car accident attorney bellingham Tag

by Michael TarioApril 3, 2026Car Accident Attorney Blog Bellingham0 comments

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month. What To Do If You Are Hit by a Distracted Driver.

April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, a month dedicated to reducing fatalities caused by behaviors like texting and eating while driving. Law enforcement will increase “Put the Phone Away or Pay” patrols, with high-visibility enforcement from April 6–13, 2026. Distracted driving has become a deadly epidemic on our roads with cell phone use – including texting, talking, and social media browsing – being the most common distraction. In 2024, thousands were hit by a distracted driver, killing over 3,200 people and accounting for eight percent of all fatal crashes.

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by Michael TarioMarch 19, 2026Car Accident Attorney Blog Bellingham0 comments

Spring Increases Risk of Car Accidents in the Rain

In Washington State, Spring often comes as a great relief after months of cold weather, even though early Spring is associated with rain. As we transition to Spring 2026, we are experiencing a very wet and gray period of weather in the Pacific Northwest, which brings a unique set of driving hazards with wet and slippery roads at the top of the list. Drivers can reduce their chances of being involved in Spring car accidents in the rain by understanding the dangers and taking safety precautions.

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by Michael TarioMarch 16, 2026Car Accident Attorney Blog Bellingham0 comments

What to Know About a Car Accident Claim Against a Drunk Driver

Drunk drivers are responsible for thousands of crashes every year, contributing to about 12,429 traffic deaths in the United States in 2023 alone. Driving under the influence can lead to criminal charges, but injured victims can also pursue compensation through a civil claim. When a drunk driver causes a crash, the driver’s impairment often provides strong evidence of negligence and can significantly strengthen an injury claim.

However, even with clear evidence of intoxication, cases involving drunk drivers can be complex and contested. Injury lawyers who have experience handling personal injury claims against drunk drivers know how to gather evidence to build a favorable case. If you or a loved one was injured in a collision involving a drunk driver, hiring an experienced local car accident attorney can greatly improve your odds of receiving a full and fair settlement.

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by Michael TarioMarch 9, 2026Car Accident Attorney Blog Bellingham0 comments

Drowsy Driving Accidents After Daylight Savings Time Change

Driving while sleep deprived happens far more often than drivers want to admit. When clocks move ahead an hour for Daylight Saving Time each March, people lose an hour of sleep and face darker mornings. This sudden shift can disrupt sleep schedules and leave many drivers feeling more tired than usual, which may lead to an increase in drowsy driving on the road. Research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety reveals how dangerous drowsy driving really is. Previous Foundation research points directly to sleep loss as a key culprit in drowsy driving accidents.

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by Michael TarioFebruary 19, 2026Car Accident Attorney Blog Bellingham0 comments

What is a Fair Settlement for a Back Injury from a Car Accident?

Back injuries are common in car accidents. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of spinal cord injuries, accounting for 38% of all cases in the United States. Damage to the spinal cord is the most serious type of back injury as it can result in loss of function, mobility, and feeling. Other back injuries, including spinal stenosis, pinched nerves, and ruptured or herniated disks, strains, and damage to intervertebral discs are not as debilitating but can still result in tremendous issues. Considering the pain and suffering, medical expenses, disability, and lost wages that can be caused by back injuries, those who are injured may wonder: what is a fair settlement for a back injury from a car accident?

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by Michael TarioFebruary 9, 2026Car Accident Attorney Blog Bellingham0 comments

How to Secure a Settlement for Non-Visible Car Accident Injuries

There are many common types of car accident injuries ranging from severe to mild. Within this spectrum, there are visible injuries such as burns, cuts, and broken bones as well as non-visible injuries such as whiplash, traumatic brain injury, and internal bleeding. Regardless of whether an injury is visible or not, it is up to the injured person to file an accident claim and prove that their injuries were caused by the accident.

Non-visible car accident injuries can be harder to prove than visible injuries, which makes it even more important to speak with an experienced, local car accident attorney who can help you navigate the complexities of your case and negotiate a full and fair settlement on your behalf.

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by Michael TarioFebruary 2, 2026Personal Injury Attorney Blog Bellingham0 comments

American Heart Month: How Physical Injuries Can Impact Heart Health

In honor of American Heart Month this February, we’re taking a look at the long-term effects of physical injury on heart health. Serious injuries, such as traumatic brain injury or severe fractures – which are common injuries in car accidents – can increase the risk of heart disease or trigger existing cardiovascular conditions.

What we know: Traumatic injuries can create a wide-range of negative effects, including on cardiovascular health. By understanding these risks, we can take proactive steps to care for our heart health. If someone is injured because of another person’s negligence, a personal injury attorney can help make sure the settlement fully covers all of their injuries. This includes any immediate harm, but also long-term conditions that develop as a result of the trauma such as heart disease, hypertension, or other cardiovascular complications.

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by Michael TarioDecember 15, 2025Car 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, 2025Car 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, 2025Car 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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