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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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Posts Tagged ‘personal injury attorney’

Washington Personal Injury Lawyers: 2 Teens Seek Apology After Being Hit by DUI Driver

DUI accident, personal injury, personal injury attorney, washington personal injury lawyer

July 28th, 2010: Law Blogger

10th and Walnut in SpokaneSeeking an apology from drunk drivers is something that some victims choose to do and some victims just seek justice. But when it comes to DUI, some victims aren’t alive to hear it. In the case of two teenage girls in Spokane, they not only are luckily alive to hear it, they welcome it.

Nikki Hart, 15, says she was walking with her friend on 10th and Walnut on the South Hill of Spokane on Saturday when they were both hit by a truck.

According to police, the two girls were hit by a drunk driver named Mark Bear Dog, who they say was also under the influence of marijuana and admitted to them he was driving drunk.

Witnesses said that Bear Dog was driving his ford F-250 pickup, going about 30-35 mph and made no attempt to stop.

The girls were rushed to the hospital with personal injuries and the suspect went to jail. Now Nikki says she wants an apology.

“My friend doesn’t remember what happened and I do and it just makes it, I think pretty scary,” she said.

Hart came home from the hospital Tuesday afternoon. She says her jaw is hurting, she still feels pain in her hip and neck, and is scraped up from head to toe.

Nikki’s parents hope that the girl’s harrowing ordeal will cause others to think twice before driving under the influence.

“I could have lost my daughter, and I had to go to the hospital seeing her strapped down. I had to be strong for her,” said Nikki’s mom, Kelly St.Paul.

Bear Dog was arrested and faces one count of vehicular assault.

We’re glad to hear that the girls will recover fully.

DUI is an expensive and time consuming offense, but vehicular assault is a real crime that could be accompanied by real jail time. Especially if it is not the first offense or the accused has a criminal background. We know nothing about the suspect in this case, but we hope that he at least agrees to apologize.

If you or someone you know have sustained serious personal injuries in a dui accident then you need experienced counsel to protect your interests with the insurance companies and health care providers. Call the Seattle car accident attorneys at Phillips Webster for a free consultation.

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Posted in Auto Accidents, DUI, injury collision, personal injury

Washington Car Accident Lawyers: Spokane Police Search For 3 Car Hit-and-Run Suspect

Car accidents, personal injury attorney, Seattle Car Accident Lawyers, Washington car accident lawyer

July 28th, 2010: Law Blogger

Hit-and-run in SpokaneThere are bad decisions made every day by seemingly rational people. Some of the decisions stem from immaturity, others from sheer fear. But allegedly causing an injury car accident with car full of people who know who you are and then running from the scene may not have been the best decision a Montana man had made up to this point in his life.

The hit-and-run accident happened at around 9:45 pm at the intersection of Boone Avenue and Washington Street.

Witnesses said that two SUV’s headed northbound were stopped at a red light at Boone Ave. and Washington St. That’s when a car driven by Rick Smallsalmon, 32, of Montana, slammed into one SUV, which caused them to bump into the other SUV sitting next to it.

The car then continued through the intersection, finally stopping in the southbound lanes. Police say that Smallsalmon then jumped out and bolted from the scene, which contained four passengers.

All of them remained on scene and 2 were transported to the hospital with personal injuries. The passengers said that they had only known him for about a week and a half and described him as having long, braided hair and wearing a white tank top with black shorts at the time of the crash.

The SUVs sustained damage, but the car he was driving was completely totaled.

Police say the suspect is facing a felony hit-and-run charge because people were injured in the accident.

These are extremely serious charges and since the crime is a felony then there aren’t a whole lot of places the gentleman can run to. If it is determined that there was also drugs or alcohol involved then the man could be facing real jail time.

If you or someone you know have been killed or injured in a car accident it is imperative that you find legal council that can walk you through the insurance and litigation process. Call Phillips Webster for a consultation.

