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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 ‘speeding’

Wrongful Death Lawyers: 3 Killed in Speeding Accident in Spokane, DUI Suspected

speeding, Spokane, Washington wrongful death lawyer, Wrongful Death, wrongful death attorney, wrongful death lawyer

August 30th, 2010: Law Blogger

Spokane speeding accidentSpeeding in Washington is a major concern for law enforcement. So much so that the state has issued a grant to many counties to post extra patrols targeting speeders on some of the most hazardous roadways. Yet, the extra patrols can’t catch everyone and there are some people who choose to test their vehicle and their experience, sometimes with fatal results like what happened this weekend in Spokane.

Investigators from the Spokane sheriff’s department said the 1991 BMW 325 was headed west when the driver lost control on a right-hand curve at 44th Avenue and Eastern Road. The car sailed off the roadway, sheared off a 15-inch-thick pine tree, smashed into another tree. The impact demolished the car and killed the driver and two passengers.

Investigators estimate that the car was going 90 mph in a 25 mph speed zone when the car accident.

A passerby discovered the crash and called the sheriff’s office around 5:30 am. The time of the collision is unknown but when officers canvassed the neighborhood a person that lived near the wreck reported hearing a speeding car around 11:30 Saturday night.

A bottle of whiskey with only a little left was found inside the crumpled car, as was a shotgun that was smashed in half by the impact.

Two of the occupants were tentatively identified as 21-year-old Spokane residents, but the third carried no identification, Sheriff’s deputies said.

The Spokane County Medical Examiner’s Office will release names following autopsies later today.

Our condolences go out to the friends and families of the deceased.

Speeding is the leading cause of death in men ages 15-35 and that statistic just doesn’t seem to change even though there are measures taken to control that such as education, television commercials, and (as mentioned above) extra enforcement. Many young male drivers die while speeding alone in their cars, but when they have passengers they are responsible for those lives and taking risks such as speeding and drinking are not reasonable decisions.

Please don’t speed.

Phillips Webster represents families of victims who have died in car accidents in Washington state. They are skilled attorneys in wrongful death lawsuits with years of experience that they will use to  assure the you get the compensation you deserve. Call today for a free consultation.

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Five People Sustain Serious Personal Injuries in High-Speed Car Accident in Spokane

Car accident injuries, Car accidents, personal injury, personal injury attorneys, speeding, Spokane

August 23rd, 2010: Law Blogger

Spokane Car AccidentMany victims of speeders describe the vehicle that hit them as “coming out of nowhere.” That’s what speeding often does, it allows for little to no reaction time, and no anticipation of normal traffic flow. Speeding cars not only put the occupants in jeopardy, they also turn the roadway their on and all of the intersections they pass through into potential death traps. That point was once-again proven this weekend in Spokane.

The car accident occurred at Nevada St and Sharpsburg Ave in the Lidgerwood neighborhood on Friday night.

Witnesses saw a white Honda Civic with 3 occupants speeding northbound on the wide Nevada Street. At that moment, a blue Lincoln Navigator made a left turn from Sharpsburg onto Nevada St.

Spokane Police say the 2 vehicles collided in the intersection causing serious personal injuries.

Spokane Fire responded and had to cut through the car to get to the 3 occupants in the Honda. They were the most injured and were rushed to a local hospital by ambulance.

The driver and passenger of the Navigator were less injured, but were taken to a separate hospital for treatment.

The collision is still being investigated at this time. Authorities did not indicate whether drugs or alcohol were involved.

We hope that everyone recovers fully.

Speeding is determined as reckless driving, which is a prerequisite to determine whether vehicular assault charges can be filed against the driver. If the investigation finds that the driver was in fact speeding it could mean that the driver is in serious trouble and might be facing jail time.

When people suffer personal injuries in car accidents, they often need experienced representation to help them through the daunting insurance and legal process to assure that they get the compensation they deserve. If you or someone you know has been injured in a car wreck call Phillips Webster for a free consultation.

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Woman Pulled From Burning Car After Accident Causing Serious Property Damage

Car accidents, property damage, property damage attorneys, property damage lawyers, speeding

August 13th, 2010: Law Blogger

Ferry @ bainbridge dockThere’s a reason why Bainbridge Island seems like it’s in a different time zone, because the residents depend on the ferry to get them to civilization. If they miss the ferry it is an hours wait until late at night when the last ferry leaves at 12:55 am. Missing that could mean a long three hour drive down to Tacoma and back up to Seattle. Perhaps that’s what was on the woman’s mind as she sped toward the Bainbridge ferry dock with near fatal results.

