Seattle Car Accident Attorneys

Seven people were injured in a car accident in Gig Harbor that involved 20 vehicles, the News Tribune reports. Dense fog and speed apparently caused this chain-reaction collision that involved 20 vehicles and about 40 people. No one suffered life-threatening injuries, according to Washington State Patrol officials. Drivers told officials that they couldn’t stop in time to avoid the collision because it was too foggy. Gig Harbor police as well as the Washington State Patrol officials are trying to determine what caused the chain reaction accident and who hit whom during the collision.

In any car accident that involves multiple vehicles or multiple victims, the accident investigation can get pretty complicated because there are several victims, witnesses and vehicles involved in the process. It could take weeks before the investigation is completed and authorities are able to determine who struck whom or what caused the accident and resulting injuries. In such cases, it is extremely important that you get an experienced car accident lawyer on your side right away. A skilled Seattle personal injury lawyer will help examine the evidence, stay on top of the official investigation and look out for your best interests. Before you talk to or settle for less with an insurance adjuster, please contact an experienced car accident attorney to find out more about your legal rights and options.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident in Seattle, please contact the experienced Washington personal injury attorneys with 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 to help you better understand your legal rights and options. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his skilled legal team today.

Source:http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/1007752.html

A 57-year-old man sustained fatal injuries in a car accident on Highway 195 as he attempted to drive across the highway from Mullen Hill. According to a news report in KHQ, the two-car collision took place when the motorist was hit by a pickup truck that was driving south on the highway. The truck driver only sustained minor injuries. According to the report, the speed limit on the highway is 55 mph. However, it can be quite risky to cross because of heavy traffic.

In cases where a dangerous roadway or poorly engineered roadway causes or contributes to an auto accident, the governmental agency responsible for maintaining that roadway could be held liable. Usually in such accidents, it is important to look into who had the right-of-way and assess the speed of the vehicles at the time of the collision. To obtain such physical evidence, it is critical that an accident reconstruction expert get to the scene as soon as possible, after the accident occurs and before the evidence is cleared away. Once the evidence is lost, it is impossible to make the determinations that could be critical to your personal injury or wrongful death claim.

The experienced Seattle personal injury lawyers at The Bernard Law Group have an auto reconstruction expert on staff who will get to an accident scene and expedite the investigative process. This is very important in the preservation of valuable evidence and so that you can obtain the best possible result in your case. Time is of the essence in every injury accident case and it is crucial that you get in touch with us as soon as possible.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured by a negligent driver, please contact the skilled Washington personal 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 brochure about auto accidents with useful and educational information that will help you better understand your legal rights and options. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his experienced legal team today.

Source:http://www.examiner.com/x-7460-Spokane-Headlines-Examiner~y2009m12d21-Man-dies-crossing-Highway-195-in-Eastern-Washington-State

An auto accident can turn a life upside down. A recent King5 news report talks about a 67-year-old Seattle restaurant owner and his 22-year-old son, who were seriously injured by a drunk driver who lost control of his car and pinned them on their own driveway. The older man sustained several fractures including some in his foot. His son lost his left leg and still remains in the hospital for treatment of his injuries.

As a result of the accident, the man had to close the Chinese restaurant he has been running in West Seattle for 22 years. His family says the restaurant was a “one-man operation” and won’t open until its owner is fit enough to get back on his feet and run it. Meanwhile, the family is raking up hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical bills while their only means of livelihood has been taken away from them, although temporarily.

This is only an example of how soon lives can change in the aftermath of an auto accident in Seattle. Although this accident was caused by the man believed to have been driving under the influence, it’s the injured, innocent victims who are paying the price for it. The driver will hopefully be prosecuted and held criminally and civilly responsible for his actions.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, please contact the experienced Seattle personal injury attorneys at 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 that will help you better understand your legal rights and options. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his aggressive legal team today.

Source:http://www.king5.com/news/local/One-man-restaurant-cant-open-after-owner-hit-by-alleged-drunk-driver-80525162.html

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

A 63-year-old man sustained fatal injuries in a car accident involving four vehicles near Highway 99 in Edmonds, Washington. According to a news report in the Seattle Times, the man was waiting at a stop light at 220th Avenue Southwest and 76th Avenue West when a pickup truck driven by a 68-year-old man rear-ended him. The impact from the collision set off a chain reaction crash involving two other cars. One other man suffered minor injuries and debris from the three cars flew into another vehicle causing some damage.

Rear-end car crashes can cause significant injuries, especially to the occupants of the vehicle that is rear-ended. The Bernard Law Group has successfully represented thousands of car accident victims, many of whom were victims of negligent drivers. Recently our Seattle personal injury lawyers obtained a policy limits settlement for a Bremerton woman who was rear-ended and sustained severe neck injuries that required fusion surgery. She was unable to return to work as a caregiver at a senior center.

