Personal Injury

Three people were hospitalized with injuries due to a Seattle car accident, which police say was caused by a street race. According to a news report on King5 News, one car struck another. As a result of the collision, both cars overturned. The driver of one of the cars was arrested for racing on a public roadway. The driver he hit and two passengers were transported to a local hospital for treatment of their injuries.

Street racing is apparently a huge problem in Kent, Washington because of its wide streets and long, straight stretches of roadways. Last year alone, police arrested 100 street racers in Kent. Some of the races reach extremely high speeds – between 80 and 100 mph, officials say. The city has taken several steps to put the brakes on racers including speed bumps. They have combined that with tougher enforcement and tighter laws. So far, they say it seems to be working well and has brought the number of incidents down.

Seattle car accident attorneys know that street racing on a public roadway is a crime anywhere in Washington State. According to the Revised Code of Washington section 46.61.530: “No person or persons may race any motor vehicle or motor vehicles upon any public highway of this state. Any person or persons who willfully compare or contest relative speeds by operation of one or more motor vehicles shall be guilty of racing, which shall constitute reckless driving under RCW 46.61.500, whether or not such speed is in excess of the maximum speed prescribed by law.”

Street racing amounts to negligence. If you or a loved one has been injured by a negligent driver in Washington State, please contact the experienced Washington 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 brochure, which has useful and educational information to help you understand your legal rights and options. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his skilled legal team today.

Source:http://www.king5.com/news/local/4-injured–84595142.html

A man sustained serious injuries after his vehicle went over a curb and hit a fire hydrant, a KOMO News article reports. The injury crash occurred in the 2400 block of East Marginal Way in Seattle. The man had to be extricated from his Kia Sportage SUV, which came to rest against a fence. He was transported to a local hospital for treatment of his injuries. His condition or the extent of his injuries was not disclosed at the time of the article’s release.

Many of us read about auto accidents in news reports on a daily basis. However, as an experienced Washington auto accident lawyer, Kirk Bernard and several other readers are familiar with why most news reports do not tell us how or why an accident occurred. In many cases, officials are still investigating the accident. In such incidents, it is important for the victim or victim’s family to get an experienced lawyer quickly on their side to make sure a fair investigation is being conducted and all possibilities are being analyzed.

In this particular accident, some of the important factors that need to be considered include vehicle defects, mechanical failure, involvement of other vehicles and a dangerous or defective roadway. Depending on who or what caused the accident, the victim may be able to file a claim for compensation. If the accident was caused by a defective auto, an auto products liability claim may be filed against the auto maker or the manufacturer of the defective product. If another driver’s negligence caused the accident, then that individual could be held liable. If a dangerous roadway condition is a factor, then the city or the governmental agency that has jurisdiction over that roadway, could be held responsible for failing to maintain a safe roadway.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a Washington auto accident, please contact the experienced Seattle car accident 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 brochure, which has useful, educational information about Washington car accident cases to help you understand your legal rights and options. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his skilled legal team today.

Source:http://georgetown.komonews.com/content/man-injured-early-morning-crash-e-marginal-way

Investigators in Yakima say a driver may have been intoxicated when he drove his 2003 BMW X5 into oncoming traffic, thus injuring seven people. According to a news report in the Yakima Herald-Republic, the driver of the BMW was speeding west on Lincoln Avenue in Yakima when he crossed the double yellow line and slammed into a GMC Envoy. Both drivers were injured, as were five passengers between the ages of 11 and 72. Thankfully, nobody sustained critical or life-threatening injuries, but several were taken to the hospital.

Driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs is a serious crime in Washington State. In Washington, it is against the law to drive with a blood alcohol content of 0.08 percent or higher. When a drunk driver causes an injury accident, he or she can be held financially responsible for medical expenses and other costs incurred by the victims or their families. In such cases, injured victims can seek compensation to cover medical expenses, loss of wages, cost of hospitalization as well as any physical therapy or rehabilitation that is needed for treatment of accident-related injuries.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident caused by a drunk driver, please contact the experienced Washington 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 brochure, which has useful and educational information 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.yakima-herald.com/stories/2010/01/28/several-hurt-in-lincoln-avenue-crash

Officials are warning pedestrians about following traffic laws after a 14-year-old boy was struck and seriously injured on Beverly Park near the Mukilteo Speedway. According to a news report in the Herald Net, officials say the boy may have been jaywalking at the time of the collision. He is recovering in a Seattle hospital. Officials say that both pedestrians and drivers should be careful and watch out for each other on the roadway.

