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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.

  1. We represent EVERYONE in need anywhere in Washington - Minor and Major Injuries
  2. Experienced trial attorneys that will fight for your right to recover compensation
  3. FREE Case Review and we only get paid if you get paid
Learn more about our:
Seattle Car Accident Lawyers

Verdicts & Settlements

$20 MILLION - Commercial Injury
Confidential settlement for a commercial injury case

$19  Million - Grant of Coverage
Grant of coverage in insurance coverage case

$2 MILLION - INSURANCE BAD FAITH
Settlement in insurance bad faith case

$1.5 MILLION - CAR ACCIDENT WRONGFUL DEATH
Vancouver, Washington car accident that resulted in a death

$1 MILLION - DUI ACCIDENT VICTIM
Settlement for young man hit by a drunk driver

Our jury trial experience shows in the results we get both inside and outside of the courtroom.

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Posts Tagged ‘seattle’

Reviewing Some Telling Statistics…

alcohol crashes, auto accident attorneys, Auto Accidents, fatalities, injuries, seattle

August 17th, 2009: Washington Law Blogger

We’ve been posting about news stories regarding vehicle accidents as well as several items that detail different types of common mistakes that drivers make on the roads both in Seattle and everywhere else that lead to injuries and fatalities. While it’s easy to become consumed by individual stories, perhaps a look at the relevant traffic accident statistics from Seattle would serve everyone well as we all look to maintain safety on the roads around town.

The Washington Traffic Safety Commission keeps track of these statistics, and the last available set of them for a complete year are from 2007. Consider the following statistics that were recorded just in Seattle and not the surrounding areas:

  • Total collisions: 17,430
  • Fatalities: 18
  • Injuries: 7,163
  • Vehicles involved: 34,830
  • Collisions involving alcohol: 855

While these numbers may not look daunting, consider the fact that based on these numbers, there are more than 47 collisions every day in Seattle involving more than 90 vehicles. In addition, nearly 20 people are injured on a daily basis and 2.3 alcohol-related crashes occur within each 24-hour time frame.

As can plainly be seen, driving in Seattle is a dangerous proposition for everyone. Therefore, some basic precautions need to be taken by everyone, and they should be obvious:

  • Do not drink and drive
  • Drive at a reasonable speed
  • Follow the vehicle in front of you at a safe distance
  • Look before changing lanes or turning
  • Use your turn signals
  • Always keep a defensive mental approach to driving

While taking these steps will certainly help, they may not allow you to avoid the mistakes of others. If you or someone you love has been harmed in an auto accident, contact the attorneys at Phillips & Webster today to schedule a free initial consultation.

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Posted in Auto Accidents

Child Seriously Injured in DUI Accident

attorneys, auto accident, DUI, hit-and-run, property damage, seattle, serious injuries

July 8th, 2009: Washington Law Blogger

When someone makes the bad decision to drive after drinking, everyone is put at risk. This includes the driver, any passengers, and vehicles that happen to be on the road at that time, any pedestrians and bikers and apparently, nearby homeowners. What’s worse is when the passenger in the car being driven is a child who is not wearing a seat belt. Sadly, that appears to be the case with a recent DUI crash that also damaged a home.

According to KVBC:

“An eight-year-old boy is in critical condition following a DUI accident on Sunday near Michael Way and Smoke Ranch. Police say the man behind the wheel was the boyfriend of the child’s mother. Police say it started as a hit-and-run when the driver slammed into a parked car. He then left the scene, hit a light pole, and crashed through a brick wall into the side of a home.

Metro says the eight-year-old boy was not wearing a seat belt and was bouncing around inside the vehicle. Sadly, we’re being told he may not survive his injuries.”

It’s obvious that the suspect will face a serious problem in terms of criminal prosecution. He could also face substantial civil liability exposure both for injuring the child and for inflicting extensive damage on the home he hit during this episode. Unfortunately, this sort of situation is not rare in the Seattle area, and even those in their homes are not always safe from drunk drivers.

If you or someone you love has been injured in a DUI accident, contact the personal injury lawyers at Phillips & Webster today to schedule a free initial consultation.