If a negligent driver has seriously injured you or a loved one, please contact the skilled Washington auto accident attorneys with The Bernard Law Group for a comprehensive consultation. Call us at 1-800-418-8282 or e-mail us at info@bernardlawgroup.com to schedule your 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 experienced legal team today.

Source:http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/theblotter/2010516677_edmonds_man_fatally_injured_in.html?syndication=rss

Three people sustained critical injuries in a Seattle car accident after one car collided head-on with another vehicle. According to a KOMO news report, one of the vehicles, which was traveling south on 3rd Avenue NW crashed into an oncoming Mercedes on NW 137th. The driver and a passenger of the Mercedes had to be extricated from the wreckage and were transported to an area hospital with critical injuries. A person in the other car also sustained major injuries. Traffic investigators are still trying to determine what caused this serious injury car crash, but witnesses apparently, told officials that the other car was speeding before it struck the Mercedes.

In any car accident that involves reckless, speeding, impaired or negligent driving, the victims who were injured by the other individual’s negligence may be able to seek compensation for damages. In such car accidents, the consequences for victims can be extremely serious. Hospital bills and medical expenses pile up quickly. Loss of earnings can be significant, especially if the accident involves critical injuries where the victim has a long road to recovery. An auto accident may change the life of a victim and his or her family.

There are three components that form a personal injury claim. The first aspect is liability – who caused the accident and who is legally responsible. Secondly, the amount of damages to which you are legally entitled needs to be established. And finally, the determination has to be made as to where to collect the damages, specifically sources such as liability insurance or individual assets that are available for payment of damages.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, please contact the experienced Seattle personal injury attorneys at 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 with useful educational information that will help you in understanding your legal rights and options. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his skilled legal team today.

Source:http://www.komonews.com/news/local/79028262.html

A 16-year-old girl was fatally injured in a Washington car accident in Granite Falls, after the vehicle she was a passenger in, collided with an SUV. According to a news report in the Herald Net, the girl was in a Jeep Cherokee being driven by her brother, when a Toyota 4Runner attempting to pass the Jeep on a two-lane road, struck the Jeep. The girl was airlifted to a Seattle hospital in critical condition, but later succumbed to her injuries. Her brother sustained minor injuries and the driver of the 4Runner was uninjured. Authorities are apparently looking into whether speed and improper passing caused or contributed to this fatal car accident.

The Revised Code of Washington Section 46.61.110 spells out the rules that govern overtaking and passing of vehicle proceeding in the same direction. This section states: “The driver of a vehicle overtaking other traffic proceeding in the same direction shall pass to the left thereof at a safe distance and shall not again drive to the right side of the roadway until safely clear of the overtaken traffic.”

If your loved one has been fatally injured as a result of someone else’s negligence or as a result of a dangerous or defective roadway, you may be able to file a wrongful death claim against the negligent driver or the governmental agency responsible for maintaining the section of the roadway where the accident occurred. Please remember that there is a time limit to file these claims. So, it is important that you act quickly.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, please consult the skilled Seattle personal injury attorneys at The Bernard Law Group. You may contact us 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, that will help you better understand your legal rights and options – whether it is filing personal injury claims or wrongful death claims. Please contact Kirk Bernard and his experienced legal team today.

Source:http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20091210/NEWS01/712109894/0/COLUMN03

An elderly woman was killed in a Seattle car accident after the vehicle she was a passenger in, collided with another car. According to a news report in the Seattle Times, the victim was traveling in a Suzuki that crashed into a Toyota near the 3800 block of South Graham Street. The driver of the Suzuki and three other people in the Toyota were taken to a hospital. The driver of the Suzuki, officials say, was not under the influence. An investigation is ongoing.

In any car accident case involving two or more vehicles when negligence is suspected, it is very important to look into how or why the collision occurred. Who was at fault for the accident? Did it occur because one of the drivers failed to yield right-of-way? Was the accident caused by a driver who may have run a red light? These are violations of traffic laws and amount to negligence when it comes to a civil claim.

As a car accident victim, you may be able to seek compensation against the negligent party or the entity responsible for the causing the accident or injuries. Such compensation will usually cover medical expenses, loss of earnings, cost of hospitalization and other damages. If the negligence results in death, families of deceased auto accident victims can file wrongful death claims.

If you have been seriously injured in a Washington car accident, please contact an experienced Seattle personal injury attorney 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 about Washington auto accidents 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://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010436379_crash06m.html?syndication=rss

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