Authorities say that number of Washington students walk to school in near darkness in the morning or return home later in the afternoon, when visibility is limited. They also see that they have seen a number of drivers recently operating with burned-out headlights. Drivers need to make sure that their vehicles are properly maintained and that they drive at a speed that is safe for the conditions. That said, it is also important for pedestrians to take safety measures such as wearing reflective clothing, staying away from distractions such as cell phones or texting or not paying attention to traffic lights.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a pedestrian accident caused by a negligent driver, we can help. 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 Washington pedestrian accident cases to help you understand your legal rights and options. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his skilled legal team today.

Source:http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20100111/NEWS01/701119954/0/multimedia

A 53-year-old man was fatally injured in a Washington car accident after his car was hit by a sport utility vehicle at a Kent intersection. According to the News Tribune, the driver of the car was trying to go north on North Washington Avenue from Morton Avenue. Officials say he did not yield right-of-way to an oncoming SUV and was hit as a result. The man was taken to a Seattle hospital where he died shortly after the crash. The driver of the SUV was also injured and taken to a hospital.

Right-of-way is a crucial issue in many Washington auto accidents that involve serious personal injuries. The law is very specific when it comes to vehicles turning left at street intersections. According to the Revised Code of Washington Section 46.61.185: “The driver of a vehicle intending to turn to the left within an intersection or into an alley, private road, or driveway shall yield the right-of-way to any vehicle approaching from the opposite direction which is within the intersection or so close thereto as to constitute an immediate hazard.” In such cases, the at-fault driver could be held liable for the accident and resulting injuries.

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 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/1023208.html

A 21-year-old Wapato, Washington woman was killed in a car accident after she lost control of her Ford Crown Victoria and crashed into a concrete barrier on the U.S. Highway 97. According to a news report in the Yakima Herald, the woman’s car struck the end of a concrete barrier that divides the opposing lanes between the intersections in that area, Washington State Patrol troopers said. Investigators are still looking into what caused the accident. Officials believe that the woman was not wearing a seatbelt and say they still do not know whether alcohol or drugs were involved.

Car accidents may occur due to many causes. In winter weather especially, dangerous roadway conditions could contribute to a car accident. Collisions may occur due to negligent drivers. A single-car accident could also occur if the vehicle experiences some type of malfunction or has an auto product defect that triggers the malfunction. In any car accident, if an auto product defect is suspected, it is very important that the vehicle be preserved so an accident reconstruction expert can examine it for any defects or malfunctions.

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

Source:http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2009/12/09/toppenish-woman-killed-in-early-morning-crash

Five Spokane high school students were injured after another vehicle t-boned them at an intersection. According to a news report, police said the driver of the car with the students was at fault for either driving through a stop sign or not seeing the northbound Ford Bronco coming through the intersection. The female driver of the car sustained the most serious injuries. Three other students were injured and two sustained major, but not life-threatening injuries. The fifth student was uninjured. The driver of the Bronco sustained what were described as minor injuries.

Broadside crashes or t-bone crashes that occur typically at street intersections are among the deadlier types of auto accidents. They can cause major injuries to vehicle occupants, as we saw in this Spokane car accident. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that the deadliest side-angle crashes in the year 2005 were broadside crashes. These types of traffic collisions typically occur at right angles, which is why they are known as “t-bone” crashes. According to the NHTSA, about 62 percent of all fatal side-angle crashes each year are broadside or t-bone accidents.

The Seattle car accidents attorneys at the Bernard Law Firm have recently obtained several settlements on behalf of clients in exactly these types of broadside crashes. Most recently obtained was a policy limits settlement for a Federal Way, Washington woman who was t-boned by a vehicle that ran a red light at Southcenter, Washington. The victim sustained neck, back and left shoulder strains requiring physical and massage therapy. She was also diagnosed with bulging discs in her neck requiring nerve root block injections as well as bursitis and tendinitis in her left shoulder. A lot of times these injuries do not surface until days after the car accident. That is why it is extremely important that you undergo a thorough physical examination if you have been in a car accident although you may “feel fine” at first.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, 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 Washington auto accident cases that will help you better understand your legal rights and options. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his skilled legal team today.

