Seattle Car Accident Lawyer Blog

"Buckle Up!" says the Washington Patrol

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:00:37 -0800

In an effort to prevent car accident deaths over the Memorial Day weekend, the Washington State Patrol is looking to ticket drivers not wearing seat belts. For the next two weeks, the WSP will be running extra emphasis patrols and stopping and ticketing drivers who are not buckled up.

The WSP ticketed 3,171 seat belt tickets last year at the same time during a two-week "Click it or Ticket" campaign.

According to the National Highway Traffic Administration, 52% of people who were killed in car accidents were not wearing seat belts at the time of their accidents. By increasing seat belt usage, lives are saved. Seat belts can prevent a passenger being thrown from the car in a rollover car accident and can help prevent spinal cord and traumatic brain injury because a person is not thrown about the car during an accident.

The Patrol will also be pulling over drivers they see using hand-held cell phone devices and ticketing those drivers as well.

Washington State Seat Belt Laws

Washington State has one of the highest seat belt compliance at around 98%. Washington's seat belt law (RCW 46.61.688) requires:

Everyone riding in the vehicle to wear a seat belt
Requires the driver to insure that all passengers under the age of 16 to be properly restrained
Passengers 16 years or older can be issued a citation if they are not properly restrained.

It is important that there are no more passengers than available seat belts. Buckling one seat belt around two people or not properly wearing the shoulder restraint across the should is dangerous and can result in death. It is also against the law.

This information is provided by Seattle Car Accident Lawyer blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured in motor vehicle accidents caused by the negligent act of another. We aggressively go against insurance companies in an effort to obtain the maximum compensation for our clients for the injuries the incurred.

Bicyclist injured in Seattle accident

Thu, 16 May 2013 21:32:19 -0800

A bicyclist was taken to Harborview Medical Center's trauma unit after he was hit by a car on Thursday around 1pm.

The bicycle accident occurred on Lake Washington Boulevard South in the 2000 block.

Kyle Moore of the Seattle Fire Department said that the man had serious injuries to his ribs but is expected to recover.

This accident comes occurred but two weeks after Lance David, another bicyclist, was killed on May 1st when he ran into a semi truck on as he rode his bicycle on East Marginal Way South. East Marginal Way South is known for irregular and rough pavement and rail road tracks which are definitely hazards to bicyclists.

These two accidents bring to light the dangers inherent in riding a bicycle. A bicycle is no match for a motor vehicle or large truck that weighs up to a ton more. Bicyclists are at risk of injury such as broken bones, spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain injuries as a result of a bicycle accident.

For safety's sake, bicyclists should wear a properly fitted helmet. Other safety precautions include increasing ones visibility with reflective and flashing lights and wearing bright colored clothing.

Bicyclists should also carefully plan their routes. Let's face it, Seattle and surrounding cities often do not have the infrastructure such as bike lanes and protected lanes for bicyclists so care should be exercised in finding the safest route when one is a bicycle commuter.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a bicycle accident that was not your fault, you are advised to seek the counsel of an experienced bicycle accident lawyer. The Farber Law Group, a Bellevue based law firm specializing in injury law, can advise you of your rights.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or attorney@hgfarber.com to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation. Our Bellevue office is here to assist you.

Kirkland Sound Transit bus accident kills 2, injures 1

Wed, 08 May 2013 11:59:17 -0800

Two people were killed and one person was seriously injured last night when a Sound Transit bus apparently had some type of mechanical failure, went through a red light and struck an SUV in a Kirkland intersection around 9:33pm.

The accident occurred as the bus exited Interstate 405 at Totem Lake in Kirkland. The bus was exiting onto 128th Street when it struck a Ford Escape SUV driven by Kendall L. Rotta.

The bus driver showed no sign of intoxication and he said the bus experienced a brake failure which prohibited him from stopping.

Killed in the accident were Robert H. Rotta, 76, who died at the accident scene and Elizabeth E. Rotta, 75, who died at Harborview Medical Center.

The driver of the SUV, Kendall L. Rotta, 51, was taken to Harborview with serious injuries.

There were 35 passengers on the bus at the time of the accident and an unspecified number suffered minor injuries.

The Washington State Patrol, in a media release, is asking witnesses to the accident or events leading up to it to contact Detective Sergeant Jerry Cooper at (360) 805-1192 or Detective Ben McBride at (360) 805-1195.

An investigation into the metro bus accident will certainly look at maintenance records to determine if mechanical failure was a factor in this tragic motor vehicle accident.

