personal injury blog, Bellingham | Tario & Associates, P.S.

by Michael TarioDecember 2, 2025 Personal Injury Attorney Blog Bellingham0 comments

What Injured Victims Need to Know About Seeking Compensation for Holiday Home Décor Fires

Many home and business owners enjoy decorating for the holidays, both inside and outside of their house or building. These decorations add a big dose of holiday spirit to the holiday season. But, with most of these decorations requiring the use of electricity, they also pose a potential fire hazard. In fact, hundreds of U.S. homes experience electrical fires during the holidays each year.

How Many Homes Suffer Electrical Fires During the Holidays?

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), there were an estimated 835 home fires annually sparked by holiday decorations (excluding Christmas trees) between 2018-2022. In addition, an average of 155 home fires per year are started by Christmas trees, and electrical issues are involved in over 40 percent of those fires.

(more…)

Share

0

by Michael TarioNovember 25, 2025 Personal Injury Attorney Blog Bellingham0 comments

Who’s Liable for Thanksgiving Cooking Injuries? 5 Holiday Cooking Fire Facts You Need to Know

Thanksgiving is a great time to gather around a hearty holiday meal, and most families choose to cook at home. With all the hustle and bustle of a full household and preparing a large meal, it’s no wonder that the risk of kitchen fires increases. Burn injuries caused by kitchen explosions and kitchen fires occur more often than people realize. To stay safe on Thanksgiving, it is important to understand why Thanksgiving cooking leads to an increase in home fires, and how to protect yourself if you suffer a burn injury.

If you or a loved one suffers an injury from a Thanksgiving Day cooking accident, you may be entitled to compensation through a personal injury claim. A local personal injury attorney can review your case and discuss your legal rights and possible next steps.

(more…)

Share

0

by Michael TarioNovember 20, 2025 Car Accident Attorney Blog Bellingham0 comments

Why There is an Increase in Traffic Accidents After Time Change

In early November each year in the Pacific Northwest, we roll our clocks back an hour to bring us back to Standard Time. The reasoning is that mornings would be too dark in the fall and winter in Northern states if we stayed on Daylight Saving Time year-round. The tradeoff is that with only so many hours of shrinking daylight, the change brings darker evenings. Studies have long shown that traffic accidents after time change increase. The question is why are there more motor vehicle accidents after we switch back to Standard Time in the fall?

(more…)

Share

0

by Michael TarioNovember 17, 2025 Car Accident Attorney Blog Bellingham0 comments

How Much Do Your Chances Increase for Accidents After Dark?

Daylight Savings Time is gone for 2025, which means much darker evenings in the Pacific Northwest, and with them, a higher risk of accidents. An earlier sunset means a darker commute for many as they head home from work or run kids to extracurricular activities, making it harder to see other drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians. In fact, darkness increase the driving risk by a significant margin.

If you or a loved one is struggling with injuries after being hit in a nighttime driving accident, contact a local car accident attorney for support. The injury lawyer can assess your case to determine the settlement you deserve, help gather evidence to support your claim, negotiate a fair settlement, and guide you through every step of the legal process so you’re not facing it alone.

(more…)

Share

0

by Michael TarioNovember 10, 2025 Car Accident Attorney Blog Bellingham0 comments

Can You Still File a Car Accident Claim If You Were Found Partially at Fault for the Accident?

When the dust settles after a car accident, one of the first questions that insurances companies look to answer is who was at fault for the accident? Determining fault is the first critical step in any injury case because it affects which insurance company is responsible for covering damages and for what percentage. After a claim is filed, insurance companies immediately get to work assessing responsibility. Where it can get more complicated is when the claimant is found partially responsible for the accident. In this situation people wonder: Can you still file a car accident claim if you were found partially at fault?

(more…)

Share

0

by Michael TarioNovember 6, 2025 Car Accident Attorney Blog Bellingham, Wrongful Death Blog Bellingham0 comments

Rising 2025 Drunk Driving Arrests in Bellingham Underscore the Ongoing Risk of Drunk Driving Accidents

Every day, 34 people in the U.S. die in drunk driving accidents across the country. While there was a sustained decrease in alcohol-related fatalities in the decade after drunk driving campaigns gained traction, between 2014 and 2023, the country saw a 25 percent increase in DUI crashes.

As car accident attorneys, we see the terrible effects of drunk driving on accident victims. That’s why we are concerned that according to police records, Bellingham is experiencing an alarming rise in impaired driving and drunk driving arrests in 2025. Between January 1 and October 31, 2025, Bellingham Police made 390 arrests for driving under the influence, according to crime data available online. By comparison, there were 400 DUI arrests in all of 2024. In the final weekend of October alone, from Friday to Sunday, Bellingham Police made 11 arrests for driving under the influence.

(more…)

Share

0

by Michael TarioNovember 3, 2025 Car Accident Attorney Blog Bellingham0 comments

How to Prove Car Accident Injuries That Don’t Show Up Right Away

The severity of car accidents and resulting injuries can vary widely. In some cases, those involved in the accident walk away believing that they haven’t suffered any injuries because symptoms don’t show up right away. Then as days progress, pain, stiffness, and other symptoms set in. Even though this delay in the onset of symptoms is fairly common, it can cause problems with filing an accident claim if the injured party failed to see a doctor shortly after the accident. Essentially, they argue that you weren’t injured in the accident because you would have visited a doctor right after the accident if you were.

(more…)

Share

0

by Michael TarioOctober 21, 2025 Personal Injury Attorney Blog Bellingham0 comments

School Bus Accident Statistics for National School Bus Safety Week

Millions of children across the country ride the school bus five days a week through the school year to get them to and from school. While school buses are an exceptionally safe way for students to travel, accidents can still happen, and even a single incident can lead to serious or fatal injuries. That’s why it’s so important for drivers, parents, and schools to stay alert and follow safety rules. In recognition of National School Bus Safety Week, October 20–24, 2025, we’re taking a closer look at school bus accident statistics and why school bus accidents happen and how they can be prevented.

(more…)

Share

0

by Michael TarioOctober 17, 2025 Personal Injury Attorney Blog Bellingham0 comments

What is Negligence and How Does it Cause Injuries?

Every day, thousands of people are injured in a wide range of accidents including car crashes, slip and falls, and defective products. Many of these injuries happen because someone failed to take reasonable care to prevent harm. Negligence can lead to serious physical, emotional, and financial consequences for the victims, affecting their ability to work, take care of themselves, and enjoy everyday activities. Understanding how negligence causes injuries can help people recognize their rights and take steps to protect themselves.

If you or a loved one was injured because of someone else’s actions, you may be able to recover a financial settlement with the help of a personal injury attorney. Look for an experienced, local injury lawyer and schedule a free consultation to discuss your potential case.

(more…)

Share

0