Teen Driver Safety: 10 Best Cars for Teen Drivers 2021

By default, teenage drivers are inexperienced and inexperienced drivers are much more likely to make a mistake or error in judgement that can dramatically increase the chance of being in a car accident. In fact, most fatal teen car crashes happen within six months of obtaining a driver’s license. In 2021, motor vehicle accidents are still the number one cause of death among American teenagers. Teen drivers are 10 times more likely to be in a fatal car accident than adults. Fatal teen accidents can be reduced through proper driving education, parental input about safe driving behaviors and vehicles with high safety ratings.

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Couple Dies in Motorcycle Vs Truck Accident on Chuckanut Drive

As reported by KGMI, a couple from Granite Falls has died after crashing their motorcycle into another vehicle on Chuckanut Drive on Saturday, July 25. The couple was riding their Harley Davidson south at Soundview Road north of Larrabee State Park when they crossed the centerline on a curve. After crossing, they crashed into a pick-up truck driven by a Bellingham man. The couple was taken to PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center where they later died; the driver of the pick-up wasn’t hurt.

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2020 Recreational Boating Statistics Report Reveals 25% Increase in Boating Fatalities

The U.S. Coast Guard 2020 Boating Safety Statistics Report revealed a 25.1 percent increase in boating fatalities nationwide. As always, inexperience and drunkenness were leading causes of boating accidents but a significant increase in boating activity during the pandemic was likely a factor as well. It simply came down to more hours spent boating translating into more boating accidents and injuries.

If you or a loved one was injured in a boating accident because of the negligent or reckless behavior of another, you have a right to seek compensation for your injuries. A boat accident attorney can discuss your legal rights and help you fight for a fair settlement.

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Three People Injured in Whatcom County T-Bone Crash over Weekend

Sadly, car accidents happen every day and Whatcom County sees its fair share. As reported by kgmi.com, three people were injured in a T-bone crash on Aldrich Road this weekend. According to Washington State Patrol (WSP), the crash occurred when a silver 1997 Acura Integra that was traveling northbound on Aldrich Road crashed into a Buick sedan that was turning left off of King Tut Road on Saturday. Sadly, the driver of the Acura was not wearing a seatbelt and was transported to Harborview because of his injuries. The man and a woman in the Buick were transported to PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center for their injuries. While the crash is still under investigation, speed has been identified as a factor in the collision.

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Personal Injury Claims for Drunk Boating Accidents

Boating accidents may not be as common as car accidents but there are still thousands of accidents every year. According to data from the Coast Guard, there were 4,168 recreational boating accidents and 613 boating accident-related fatalities in 2019 alone; this was a slight decrease from the 633 boating fatalities reported in 2018. In 2019, the boating fatality rate was 5.2 deaths per 100,000 registered recreational vessels. In addition, 2,559 people were injured and there was $55 million dollars’ worth of property damage.

Some of the common causes of boating accidents are inexperienced captains, unfavorable boating conditions, and drunken boating. In fact, drunk boating accidents are responsible for hundreds of injuries and boating deaths every year.

If you or a loved one was injured or killed because of a drunken boat skipper, you are entitled to file a boat accident claim that seeks to recover damages. An experienced boating accident attorney can discuss your legal rights and help you through the process to ensure you get the maximum settlement for your injuries.

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How to Keep Your Family Safe During a Heat Wave

While it’s very rare for extreme heat events to affect the Pacific Northwest, especially as far north as Whatcom County, we know they can happen. We were recently reminded of this reality at the end of June and early July with three days of record-breaking heat. Sadly, the Washington State Department of Health reports that during the extreme weather event, one person died in Whatcom County and a total of 91 people died across the State of Washington. The last time we saw temperatures at these levels was in 2009, but scientists expect extreme heat events to become more common in the coming years.

For most people who live in a home without air conditioning, an extreme heat wave is very uncomfortable but not deadly. There are groups of people who are more vulnerable when exposed to very high temperatures, including:

• Seniors
• Infants and kids up to four years of age
• People who are obese
• People who are suffering from chronic illnesses or who are taking certain medications

Keeping your Family Safe during a Heat Wave

There are measures we can take to prevent tragic accidents from heat-related illness, such as heat exhaustion.