2 women killed in separate Seattle car accidents

Fri, 03 May 2013 15:36:41 -0800

We have seen two fatal car accidents in Seattle in the past week. While both accidents are under investigation from the Seattle Police Department, it is possible that both accidents were alcohol-related. That is even more tragic because, if that is the case, both of these accidents could have been prevented.

The first accident occurred in the South Park area of Seattle around 11:15pm. Vickey Tilson, 51, was killed when a Chevy pickup truck went through a chain-link fence, drove the wrong-way on Highway 99 and hit Tilson's Dodge Caravan minivan head-on.

Tilson's husband and 13-year-old son were critically injured in the accident and were taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

The driver of the pickup truck was reported to be a 44-year-old woman from Tukwila. She was driving southbound on West Marginal place when her truck went through the fence and traveled south.

At this point, there are no further details available.

In another accident, a young woman who was a passenger in a car traveling on Interstate 5 near Sixth Avenue in Seattle was killed when she was thrown from the car she was riding in when the driver lost control of the vehicle, struck a barrier and the young woman was thrown from the car.

Police said that the young woman was packed in the back seat with other passengers and that may have been the reason she was not wearing a seat belt. According to a report on KING5.com, the driver may have been driving under the influence of alcohol and now faces charges of Vehicular Homicide.

According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), there were 9,878 people killed and around 350,000 people injured in motor vehicle accidents that involved alcohol last year. In Washington State, legislators have worked hard to stiffen DUI penalties. Washington has one of the lower DUI car accident death rate in the nation but one death is one too many and in the greater Seattle area we have seen at least four car accident deaths in the last 30 days.

Jury awards $3.09M to car accident victim

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 12:24:04 -0800

Many clients that we meet with want to know up front how much of a settlement they can expect to receive after a car accident. There are many factors that go into a car accident settlement such as the victim's medical expenses, type of employment and insurance policy limits. As a law firm that specializes in motor vehicle accidents, we work hard to insure victims receive the compensation they deserve while taking on insurance companies who try to limit awards.

We read the following case summary and we are sharing it for illustrative purposes. Your case results may vary depending on the circumstances of your accident and injuries.

Andrews v. G & G Cement Contractors

A man who suffered a traumatic brain injury as a result of a car accident has been awarded $3.09 million car accident settlement.

According to a case summary posted by attorneys James L. Farina and Steven P. Garmisa, William Andrews, 28, was injured when a vehicle ran a red light in an intersection and struck his vehicle. The driver, Luis Chavez, of the vehicle that hit Andrews then fled the accident scene.

Andrew's brain injury left him with cognitive and personality changes. His medical expenses were around $300,000.

Andrews and his wife filed a negligence lawsuit against Chavez and G & G Cement Contractors, Chavez's employer.

Repondeat Superior

The doctrine of respondeat superior allows for a plaintiff to file suit against an employer for the negligent act of their employee in the course of his or her employment. In this case, Chavez was driving for G & G Cement Contractors.

This case went to a jury trial and the jury awarded Andrews $3.09 million.

Car Accident Risks during Prom and Graduation Season

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 13:41:54 -0800

It's the home stretch for many high school seniors and the last thing we want to read about in the local newspapers are stories of students being killed in a car accidents. Many students look forward to this fun rite-of-passage but it's important that this special time is not marred by an auto accident that claims the life of any of the teens that participate in it.

Prom and graduations are celebrations that students look forward to for many years and it is an unfortunate reality that many teenagers consume alcohol , marijuana or other drugs at after-prom or graduation parties. These lapses in judgment can have catastrophic consequences.

Every year, more than 3,900 teens are killed in car accidents and impaired driving, driver distraction, speeding and the lack of wearing a safety belt are factors in accidents. Unfortunately, many kids drive after they have been drinking or get into cars when the driver has been drinking. In fact 31 % of teens involved in fatal car accidents had been drinking. One must remember, however, that two-thirds of the teens killed in car accidents were not drinking and that other factors including driver inexperience and distracted driving played a factor in their deaths.

Teens need to be educated so that an entire graduating class can walk across the podium on graduation day. The following are some teen safe driving guidelines which parents should discuss with their teen.

Always wear safety belts
Do not use cell phones and do not text while driving
Do not consume alcohol or drugs and drive
Do not get in a car with a driver who have been using alcohol or drugs
Follow the speed limit
Restrict the number of passengers in a car because the risk of a fatal accident increases with added passengers
Do not drive while tired or drowsy. Because many proms run late or there are after parties, plans should be made so that teens don't drive or are picked up when the party concludes.

