Head-On Crash on Birch Bay-Lynden Road Leads to Explosion and Reckless Driving Charge
As reported by Whatcom-News.com, on Sunday, January 9, first responders were dispatched to the area of Birch Bay-Lynden Road and Rathbone Road in response to a car versus semi-truck crash. When responders arrived, they found the semi-truck and its trailer in flames and the passenger car about 300 feet away with its engine separated from the body of the car. A field of debris around the scene of the accident indicated that there had been at least one large explosion in the head-on crash.
NWFR team members had to extricate the driver of the car who was then transported to PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center under advanced life support protocol with possible broken bones. The driver of the semi-truck was uninjured, though the truck and trailer were completely destroyed.
An investigation by Washington State Patrol Troopers (WSP) found initial indications that the semi-truck had been traveling westbound on Birch Bay-Lynden Road and the car had been traveling eastbound when they crashed into each other. The car crossed over the centerline and crashed head-on with the semi-truck.
The driver of the car was charged with reckless driving by the WSP.
What is reckless driving in Washington State?
As per RCW 46.61.500 (effective January 1, 2022), any person who drives any vehicle in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property is guilty of reckless driving. Violation of the provisions of this section is a gross misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to three hundred sixty-four days and by a fine of not more than five thousand dollars.
What is a head-on crash?
One of the scariest types of collisions a person can be involved in is a head-on crash. This type of accident happens when the front-end of two vehicles collide, most commonly on a road with no median to stop the vehicles from crossing lanes. According to data gathered by the Fatal Analysis Reporting System in 1999, 75 percent of head-on accidents occurred on un-divided two-lane roads.
Common causes of head-on collisions
- Rural roads, neighborhood roads and other roads that lack a median meant to stop vehicles from crossing over into the opposing lane
- Poor construction-zone redirecting
- Distracted driving
- Failure to maintain vehicle control, failing to pass or overtake another vehicle
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol or when fatigued
- Poor weather conditions such as ice
- Breaking traffic rules or ignoring traffic signs and signals
- Being unfamiliar with the area can cause confusion and lead to a driver turning down a one-way road and crashing head-on into another vehicle
The exact cause of the driver crossing over the median and crashing head-on with the semi-truck is unclear but these common causes offer some insight into what may have led up to the crash.
Seek the help of a car accident attorney
If you or a loved one was injured in a collision because of the negligence of another, contact a personal injury lawyer to discuss your legal rights. Let an experienced car accident attorney fight for the full compensation that you deserve. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from the insurance company that is five to ten times larger with the help of a lawyer. Call the personal injury lawyers at Tario & Associates, P.S. in Bellingham, WA today for a FREE consultation! We have been representing residents of Whatcom County, Skagit County, Island County and Snohomish County since 1979. You will pay nothing up front and no attorney fees at all unless we recover damages for you!
Read More
Vehicular Homicide: Fatal Vehicle Vs Pedestrian Accident
Vehicular homicide occurs and an example is a fatal vehicle vs pedestrian accident on the Guide Meridian (SR539), south of Beard Road, occurred on January 4, 2022. As reported by whatcom-news.com, the accident left the right lane blocked for some time as first responders responded to the scene of the accident about 12:40 p.m.
According to the Washington State Department of Transportation, a 2002 Ford F150 pickup was driving southbound on the Guide towing a 2001 Chrysler Town and Country van using a tow strap. When the strap disconnected, both vehicles came to a stop. The driver of the towed vehicle got out to replace the strap. Instead of waiting, the Ford continued driving southbound and the unoccupied Chrysler crashed into the man that was outside the vehicle – killing him. The victim was declared dead at the scene.
Read More
Tesla Recalls 475,00 cars for Increased Risk of Accidents
After discovering two safety issues that may increase the risk of accidents, Tesla is recalling more than 475,000 cars. The two defects were caused by design or design manufacturing problems and the separate recalls were filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) at the end of December.
Defective products kill or injure thousands of Americans every year. In 2020 alone, almost 11 million people were treated in emergency departments for injuries they suffered after using consumer products. If you or a loved one was injured as a result of a defective product, contact a personal injury lawyer to discuss your legal options.
(more…)
Read More
NSC: New Year’s Day Holiday Period Traffic Fatality Estimate for 2022
The National Safety Council estimates that 427 people will die in traffic accidents on U.S. roads this New Year’s Day holiday period and an additional 48,700 will suffer an injury severe enough to require medical attention; these estimates represent an 11.2 percent increase over last year’s estimates. With Omicron spreading at such a rapid pace, it’s a little hard to say how many people will avoid getting together with friends and family. Those who do choose to celebrate with others are most likely to drive – which is the most dangerous way to travel – especially with the alcohol involved with most New Year’s parties. More people traveling on the roads combined with more people consuming alcohol, leads to increased traffic accident deaths year after year.
