Auto Accident

A 2-month-old infant has suffered major injuries including, a skull fracture, after being ejected from a car during a car crash in Federal Way, Washington. According to a news report in The Seattle Times, the baby’s mother had removed her from a car sear and was feeding the girl in the front seat of Dodge Caravan headed north on Pacific Highway South, when a Mitsubishi pickup truck slammed into the back of the van. The baby was ejected on impact. The driver of the pickup, a 22-year-old Tacoma woman, was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving. The baby was transported to a Seattle hospital. Federal Way police officials say that the parents of the infant could face a fine for not placing the child in a car seat.

This is an extremely tragic accident. It is unfortunate that the parents of this infant girl took her out of the car seat when the vehicle was in motion. However, the car accident occurred as a result of a suspected drunk driver rear-ending the Dodge Caravan. In Washington State, driving under the influence of any intoxicant – alcohol or drugs – is illegal. It is also against the law to drive with a blood alcohol level of 0.08 percent or higher.

Innocent victims of DUI accidents in Washington State may file a claim seeking compensation to cover medical costs, rehabilitation expenses, cost of therapy or long-term care, should the accident result in catastrophic injuries. Drunk drivers could not only face criminal charges, but also be held civilly liable for the accident and resulting injuries.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured by a negligent driver, please contact the experienced personal Seattle injury attorneys with The Bernard Law Group for a free and comprehensive consultation. Call us at 1-800-418-8282 or e-mail us at info@bernardlawgroup.com for a FREE consultation. We can also send you our FREE informational brochure about auto accidents with useful educational information that will help you understand your legal rights and options. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his knowledgeable legal team today.

Source:http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010531831_webinfantinjured17m.html?prmid=obnetwork

The wintry weather is playing a part in a number of Washington car accidents. Icy road conditions are especially dangerous and affect drivers of all vehicle types. Such winter weather conditions are said to be responsible for a rollover car accident in the San Juans where two utility company employees were injured after their pickup truck hit a patch of ice, lost control and crashed. According to a report in the Journal of the San Juans, the vehicle crashed as it was accelerating on a straightaway near an intersection. The pickup slid into a ditch along an embankment and rolled on its side before coming to a stop. Both men were wearing seatbelts, which officials say, saved them for suffering catastrophic injuries.

In cases where vehicle accidents occur on-the-job, employees could claim workers compensation benefits from their employer. In single vehicle crashes, it is also important to look into whether an auto product defect or mechanical malfunction played a part in the vehicle’s loss of control. If it did cause or contribute to the accident and injuries, then the auto maker or the manufacturer of the defective auto product could also be held liable for the accident and resulting injuries.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a Washington car accident, please contact the skilled Seattle personal injury attorneys of The Bernard Law Group at 1-800-418-8282 or info@bernardlawgroup.com for a FREE, comprehensive and confidential consultation. We can also send you our FREE informational brochure, which has useful, educational information about car accident cases that will help you better understand your legal rights and options. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his knowledgeable legal team today.

Source:http://www.seattlepi.com/sound/413573_sound79917757.html

Hundreds of thousands of 15-passenger vans that are defectively designed and potentially deadly are still in operation and on our roadways. These vans have been labeled dangerous by federal safety officials more than a decade ago especially because of their propensity to rollover when they are fully loaded. As of July 1, 2007, there were over 500,000 vans with 15-passenger capacity registered in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. The Baker City Herald reports that two models made up a vast majority of the total: Ford Econo Club E-350 (model years 1978-2007) and the Dodge B350-3500 (model years 1981-2002). Of the remaining 15-passenger vans, most were made by General Motors and sold under the Chevy or GM brand names.

According to federal officials, 15-passenger vans are involved in a higher number of single-vehicle accidents including rollovers, than other passenger vehicles. Based on reports of van accidents that happened between 1991 and 2000, about 52 percent of 15-passenger vans involved in single-vehicle, fatal accidents were rollover crashes compared to 33 percent of passenger vehicles involved in rollovers. Also, 81 percent of the 15-passenger van occupant fatalities occur in single-vehicle rollover accidents. Auto safety researchers have also determined that 15-passenger vans carrying 10 or more people are three times likelier to roll in a crash, than vans carrying fewer than 10 passengers.

Clearly, these are defective autos that should have been taken off our roadways, but continue to operate. Accidents involving 15-passenger vans often cause serious injuries including brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, broken bones, paralysis and even death. If you or a loved one has been injured in a 15-passenger van accident, please contact the skilled Seattle personal injury attorneys at The Bernard Law Firm. Call 1-800-418-8282 or send an email to info@bernardlawgroup.com to schedule a FREE comprehensive and confidential consultation that we will provide at no cost to you. We can also send you our FREE informational brochure that has useful and educational information that will help you in understanding your legal rights. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his experienced legal team today.

Source:http://www.bakercityherald.com/Local-News/Vans-on-the-road

Two men sustained injuries in a head-on collision on Highway 308 in Polusbo, Washington. According to a news report in the Kitsap Sun, a 25-year-old man driving a Ford Probe east on the highway near Scandia Road, crossed the center line and struck a 2005 Lexus driven by a 58-year-old man. Both men were taken to the hospital with injuries. Washington State Patrol troopers said the 25-year-old man was cited for crossing the center line and causing the crash. Both men were wearing seatbelts and authorities do not believe that alcohol or drugs were involved.

Washington vehicle accidents often occur because of someone’s negligence – because of inattention, recklessness, speeding, distractions (use of cell phone or texting), falling asleep at the wheel or driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. If you have been injured in a car accident as a result of someone else’s negligence, please get an experienced Washington car accident attorney on your case immediately.