It's a good idea that parents discuss peer pressure and how to avoid situations where they might get into a car when someone has been drinking and provide teens with the knowledge that they should take the keys away from a friend who has been drinking.

Olympia man killed in car crash, friend arrested for DUI

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 14:32:38 -0800

A 20-year-old man has been arrested after crashing his 1987 Honda Accord into a tree, killing his passenger this early this morning.

The Olympian, in an article written by Chelsea Krotzer, reports that the single car accident occurred on Cooper Point Road near 34th Avenue Southwest around 12:31am.

The driver of the Honda was treated for his injuries at Providence St. Peter Hospital and then booked into Thurston County Jail on suspicion of Vehicular Homicide. He admitted to "drinking, smoking meth and marijuana" prior to the crash according to the report.

Vehicular Homicide, Washington vehicle code RCW 46.61.520, can be charged if a person is killed in an auto accident and the driver was driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, driving recklessly or driving with reckless disregard to the safety of others.

Those convicted of Vehicular Homicide while intoxicated face of sentencing range of 78-102 months in prison.

The family of the deceased may seek justice in civil court by filing a wrongful death claim against the driver and his insurance company. While no amount of money can compensate for the loss of a loved one, a settlement can help provide for burial and other expenses.

This information is provided by Seattle Car Accident Lawyer blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent victims of drunk driving and their families. With more than 30 years experience, we have recovered millions of dollars in compensation for our clients.

Governor seeks stiffer penalties for Drunken Driving

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 18:25:17 -0800

On the heels of two horrific traffic accidents involving drunken drivers, Washington State Governor, Jay Inslee along with a bipartisan group of state lawmakers, is seeking stiffer penalties for drunk drivers and expanding the use of ignition interlock devices which would keep inebriated drivers from being able to start their car.

The Governor describes his plan as “most aggressive, the most effective, the most ambitious program to reduce drunk driving on our roads.”

In Seattle, we have seen our share of tragedies caused by drunken driver. Last month, Mark W. Mullan, hit and killed two grandparents and critically injured their daughter-in-law and 10-day-old grandson as they were walking in a residential neighborhood of Seattle. Mark W. Mullan was driving on a suspended license and had was facing a court date when he hit the family.

The other tragedy involved a wrong way driver, Michael A. Robertson, on State Route 520 who struck and killed Morgan Williams, 58 or Seattle, as she was driving to work. Robertson faces a charge of Vehicular Homicide in the accident.

Representative Roger Goodman said:

The victims don't get a second chance at life. And so we seem to be giving the drunker drivers a second chance to kill."

In seeking stiffer penalties, lawmakers are asking for:

Mandatory arrest after a first DUI
Jail time for repeat DUI offenders
Tag on driver license's and IDs which would prohibit a person with a 3rd offense from buying alcohol.
Mandatory ignition interlock device on cars after a person is charged with a DUI.

Bellevue Attorney Represents Car Accident Victims

The Farber Law Group, the law practice of Herbert G. Farber, represents the car accidents and their families. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a motor vehicle accident due to the negligence of another, we will work hard to obtain all the compensation you deserve.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or attorney@hgfarber.com to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation. Our Bellevue office is here to assist you.

Woman dies after being hit by wrong way driver on 520

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 16:55:18 -0800

A long-time employee of Bellevue-based Eddie Bauer corporation has died of her injuries after the car she was driving was hit by a wrong-way driver on Highway 520 near Montlake Boulevard early this morning.

Morgan F. Williams, 58, of Seattle, was hit as she drove her car eastbound on 520 around 5:30am. Williams was extricated from her Mazda Protege after the accident and was taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle where she died a few hours later.

The driver of the SUV that crashed into Williams was identified as Micahel A. Robertson, 25, of Tacoma. He most likely will be charged with Vehicular Homicide in the death of Williams. Robertson suffered a leg injury in the accident.

As in a recent fatal DUI accident in which four pedestrians were hit by a drunk driver, this was not the first time that Robertson had been involved in a drunk driving incident. Robertson was arrested on December 15 in Tacoma and was charged on January 16th for driving under the influence. He pleaded not guilty in that incident. One wonders why the judge did not order an ignition interlock device in Robertson's car.

In the Seattle accident that claimed the lives of Dennis and Judy Schulte, the driver, Mark W. Mullan, was arrested on December 26 and January 14 for DUI prior to the accident that claimed the lives of the Schulte's and critically injured their daughter-in-law and her infant.