According to the police, at 12:43 am a 19 year-old Lynnwood woman was speeding south to catch a ferry when she failed to steer her 2002 Mazda Millennium around a curve on Olympic Drive just south of the intersection of Highway 305 and Winslow Way causing her to slam into a power pole. The power lines from the pole fell into the road and several dropped on the car. The car’s gas tank ruptured on impact, and within minutes it was engulfed in flames.

Luckily for her, two Bainbridge Island Police officers were inside the station across the street from the accident. Before the gas ignited, the officers ran from their office and pulled the woman from the car.

The driver was taken to Harrison Medical Center for observation and released with only minor personal injuries.

Power was knocked out to a 15-block area servicing around 1,600 customers, said Puget Sound Energy spokeswoman Dorothy Bracken. All customers but 100, including the police department, had energy restored by 2:30 am. Crews had to wait for accident debris to be cleared from the scene before they could replace the pole and restring the lines.

Repairs were expected to be completed by 10 a.m., Bracken said.

The accident also partially blocked the ferry terminal entrance. Unloading of the ferry “Tacoma” was delayed a few minutes while cones were set up, rerouting traffic through the parking lot, said Washington State Ferries spokeswoman Marta Coursey.

Ferry operations are running as normal now.

The accident appears to been caused by driver inattention, according to the police. There is no indication that drugs or alcohol were involved. The investigation is ongoing.

Needless to say, she missed the ferry, but we’re glad to hear she wasn’t seriously injured. Speeding is a serious issue in the state of Washington. With so many dark curving roads at night that run up and down hills, one missed turn could mean a plunge down a long wooded embankment where people may not find the driver for days.

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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Burlington Man Eludes Police, Smashes 3 Cars While Crossing Canadian Border

Car accidents, Seattle Car Accident Lawyers, speeding, Washington car accident attorneys

August 12th, 2010: Law Blogger

Candadian BorderThis is certainly not the feel-good car crash story of the year, but there are three good lessons for all of the people in the northwest who have said to themselves, “If the cops try to catch me, I’m drivin’ to Canada.” The first lesson is, you’re not Butch Cassidy. The second lesson is; Canada isn’t Mexico. And the third lesson is, Canada doesn’t want you. A young man learned all three of those lessons last night and it only took about three minutes.

A chase on Interstate 5 through Whatcom County started about 6:30 p.m. near the south end of Bellingham. Troopers didn’t specify why the chase started, but they said that the Chevrolet Cavalier the 22 year-old male was driving, exceeded 90 mph as officers followed it.

Police put a spike strip out near Ferndale in an attempt to stop the car, but the driver maneuvered around it and kept on driving.

Officers then put down a second spike strip near Blaine, which was a little more successful by deflating two of the car’s tires, but by no means stopped the guy from driving on his rims the last of the short way to the border.

According to the Whatcom County Sheriff’s office, he continued through the border crossing without stopping and in doing so ended up crashing into three cars on the Canadian side of the border.

Details on the crash and injuries sustained in the car accident were not available from Canadian authorities.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police arrested Burlington resident Michael Fay, 22, and turned him over to sheriff’s deputies early this morning, according to the Whatcom County Sheriff’s office.

Fay was booked into Whatcom County Jail on suspicion of felony eluding.

There is a lot of controversy over police chases and public safety versus law enforcement. But, just because the police choose not to chase the car or to break off pursuit doesn’t mean that they don’t capture the suspect. It just means that they don’t catch them in the act.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident one of the best pieces of advice you can give is to seek experienced legal counsel that can walk you through the insurance and litigation process. Call the Washington car accident attorneys at Phillips Webster for a consultation.

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Car Accident Lawyers: WA State Patrol Clampdown on Speeding Yields Results

Car accidents, Seattle Car Accident Lawyers, speeding, Washington car accident lawyer, Wrongful Death

August 5th, 2010: Law Blogger

Car Accident LawyersThe land speed record is 1227 mph set by an American driving a souped-up Pinto. Actually, it was a highly engineered turbofan that looks more like a missile than a car and it most likely did not come with an 8-track like most Pintos.

Since the first car people (American males in particular) have been enamored by speed and will go fast at any given opportunity. Many have asked: Why buy a Porsche when the speed limit is 60 mph?

Perhaps it’s the knowledge that you can go 150 mph if you choose and if by chance you get caught up in a cinematic car chase with foreign spies you will be fully prepared. But speeding is a serious problem with even more serious consequences. It is the leading cause of death in American males ages 15-35. Yet people don’t seem to take it as seriously as they do cancer or swine flu.

