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Car Accidents
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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’

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.

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Posted in Auto Accidents

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.

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Posted in Auto Accidents

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.

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Posted in Auto Accidents, Trucking Accidents

SUV Rollover Crash Results in Serious Injury to Passenger

alcohol, Auto Accidents, personal injury lawyers, speeding, SUV, SUV rollover crash

August 11th, 2009: Washington Law Blogger

SUV’s are prone to rollover crashes, and that’s a tendency that’s been well-documented over the years. The situation is only made more dangerous if the driver is traveling at a high rate of speed and alcohol was a factor in the crash. While no definitive conclusion has been drawn regarding the presence of alcohol with the driver, it is suspected in an SUV rollover crash that seriously injured the vehicle’s passenger.

According to the Yakima Herald:

” A 23-year-old Ellensburg woman was seriously injured early Sunday after a rollover accident about six miles northeast of Ellensburg.

Investigators say speeding and alcohol are possible factors in the accident, which took place around 1 a.m. on Rader Road, between Naneum and Fairview roads, according to a news release by the Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office.”

Authorities stated that the driver drifted off to towards the right shoulder, overcorrected and wound up in the ditch, where the SUV proceeded to roll over several times. The passenger was ejected from the vehicle, bringing into question whether or not she was wearing a seat belt. The passenger is listed in serious condition at a local hospital.

Unfortunately, there are several factors that need to be analyzed before the cause of the crash and any exposure to criminal and civil liability can be identified. As is always the case, though, the facts will be revealed and appropriate action will be taken. If you or someone you love has been injured in an SUV rollover accident and/or an accident that involved alcohol, you need to contact the personal injury lawyers at Phillips & Webster to schedule a free initial consultation.

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Posted in Auto Accidents, Trucking Accidents

Accelerating While Being Passed – Another Dangerous Behavior

accelerating, auto accident lawyers, Auto Accidents, collisions, passing, safety, speeding

August 6th, 2009: Washington Law Blogger

When people pass other vehicles, the only real reason for doing so is because the person passing the other wants to go faster. It’s really that simple, but when this occurs, it prompts a surprisingly wide array of responses from the person being passed. Some simply allow the pass to occur, which is the proper course of action, while others make the worst decision possible – to speed up and prevent the person from passing.

When this occurs, it immediately creates a dangerous situation, particularly when it occurs on two-lane roads with traffic moving in both directions. Some who are being passed simply realize that they are moving at a slower pace than they desire, and accelerate in an attempt to get to their preferred speed. Others, however, seem to view being passed as some sort of challenge and accelerate in an attempt to prompt the passer to slow down and move back into the right lane behind them.

When this occurs, it not only creates a situation of risk for the person who’s attempting to pass, but also for the person being passed and any vehicles that could be coming in the opposite direction. It takes mere seconds for a disaster to unfold on the roads, and collisions at high rates of speed often leave devastating results behind. If you are being passed, simply maintain your rate of speed until the other driver completes his or her maneuver, as it’s the safest course of action to take.

If you or someone you love has been injured in an accident like this, you need to contact the auto accident attorneys at Phillips & Webster immediately to schedule a free initial consultation.

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Posted in Auto Accidents

One Dead, One Critically Injured in Motorcycle Accident

fatalities, injuries, motorcycle accident, personal injury attorneys, speeding

August 5th, 2009: Washington Law Blogger

Motorcycles are common in Seattle, especially during the summer when the roads are relatively dry. However, regardless of the weather conditions, these vehicles are still inherently dangerous for those driving or riding on them if there is any sort of crash. Other than a helmet and perhaps some protective clothing, motorcycle passengers are completely exposed and vulnerable if they are thrown from their bikes.

Tragically, that appears to be what happened at approximately 2 a.m. According to King 5:

“Seattle Police say the two motorcycles crashed around 2 a.m., but there is no indication that they hit each other. The debris field stretches over two city blocks.

Why they crashed is still a mystery, but speed was likely a factor.

Neighbors say the two men were members of the “Drama Boyz” motorcycle club.”

The crash created such a wide field of debris that it halted the Seattle light rail system for a few hours until the path could be cleared. This debris field appears to back up witness claims that the bikers were traveling at a high rate of speed. Otherwise, it will take some time to definitively identify the cause of the crash.

As can be seen, motorcycle accidents can happen at any time and in any place, and a high percentage of motorcycle accidents result in serious injuries and fatalities. If you ride a motorcycle or you’ve been otherwise harmed in a motorcycle accident, you need to contact the personal injury attorneys at Phillips & Webster today to schedule a free initial consultation.

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Posted in Motorcycle Accidents

Aggressive Driving – A Factor in More than Half of Deadly Crashes

AAA, aggressive driving, auto accident attorneys, disobeying traffic laws, failure to yield right of way, fatal auto accidents, reckless driving, speeding

August 4th, 2009: Washington Law Blogger

The American Automobile Association (AAA) is well-known for several reasons, most of which involve their individual club memberships that provide people with pick-up and towing service if they encounter car trouble and discounts for those who travel and use member lodging or automobile rental shops. However, the AAA also provides an enormous amount of research, and one of their most prevalent subjects involves aggressive driving.