Drunk driving is a crime but even though who are already in the criminal system for driving while intoxicated such as Robertson and Mullan, still remain a menace to society as long as they continue to drink and drive.

Every year nearly 10,000 people are killed by drunk drivers and more than 350,000 are injured. With every fatality and every seriously injured person, not only one life is impacted but the family, coworkers, and friends are also impacted.

Teenage girls relatively unscathed after Puyallup rollover car accident

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 16:01:08 -0800

Five teenage girls , who were all believed to be under the influence of alcohol, have their seat belts to thank for their lives after they were involved in a rollover car accident around 3:15am on River Road in Puyallup.

The car the girls were in was being driven by a girl who had not yet turned 18. The vehicle went off an embankment but, thanks to the seat belts, the only serious injury was a broken arm.

The driver of the vehicle was arrested and she may be charged with Vehicular Assault. Vehicular Assault can be charged if a driver is driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs ro driving recklessly and a person is seriously injured.

These girls were very lucky indeed. Rollover accidents account for about one third of all car accident fatalities. With approximately 280,000 rollover accidents every year and 10,000 deaths, to walk away from the accident without a catastrophic injury such as a spinal cord injury or traumatic brain injury, is an excellent outcome for these young people.

Seat Belts Save Lives

This accident is an excellent case in point that sea tbelt use saves lives. The residents of Washington state have gotten the message as we have one of the highest seatbelt compliance rates in the nation at 97.5 percent.

Man arrested after series of hit-and-run accidents

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 14:11:21 -0800

As reported on the Seattle Police Department Blotter on March 30, a 47-year-old woman was seriously injured early Saturday morning after her vehicle was broadsided by a man who was involved in a series of hit-and-run accidents.

Police arrested a 44-year-year old male suspect after he was involved in at least three separate hit-and-run accidents. Police believe the man was under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs at the time of the accident and they reported they confiscated crack cocaine from the suspect.

The injured woman was taken to Harborview Medical Center for treatment .

Drivers who are under the influence of alcohol or drugs cause far too many injury accidents and this is a state-wide problem. Drivers who are driving under the influence of drugs may outnumber those who are driving while under the influence of alcohol.

The driver faces serious charges of Vehicular Assault for driving under the influence of alcohol or drug and causing another person substantial bodily harm. Vehicular Assault is a Class B felony which can result in a prison sentence. The man also faces a myriad of other charges which may increase his sentence.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a motor vehicle accident in which you or one of your passengers has been injured, you may be seeking the counsel of an injury accident attorney. The Farber Law Group has more than 30 years experience representing victims of drunken drivers and their family. We will work hard to explore all avenues so that you can get the compensation you deserve to cover your medical bills and for pain and suffering.

2 killed, mother and infant in critical condition after being hit by a drunk driver in Seattle

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 14:26:21 -0800

A tragic pedestrian accident has claimed the lives of a couple and critically injured their daughter-in-law and her infant when a pickup truck driven by a suspected drunken driver plowed into pedestrians in a Seattle crosswalk reports The Seattle Times.

According to the report, Judy Schulte, 66, and Dennis Shulte, 68, were killed at the intersection of 33rd Avenue Northeast and Northeast 75th Street at 4:16 p.m. Their daughter in law, Karina Ulricksen-Schulte, 30, was thrown to the curb along with her 10-day old infant .Seattle Fire Department medics had to administer CPR on the infant at the scene. Karina reportedly suffered a head injury in the accident. The mother and her baby were taken to Harborview Medical Center.

Police arrested Mark W. Mullan, 50, the driver of the pickup truck and will likely charge him with Vehicular Homicide.

The Seattle Time report investigated Seattle Municipal Court records and found that Mullen was arrested for DUI in Seattle on Dec. 26 and again for DUI in Snohomish County on January 14. Records show he has had many traffic violations which include speeding, inattentive driving and running a red light.

In the aftermath of a fatal pedestrian accident such as this one, the entire community is devastated and wonders how to keep these most dangerous and drunk drivers off of our roadways. In this case, Mullan's license had been suspended yet he still continued to drive.

In spite of the fact that the legislatures, including those in Washington state, have strengthened drunk driving laws, every year drunk drivers kill around 12,000 people.

A lot of ideas have been floating about to prevent drunk driving in the first place. Some have been suggested that all cars come equipped with breathalyzer kits, or ignition interlocks. Others call for lower blood alcohol content limits. For example, in Japan and Belgium, 0.03 BAC is considered intoxicated while in France, 0.05 is the legal limit.

