Why DUI Crashes Increase in the Summer

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), each day about 28 Americans die in DUI crashes. Drunk driving typically increases in the summertime when people are more likely to take vacations and want to cool down with a “cold one.” According to moneygeek.com, summer has the highest rate of DUI fatalities, with 28% of the year’s DUI-related deaths projected to happen in the summer of 2022.

According to drunkdrivinprevention.com, approximately 1.5 million people are arrested every year for driving under the influence of alcohol. We know that drunk driving is a serious threat to traffic safety, not to mention a public health concern. These arrests occur despite the fact that all states have restrictions on driving with a (BAC) level of 0.08 or higher (Utah’s is 0.05). BAC stands for blood alcohol content and represents the amount of alcohol present in the bloodstream. The more alcohol present, the more chance that a person’s motor skills and judgement will be impaired.

(more…)

Can I Get a Boating Accident Settlement if the At-Fault Party Doesn’t Have Boat Insurance?

The injuries and property damage that result from boating accidents can be very serious. Negligent boating behaviors such as operating a boat while under the influence of drugs or alcohol and disregarding state boating laws, or failing to stop reckless passenger behavior that leads to an accident can all contribute to determining fault in a boating accident.

Unfortunately, it is often complicated to recover a settlement from a boating accident because so many people don’t carry boat insurance. Some may wonder if they can get a boating accident settlement if the at-fault party doesn’t have boat insurance. The answer is that it is possible, but it will require the help of an experienced boating accident lawyer.

(more…)

If You Are Involved in a Boating Accident What is the First Thing You Should Do?

It’s summer and that means boating season in the Pacific Northwest. Sadly, every year boaters are killed or injured on the water in boating accidents due to inexperienced and/or reckless and negligent behavior. According to data from the U.S. Coast Guard in its 2021 Recreational Boating Statistics Report, there were 658 boating fatalities and an additional 2,641 non-fatal injuries nationwide in 2021. This translates to a fatality rate of 5.5 deaths per 100,000 registered recreational vessels. The property damage involved in these accidents totaled about $67.5 million.

(more…)

Will my Pre-Existing Condition Affect my Car Accident Settlement?

Insurance companies will go out of their way to deny a car accident claim for a pre-existing injury or medical condition. Most of the time, they request the claimant’s medical records in an attempt to find a pre-existing injury or medical condition that they can point to and dismiss the claim. However, if a crash causes a pre-existing injury or condition to get worse or flare up, you are entitled to pursue damages for the medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering, etc. caused by the flare-up.

The at-fault driver’s insurance company will fight tooth and nail against paying anything to the injured party in this situation, so it’s important to seek the help of an experienced local car accident lawyer who knows how to fight back. A good injury lawyer will negotiate and take a case to trial, if necessary, to ensure their client gets a full and fair settlement for their losses and injuries.

(more…)

DUI Chase in Bellingham Leads to Single Vehicle Crash

As reported by KGMI.com, a DUI chase on I-5 in Bellingham led to charges of unlawful imprisonment and vehicular assault. According to Washington State Patrol (WSP) Trooper Jacob Kennett, the car was seen speeding and driving erratically on I-5 southbound near Bakerview Road at around 11:15 p.m. the night of Tuesday, July 19. The driver ignored troopers who tried to pull the vehicle over, continuing to drive at high speeds. At that point, troopers began pursuing the vehicle until it got off at the North Lake Samish Road exit. WSP later found the car crashed into a tree with the driver and the passenger still inside. Troopers were forced to break a window in order to save them, at which time the passenger claimed that the driver wouldn’t let her get out of the car. The passenger was then taken to the hospital to treat the serious injuries they suffered in the single vehicle crash. The driver admitted to law enforcement that he had done drugs before getting behind the wheel and now faces DUI, vehicular assault, unlawful imprisonment, and reckless driving charges.