Well, the Washington State Patrol cares and they’re beginning to target areas where people seem to habitually speed in Pacific and Wahkiakum counties. Troopers assigned to the Naselle detachment office have seen fewer collisions along state routes during the first quarter of 2010.

The 7 troopers and one sergeant in the Naselle detachment said that they investigated 24% fewer collisions along state routes in those counties.  During the first half of 2010, troopers investigated 97 collisions, as compared to 128 during this time period in 2009.

What’s more exciting is that collisions where speed was listed as a contributing factor accounted for only 6 of those collisions, as compared to 34 in 2009. That’s a decrease of a whopping 82%.

WA County mapUnfortunately, DUI was listed as a contributing factor in 12 of those collisions, the same as the first half of 2009. So it seems people are having more luck chipping the lead from their feet than pulling the bottle out of their mouths.

But the detachment was happy to report that during the first half of 2010, there hasn’t been a single fatality collision on a state route between the two counties.  In 2009, there were 6 fatal collisions in that area, 2 of which involved commercial vehicles and 4 of which occurred during the first half of the year. Let’s do the math here…that’s a 100% decrease!

Troopers in the Naselle detachment have been provided with additional training regarding commercial vehicle enforcement from representatives with the WSP’s Commercial Vehicle Division (CVD). Utilizing this additional training, they have begun to focus more on commercial vehicle violations.  Additionally, CVD personnel have scheduled more emphasis patrols in this area throughout the year.

“This reduction in collisions can be contributed to many factors, including the assistance of local law enforcement agencies located throughout Pacific and Wahkiakum who routinely support the traffic safety goals of the Washington State Patrol,” Trooper Krista Hedstrom wrote in a media release.

They also intend to keep increased patrols during the summer as tourist volumes are high in some of the popular camping and vacation spots in those counties.

This is all great news and we commend all of the troopers and local police involved. Speeding is a problem for everyone on the road because speed limits set a reasonable expectation of how fast cars are approaching so that other motorists can merge or turn safely into traffic and pedestrians can safely cross the street.

Please don’t speed, for the sake of everyone else.

If you or someone you know has been seriously injured or killed in a car accident by a speeding driver, it is important that you find legal representation right away to walk you through the complicated insurance and medical procedures. Call Phillips Webster for a free consultation.

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Snohomish County Law Enforcement to Clamp Down on Speeding

Car accidents, Seattle Car Accident Lawyers, speeding, Washington car accident lawyer

July 21st, 2010: Law Blogger

Snohomish County SpeedingSpeeding is a big problem pretty much everywhere in America. It’s often the difference between skidding and rolling and more importantly, it’s usually the difference between injury accidents and fatal accidents. Now police in Snohomish County have announced that they are cracking down on speeders.

Officers around the county will step up patrols in an effort to reduce speed-related crashes on city and county roadways as part of a grant awarded by the state. The grant will pay for more patrols through Aug. 1st.

Just last month a young man was killed in Stanwood when he lost control of his car. His car hit a tree and he died at the scene. Another man from Granite Falls died earlier this month after he lost control of his vehicle and hit a utility pole off Engebretson Road. Investigators believe that speed was a major reason that in both of these crashes happened.

But those are just two examples of the many speeding fatalities in recent years. There have been 90 people killed in Snohomish County in speed-related crashes between 2004 and 2008.

“Data shows that 87 percent of the people killed in high-speed crashes are men. Nearly half of those are 25 or younger,” said Tracy McMillan, manager for the county’s DUI and Target Zero Safety Task Force.

“About half of the high-speed fatality crashes are on Saturdays or Sundays and involve one vehicle,” she added.

Police will have “zero tolerance” for speeders, McMillan said.

These kinds of clamp downs don’t stop the crime, but what they do is show serious consequences of breaking such laws as speed limits before the consequences are manifested in ways such as fatal car accidents.

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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Speeding Facts, Statistics, and Consequences in Washington State

Auto Accidents, speeding, Washington car accidents

April 9th, 2010: Law Blogger

accidents due to speedingSpeeding is one of those social behaviors that put everyone in jeopardy. The reason for this is because speed limits allow pedestrians and other drivers to have a reasonable expectation for how fast a car is approaching so that they can walk across the street, merge into traffic, or change lanes. If a driver is exceeding those expectations then the pedestrian or other driver can miscalculate and that’s when car accidents and serious injuries occur.

Speed limits are also not arbitrary suggestions. They are low speeds specifically set in different areas because of the hazards of speed upon the surrounding community. Many streets have lots of children, others are high foot traffic areas, and others have low visibility. Whatever the reason, they apply to everyone regardless of the capability of the car or the experience of the driver.

