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Car Accidents
3 Reasons to Hire Phillips Webster

Our attorneys have decades of experience negotiating with insurance companies regarding all types of vehicle accidents. If you have been injured in a wreck, contact us today.

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Archive for November, 2009

Kelso Teen Injured in Rose Valley Rd Rollover Accident

Accident Injuries, Car Crash, Rollover Accident, Washington Accidents

November 20th, 2009: Washington Legal

The Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a one-car rollover accident that occurred in the 2100 block of Rose Valley Road in Kelso at 1:26 p.m. Thursday.

According to the sheriff’s office, a 17-year-old Kelso girl driving a westbound 1990 Nissan Sentra lost control on a curve, slid across the roadway and rolled over against an embankment on the eastbound shoulder. Speed appears to have been a factor in the crash and all occupants used proper safety restraints, according to the sheriff’s office.

The driver complained she was having back and hip pain and was taken by Life Flight helicopter to Southwest Washington Medical Center in Vancouver.

Increased speeds can sometimes lead to deadly collisions. With greater speeds comes less time to respond to immediate changes. Weather, road conditions, distractions all play major factors, but when a driver increases their speed all factors take an even greater pivotal role in the ability the driver to drive safely.

In the event of an accident, it is common to experience neck and hip pain. At increased speeds the body reacts differently—usually more trauma is experienced. Extreme pressure on the joints, back and neck all result from accidents. In the event of a car accident it is important to recognize the injuries immediately after the occurrence, but, equally as important, accident victims should stay on the lookout for traumatic injuries in the days following.

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Posted in Auto Accidents

Wapato Car Accident

November 16th, 2009: Washington Legal

WEST OF WAPATO–A 65-year-old Toppenish man has died from his injuries a day after he’s in a car accident west of Wapato. The driver of the other car is in stable condition at Toppenish Community Hospital.
State patrol says Rogelio Norris died shortly before 2:00 a.m. Saturday. On Friday, troopers say he blew through a stop sign on Branch Road. The other driver, heading south on Lateral A, didn’t have a stop sign and rammed Norris’ car.
This type of rear-end accident can happen to anyone. While this example occurred in the small town of Wapato, the fact is stop sign intersections are everywhere. In Washington state’s larger cities, such as Seattle and Spokane, the outlying neighborhoods often have poorly marked intersections. With winter storms and snow beginning to make its presence known, drivers should take heed and double-check intersections before proceeding. Sometimes poor visibility due to rain or long, wispy branches of evergreen trees can make it difficult to identity four-way intersections from two-way intersections. The difference can, as in this case, be between life and death.
If you find yourself involved in a rear-end car accident, do not take a chance. Call Phillips & Webster.

Posted in Auto Accidents

Sunnyside Accident

November 11th, 2009: Washington Legal

Sunnyside, Washington, a sleepy town that has played witness to three fatal car accidents over this weekend, is issuing a message: “You don’t have to drive. If you drink stay home. Drink responsibly. That’s what we need to do.”

Over the weekend a Saturday evening car accident on State Route 24, north of Sunnyside, sent two to Harborview Medical Center. The crash came less than 24 hours after a 20 and a 21-year-old died in separate accidents on Interstate 82 and Van Belle Road. Troopers believe alcohol played a factor in both collisions. Washington state troopers say the end of harvest season may be linked to the recent increase in accidents. As reported by KNDO, there’s not as much work out there, so people aren’t having to get up early the next morning and go to work,” Trooper Darin Foster said. He believes the lack of work leads to more drinking and thus, more drunk driving. With the holidays coming up, unsafe driving may become even more of a problem. Troopers say the best idea is to stay off the road late at night.
With the holiday season quickly approaching, families will be traveling across the mountain passes. Winter weather will increase it presence making driving more difficult. Nasty weather, coupled with a festive atmosphere, means drivers must stay alert. If you find yourself involved in a car accident, please consider Phillips & Webster for your legal needs.

Posted in Auto Accidents

Columbia River Car Accident

November 6th, 2009: Washington Legal

Highway 197, which runs along the beautiful Columbia River Gorge, was the site of a deadly and ugly accident on Sunday. A 37-year-old woman from The Dalles died at the scene when her car ran into the back of another vehicle at the intersection of Bret Clodfelter Way and Highway 197 Sunday night. Pronounced dead at the scene was Diana Mary Graves of The Dalles. An Oregon State Police report said both vehicles involved were westbound on Bret Clodfelter Way. A 2005 Toyota operated by Katherine Ann Jindrich, La Grande, had stopped at the intersection with the highway. Graves’ 1996 Toyota Corolla ran into the back of the stopped car. The report said the impact was so severe that both vehicles crossed Highway 197 and ended up on Lone Pine Drive. Highway 197 was closed for some time until the accident was cleared.

This is an example of how a rear-end accident can go wrong and become deadly in an instant. Highway intersections, which litter the east side of the state, are especially dangers due to the need of vehicles to accelerate to high speeds quickly. Often, vehicles are rear-ended as drivers approach the intersection pushing the vehicle into two lanes of 55mph+ oncoming traffic. The relatively rural area can make fast response times difficult sometimes delaying important medical care.

If you or someone you love has been injured or worse in such an accident, you need to secure the help of a Washington auto accidents lawyer today to help you fight for your rights. Contact Phillips & Webster today to schedule a free initial consultation.