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Posted in Auto Accidents, SUV accident, car accident, hit-and-run, injury collision

Personal Injury Lawyers: Lawsuit Questions Chelan County Police Chase Policy

personal injury, personal injury attorney, washington personal injury lawyer

July 27th, 2010: Law Blogger

Douglas County CourthouseRegular readers of this blog see stories of cars suddenly taking off from routine stops and leading police on high-speed chases that sometimes result in a horrific and senseless car accidents that cause serious personal injuries and in extreme cases, wrongful death. Now a Chelan County woman has taken her experience into court to try to change that policy.

Lora Zamudio, a Chelan County resident who injured in a 2007 fatal vehicle accident during a high-speed police chase, filed the lawsuit for damages in Douglas County Superior Court on Thursday. She is suing Chelan County and the executor of the man who was driving the car being chased.

Joshua B. Dominguez, 20, of Wenatchee, died Dec. 7, 2007, after fleeing a roadside sobriety test conducted by Chelan County Deputy Dan McCue.

Deputy Chris Wright pursued Dominguez in his police cruiser on Highway 150, between Chelan and Manson, until the fleeing vehicle collided with a Jeep Cherokee carrying 5 people, including Zamudio, who suffered serious personal injuries in the collision.

The Washington State Patrol and sheriff’s office both conducted investigations into the incident, and ruled in 2008 that Officer McCue’s conduct was correct in the pursuit, which reached speeds of 85 to 100 mph.

In the lawsuit, Zamudio claims the high-speed pursuit needlessly endangered the public. She also claims Dominguez’s negligence caused her serious injury.

The lawsuit asks for medical and lost wages, to be determined at trial.

Chelan County Prosecutor Gary Riesen has not yet commented on the lawsuit.

Chelan County has 20 days to answer the claim once it’s been served.

Phillips Webster is not the attorney in this case.

There are many people on the fence as to whether the policies of police chases are effective. One side say what Zamundio says which is that they can harm the community and put people in danger. The other side says that to not pursue is light on crime and allows criminals to take undo advantage of the system.

Each community may have different needs and thus, different policies. Perhaps a jury will be able to determine exactly what those needs are.

If you or someone you know has suffered a personal injury in an auto accident it is important that you find a skilled attorney to help you through the complicated insurance settlement process. Call the experienced Personal Injury Lawyers at Phillips Webster for a free consultation on how you can get the compensation you deserve.

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Posted in Auto Accidents, Washington Lawsuits, injury collision, personal injury

Wrongful Death Lawyers: High-Speed DUI Car Accident Leaves 1 Dead, 1 Personally Injured

DUI, DUI victims lawyers, personal injury attorney, Seattle DUI accident lawyers

July 27th, 2010: Law Blogger

DUI accident on hwy 99 in MiltonDrivers that are impaired generally make horrible decisions. Putting the key into the ignition was just the first of many for a driver last night that is now facing serious charges as she recovers in the hospital and realizes what she may have just done.

A 911 call about a reckless driver near Pacific Highway and 356th Street was received about 6:30 pm last night. This prompted Federal Way Police to immediately begin searching for the vehicle.

They quickly spotted the late-model Honda and using emergency lights and siren, officers tried to stop the vehicle, which was being driven by a woman estimated to be 40 years old. Police said the woman responded by speeding away and police gave chase.

The chase went on for only a short while before, at Highway 99 and Porter Way, in Milton, the Honda brutally t-boned into the other vehicle sending both cars spinning and covering the roadway with debris.

The car accident killed the male driver of the other car almost instantly. The woman passenger in the car was taken to Madigan Hospital in serious personal injuries, police said.

The woman driving the Honda was taken to St. Joseph hospital also with severe personal injuries, police said.

Federal Way police said the Washington State Patrol is investigating the collision as a criminal matter, but no charges have been filed as of yet.

Our condolences go out to the family of the deceased and we hope that the injured victim recovers quickly and fully.

