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

by Michael TarioDecember 22, 2025 Car Accident Attorney Blog Bellingham, Wrongful Death Blog Bellingham0 comments

NSC Christmas Collision Traffic Fatalities Estimate 2025

Christmas is a holiday that brings loved ones together in a festive atmosphere. Many will travel long distances by road in the dark to attend these events, where alcohol is often served. We know that heavy road traffic, dark roads, and drunk driving all lead to an increase in traffic accidents, so it’s not surprising that the holidays come with an increased risk of fatal crashes. The National Safety Council (NSC) estimates that 431 people may die on U.S. roads in a Christmas collision this Christmas Day holiday period, which is slightly below the six-year average of 450 fatalities that occurred over Christmas holiday periods of the same length.

Losing a loved one in an accident is devastating, especially during the holiday season when families are meant to be together. While no legal action can ever replace what you’ve lost, you may have options to seek justice through a car accident wrongful death claim if your loved one’s death was caused by another driver’s negligence. An experienced local car accident attorney can help you understand your rights, explain the claims process, and guide you through the next steps when you’re ready.

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by Michael TarioDecember 15, 2025 Car Accident Attorney Blog Bellingham0 comments

The Hidden Dangers of Driving on Flooded Roads

Both Whatcom and Skagit Counties have been hit hard by flooding in the last week, with thousands ordered to evacuate and reports of numerous vehicles trapped by mudslides and standing water. Flooding in our area is typically caused by heavy rain and overflowing rivers. Driving on flooded roads is incredibly dangerous for drivers and pedestrians, contributing to thousands of preventable traffic accidents every year. In many cases, these crashes lead to serious injuries, vehicle damage, and even fatalities.

Understanding why flooded roads are so dangerous can help drivers make safer choices and protect their legal rights if an accident occurs.

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by Michael TarioDecember 11, 2025 Car Accident Attorney Blog Bellingham0 comments

Impaired Driving Facts for NHTSA Holiday Campaigns

For decades, impaired driving has been one of the most devastating and preventable dangers on our roads. Every year, millions of people make the choice to drive under the influence, with often catastrophic consequences. Thousands lose their lives in drunk and drugged driving crashes every year, shattering families and entire communities because of a preventable mistake. Of course, victims aren’t limited to the impaired drivers themselves; passengers, other motorists, and even pedestrians often pay the price for someone else’s reckless decision. With holiday travel about to pick up, it’s a good time to discuss impaired driving facts that impact us all.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Association’s (NHTSA) Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over and Drive High, Get a DUI campaigns began on December 10, 2025, and will run through January 1, 2026. The campaigns are designed to educate, warn, and deter impaired driving before it leads to more tragedy.

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by Michael TarioDecember 8, 2025 Car Accident Attorney Blog Bellingham0 comments

Report: Traffic Congestion Surpasses Pre-COVID Levels, Increasing Accident Risk

One of the few benefits of the COVID shutdowns were the empty highways and short commutes that briefly became the norm in 2020. But, after a sharp drop during the COVID-19 pandemic, traffic congestion is higher than ever in many areas around the country. For millions of Americans, that means longer commutes, more frustration behind the wheel, and increased accident risk on the road.

According to data from the Texas A&M Transportation Institute’s annual Urban Mobility Report, the average American now spends about 63 hours per year stuck in traffic. That lost time is more than an inconvenience. Congestion and long commutes are increasingly linked to higher rates of car accidents, as drivers deal with fatigue, stress, distractions, and unpredictable traffic patterns.

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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.

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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.

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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?

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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.

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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?

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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.

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