Two Fatal Accidents in 12-hour Window Leave Bellingham Reeling
Fatal motor vehicle accidents have been up dramatically since changes to our driving habits started at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. Even in Whatcom County, it doesn’t take that many days before another fatal accident is being reported in the news. Sadly, in the last 24 hours, Bellingham has experienced two fatal accidents: a pedestrian and a motorcycle driver.
If you lost a loved one in a motor vehicle accident, you may be able to recover your losses through a wrongful death claim. Contact an experienced, local wrongful death lawyer who can discuss your legal rights and the value of a potential claim. The sooner you contact an injury attorney, the sooner they can help you through the personal injury claims process. Personal injury lawyers generally provide a free consultation and offer their services on a contingency-fee basis, which means no money is collected up-front.
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Read MoreCommon Causes and Challenges in Multi-Vehicle Accidents
A multi-vehicle accident is when more than two vehicles are involved in the same car accident. In many cases, one driver crashes into a vehicle, which starts a chain reaction of crashes. It is also common for more than one person to be partially to blame for the accident. A multi-vehicle accident can end up in a huge car pile-up, blocking traffic for an extended period of time.
If you or a loved one was injured in a multi-vehicle accident, you may be wondering how to determine who was at fault and how you can recover a fair accident settlement. Contact a car accident lawyer as soon as possible after your accident to ensure that your legal rights are protected.
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Read MoreWho Is Liable for Car Accidents Caused by Mechanical Failure?
Most accidents are caused by a negligent driver, but that is not always the case. Some car accidents happen because of mechanical failure. Mechanical failure is the sudden or unforeseen failure of a component of the vehicle, excluding failure caused by wear and tear. Since car accident settlements are based on determining fault, it’s important to understand who is liable for car accidents caused by mechanical failure.
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Read MoreCar Accident Fatalities Surge in Washington State in 2022
Washington State has had a very bad year when it comes to car accident fatalities. According to a report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), crash deaths in Washington State rose by 34.5% when comparing data from the first quarter of 2021 and the first quarter of 2022. In raw numbers, the projected fatalities from the first quarter of 2021 were 116 compared to 156 estimated fatalities in the first quarter of 2022. With traffic back at near pre-pandemic levels and life returning to normal, safety experts are eager to see the accident fatality rate drop back down but that isn’t going to happen until drivers stop engaging in risky driving behaviors at such high rates.
Read MoreWashington State Ranks in the Top 10 Most Aggressive Drivers in the Nation
Aggressive driving puts us all in danger. If you have ever been driving at the speed limit in the right lane and been continuously tail-gated by another driver; you have been the victim of aggressive driving. If you have ever witnessed another vehicle weaving in and out of traffic, speeding, or cutting drivers off; you have witnessed aggressive driving. This dangerous driving behavior puts other drivers and pedestrians in danger and increases the risk of car accidents. If you witness a road rage incident, the WSP asks that you call 9-1-1 right away.
If you or a loved one 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.
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Read MoreThe Average Settlement for Concussion Car Accident
A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury (TBI) that is very common in car accidents because so often brakes are applied to slow the vehicle down before crashing into another vehicle. When this happens, the driver or passengers can get thrown forward violently in a whiplash motion, which causes the brain to rapidly accelerate and slam into the skull. An experienced car accident lawyer knows how to fight for a fair settlement for a car accident involving concussion. If you or a loved one has suffered a concussion as a result of a car accident, you may be wondering about the average settlement for concussion car accident. Read on to learn about settlements for concussions.
Read MoreWho’s at Fault in a Parking Lot Crash?
Even though most drivers drive more slowly in parking lots, accidents still happen. In particular, we are at greater risk of accidents in full parking lots with cars backing out of parking spaces. Cars backing out of a parking space are dealing with blind spots while cars driving through parking lanes may not notice cars that are trying to back out. If you were injured in a crash involving a car backing out of a parking space, you may be wondering: who’s at fault in a parking lot crash?
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Read MoreTraffic Fatalities: Top 6 Most Dangerous Holidays to Travel
With most Americans working full time, it makes sense that people want to take advantage of holiday long-weekends to travel to visit friends and family. Many people choose to drive to their destinations, adding traffic on the roads that can increase the risk of accidents and traffic fatalities. Data from the National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA) shows that increased traffic on holidays does lead to more accidents.
If you’re heading out for a short or long road-trip this upcoming Labor Day weekend, be aware that there will be more traffic on the roads and likely an increase of drivers under the influence of drugs and alcohol.
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Read MoreUS Traffic Fatalities Rose in the First Quarter of 2022
A government report released earlier this month called the Early Estimate of Motor Vehicle Traffic Fatalities for the First Quarter of 2022 found that 9,560 people were killed in traffic fatalities in the first quarter of 2022. That number is a seven percent increase over the same period in 2021, and the highest number in 20 years.
Safety experts such as the administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA, Steven Cliff, have been sounding the alarm for months about the increase in risky driving behaviors that have skyrocketed since the onset of the pandemic. Despite the feeling that the pandemic is waning, risky driving behaviors such as speeding have continued at very high rates.
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Read MoreBoat Accident Liability: Who’s At fault for My Boating Accident?
Nobody wants to think about a boating accident when they head out on the water but the reality is that they do happen sometimes. According to data shared on quicknav.com, there are over 5,000 boating accidents in the U.S. every year, causing $62.5 million in damages. Lack of boating safety education accounts for 77 percent of fatal boat accidents.
Determining boat accident liability and getting a boat accident settlement can be tricky, especially if the negligent party doesn’t have boat insurance – which is more common than you would think. As boat accident lawyers, we look out for our injured clients and help them get the settlement they deserve.