Driving while under the influence (DUI) is a serious offence that can yield hefty fines and possible jail time. If the driver injures or kills anyone in the process of driving drunk then they are automatically charged with vehicular assault or vehicular homicide, which turns the situation from a mistake that takes some work to get out of into a severe crime that follows the driver for the rest of their lives.

Please don’t drink and drive.

If your loved one is killed in a DUI wreck, it is important that you find legal council as soon as possible to help you get justice. Call the wrongful death lawyers at Phillips Webster for a consultation on your legal rights. We protect the rights of victims.

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Posted in Auto Accidents, DUI, Wrongful Death, injury collision, personal injury

Washington Car Accident Lawyers: Teen Charged with Vehicular Assault in Injury of 4 People

Car accidents, personal injury, personal injury attorney, Washington car accident lawyer

July 26th, 2010: Law Blogger

Hwy 395 and Walbridge near deer parkIt is sad to see a young life derailed in only a few seconds by a car accident. What is sadder is to see the people they allegedly personally injured in the accident. That very unfortunate circumstance happened in Deer Park in Eastern Washington this weekend.

Cheyenne L. Drinkhall, 18, slammed her 1994 Jeep Cherokee into another car four miles north of Deer Park, the Washington State Patrol said. The accident occurred when Drinkhall tried to turn off Highway 395 onto Wallbridge Road, where Oscar J. Perry, 64, of Springdale, was stopped in his 2002 Volkswagen Golf.

Perry was the was taken by ambulance to Providence Holy Family Hospital, as were two other people in his car, a 57-year-old woman and a 17-year-old boy.

A third passenger in Perry’s car, Brittany E. Ostlund, 18, of Spokane, was injured severly enough that she had to be airlifted by Medstar to Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center. She was listed in satisfactory condition Sunday night.

Drinkhall, who lives in Spokane, was treated for unspecified injuries at Holy Family Hospital. She was released by early Sunday, but the recent high school graduate was charged today with vehicular assault.

We hope that all involved recover fully and quickly.

Vehicular assault charges are serious and only charged in an injury car accident if there is strong evidence of either DUI or negligent driving such as speeding or tailgating. If Drinkhall is lucky, this may only mean that she spends some time at home with an ankle bracelet as she pays off a hefty fine. Of course, it could also result in some jail time depending on the severity of the situation because troopers have suggested that she may have been under the influence of either drugs or alcohol at the time.

Please keep in mind that details of this accident are few and that all actions are merely alleged at this point.

If you or a loved one has suffered serious personal injuries in a car accident with a negligent driver you will need skilled legal counsel to walk you through the steps to assure that your best interests are represented to assure that you get the compensation you deserve. Call Phillips Webster for a free consultation.

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Posted in Auto Accidents, injury collision, personal injury

Personal Injury Lawyers: Pedestrian in Critical Condition After She and Dog Were Hit by Car

brain injuries, pedestrian accidents, personal injury, personal injury attorney

July 26th, 2010: Law Blogger

Park and 15th in IssaquahIssaquah, with their wide streets and well planned and groomed intersections seem like an unlikely place for a pedestrian to get hit by a car, particularly during the light of day, but it happened last evening around 7pm.

Witnessses said a gray Mazda was turning left out of a residential area, heading downhill, when it hit a woman and her dog in the crosswalk on the corner of Park Drive Northeast and 15th Avenue Northeast.

The woman slammed into the windshield and her dog was crushed under the wheel.

Witnesses said the man driving the Mazda immediately jumped out of the car and performed CPR on the victim. Because the fire station is just three blocks west of the incident, rescue crews were on scene almost immediately to take over medical procedures.

A medical doctor was exercising across the street at the time of the accident, and by the time he ran over, the woman was unconscious and not responding to paramedics.

“They were still in the middle of chest compressions, and she didn’t look that stable,” the doctor said. “I see people in the emergency room all the time, and she looked much worse than what I see.”

Medics transported the woman to Harborview Medical Center.  As of late Sunday, police said the woman was still in critical condition.