In cases where negligence or wrongdoing is involved, Washington auto accident victims could seek compensation to cover medical expenses, loss of earnings, cost of hospitalization, rehabilitation, therapy and other related damages. But recovery of damages will be extremely challenging if you do not get an experienced, resourceful Seattle personal injury attorney on your case right away. Waiting for too long to contact an attorney can destroy valuable evidence and weaken your personal injury claim.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, please contact the experienced Seattle personal injury attorneys at The Bernard Law Firm. Call 1-800-418-8282 or send an email to info@bernardlawgroup.com to schedule a FREE comprehensive and confidential consultation that we will provide at no cost to you. We can also send you our FREE informational brochure that has useful and educational information that will help you in understanding your legal rights. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his skilled legal team today.

Source:http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/dec/02/two-injured-in-north-kitsap-crash/?partner=yahoo_feeds

A number of Washington car accidents result in traumatic brain injuries. These are catastrophic injuries that can leave a victim injured or disabled for life. A traumatic brain injury is a severe injury to the head, which results in serious and often irreversible damage to the brain. A person may become paralyzed or suffer loss of voluntary and involuntary motor functions, loss of reasoning abilities, memory loss and sensory loss.

A 17-month-old boy recently sustained life-threatening injuries in a car accident on Highway 3. The accident occurred when the 25-year-old driver of the car turned onto Highway 3 on November 13, 2009 and the car collided with another vehicle. The driver died at the scene, while the toddler was taken to a Seattle hospital where doctors are now telling the family that the boy may have suffered brain damage from a head injury. The boy will very likely suffer memory loss and may have difficulty walking and talking again.

If a traumatic brain injury is the result of a car accident caused by someone else’s negligence, the victim or his family may be able to seek compensation for medical expenses, cost of hospitalization, rehabilitation and any long-term care that may be necessary.

If you or a loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injury, please consult the experienced Seattle personal injury lawyers with The Bernard Law Group. Our car accident lawyers have helped numerous injured victims and their families obtain fair compensation for their injuries, damages and loss. Call 1-800-418-8282 or email us at info@bernardlawgroup.com to receive a FREE comprehensive and confidential consultation that we will provide at no cost to you. We will also send you a FREE informational brochure that has helpful and educational information that will assist you in fully understanding your legal rights. Contact Kirk Bernard and his skilled legal team today.

Source:http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20091124/NEWS01/711249915/0/section

A 47-year-old maintenance worker sustained serious injuries in a Bellevue car accident after a car struck him. According to a news report in the Bellevue Reporter, the man was blowing leaves in the 1700 block of 112th Avenue when a car struck him and sped away from the scene. The victim was thrown about 25 feet from the point of impact. The man had apparently parked a maintenance truck partially in the roadway as he worked.

Police are looking for witnesses who may have seen this crash or auto body shops that might come across a vehicle matching the description of the suspect car. Officials say there should be damage to the passenger side front quarter panel and the passenger side windshield. The man was rushed to a Seattle hospital with life-threatening injuries. He is listed in serious condition.

In Washington State, it is a serious crime to leave the scene of an accident. A motorist is required under the law to remain at the scene of an accident, exchange information relating to insurance and identification. In the case of an injury accident, a motorist must also do what he or she can to get immediate help for the injured person.

According to the Revised Code of Washington Section 46.52.020: “A driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting in the injury to or death of any person or involving striking the body of a deceased person shall immediately stop such vehicle at the scene of such accident or as close thereto as possible but shall then forthwith return to, and in every event remain at, the scene of such accident.”

Victims of car accidents involving negligent drivers would be well-advised to seek counsel from one of the experienced Seattle personal injury attorneys with The Bernard Law Group, who will explore all avenues to get compensation for the injured victims. Car accident victims and their families undergo tremendous stress financially because of the medical expenses and loss of wages typically associated with an injury car accident. Call Kirk Bernard and his legal team today for a free comprehensive consultation and evaluation of your Bellevue car accident claim.

Source:http://www.seattlepi.com/sound/412181_sound69874332.html?source=rss

As Seattle car accident lawyers who have represented injured victims for more than 20 years, we know that a number of Washington car accidents occur because of driver negligence. Many times, this negligence amounts to not following traffic laws such as stopping at a red light or a stop sign. Such violations caused by driver inattention or recklessness can cause catastrophic injuries or death.

A recent news report in the Yakima Herald Republic has details about a collision caused by a driver running a stop sign, which killed a 75-year-old man. The report stated that a 35-year-old woman failed to stop at a stop sign, came through the intersection and struck the elderly man, who was driving a 2003 Mercury Marquis. The man was pronounced dead at the scene while the woman and her two passengers were taken to an area hospital with injuries. The accident is still under investigation. However, Washington State Patrol troopers believe that drugs or alcohol may have played a part in this fatal car accident. Everyone involved in this collision was buckled up.

Washington law requires all drivers to obey traffic signals, stop signs and other traffic control devices. According to the Revised Code of Washington Section 46.61.050: “The driver of any vehicle, every bicyclist, and every pedestrian shall obey the instructions of any official traffic control device applicable thereto placed in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, unless otherwise directed by a traffic or police officer, subject to the exception granted the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle in this chapter.”

The woman in this case was in violation of this law. If she is found to have been under the influence, that would be an even more serious violation of the law and she could face criminal charges such as vehicular homicide or manslaughter. Where negligence or wrongdoing is concerned, families of deceased car accident victims can file a wrongful death claim against the at-fault party seeking compensation for funeral expenses, loss of earnings and other related damages.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a Washington car accident, please contact the experienced Seattle personal injury attorneys with The Bernard Law Group, who will fight for your rights and make sure you are fairly compensated for your terrible loss. Call Kirk Bernard and his skilled legal team today for a free and comprehensive consultation.

Source:http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2009/11/14/web-fatalcrash

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