(more…)

Car Accidents: Types of Aggressive Driving

We have all been driving along with suddenly, a driver seems to come out of nowhere cutting us off, braking suddenly, and weaving in and out of traffic. Aggressive drivers may even tailgate drivers they feel aren’t driving fast enough. In some cases, this aggressive driving behavior happens at high speeds on the freeway; in other cases, it happens at low speeds in heavy city traffic. Either way, this dangerous driving behavior puts other drivers and pedestrians in danger and increases the risk for car accidents.

If you or a family member was injured as a result of an aggressive driver, contact a local car accident lawyer as soon as possible. You are entitled to a full and fair settlement for your losses and injuries.

(more…)

How Do Drivers Crash into Buildings?

We’ve all heard news reports of drivers crashing into buildings and shaken our heads about how it’s possible. There are factors, including age and negligent driving behaviors, that contribute to these types of crashes. Unfortunately, there have always been issues with drivers crashing into. How Do Drivers Crash into Buildings? This type of crash happens most often when a driver is entering or leaving a parking space perpendicular to the building. Even though drivers are usually driving at relatively low speeds in these scenarios, a vehicle crashing into a building can still result in serious injury or death and some serious property damage.

(more…)

Risk of Motorcycle Accidents Increases in Summer Months

Motorcyclists look forward to riding in summer weather all year long – especially in the Pacific Northwest where the weather is so cold and wet several months of the year. While it is certainly fun, it’s important to know that riding a motorcycle comes with its share of risks not shared by other drivers on the road and that summer riding can be especially hazardous. According to the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, a motorcycle driver is 27 times more likely to die in a crash than a car driver and 80 percent of all motorcycle crashes result in injury or death compared to 20 percent of all passenger car accidents.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, motorcycle riders are consistently overrepresented in fatal traffic crashes. In 2020 alone, 5,579 motorcyclists were killed in motorcycle accidents. Because motorcycles are smaller than other vehicles, it’s easy for other drivers to miss them in a blind spot or mirror. Adding to the problem, drivers often don’t understand that motorcycles maneuver differently than larger vehicles.

(more…)

Speed and Aggressive Driving Contribute to Bellingham Motorcycle Accident

After an unseasonably cold and wet spring, summer weather has finally arrived in the Pacific Northwest. Motorcycle riders who have been waiting to get their bikes out of storage and hit the road are rejoicing. It’s very important for motorcyclists to exercise caution on the roads as they are much more likely to die in a traffic crash than drivers. Data shows that motorcycle riders suffer 25 fatalities per 100 million miles of travel compared to 0.80 fatalities per 100 million miles of passenger car travel. There are two main reasons for this: 1. Drivers sometimes have a hard time seeing motorcycles on the road and 2. Motorcycle riders don’t have as much protection as drivers.

If you or a loved one was injured or killed in a motorcycle accident because of the negligence of another driver, contact a local motorcycle accident lawyer for help. Injury lawyers know how to calculate the true value of your accident claim and can help you negotiate a full and fair settlement for your injuries and losses.

(more…)

Defective Products Increase Risk of Car Accidents

Defective Products Increase Car Accident Risk

Dangerous and defective products cause thousands of injuries every year. When a vehicle is manufactured with defective parts or design, it may put drivers, passengers, and others on the road at risk because the vehicle behaves in a way that causes safety concerns. In some cases, the vehicle’s defect becomes obvious right away and in other cases, the problem(s) develop over time.

There are generally two ways that a vehicle component can be deemed defective:

1. Design defects. Design defects make a vehicle unsafe to drive even when it is manufactured and driven the way it was meant to be. It means that the part’s design was defective and therefore unsafe no matter how smoothly it is installed into the vehicle.
2. Manufacturing defects. Manufacturing defects are caused by mistakes made during the manufacturing process. Generally, in manufacturing defect cases, a properly designed part is installed incorrectly or becomes damaged during installation.

(more…)