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Posted in Auto Accidents, Trucking Accidents

Another Car-Train Accident… This Time, Car Could be at Fault

attorneys, auto accident, light rail train, property damage, seattle, traffic violation, train collision

June 30th, 2009: Washington Law Blogger

Seattle is transitioning to a new light-rail train system, and needless to say, the adjustment has been anything but smooth for both the train operators and local drivers since the test runs began in recent months. Yesterday produced yet another collision between the train and a car, although this time it appears that the driver of the car was at fault. According to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer:

“A PT Cruiser collided with a Sound Transit train about 5:10 p.m. Monday evening at Martin Luther King Jr Way South and South Myrtle Street.

The preliminary investigation indicates the man driving the Chrysler was traveling southbound on and made an unlawful left turn against a red traffic signal into the path of a southbound light rail train at South Myrtle Street, according to police.

The Chrysler was hit on its driver’s side and the driver was sent to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The train operator, doing a practice run, was not injured. The train sustained minor damage, according to police.”

The driver of the Chrysler was ticketed for a red light violation. This may or may not be the end of the problem for him, however. If he was at fault, and it appears that he was based on the facts presented, he could face civil liability for the property damage caused in the accident. Since no one was injured, it likely won’t be a large amount.

If you or someone you love has experienced something along these lines with the new light-rail train, you may have rights that need to be protected and enforced. Contact the auto accident lawyers at Phillips & Webster as soon as possible to schedule a free initial consultation.

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Posted in Auto Accidents

Suspected Car Thief Rams Police Cruiser, Winds up in Hospital

auto accident, auto accident attorneys, crash, injuries, police, seattle

June 26th, 2009: Washington Law Blogger

A suspected car thief was caught in a vehicle that was reported stolen this morning, and while allegedly attempting to evade police, the suspect failed to avoid a second cruiser that joined the pursuit and side-swiped it. Two officers were in the hit cruiser and both suffered minor injuries. The suspect remained in the hospital as of this morning.

According to the Seattle Times:

“Two troopers and a car-theft suspect suffered minor injuries early this morning after the alleged thief slammed his vehicle into the side of a pursuing State Patrol cruiser near Mountlake Terrace, the State Patrol reported.

The incident occurred just after 1 a.m. at an exit to Interstate 5, State Patrol spokeswoman Christina Martin said.

“One of our troopers was in pursuit of a stolen car, and another trooper was coming to back him up,” Martin said.

As the second cruiser joined the pursuit, the fleeing suspect’s car slammed into the side of it, Martin said. There were two troopers in the cruiser.

“They were T-boned,” Martin said.

The suspect and both troopers were taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, Martin said.

The two troopers suffered only minor “scrapes and bruises,” she said, while the suspect remained hospitalized as of 7:30 a.m.”

As we’ve mentioned before, it’s not always possible to avoid other drivers on the road who are acting recklessly, regardless of how defensively you tend to drive. That’s when the law is there to protect your rights. If you or someone you love has been injured in an auto accident, contact the attorneys at Phillips & Webster today to schedule a free initial consultation.

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Posted in Auto Accidents

Woman and Child Survive SUV Rollover Crash

auto accident attorneys, Auto Accidents, dangerous road, Land Rover, seattle, SUV, SUV rollover

June 24th, 2009: Washington Law Blogger

SUV’s enjoyed a period when they were the leading sellers of all models of vehicles in the United States. Although that has changed recently with the economy and fuel prices, one of the most negative aspects of driving SUV’s in general was their tendency to roll over when turning sharply. Many lawsuits were filed because of injuries suffered in this regard, and SUV’s remain on the road in high numbers despite their recent downturn in sales.

Even high-end SUV’s are not immune to this phenomenon, as a woman and her child were involved in an SUV rollover crash in a Land Rover. Both survived, but according to CapitolHillSeattle.com, the area where the crash occurred is no stranger to such incidents:

“The driver apparently lost control after rounding a turn while heading downhill on E. Lynn, the vehicle slamming into the curb and then into bushes and brambles on the nearby hillside before coming to a rest on its side.

It’s an occurrence that Walter Oelwein, who has lived near the E. Lynn curve for 10 years, says he has seen too many times. “When it rains like this, I don’t even feel safe walking right here to take out the garbage,” Oelwein said. Often the accidents are minor, Oelwein said, involving young drivers traveling to and from nearby Seattle Preparatory School. “Just imagine if something like this happens when the cross country team or groups of students are walking through here,” he said.

Oelwein said that neighbors have brought the stretch of road to the attention of the Seattle Department of Transportation and he has spoken to SDOT director Grace Crunican about the danger. They have even started a Google Group to document the accidents. “We’d like to see something done,” Oelwein said. “The city hasn’t done anything but score pavement and you can see what good that’s done.”