Hopefully the following data collected from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), and the Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC) will help convince people that speeding is a terrible idea.

Speeding Statistics

The detriment of speeding is the biggest concern. Speed is the difference between skidding to a stop and rolling multiple times. From 1996-2005, 2,141 drivers were involved in speeding-related fatal collisions in Washington State.

Of these drivers:

  • 82.3% were male
  • 56.6% were 15-30 years old
  • 49.2% were not wearing seat belts
  • 56.8% had BACs at or above .08
  • 21.8% had revoked, expired, suspended or cancelled licenses
  • 14.2% had prior collisions
  • 27.5% had prior suspensions or revocations
  • 33.4% had prior speeding violations
  • 4.8% had prior DUIs
  • 29.4% had other prior violations  [FARS]

The trends related to speeding within Washington State remain relatively consistent with 35% to 67% of observed vehicles traveling at or above the posted speed on all highways combined.

In December 2007, the place with the most vehicles speeding was the town of Preston on Interstate 90 just east of Issaquah. Preston recorded 11, 913 vehicles traveling at or above 90 mph, which averages to 132 vehicles per day. The odd thing is that the speeding incidents occur throughout the day with no dominant time. Approximately 61% of vehicles traveling at or above 90 mph were traveling westbound toward Bellevue and Seattle.

Speeding Consequences

A crash is considered speeding-related if the driver was charged with a speeding-related offense or if an officer indicated that racing, driving too fast for conditions, or exceeding the posted speed limit was a contributing factor in the crash.

fatality accidents by age group

  • Speeding Causes Wrecks – It is one of the biggest factors that contributes to traffic accidents. The monetary cost to society of speeding-related crashes is estimated by NHTSA to be $40.4 billion per year. In 2007, speeding was to blame in 31% of all fatal crashes, and 13,040 lives were lost in speeding-related crashes.
  • Age of Driver – In 2007, only 49% of speeding passenger vehicle drivers under age 21 who were involved in fatal crashes were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash. That is opposed to 67% of non-speeding drivers in the same age group were restrained. For drivers age 21 and older, the percentage of speeding drivers involved in fatal crashes who were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash was 43%, but 72% of nonspeeding drivers in fatal crashes were wearing them.
  • The Cost of Speeding – Vehicle crashes cost society an estimated $7,300 per second…that right, per second. The total economic cost of crashes was estimated at $230.6 billion in 2000. That same year the cost of speeding-related crashes was estimated to be $40.4 billion — $76,865 per minute or $1,281 per second.
  • Vehicle Control and Reaction Time – Speeding reduces a driver’s ability to take and adjust to curves or objects in the roadway. It considerably extends the distance necessary to stop a vehicle. It also increases the distance a vehicle travels while the driver reacts to a dangerous situation.
  • Offenders – Out of all of the offenders, young males are the most likely to be speeding. The relative proportion of speeding-related crashes to all crashes decreases with increasing driver age. In 2005, 38% of the male drivers between the ages 15 to 20 who were involved in fatal crashes were speeding at the time of the crash.

Speeding fatalities by road type

  • License Status – In 2005, a staggering 22% of speeding drivers involved in fatal crashes had an invalid license at the time of the crash, compared with 11% of nonspeeding drivers.
  • Roads – 86% of all speeding-related fatalities occurred on roads that were not interstate highways.
  • Road Conditions – Speeding was a factor in 28% of the fatal crashes that occurred on dry roads in 2005. In 33% of fatality wrecks that occurred on wet roads speed was a factor. Not surprisingly, 51% of the fatal crashes that occurred when there was snow or slush on the road and 58% of those that occurred on icy roads. Speeding was involved in over one-quarter (27%) of the fatal crashes that occurred in road construction zones.

Car and Truck Accidents

As you can see speeding is one of the most detrimental of the common social behaviors. Saving a few minutes and not being patient can actually kill someone. It can result in a vehicular homicide charge, which has a mandatory prison sentence and comes with all of the social bells and whistles of being an ex-felon once you leave jail such as problems finding employment of any kind, housing, or being able to travel or vote for that matter.

If you or a loved one have sustained a serious personal injury or been killed in a car accident due to the negligence of another driver it is important that you find experienced council that can represent your interests and protect you from the confusing insurance and medical industry chaos. Call Phillips Webster for a consultation.

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Young Washington Drivers and Auto Accidents

alcohol, Auto Accidents, fatalities, inattention, injuries, insurance, speeding, texting, Washington auto accidents lawyers, young Washington drivers

October 21st, 2009: Washington Law Blogger

Washington’s driving and accident statistics are generally similar to those you’d find in the rest of the country, and one of the more troubling sets of statistics involves young drivers. Generally speaking, young drivers face a higher risk of death and serious injuries behind the wheel as compared to older drivers, and these situations are often tragic in nature. As such, Washington auto accidents lawyers are regularly fielding incoming inquiries regarding the rights of those injured or killed in such situations.

