Washington 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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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.
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Who’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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Traffic 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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US 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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What to Know About Car Accident Backing Out of Driveway
Many backing out of driveway accidents happen every day as drivers back out of both residential and commercial driveways. This type of accident can be very serious, often causing a T-Bone accident where the oncoming vehicle in the roadway doesn’t see the vehicle backing out of the driveway and crashes into the side of the vehicle.
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Why DUI Crashes Increase in the Summer
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), each day about 28 Americans die in DUI crashes. Drunk driving typically increases in the summertime when people are more likely to take vacations and want to cool down with a “cold one.” According to moneygeek.com, summer has the highest rate of DUI fatalities, with 28% of the year’s DUI-related deaths projected to happen in the summer of 2022.
According to drunkdrivinprevention.com, approximately 1.5 million people are arrested every year for driving under the influence of alcohol. We know that drunk driving is a serious threat to traffic safety, not to mention a public health concern. These arrests occur despite the fact that all states have restrictions on driving with a (BAC) level of 0.08 or higher (Utah’s is 0.05). BAC stands for blood alcohol content and represents the amount of alcohol present in the bloodstream. The more alcohol present, the more chance that a person’s motor skills and judgement will be impaired.
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Will my Pre-Existing Condition Affect my Car Accident Settlement?
Insurance companies will go out of their way to deny a car accident claim for a pre-existing injury or medical condition. Most of the time, they request the claimant’s medical records in an attempt to find a pre-existing injury or medical condition that they can point to and dismiss the claim. However, if a crash causes a pre-existing injury or condition to get worse or flare up, you are entitled to pursue damages for the medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering, etc. caused by the flare-up.
The at-fault driver’s insurance company will fight tooth and nail against paying anything to the injured party in this situation, so it’s important to seek the help of an experienced local car accident lawyer who knows how to fight back. A good injury lawyer will negotiate and take a case to trial, if necessary, to ensure their client gets a full and fair settlement for their losses and injuries.
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DUI Chase in Bellingham Leads to Single Vehicle Crash
As reported by KGMI.com, a DUI chase on I-5 in Bellingham led to charges of unlawful imprisonment and vehicular assault. According to Washington State Patrol (WSP) Trooper Jacob Kennett, the car was seen speeding and driving erratically on I-5 southbound near Bakerview Road at around 11:15 p.m. the night of Tuesday, July 19. The driver ignored troopers who tried to pull the vehicle over, continuing to drive at high speeds. At that point, troopers began pursuing the vehicle until it got off at the North Lake Samish Road exit. WSP later found the car crashed into a tree with the driver and the passenger still inside. Troopers were forced to break a window in order to save them, at which time the passenger claimed that the driver wouldn’t let her get out of the car. The passenger was then taken to the hospital to treat the serious injuries they suffered in the single vehicle crash. The driver admitted to law enforcement that he had done drugs before getting behind the wheel and now faces DUI, vehicular assault, unlawful imprisonment, and reckless driving charges.
Read MoreCar Accidents: Types of Aggressive Driving
We have all been driving along with suddenly, a driver seems to come out of nowhere cutting us off, braking suddenly, and weaving in and out of traffic. Aggressive drivers may even tailgate drivers they feel aren’t driving fast enough. In some cases, this aggressive driving behavior happens at high speeds on the freeway; in other cases, it happens at low speeds in heavy city traffic. Either way, this dangerous driving behavior puts other drivers and pedestrians in danger and increases the risk for car accidents.
If you or a family member 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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