Wrongful Death Blog Bellingham

Stop On Red Week: Prevent Red Light Accidents

5 Most Common Causes of Wrongful Death Claims

What’s the Difference Between Reckless Driving and Negligent Driving?

Distracted Driving Awareness Month Kicks Off in WA State with Extra Distracted Driving Patrols

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month. Across the United States, Distracted Driving Awareness Month is a unified effort to raise awareness about the risks of distracted driving to help put an end to preventable deaths and injuries on our roads.

As reported by khq.com, in Washington State, law enforcement agencies are stepping up patrols for distracted driving behaviors for a week, starting today through April 11, 2022. These extra patrols will be stationed at intersections and other areas with a focus on finding drivers who are engaged in driving behaviors that take their attention away from the road. A citation for a first offense is $136 and a second offence jumps up to $234.

(more…)

Pedestrian Fatalities on the Rise

Pedestrians are extremely vulnerable to injury when they are struck by a motor vehicle. The combination of being hit by the weight of a vehicle and having no protection from the impact makes for a very dangerous situation. Sadly, pedestrian fatalities have been on the rise and despite the drop in traffic during the early days of the pandemic, more pedestrians were killed.

(more…)

Wrongful Death Settlements: Questions Answered

In the grieving process for a loved ones lost to wrongful death settlements, comes the reality that the family may face financial hardship without a fair wrongful death settlement. Wrongful death lawyers help grieving family members – through a representative of the decedent’s estate – file wrongful death claims to compensate family members or the estate for the wrongful death of their family member.

Since most of us are not wrongful death attorneys, it is understandable that families feel overwhelmed about wrongful death claims and wrongful death settlements. With over 40 years’ experience helping families recover damages for the loss of their loved ones, we are happy to answer questions that help provide peace of mind to our grieving clients.

(more…)

Multi-Vehicle Crash in Ferndale, WA Sends Motorcyclist to Hospital

As reported by Whatcom-News.com, a multi-vehicle crash on northbound I-5 at the Nooksack River bridge in Ferndale on Saturday, October 30, 2021, closed the right lane while first responders prepared a motorcyclist for transportation to PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center. The motorcyclist suffered serious injuries to the back and wrist after being ejected from their motorcycle in the crash.

Multi-Vehicle Crash in Ferndale, WA Sends Motorcyclist to Hospital

Washington State Patrol (WSP) troopers’ initial investigation of the multi-vehicle injury crash involving five vehicles indicates that a vehicle had slowed or come to a stop in the right lane north of the Nooksack bridge; this slowdown caused a Toyota Corolla to slow down or stop. A motorcycle then crashed into the rear of the Toyota, causing the motorcyclist to fly off their bike and land in front of the Toyota in the right lane. A Dodge Dakota pickup stopped behind the accident, only to be rear-ended by a Chevrolet van. The investigation also determined that both the motorcycle and the Chevrolet were driving too fast. The accident is under ongoing investigation.

(more…)

Watch Out for Deer on the Roads: Whatcom County Sees 3 Wildlife Crashes in 24 Hours

As reported by the Bellingham Herald, there was a recent series of wildlife crashes involving deer hit on 1-5 in less than a 24-hour period. While it is uncommon for so many deer car accidents to happen in our county in such a short window, fall is the most common time for deer-related crashes. That means drivers should be extra alert to wildlife on our roadways in order to prevent a collision right now. watch out for deer!

Deer Car Accident Statistics

Every year, about 1.23 million car accidents happen in the U.S. involving deer.  These accidents are responsible for the deaths of approximately 200 Americans and an additional 10,000 injuries. Most deer collisions happen in the fall, especially in November.

(more…)

How to Prevent A Car Accident: Fall Safety Tips

The first several weeks of fall in the Pacific Northwest are usually beautiful with a little rain and plenty of sunshine, even if temperatures are starting to cool. Still, we all know what lies ahead as we inch toward standard daylight time: darker evenings, and colder, wetter weather. We could even see ice or snowfall by the end of November. As we transition out of summer weather, it’s a great time to ask the question, how to prevent a car accident? Here are fall driving safety tips to reduce our chances of getting into a car accident.

(more…)

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.

(more…)