Kirk Bernard

An 11-year-old boy was seriously injured in a Seattle pedestrian accident after he was struck by a pickup truck, while walking in a crosswalk. According to a news report in Whidbey News Times, the sixth grader was walking to school in a marked crosswalk when he was hit by a 1985 GMC truck. The driver apparently told police that he was unable to stop in time to avoid the collision. The boy sustained serious, but non-life threatening injuries, including a broken femur and a fractured clavicle. Police say the driver of the truck could face a charge of failing to yield to a pedestrian.

Washington State Law requires motorists to yield right-of-way to pedestrians in crosswalks. According to the Revised Code of Washington Section 46.61.235: “The operator of an approaching vehicle shall stop and remain stopped to allow a pedestrian or bicycle to cross the roadway within an unmarked or marked crosswalk when the pedestrian or bicycle is upon or within one lane of the half of the roadway upon which the vehicle is traveling or onto which it is turning.”

In cases where negligent driving is involved, victims could seek compensation to cover medical expenses, cost of hospitalization, physical therapy and other related damages. The at-fault party in a car accident could be held liable for the victim’s injuries, damages and loss. An experienced Seattle personal injury lawyer will be able to advise injured pedestrian accident victims about their legal rights and options.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a Washington car accident or a pedestrian accident, please contact the skilled and tenacious personal injury lawyers with The Bernard Law Group. Kirk Bernard and his dedicated legal team will make sure that your rights are protected and that you receive fair compensation to cover all your accident-related expenses.

Source:http://www.seattlepi.com/sound/412598_sound71879197.html?source=rss

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

One person was killed and two others were injured in a Washington car accident that involved several vehicles, after one of the drivers speeded and ran a red light, according to a KOMO news report. A sport utility vehicle ran through a stop light and crashed into another car, the report said. The impact of the accident caused the SUV to become airborne and slam down on an Audi. One of the SUV’s occupants died at the scene. Two others – one person in the SUV and another in the Audi were also injured. The others in the SUV tried to run away from the scene. Police caught up with one, but are looking for several others including the driver of the SUV, who apparently caused this fatal car accident.

The driver of the SUV, in this case, seems to have violated several traffic laws. This individual, according to officials, was speeding, ran through a red light and after the accident, fled from the scene. This individual no doubt will face criminal charges, but it is important that such negligent drivers in these types of cases be held civilly liable for the injuries and damages that result.

The skilled Seattle personal injury attorneys at The Bernard Law Group have represented numerous victims who have been seriously hurt as a result of negligent drivers. For more than two decades, we have aggressively fought for the rights of injured victims in order to secure the justice and compensation they rightfully deserve. If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of a negligent driver, please call Kirk Bernard and his legal team at The Bernard Law Group to find out how we can help.

Source:http://www.komonews.com/news/74432222.html

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