Posted in Uncategorized

Deadly Crash on Highway 12

November 5th, 2009: Washington Legal

Two weeks ago, Daniel Varela was cited in Walla Walla District Court for second-degree negligent driving. The 19-year-old has until today to respond to the infraction, either by paying the fine or contesting it and requesting a hearing. Varela, who is accused of negligent driving, was involved in a car accident that killed two teenagers, Jorge Daniel Mendez, 17, and his older brother Jesus Jaime “JJ” Mendez, 19 on Halloween of last year. The three teens were westbound on Highway 12 turning left onto Humorist Road when they were hit by a semi-truck hauling apples and pears that was traveling east on the highway, officials said.
Second-degree negligent driving is a traffic infraction and subject to a $250 fine, according to state law.
Conflicting witness statements led investigators to conclude it was “extremely likely” Varela had a red light when he turned left and “highly likely” that the semi driver, James Kooch, 61, of Hermiston, entered the intersection on a yellow light, according to WSP reports. No citations were issued against Kooch because it is legal to enter a controlled intersection on a yellow light, investigators said.
Details are muddied and the case is far from clear, however, this story demonstrates the ever-present danger of high-speed two lane freeways. Humorist road, a large intersection on the high traveled route between Pasco and Walla Walla, is just one of a number of smaller roads the jut off of Highway 12. The agriculture center of the state makes the freeway heavily trafficked by large semi-trucks, but it also serves as a main thoroughfare for residents of the nearby tri-cities and Walla Walla area. This combination often puts drivers of smaller vehicles at risk with potential deadly consequences.
If you or someone you love has been injured or worse in such an accident, you need to secure the help of a Washington auto accidents lawyer today to help you fight for your rights. Contact Phillips & Webster today to schedule a free initial consultation.

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Posted in Auto Accidents

Aggressive Driving

aggressive driving, auto accident, commercial rig, crashes, Interstate 405, school bus, semi-truck collision, Snohomish County

November 3rd, 2009: Washington Legal

Halloween has come and gone, but here is a scary fact: In Snohomish County, eight of the crashes in the past two weeks involved a commercial rig, and three involved a semi-truck colliding with a school bus.

A rash of recent accidents in Snohomish County has the Washington State Patrol concerned about negligent and aggressive driving Last week, on Interstate 405, two patrol cars were struck in two separate incidents within six hours of each other.

Aggressive driving can lead to irrational and sometimes dangerous driving. Following too closely, distracted driving and unsafe lane changes are amplified as causes of auto accidents as the Northwest winter sets in. Trooper Sackman, interviewed by KOMO News, noted “Within three weeks, I went to three accidents involving commercial vehicles into school buses. And with all three of them, it was pretty much identical. … It was inattention, following too close, not leaving enough following distance.”

The State Patrol plans to be more aggressive in nabbing aggressive drivers. If you find yourself involved in a freeway accident caused by aggressive and unsafe driving, you need to secure the help of a Washington auto accidents lawyer today to help you fight for your rights. Contact Phillips & Webster today to schedule a free initial consultation.

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Posted in Auto Accidents

Understanding Washington Motorcycle Safety

fatalities, helmet laws, Washington motorcycle accident attorneys, Washington motorcycle accident lawyers, Washington motorcycle safety

November 3rd, 2009: Washington Law Blogger

Motorcycle safety is an issue in Washington that continues to be seen as a problem by those charged with protecting the safety of all motorists on the state’s roads. When looking at the statistics, it’s no wonder to find that the state government continues to make every effort to promote safety in regards to these vehicles, as Washington motorcycle accident lawyers are constantly fielding inquiries and calls for help when someone is injured or killed in such an accident in Washington.

Specifically, the statistics that are kept by the Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC) show that the number of fatalities that occur as a result of motorcycle accidents continues to hold steady. Consider the fatalities recorded in Washington in previous years:

  • 2005 – 74
  • 2006 – 80
  • 2007 – 68
  • 2008 – 81
  • 2009 – 62 (through September)

As a result of these records, the government is working to provide information for all motorists designed to protect those who ride motorcycles. This information includes every type of data imaginable, including the months in which the highest number of motorcycle accident fatalities occur, which is in the summer months as well as the time of day in which these tragedies tend to unfold. Almost 75% of fatality-causing motorcycle accidents occur between the hours of 1 p.m. and 1 a.m.

Aside from general awareness that’s occurring in the form of publicity campaigns, literature dissemination and seminars around the state, the legislature has also gotten involved by enacting tougher motorcycle helmet laws that require all riders on these vehicles to wear helmets that meet federal safety guideline standards. Generally, the government is pushing hard to stem the tide of motorcycle accidents and fatalities.

In the meantime, those who are harmed as a result of motorcycle accidents in Washington need to understand that there is still recourse available to them in many situations. Regardless of the efforts made by the government, the troubling statistics or the laws either currently on the books or in the early stages of passage, anyone who is wrongfully injured or worse in these types of accidents still has the recourse of civil liability available.

If you or someone you love has been injured or worse in such an incident, you need to contact the Washington motorcycle accident attorneys at Phillips & Webster today to schedule a free initial consultation.

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Posted in Motorcycle Accidents