. Call the Bernard Law Firm today for a free and comprehensive consultation.

Source:http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/theblotter/2010252510_pedestrian_hit_by_car_when_she.html?syndication=rss

Car accidents involving drunk drivers can result in devastating injuries and fatalities. With the holidays around the corner, drunk driving car accidents are always on the rise. Very often, in a DUI car accident, the seriously injured party is not the drunk driver, but the victim who just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Here is a typical example of how that happens. A man was seriously injured in Auburn, Washington after a wrong-way driver on Highway 18 collided with him head-on. This person apparently drove more than a mile in the wrong direction before striking the victim’s vehicle. Washington State troopers arrested the wrong-way driver on suspicion of vehicular assault because alcohol was believed to be a factor. The wrong-way driver escaped with minor injuries, but the victim in this case sustained serious injuries and had to be airlifted to a Seattle hospital.

Driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs is not only wrong and unethical on so many levels, but it is also a serious crime in Washington State. Under the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) Section 46.61.502, it is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol content of 0.08 percent or higher. But the fact that it is illegal, unfortunately, hasn’t deterred some drivers who continue to get behind the wheel while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. According to the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), there were a total of 7,459 alcohol-related drunk driving accidents in 2007 alone, out of which 195 were fatal collisions. Based on this data, 3,394 people were injured out which 443 were serious injuries.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a DUI car accident in Washington State, you need the services of one of the experienced Seattle personal injury attorneys at the Bernard Law Firm, who has a successful track record holding drunk and negligent drivers accountable. Our skilled car accident lawyers will help you obtain compensation to cover medical expenses, lost wages, cost of hospitalization and even the high costs related to long-term care. Call Kirk Bernard at the Bernard Law Firm today to find out how we can help.

Source:http://www.kirotv.com/news/21595191/detail.html