The issue is such that October 18th – October 24th has been declared to be “Teen Driver Safety Week” in Washington, and the event is an effort to bring awareness to the risks involved with young drivers and to help alert anyone to steps that can be taken that lead to safer roads and fewer problems for young Washington residents who get behind the wheel.

One look at some basic statistics can explain why such a week has been planned. According to the Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC), 140 people between the ages of 16 and 19 have been killed in auto accidents in Washington, and more than 400 have been seriously injured. The leading causes of these accidents appears to include speeding, drug and/or alcohol impairment, inattention or a combination thereof.

Young drivers are also much more likely to play loud music, joy ride and use their phones for calls and/or texting while driving, all of which only adds to the dangers that these young drivers incur. These risks also create danger for anyone else who happens to be sharing the road with them at any given time, thereby creating a situation where the state government decided to take action.

This is also the reason that insurance premiums tend to be more expensive for young or new drivers than for almost anyone else. The insurance industry assesses risks, and clearly they see young drivers as the biggest risk within this context. If you or someone you love has been injured or worse by a young driver in Washington or by anyone else, you need to contact a Washington auto accident lawyer at Phillips & Webster today to schedule a free initial consultation.

DUI Accident Leaves Two Seriously Injured

auto accidents lawyers, civil liability, DUI accident, fatalities, serious injuries, speeding

August 24th, 2009: Washington Law Blogger

Alcohol and speeding seem to be an unfortunate match when it comes to driving in certain circumstances. Many times, a DUI accident involves reports of the driver speeding before a crash, and this combination is as dangerous as it gets. That notion was reinforced recently in Allyn, but despite the severity of the crash, it fortunately did not lead to any fatalities. It did, however, result in serious injuries to two of the vehicle’s occupants.

According to the Kitsap Sun:

“A 19-year-old Allyn man was driving a 2007 Ford Focus west on the 700 block of East Lake Shore Drive in Lakeland Village at about 10:15 p.m. when the car left the roadway and crashed, deputies said.

An unidentified male passenger was seriously injured, said Mason County Chief Deputy Dean Byrd, and taken to Harborview Medical Center by helicopter. He is listed in serious condition at the Seattle hospital.

A 17-year-old Allyn girl was taken to Mason General Hospital in Shelton and later flown to Harborivew. She is listed in serious but stable condition, Byrd said.”

The driver was booked on suspicion of DUI, and investigators have yet to gather and publish all of the evidence that relates to the accident. Regardless, the driver will likely face not only criminal, but also civil liability. These situations are all too common, and if you have been injured as a result of the negligence of a drunk driver, you need to take preliminary steps to obtain the information you need regarding your legal rights and options as you recover from your injuries. Contact the auto accidents lawyers at Phillips & Webster today to schedule a free initial consultation.

Man Suspected of Causing Accident Flees Hospital

auto accident attorneys, Auto Accidents, fleeing, hospital stay, injuries, speeding

August 14th, 2009: Washington Law Blogger

When an accident occurs that leads to multiple injuries, the person who is at fault usually winds up facing scrutiny from several fronts, including personal injury attorneys and perhaps the prosecutor’s office. While it’s too soon to know what will happen to one man who’s suspected of causing a multiple-injury crash, he apparently did not want to stay in one place long enough to find out, as he attempted to flee from the hospital.

According to the Seattle Times:

“A man suspected of causing an accident that injured seven people in Bothell Wednesday night tried to flee from police by running from a hospital where he was being treated for minor injuries, the State Patrol says. But he left behind his clothes.

Just after 6 p.m., the State Patrol began receiving 911 calls from witnesses who reported a white 1998 Dodge Dakota pickup being driven at more than 100 mph on the southbound lanes of Interstate 405 in Bothell. The pickup struck a Mazda minivan carrying two women and four children. The State Patrol reports the impact forced the minivan across four lanes of traffic and onto a dirt median, where it overturned.”

The man was quickly apprehended by police. Clearly, driving over 100 mph could be construed as negligent at least, and perhaps even reckless. Luckily, no one was killed or permanently injured in the crash, but the fact remains that the driver could face liability on both the civil and criminal fronts based on the results of the investigation of the accident.

If you or someone you love has been injured as a result of an auto accident, you need to contact the attorneys at Phillips & Webster as soon as possible to schedule a free initial consultation.