AAA published another study in this regard, and a look at the overall statistics were quite troubling for many reasons. For instance, from 2003 – 2007, there were more than 192,000 fatal crashes in the United States, and almost 213,000 people were killed as a result. More than 50% of fatal crashes involved some form of aggressive driving. In terms of those crashes that could be measured for the statistical compilation, the following statistics were reported in terms of the leading causes of fatal accidents:

  • Speeding – 30.7%
  • Failure to yield right of way – 11.4%
  • Reckless/careless/erratic driving – 7.4%
  • Failure to obey traffic signs/signals – 6.6%
  • Making improper turn – 4.1%

These are the top 5 specific causes of fatal auto accidents in which aggressive driving was a factor, and the text of the entire study can be found here. This list and these troubling numbers should provide anyone who understands these facts with some clear messages.

First, traffic laws are not in place to slow someone down, but rather to protect everyone on the road. Disobeying them only increases the chance that something terrible will occur. Secondly, aggressive drivers tend to be those who are emotional for one reason or another when they get behind the wheel. Driving is a science, which means that emotion should not be part of anyone’s approach to the road.

Finally, if you or someone you love has been injured or worse 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

Speeding Through Yellow Lights – Another Problematic Driving Decision

auto accident lawyer, Auto Accidents, pedestrians, running traffic signals, speeding, yellow lights

August 3rd, 2009: Washington Law Blogger

We’ve all been in a hurry at one time or another and encountered a traffic signal that had just turned yellow. Many of us have made the decision to speed up and make that light as opposed to spending the 1 – 2 minutes sitting and waiting for the signal to turn back to green. While it’s so common that it’s almost seen as customary behavior, the fact is that it’s dangerous behavior that leads to unnecessary accidents.

When someone speeds through a light, they may technically be in line with traffic laws as long as they get through the signal before it turns red. However, most people will accelerate to a speed that’s above the speed limit to do so, which is clearly illegal. Additionally, the decision of whether or not one can make it through the light comes down to fractions of a second many times, and none of us are capable of those types of calculations in that amount of time.

The issues arise when someone is wrong on those calculations and speeds into an intersection as vehicles begin to move from opposite directions. Accidents are highly likely at that point, and any pedestrians who may assume that the traffic signal can be trusted will walk into that intersection. If the timing is not proper, people can get injured and killed.

Finally, taking this sort of risk is simply not worth the ‘benefit’ of saving 2 minutes of drive time. If you or someone you love has been injured as a result of someone running through a traffic signal, you need to contact the auto accident lawyers at Phillips & Webster today to schedule a free initial consultation.

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Posted in Auto Accidents

Two Women Seriously Injured in Everett Crash

alcohol, auto accident, auto accident attorneys, jaws of life, serious injuries, speeding, traffic signal

July 29th, 2009: Washington Law Blogger

Turning left and across oncoming traffic can be a dangerous maneuver, particularly if a traffic signal is involved and drivers coming in the other direction are attempting to avoid being stopped by the light. Judging another vehicle’s speed and closing distance can be difficult for anyone, especially at night. Unfortunately, two women had to suffer the results of misjudging what an oncoming vehicle could do when making such a turn.

According to an article published by King 5:

“Two women were injured in a collision that ripped a car in half Thursday night.

According to a report in the Everett Herald Newspaper, the women were in a Ford Taurus that was going north on Evergreen. As they began to turn into the parking lot of a K-Mart store the car was hit by a Pontiac GTO heading southbound. The fiery impact tore the Taurus in half.

The Herald reports that witnesses say the Taurus was split in half just behind the front seats and that the front half of the car spun around before coming to a rest on the sidewalk in front of the store. They say the back half of the Taurus instantly burst in flames.”

Investigators are looking into the possibility that alcohol was a factor in the crash. Police also want to ascertain whether the driver of the GTO was speeding or sped up in an attempt to beat the traffic signal that was nearby. If you or someone you love has been injured in an auto accident, you need to contact the attorneys at Phillips & Webster today to schedule a free initial consultation.

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Posted in Auto Accidents

Jogger Killed, Child Injured by Car Driven by 15-Year-Old

auto accident lawyers, Auto Accidents, fatalities, injuries, pedestrian accident, speeding

July 27th, 2009: Washington Law Blogger

Lopez Island is an area that’s quite popular for recreation, and it’s common to see large groups of joggers, walkers and bikers around the island on weekends in the summer. Unfortunately, it also draws those who like to drive, and not everyone behind the wheel is qualified to be there. Tragically, a jogger and a group of bikers found this out the hard way on Saturday afternoon, as one jogger was killed and a child was seriously injured by a 15-year-old driver.

According to an article published by the Seattle Times:

“A 15-year-old boy was driving a souped-up car too fast on a Lopez Island road Sunday afternoon when he plowed into a group of bicyclists and a jogger, killing the runner and seriously hurting a young Seattle girl on a bike, San Juan County sheriff’s officials said.

The 7-year-old girl was flown to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle with “very severe injuries” to her hands, said San Juan County Sheriff Bill Cumming.

The incident occurred about 2:40 p.m. on Lopez Sound Road, a popular biking and running route on the east side of the island.

The girl was biking with her mom and dad and a sibling, while nearby Paul John Jaholkowsky, 26, of Abbottsford, B.C., was jogging and walking up the two-lane rural road.”

Obviously, the driver is too young to have a license, but did have a learner’s permit. No charges have yet been filed, but the investigation is only beginning. If you or someone you love has been injured or worse in an auto-pedestrian accident, you need to contact the auto accidents lawyers at Phillips & Webster today to schedule a free initial consultation.

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Posted in Auto Accidents, Wrongful Death

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