This information is provided by Seattle Car Accident Lawyer blog, a service of The Farber Law Gruop. We represent people who have been seriously injured in pedestrian and car accidents caused by drunken drivers and the wrongful death cases of those who have been killed.

Vehicular homicide charged in Halloween pedestrian accident

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 14:05:59 -0800

Cody Money, 20 of Buckley, has been charged with Vehicular Homicide in the death of 16-year-old Justin Relethford who died in a pedestrian accident in October of last year.

Relethford was walking with his girlfriend on Highway 410 on Halloween night when he was hit and killed by Money's pickup truck.

Vehicular Homicide charges were filed against Money after testing revealed that Money had Oxycodone and marijuana in his system.

Money admitted hitting Relethford with his truck but said he had looked down at his cell phone when veered out of his lane, hitting Relethford.

Drivers convicted of Vehicular Homicide, RCW 46.61.520, while driving intoxicated face a sentencing range of 78-102 months.

In Washington State, Vehicular Homicide is a Class A felony. It can be charged if a person was killed in an automobile accident and the driver was under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

The family of the deceased may also choose to file a Wrongful Death claim in civil court seeking damages for the negligent act that killed their family member. Wrongful death lawsuits are usually filed by the parents, wife or children of the decedent.

Bicyclist injured in crosswalk accident receives $600K settlement

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 11:14:39 -0800

In reviewing settled cases, we came across the case of Gonzalez v. Bertacchi which was filed in Cook Co. Cir. Court in January of this year. In this case, Carmen Gonzalez, 49, suffered a broken leg which required surgery when she was hit by a car while crossing a crosswalk on her bicycle.

The accident happened when Michael Bertacchi, driving an SUV, was making a right hand turn on a red light.

Gonzalez's leg injury was quite serious and she was left with a limp and has lingering pain when going about her daily life. She filed a negligence lawsuit against Bertacchi seeking compensation for her medical costs -- which totaled around $61,600 -- and other damages.

The two parties settled before the lawsuit went to trial for $600,000.

In Washington state, vehicle code RCW 46.61.235 requires drivers to stop at crosswalks to allow bicyclists and pedestrians to cross. Unfortunately, we have seen far too many accidents in which a driver making a right hand turn on red.

Often times in a crosswalk accident, distraction on the driver's part is factor in the accident. Sometimes, the driver is using a cell phone or eating. When a driver is making right hand turn, they must provide a proper lookout but it is far too common that the driver looks to the left than at the crosswalk or corner.

When a pedestrian is hit by a car, damages are often catastrophic. Sometimes the pedestrian is killed or, as in this case, the victim never fully recovers to the good health they enjoyed before the accident.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a pedestrian or bicycle accident, you would be well advised to seek the counsel of an attorney who specializes in injury law. The Farber Law Group has been representing seriously injured people for more than 30 years. We work hard to obtain compensation for the victim including compensation for their medical bills, lost wages and for pain and suffering.

Determining fault in a rear-end truck accident

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 15:07:07 -0800

If you were involved in a rear-end motor vehicle accident involving a semi truck, you may be seeking answers to your legal questions.

Rear-end accidents involving semi trucks are more common that you one might think. You may have been hit by a semi truck either when you were stopped or slowing, or you may have hit a semi truck that had stopped or had slowed. In either scenario, the fault may lie with the semi truck driver or the trucking company.

In the case where your car was rear-ended by a semi truck, driver fatigue, driver distraction such as using a cell phone, driving without proper sleep or speeding may have been factors. There may have been mechanical problems with the semi truck due to poor maintenance including worn or imbalanced tires or worn brakes which lead to the accident.

In cases where you hit a semi truck, there may have been factors that caused the accident including the rig not being parked off of the road or parked illegally, or the semi truck may have had faulty brake lights.

Finding the trucking company or driver negligent

In any motor vehicle accident case negligence must be proved. A driver or business is negligent if they failed to exercise reasonable care to avoid an accident. If the truck driver was committing a traffic infraction at the time of the accident or if they broke rules about driving time or the maintenance of their vehicle, the trucking company and the driver may be liable for injuries sustained in an accident or for wrongful death.

Defendants in a trucking accident case

In order to obtain compensation for personal injuries or wrongful death in a motor vehicle accident involving a semi truck, your attorney will identify potential defendants including the truck driver and the trucking company as well as other possible defendants including contractors, mechanics, contractors and insurance companies who may be legally responsible for injuries. There may be multiple insurers and insurance policies to deal with.