Read More
2021 Sees Largest Traffic Fatalities in FARS History
In a perfect world, motor vehicle accidents and traffic fatality rates would drop every year. Unfortunately, that isn’t always the case and this year we experienced a big jump in traffic fatalities.
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released the Early Estimate of Motor Vehicle Traffic Fatalities for the First Half (January-June) of 2021 in October. Sadly, it shows the largest six-month increase ever recorded in the Fatality Analysis Reporting System’s (FARS) history. An estimated 20,160 people died in motor vehicle crashes in the first half of 2021, up a whopping 18.4 percent over that period in 2020. That’s the highest number of projected accident fatalities in that six-month window since 2006.
(more…)
Read More
Slushy Roads Increase Risk of Car Accidents
Slushy roads are a result of winter weather, which has shown up in the Pacific Northwest with our first snowfall this week. The snow quickly turned to slush, creating slushy road conditions all over the county. About 70 percent of the population of the United States lives in states that snowy / slushy / or icy conditions during the winter months, which means that the increased risk for slushy road car accidents when slush shows up affects the majority of Americans. Data from FHWA shows that over 1,800 people die each year in car crashes due to driving in snowy and icy conditions.
According to AAA, driving on snowy roads can increase the time it takes your vehicle to stop by 10 times, increasing the risk of rear-end accidents, T-Bone accidents and “slide-off” roadway accidents. If you were crashed into in a slushy road accident, contact a car accident attorney who can help you secure a fair settlement.
(more…)
Read More
Whatcom County Wakes Up to Flooded Areas and Stranded Drivers
Whatcom County is prone to the risk of flooded areas, particularly in early fall when rain increases but it is too warm to snow. Certain low-lying areas such as Iowa Street and east toward Mt. Baker Highway may accumulate more flood water, increasing the risk of car accidents and stranded drivers. As reported by Whatcom-News.com, first responders were busy overnight evacuating and rescuing stranded drivers and posting signage on flooded roads around Whatcom County.
The flood was caused by heavy mountain rain and snow melt that pushed the Nooksack River levels into official minor and moderate flood stage in all forks and in the main channel combined with heavy lowland rains through the county that saturated the soil, leaving nowhere for some of the rain to go. The result is surface water and creek and stream flooding; possibly reaching record levels.
Read More
Who Pays My Medical Bills in a Car Accident?
If you were involved in a car accident, you may be dealing with extensive injuries and ask, who pays my medical bills in a car accident? It is natural to wonder who pays your medical bills in a car accident that was someone else’s fault. While a personal injury settlement is ultimately designed to cover all your accident-related medical bills, it can take years before you see any money. In the meantime, your healthcare providers will expect payment. So, how do medical bills get paid while you wait for a settlement? The answer may vary a little depending on the state where you live and the type of car insurance you have. The best way to ensure that your medical bills after a car accident are paid on an ongoing basis is to work with a car accident attorney.
(more…)
Read More
Why Did I Receive a Low Ball Settlement Offer?
Insurance adjusters are trained to make a low ball settlement offer possible so they think you will accept your injury claim. And they often get away with it by being friendly and making it sound like they are on your side. While the adjuster understands that this offer is meant to be a launching point for negotiations, they are hoping that you don’t know that. The offer is typically made shortly after you open an injury claim, well before you know what your medical expenses will be, let alone the pain and suffering you will endure through the recovery process.
What you need to know about low ball settlement offer
Getting a low-ball settlement offer can be very disappointing; maybe because you know in your gut that it won’t be enough to cover all your current and future medical bills and lost wages but also because you are dealing with a traumatic injury and want to be treated with respect.
Read More
Head On Crash Leads to Recommended Vehicular Assault Charge
A recent head on crash injury in Whatcom County has led to a recommendation for a vehicular assault charge.
Head On Crash Leads to Recommended Vehicular Assault Charge
As reported by whatcom-news.com, a head-on crash occurred in the Marietta area at the intersection of Bancroft Road and Country Lane about 11:30 p.m. on Friday, October 15. According to Washington State Patrol troopers, 19-year-old Lea Serena-Gole was impaired while driving a 2007 Toyota RAV4 SUV south on Bancroft Road in the Marietta area. She failed to negotiate a curve in the road, causing her to cross over the center line and crash head-on into a 2013 Jeep Wrangler going north. Both the 26-year-old Bellingham woman who was driving the Jeep and Serena-Gole suffered non-life-threatening injuries but only the driver of the Jeep was transported by ambulance to PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center. Both vehicles were deemed totaled and towed from the scene.
Read More