Police say the driver was very cooperative with the investigation, and they hoped to have more details on what happened once accident technicians complete their recreations.

The woman had no identification on her so police are asking anyone who may have information about the woman to please contact Issaquah Police.

This is truly an unfortunate accident. If she was unconscious it means, amongst other serious personal injuries, she also may a suffered a traumatic brain injury. These can be extremely hard to recover fully from and often take years of physical and mental therapy to get back to any kind of life resembling normal.

Our hearts sincerely go out to the woman with hopes that she has a full and swift recovery.

If you or a loved one have been injured in an accident it is important that you contact an experienced legal professional to find out your legal rights. Call the Washington Car Accident Attorneys at Phillips Webster for a consultation.

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Posted in Auto Accidents, Back Injury, Brain Injury, injury collision, personal injury

Personal Injury Lawyer: Trooper Suffers Injuries When Patrol Car Collides with Van

Car accidents, personal injury, personal injury attorney, washington personal injury lawyer

July 23rd, 2010: Law Blogger

capitol way exit in OlympiaCar accidents cause backups, we all know that, but sometimes those backups can lead to other accidents as drivers make sudden unexpected maneuvers to either avoid sudden stops or merely to avoid traffic by taking another route. These sudden maneuvers can cause drivers behind to also make sudden defensive maneuvers which may have been the case for a Washington State Trooper yesterday on Interstate 5.

Phillip Riney, a 13-year veteran of the patrol, was driving north on I-5 near Olympia behind a van being driven by Sheri McDonald, of Olympia, as they approached a backup on I-5 near the Capitol Way exit around 11:30 am. The backup had been caused by another accident earlier that morning.

McDonald made a sudden lane change in an attempt to avoid a backup when she lost control of her van. Riney was unable to avoid striking the van. The force of the accident sent the van spinning and it ended up facing south in the northbound lane of I-5.

Riney suffered minor personal injuries and it is currently unknown whether he was taken to a hospital for examination or later visited on his own. McDonald was uninjured.

The crash caused about $4,000 in damage to the trooper’s patrol car, State Patrol Sgt. Freddy Williams said.

Williams said the crash is under investigation.

What seem to be minor injuries in a car accident can lead to major injuries later as the body rests and adrenaline subsides. Injuries such as whiplash can progressively get worse and worse over hours or days as the muscles around the injury compensate for the injury. This can eventually lead to other serious symptoms such as back problems and headaches. This can result in loss of work and limited movement affecting the victim’s quality of life.

If you or a loved one has sustained a personal injury in an auto accident it is important that you find legal council to help you through the complicated insurance settlement process. Call the experienced Personal Injury Lawyers at Phillips Webster for a free consultation on how you can get the compensation you deserve.

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Posted in Auto Accidents, injury collision, personal injury

Personal Injury Attorney: Spokane “Popcorn Lung” Lawsuit Thrown Out by Federal Judge

defective products, personal injury, personal injury attorney, personal injury lawyers

July 20th, 2010: Law Blogger

popcornThe case of a man in Spokane who ate a tremendously large amount of microwave popcorn and alleged that the fumes containing Diacetyl emitted from the product caused him to contract Bronchial Obliterans, a serious lung disease, has been thrown out on the federal level.

Larry Newkirk claimed Conagra and a host of other companies did not warn people about the dangers of an additive that has now been taken out of microwave popcorn. He claims he got sick from eating up to seven bags of microwave popcorn a day.

In Judge Rosanna Peterson’s ruling earlier this month, she focused on one expert’s testimony, Dr. David Egilman, and ultimately decided it was contradictory and flawed.

Dr. Egilman testified about a condition known as “popcorn lung,” which some say is formed by inhaling the fumes with the additive Diacetyl, which gives the buttery flavor and is blamed for making some factory workers sick already resulting in a major legal settlement of an undisclosed amount.

Yet, in Newkirk’s case, the judge found Dr. Egilman’s testimony full of opinions and conclusions that were not substantiated by evidence such as a biopsy, which apparently wasn’t done.

