car accident attorney bellingham Tag

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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by Michael TarioSeptember 22, 2025 Car Accident Attorney Blog Bellingham0 comments

It’s Child Passenger Safety Week. Here’s What You Need to Know About Child Passenger Injuries.

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death and serious injury among children in the United States. As personal injury attorneys, we have seen firsthand the devastating consequences that child passenger injuries can have on families. That’s why we appreciate Child Passenger Safety Week, which amplifies the message about safety precautions for child passengers.

We know that appropriate car seats and booster seats save lives, but too many children are still riding without proper restraints or in seats that don’t fit their age and size. These preventable mistakes can lead to catastrophe in the event of a collision. Even among children who are properly restrained, serious injuries still occur among both restrained children and older kids who have aged out of them.

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

Teen Driving Accidents #1 Cause of Death for U.S. Teens

Every year, thousands of families are devastated by the loss of a teenager in a preventable traffic accident. Teen drivers are particularly at risk for fatal teen driving accidents because of their inexperience and increased likelihood of making poor choices behind the wheel, including speeding and impaired driving. All 50 states have created a graduated licensing program that places certain restrictions on 16- and 17-year-old drivers to help reduce the risk of a crash. Washington State’s graduated licensing laws prevent teen drivers from driving between 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. for the first year after their license is issued or having any non-family passengers under 20 in their vehicle for the first six months after their license is issued.

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by Michael TarioAugust 18, 2025 Car Accident Attorney Blog Bellingham0 comments

What Makes a Freeway Car Accident So Dangerous?

While damage and injuries can happen when vehicles are traveling at low speeds, high speed accidents dramatically increase the chance of serious injuries or fatalities. This is why a freeway car accident that occurs on an interstate or highway – where drivers are automatically driving at high speeds – is so dangerous. The high rate of speed creates enormous impact upon collision.

Are There More Accidents on the Street or Freeway?

More accidents happen on city streets than on freeways, largely because streets have more intersections, pedestrians, cyclists, and frequent stops, which all serve to increase the chances of collisions. Roughly 70% of all motor vehicle accidents happen on urban streets and roads. Freeway crashes account for fewer accidents overall but a higher percentage of fatal accidents, with speed being the leading factor.

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by Michael TarioAugust 14, 2025 Car Accident Attorney Blog Bellingham0 comments

Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over August 15 – September 1, 2025

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is dedicated to stopping deadly driving behaviors that contribute to the loss of thousands of lives, including from drunk driving which takes the lives of more than 10,000 people each year. Their “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign reminds drivers that drunk driving is a deadly epidemic through education and enforcement. This year, enforcement will run August 15- September 1, 2025.

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by Michael TarioAugust 6, 2025 Car Accident Attorney Blog Bellingham0 comments

Male Driving Risky Behavior that Can Lead to Car Accidents

According to data from iihs.org, there were 40,901 deaths from motor vehicle crashes in the United States in 2023, with men accounting for about twice as many traffic fatalities as women. This is partly because men typically drive more miles than women, but also because they are more likely to engage in male driving risky behavior such as speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol, and not wearing their seat belts. In addition, due to these behaviors, crashes involving male drivers often are more severe than those involving female drivers. As a result of these statistics, insurance companies charge higher premiums for male drivers, especially young male drivers who are not married.

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by Michael TarioJuly 14, 2025 Car Accident Attorney Blog Bellingham0 comments

Does Minimum Car Insurance Coverage Washington State Protect Me If I am Injured in a Car Accident?

Car accidents are stressful and can lead to all kinds of injuries, financial challenges, and pain and suffering. If you’ve been injured in an accident in Washington State due to another driver’s reckless or careless behavior, you are entitled to seek a car accident settlement through the at-fault driver’s insurance policy. But what if the other driver has no insurance or the bare minimum required under state law? Does minimum car insurance coverage Washington State protect injured people? While it may seem reasonable to assume that a driver carrying “full coverage” insurance will have a large enough policy to cover your losses, in Washington State, “full coverage” doesn’t always mean full protection*. If you were hit by a negligent driver, it’s important to understand what their insurance—and yours—actually covers and speak with a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible.

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