In this situation, it’s possible that the city could face liability if it has not taken proper steps to eliminate the dangers it obviously knows about. Regardless, if you or someone you love has been injured in an SUV rollover crash, contact the auto accident attorneys at Phillips & Webster today to schedule a free initial consultation.

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Posted in Auto Accidents

What Happens if You’re Injured by a Privately-Owned Vehicle

auto accident, auto accident attorney, in-house defense attorneys, Insurance Company, seattle

June 11th, 2009: Washington Law Blogger

We’ve been posting recently about how a legal claim could proceed based on the type of vehicle involved in an auto accident that leaves you or someone you love injured. Our most recent post dealt with an auto accident that involves a publicly-owned vehicle, and today we will analyze what happens if you’re injured by a vehicle that’s owned by a private citizen.

If you are involved in an accident that involves a privately-owned vehicle, it presents the simplest scenario possible, although that is a very relative term. There are still complications and technicalities galore to be mindful of, but there are no corporate or government layers to be concerned with as a claim is being formulated. There is really only one potential adversary that presents a potential problem – the other driver’s insurance company.

If you file a claim against another driver, his or her insurance company is sure to get involved. Insurance companies of all types have teams of in-house defense attorneys on staff whose sole mission is to limit the amount of financial liability their client faces in any situation. This is not to be taken to mean that these attorneys will breach ethics. Rather, it means that most of them are very good at their jobs.

Therefore, if you are involved in an accident and you hear from the other driver’s insurance company before you retain your own auto accident attorney, you need to remember to politely decline the opportunity to speak with them. Simply state that you are in the process of retaining your own attorney and that he or she will be in touch as soon as that arrangement has been made. This will help you avoid several potentially serious problems with your case down the road.

If you need an attorney to help with your accident situation, you need to contact the Seattle auto accident attorneys at Phillips & Webster today to schedule a free initial consultation.

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Posted in Auto Accidents, Insurance Company

Crash on I-5 Could Contain Multiple Layers of Negligence

attorneys, auto accident, DUI, I-5, injuries, seat belts, seattle, SUV rollover

June 10th, 2009: Washington Law Blogger

When a car accident occurs and two children are seriously injured, it cannot be described as anything but tragic. That appears to be the case with an auto accident that happened on I-5 yesterday that left a 3-year-old boy and a 6-year-old girl in critical condition. Three other minors, whose ages range from 9 to 16, were also injured and taken to the hospital.

According to The News Tribune:

“A driver possibly high on drugs caused a crash Tuesday that sent two children to a Tacoma hospital in critical condition and stopped traffic in two counties for more than three hours, the Washington State Patrol said.

Nine people in one of the vehicles involved in the crash on Interstate 5 near DuPont were hurt because they were not wearing seat belts, the State Patrol said.

Trooper Brandy Kessler said a car traveling south on I-5 slammed into an SUV about 1 p.m. after the car’s driver lost control near at the DuPont exit. The SUV hit a barrier and rolled several times, ejecting three passengers.”

There are three potential points of liability that could already be identified with this situation:

1. The driver of the vehicle that’s alleged to be ‘high on drugs.’ If that’s true, that driver could not only face a civil lawsuit, but also criminal prosecution.

2. The other driver apparently did not require the passengers to wear their seat belts, which could lead to civil liability in that direction as well.

3. If the SUV rolled over while being driven at a somewhat reasonable speed and in a reasonably safe manner, this could turn out to be yet another SUV rollover case.

As you see, auto accidents of almost any type can lead to multiple legal issues. If you or someone you love has been injured in such an incident, contact the Seattle auto accident lawyers at Phillips & Webster immediately to schedule a free initial consultation.

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Posted in Auto Accidents

What Happens if You’re Injured by a Public Vehicle

attorneys, Auto Accidents, damages, government, injuries, publicly-owned vehicles, seattle

June 9th, 2009: Washington Law Blogger

Although it seems like a rare occurrence to most, auto accidents with publicly-owned vehicles are somewhat common, and when they occur an entirely separate set of procedural rules apply if the person who’s been harmed by a vehicle that’s being driven by a government employee or official intends to file a legal claim for the damages incurred. We posted yesterday about what could happen when someone is injured by a company-owned vehicle, and that’s a situation that’s quite distinct from this one.