These safety tips from redcross.org are a great place to start:

• Cars are extremely dangerous during heat waves because inside temperatures can soar in as little as a few minutes. NEVER leave any person or pet – but especially pets, infants, children, or people with disabilities – in a car without air conditioning running on a warm or hot day. Cracking a window open is not enough on a very hot day.
• Keep yourself and your kids hydrated. Cool, non-alcoholic, non-sugary, and non-caffeinated drinks are best during a heat wave. Water is ideal but sports drinks or coconut water are also important as they can help replace the mineral salts we lose from sweating. Speak to your doctor about the amount of water that is safe for you to drink if you have been asked to limit water intake or take water pills. You should also speak to your doctor before consuming sports drinks if you have diabetes, high blood pressure or other chronic illnesses that affect the amount of salt intake that is safe for your body.
• Keep your pets hydrated. Make sure to provide cool, fresh drinking water for your pets during a heat wave.
• Do everything possible to keep yourself cool.
  • If you have access to an air-conditioned space, spend as much time there as possible.
  • Setup window or portable air-conditioning units in your most used room if you own them.
  • Shut out the heat with blackout curtains or with a slab of cardboard with tin foil on the backside to refract the light.
  • Avoid regular fans if your indoor space is above 96 degrees.
  • Wear lightweight, light-colored, and loose-fitting clothing.
  • Avoid using your stove or oven, if possible.
  • Avoid activities that raise body temperature such as exercise or yard work.
  • Wear a hat and sunscreen and stick to shady areas, if possible, if you venture outdoors.
• If you have elderly or ill neighbors, friends, or loved ones, check in on them at least twice a day to make sure they are doing okay. Encourage them to drink cold water or sports drinks and to take cool showers as needed. Offer to take them to a place that has air conditioning if they do not have it at home. If they do not sound like themselves or tell you that they aren’t feeling well or are experiencing any combination of the symptoms of heat stress discussed below, it may be time to call an ambulance.

Symptoms of heat exhaustion

According to cdc.gov, these are the symptoms of heat exhaustion to watch out for:

• Headache
• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Weakness
• Irritability
• Thirst
• Heavy sweating
• Elevated body temperature

Seek the help of a personal injury attorney

If you or a loved one was injured because of the negligence of another, contact a personal injury lawyer to discuss your legal rights. Let an experienced accident attorney fight for the full compensation that you deserve. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from the insurance company that is five to ten times larger with the help of a lawyer. Call the personal injury lawyers at Tario & Associates, P.S. in Bellingham, WA today for a FREE consultation! We have been representing residents of Whatcom County, Skagit County, Island County and Snohomish County since 1979. You will pay nothing up front and no attorney fees at all unless we recover damages for you!

Sources:

https://www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/BePreparedBeSafe/SevereWeatherandNaturalDisasters/HotWeatherSafety/HeatWave2021?fbclid=IwAR0BIUJ7fnJU_ZQw24C2xu3_5JuvlJi8eMTv6tQz_im-M1VmkdfY7mwwJu0

https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/heat-wave-safety.html

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/heatstress/heatrelillness.html

Tesla’s Autopilot System Faces Scrutiny as Crashes Pile Up

The criticism is mounting for Tesla’s Autopilot system as more crashes are being associated with the Autopilot function. While Tesla maintains that its Autopilot system actually makes driving safer, doubts are growing among safety experts and the public.

As reported by the hill.com, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there are about twenty-four active crash investigations involving passengers who were driving with the Autopilot function.

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Bellingham Child Killed in Truck Accident: Drugs and Alcohol Involved in Crash

As reported by kgmi.com, a Bellingham child was tragically killed yesterday in a collision between the car he was riding in and a truck that was heading north on Highway 9, south of Nooksack. According to a report by the State Patrol, the truck crashed into a vehicle that was driving south after the driver had pulled off the road and then entered back onto the roadway in the path of the northbound truck. The driver of the vehicle was injured but the truck driver was not. Troopers say drugs and alcohol were a factor in the crash.

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Beware of Pressure Washing Injuries

Pressure washers are extremely handy tools. A pressure washer is a power tool that sprays water at high pressures. Countless homeowners and property managers use them every spring and summer to clean grime, loose paint, algae, and mold off of siding, roofing, farm equipment, patios, fences, driveways and sidewalks. But the very reason that this tool is so effective at cleaning sturdy, outdoor spaces, is the reason it can be so dangerous. To illustrate the power of pressure washers, we can compare them to the output of the standard garden hose. According to consumerrports.org, a garden hose produces water with water pressure at about 50 pounds per square inch (psi). By comparison, pressure washers can produce 1,500 to 4,000 psi. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, it is estimated that 6,057 people went to an emergency room with pressure washing injuries in 2014 alone. Out of those visitors, 14 percent required additional hospitalization.

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5 Surprising Reasons Car Accident Fatalities Are Highest in the Summer

It comes as a shock to many that summer actually has a higher risk of fatal car accidents than winter. In fact, the summer months have 29 percent more car accident deaths than winter months (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)! How is this possible with all the rain, snow and ice that lines the road in the winter months? There are several reasons that traffic deaths increase in the summer; we’re going to take a look at the top five today.

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