He also is accused of giving little external support for his conclusions and took some reports that he cited too far.

Judge Peterson concluded that since Dr. Egilman’s testimony cannot be trusted, neither can the lawsuit.

All-in-all, it results in the judge throwing the case out and leaving Mr. Newkirk with no real recourse. Since this case did result in settlement for the workers it may have been a very legitimate claim, yet, detailed evidence and plausible expert testimony is the foundation of a case like this. Unfortunately, neither was present according to the judge.

If you or a loved one is seriously injured due to the negligent policies of a company then you need a legal representative that is experienced in personal injury lawsuits that can protect your best interests and assure that you get the compensation you deserve. Call Phillips Webster for a consultation.

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Posted in Product Liability, Washington Lawsuits, personal injury

Personal Injury Lawyers: Two People Suffer Serious Injuries in T-Bone Truck Accident

personal injury, personal injury attorney, personal injury lawyers, Trucking Accidents

July 9th, 2010: Law Blogger

Valley Highway AccidentT-Bone accidents are when a car is hit broadside and essentially bent into a U-shape like a t-bone. They can be deadly accidents and without side impact airbags can lead to serious spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain injuries. The extent of the injuries are not readily known in the West Valley Highway T-Bone accident that happened last night, but two people are in the hospital because of it.

Officials said a pickup truck headed south on the highway was T-boned by a large Isuzu panel truck at S. 196th St. at approximately 7:50 pm last night. The accident caused the panel truck to turn on its side spreading debris across the roadway.

Both drivers, a woman and a man, were suffered serious personal injuries and transported to an area hospital. There were no additional passengers.

The circumstances surrounding the crash were not immediately clear; investigators have not determined which driver was at fault.

It takes a lot to flip a large panel truck, leading one to think that the impact must have been substantial. The West Seattle Highway can also be deceptively wide leading drivers to drive faster than they perhaps normally would. Please be careful on local highways.

If you or someone you know is involved in a trucking accident, you deserved to have an experienced lawyer in your corner fighting to make sure that you get the compensation you deserve. Call the Seattle car accident lawyers at Phillips Webster for a free consultation.

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Posted in Auto Accidents, Trucking Accidents, injury collision, personal injury

Washington Car Accident Lawyers: “Inattention” Blamed for Injury Accident in Spanaway

Car accidents, personal injury, personal injury attorney, Washington car accident lawyer

July 9th, 2010: Law Blogger

Aerostar crashSome of the worst accidents are from cars pulling out of parking lots into traffic because generally cars are going full street speed and hit either the driver or passenger side broadside. This can cause serious spinal cord injuries and broken bones. That is why it is extremely important to be extra alert when pulling into traffic, which authorities suggest was the problem in an accident in Spanaway Wednesday night.

Valeria L. Holler, 20, of Roy, was driving a 1989 Ford Aerostar at 6:45 p.m. when she pulled out of a parking lot near 22nd Avenue in Spanaway. That’s when she collided with Virgil L. Bush, 59, of Spanaway, who was driving a 1999 Chevrolet Pickup.

Holler was suffered personal injuries and transported to Tacoma General Hospital.

Bush sustained minor injuries and declined medical aid, but he had two passengers in his vehicle including a 55-year-old woman who was injured and transported to Madigan Army Medical Center at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

Police site failing to yield right-of-way and inattention as the causes of the accident.

There is currently no information as to the state of the injured or any further charges.

The importance of a driver remaining completely attentive to the task of driving is not only for others on the road, but also for themselves. Please, if you are distracted or otherwise occupied with anything else while driving please pull over and attend to it and then continue driving.

If you or someone you know has suffered a serious personal injury after getting into a car accident with a distracted driver, then you need skilled legal council to represent you to assure that you get the compensation you deserve. Call the Seattle car accident lawyers at Phillips Webster for a free consultation.

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Posted in Auto Accidents, distracted driving, injury collision, personal injury

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