If you have been injured by a government vehicle in an auto accident that’s not your fault, then you will likely need to file a claim against the city, the county, the state or the federal government, depending on what type of vehicle was involved. If it’s a local government vehicle, you have some work to do before you can file a lawsuit. You need to file a statement with the city that details your intent to pursue a claim, and the city has time to review the situation and decide whether or not to settle or to refuse any request for damages.

If the city does not agree with your assertion for damages, you can proceed to civil court to file your action and pursue your claim. However, if you skip the important step detailed above and simply run to the courthouse, you could have your case dismissed until proper channels are followed.

If you are injured by a federally-owned vehicle, you may have to pursue a claim in federal court, although that depends somewhat on the facts surrounding the situation, as jurisdictional rules can be extremely complicated. The last thing you want to do is make an unnecessary mistake, as doing so will cost you time and money. In order to make sure that you do not fall into this situation, contact the Seattle auto accident attorneys at Phillips & Webster today to schedule a free initial consultation.

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Posted in Auto Accidents

Being Harmed by a Company-Owned Vehicle – What Could Happen

attorney, Auto Accidents, company car, contractor, employee, individual, injuries, liability, media, seattle

June 8th, 2009: Washington Law Blogger

News stories are constantly hitting the air waves regarding traffic accidents of all types in Seattle. When these stories are reported, many readers will simply look at any names of the victims and/or the location of the crash, as most read news such as this based on how it could relate to them on an individual basis. While that’s certainly normal behavior, we posted Washington crash statistics recently and explained that they are extremely high in number.

While this means that there could come a time when all that needs to be remembered and handled in response to an auto accident will be put into action, what many do not think about is how the type of vehicle involved in an auto accident could affect your legal rights. Today, we’re going to cover a corporate, company-owned vehicle, and in the days that follow we’ll discuss a government vehicle and a private vehicle.

If you have been injured by a vehicle that seems to be owned by the driver’s place of employment, there are positives and negatives involved with this situation as they relate to your legal rights. Generally, it could be a positive because the vehicle is owned by a company and not an individual, which means that the financial viability and ability to pay damages is greater with this structure than with most individual drivers. Additionally, a company may be willing to settle a liability claim quickly in order to keep the story out of the news.

However, there are negatives involved as well. For instance, not all drivers of company vehicles are employees. Some are independent contractors, which means that the driver as an individual could be solely responsible for any accidents that occur. The situation could also prove problematic if the company follows a policy of fighting any claims like these, as they will have the wherewithal to hire an entire team of defense attorneys to deal with the problem.

Regardless, the first place you need to start is by leveling the playing field and getting into some particularized discovery of structure between the driver and company, the liability limits for each and how to deal with the defense attorneys that could be involved. In short, you’ll need the help of the Seattle auto accident attorneys at Phillips & Webster to make sure that your rights are enforced and protected. Contact the firm today to schedule a free initial consultation.

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Posted in Auto Accidents

Why You Need to be Prepared

auto accident attorneys, Auto Accidents, fatal accidents, injury accidents, insurance, property damage collisions, seattle, Washington

June 5th, 2009: Washington Law Blogger

We’ve been covering in some detail what you need to remember and what you need to do in the aftermath of a car accident in Washington, and there are many reasons why this is important. One of them is because of a basic statistical analysis, it’s quite possible that you or someone you love will be involved in some sort of traffic collision during your lifetime, particularly if you drive often as part of your routine.

Below are some of those statistics that are published by the Washington State Department of Transportation for the year of 2005:

1. Total reported collisions – 51,901

2. Fatal collisions – 274

3. Disabling injury collisions – 890

4. Evident injury collisions – 5,010

5. Total injury collisions – 19,541

6. Property damage collisions – 32,086

As you see, if you add this up over a period of years, you are taking a risk every time you hit the road. It should be restated that the statistics above only represent collisions that are reported, and not those that are simply handled without insurance companies or the police getting involved.

Clearly, everyone who uses the roads in Washington needs to drive with the ultimate defensive style, but even then there could come a time when an accident occurs that is simply not your fault and could not have been avoided. That’s why it’s important to remember how to proceed in such a way that you maximize your safety, minimize the risk of additional injuries occurring and such that your rights are protected.

Therefore, if you’ve been injured in an auto accident in Seattle, you need to contact the attorneys at Phillips & Webster today to schedule a free initial consultation.

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Posted in Auto Accidents

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