Source:http://www.nwcn.com/news/washington/Four-Spokane-HS-students-hurt-in-morning-wreck-78696747.html#

A 47-year-old man, who caused a serious traffic accident near Monroe in September, has tested positive for seven drugs including methamphetamine, morphine, marijuana and powerful sleep and anti-anxiety medicines, according to a Herald news report. The man was apparently the driver of a Toyota 4Runner SUV the morning of September 21, 2009, when he swerved across the center line and struck another oncoming SUV. The man his passenger sustained injuries. The driver of the other SUV, a 53-year-old Snohomish man, suffered serious injuries in the crash and now lives with a disability that makes it difficult for him to walk and even go about his everyday work, the newspaper reports.

The Revised Code of Washington Section 46.61.502 states: “A person is guilty of driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug if the person drives a vehicle within this state:
(a) And the person has, within two hours after driving, an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or higher as shown by analysis of the person’s breath or blood made under RCW 46.61.506; or
(b) While the person is under the influence of or affected by intoxicating liquor or any drug; or
(c) While the person is under the combined influence of or affected by intoxicating liquor and any drug.

If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of a negligent driver or a driver who was operating under the influence of drugs or alcohol or a combination of both, you could seek compensation to cover medical expenses, loss of pay, loss of future earnings, physical therapy and cost of other continued treatment and care.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, please contact the experienced 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 brochure, which has useful and educational information that will help you better understand your legal rights and options. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his skilled legal team today.

Source:http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20091230/NEWS01/712309837/0/ENT04

A 46-year-old Spokane man suffered injuries in an SUV rollover accident on the Interstate 90 in Ellensburg, Washington. According to a news report in the Yakima Herald-Republic, the man was traveling east on the Interstate 90 when his 1996 Ford Explorer SUV left the roadway, rolled over and landed on its wheels. The man was wearing a seatbelt. He sustained head and back injuries, according to Washington State Patrol officials.

Rollover accidents can cause devastating injuries to vehicle occupants. During a rollover accident, a vehicle overturns on its side or roof. While any type of vehicle can be involved in a rollover crash, vehicles such as SUVs, because of their higher center of gravity and narrow track width, have a greater tendency to roll or tip over. This can happen even at normal speeds, especially on wet or icy roads. The injuries in such accidents can be particularly serious when they involve SUVs such as the Ford Explorer, which are notorious for their instability and poor roof strength.

If you have suffered serious injuries as a result of vehicle defects or design defects, you need an experienced Seattle personal injury lawyer on your side. You need a resourceful auto product defect law firm that has successfully represented injured clients against large auto makers.

If your loved one has been seriously injured by a defective auto, please contact the reputed Washington auto products liability lawyers at The Bernard Law Firm to find out about your legal rights and options. Please call us at 1-800-418-8282 or e-mail us at info@bernardlawgroup.com to schedule your FREE, comprehensive and confidential consultation. We can also send you our FREE informational brochure about Washington auto product defect cases, which has useful, educational information to help you better understand your rights. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his skilled legal team today.

Source:http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2010/01/18/driver-injured-in-rollover-east-of-ellensburg

A new proposed bill aims to make cell phone use a primary offense in Washington State. According to a KING 5 news report, currently, police officers and Washington State Patrol officers can only issue cell phone tickets after another offense such as running a red light or speeding. Under this bill proposed by State Senator Tracey Eide, cell phone use by a driver would become a primary offense. This means you can be pulled over, and receive a citation just for using a handheld cell phone while driving. The bill would also ban texting while driving. The bill will be introduced at the start of the legislative session.

Driver distractions are the leading cause of most vehicle crashes and near crashes, according to a recent study released by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI). The study states that 80 percent of crashes and 65 percent of near crashes involve some form of driver distraction. In a majority of these incidents, the distraction occurs within three seconds of the auto accident.

Distracted driving does amount to negligence. If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of a distracted driver, you could seek compensation to cover your injuries, damages and losses. If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident in Washington, please contact the experienced Seattle 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 understand your legal rights and options. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his skilled legal team today.

Source:http://www.king5.com/news/Cell-Phone-Proposal-80484167.html