A teen in Chehalis was killed on Saturday morning after being run over by a car. The teen had been drinking with friends (who were also underage) at a home in the area. For some reason, the boy decided to go out and lie down on Brockway Road in dark clothes. Meanwhile, an SUV heading north on Brockway Road rounded a curve that was not outfitted with street lights. As it did so, the SUV struck and killed the young man lying there. Troopers were called to the scene around 2:30 AM on Saturday. The driver of the SUV was not charged with anything.
As a Seattle accident attorney, I know what a dangerous combination alcohol and vehicles make. What some don’t realize, though, is that even if you aren’t behind the wheel of a car, you can still be at risk if you have been drinking. The reasons that you should not be driving drunk applies just as well to not being around unmarked or busy roadways—your decision making skills cannot be trusted in your inebriated state. I have a passion for teaching young drivers about safety; that is why I started Teens Against Distracted Driving. Even though my focus is on texting and driving, what I hope to do is impress upon teens the great responsibility of driving. One mistake around a car can mean the difference between life and death for you or someone else, so learning good behaviors early could save lives.
Early Tuesday morning, a single vehicle crash killed one and injured three others. The crash, which happened around midnight, took place on East Mikkelsen Road near Shelton. The car had left the road and crashed into a tree. A woman in the car died at the scene. One man within the vehicle was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center. Another two men were injured. It is not currently clear why the accident happened, but the investigation is ongoing.
Our thoughts are with the family of this woman during this difficult time. As a Seattle personal injury attorney, I know firsthand just how devastating an accident like this can really be. We don’t know what the exact cause of this tragic accident is, but it can serve as a reminder of just how dangerous driving can be. It only takes one mistake to turn a regular trip into a fatal accident. Unfortunately you can’t control everything that might happen out on the road, but there are certain things that you can do to protect yourself and others out on the road. Never ever drink and drive—this is obvious, but as many drivers seem to forget it, it bears repeating. Don’t allow yourself to be distracted by passengers or your cell phone. Taking your eyes off the road for even a moment can lead to destruction.
Three people were injured on Wednesday in a head-on crash in Renton. A red Pontiac Grand Am was heading southbound on Maple Valley Highway, where witnesses say he was driving erratically, dodging between cars and speeding. He turned a corner and slammed his car into an oncoming pickup. When first responders arrived, they found that the driver sustained serious injuries, and the two people in the pickup had life-threatening injuries. All three were taken from the scene to Harborview Medical Center. The road was closed for investigation until 10 PM on Wednesday night.
As a Seattle personal injury attorney, I know just how dangerous and devastating an auto accident like this one can be. I hope that everyone involved in the accident has a speedy recovery. The truth is, it’s not possible to predict what or who you might face when you get behind the wheel. That’s why it is so important to be safe while you are driving—you don’t want to be the thing that sends another driver or passenger (or bicyclist or pedestrian) to the hospital. The exact cause of this particular accident is not known at this time, but there are simple things, like refusing to drink and drive, that you can do to keep yourself and others safe on the road. Just by following the law, you might be saving a life.
Two men were arrested Wednesday morning after attempting to elude police in a high speed chase. Kent Police first noticed the vehicle around 4 AM, when it was stopped near a bank of mailboxes in an industrial park. When the two men noticed the officer approaching, the car fled the screen, down the West Valley Highway. Police caught up and pursued them down southbound Highway 167. On the highway the fleeing vehicle sped to greater than 100 miles per hour. Eventually the car spun out of control, and by the time the 20 year old driver regained control of the vehicle, officers had trapped them by a concrete barrier. The passenger was a 42 year old Seattle resident. Both men were arrested and are currently in jail in Kent.
The issue for this driver seems pretty straightforward: don’t get into a high-speed chase with the police and your chances of getting into an accident go way down. While true, it is does not mean that an extreme example like this does not have a lesson for the average driver. You might not be speeding over 100 miles per hour but even a small increase in speed is also a decrease in your ability to react and adapt to changing situations on the road. In addition to this, if you allow your attention to be divided by a cell phone or a passenger (or yes, your forthcoming arrest) you open yourself up to a potentially fatal accident. As a Seattle auto accident attorney, I have seen firsthand how these mistakes can lead to disaster, so drive safely.
A 52-year-old man was killed on Saturday in Sedro-Woolley, Washington. Joseph Duncan was riding his bicycle down State Route 9 Saturday afternoon when he attempted to cross over the road near the South Skagit Highway. After he completed the cross, he was struck and killed by a Jeep. The driver was unhurt, with the vehicle suffering only minor damage. State troopers arrived shortly after the incident, and determined that the driver of the Jeep was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol. No charges are going to be filed in the Skagit County accident, according Kirotv.com.
Riding a bicycle can be a fun and beneficial way to commute while still keeping your environmental impact down. However, it can also be dangerous when you are biking in areas with standard vehicles. Following traffic laws and observing safety measures is paramount when you are bicycling. You don’t have the benefit of a protective housing like those in a car, so if you are in an accident it can lead to tragic results. As a Seattle bicycle accident attorney, I know how devastating they can be, and my thoughts are with the family as they go through this difficult time. Hopefully this incident can act as a reminder to both bicyclists and drivers just how important it is to be alert and safe out on the road.
Two were killed in a tragic Everson crash Friday morning. State Troopers arrived at the scene at about 8 AM, which was located at the intersection of Noon Road and Pole Street. Troopers found that a car had collided with a dump truck, and that two people had been killed. No other injuries were reported, and the identities of the victims have not been released. The Whatcom County road is closed for the investigation until further notice.
This is a tragic accident and our thoughts are with the family in this difficult time. As a Seattle car accident attorney, I often see not only how tragic these crashes are, but also how tragically avoidable they can really be. Just one bad decision can change a life forever, so you should take your responsibility as a member of the driving community very seriously. There are simple ways to keep yourself and others safe on the road and they might seem obvious, but you’d be surprised how often drivers need to be reminded. Don’t drink and drive, ever. When you are behind the wheel, put the cell phone down. Follow all traffic laws and signals including speed limits. Just these few things could mean the difference between life and death for you, your passengers, or anyone out on the road with you.
Sunday morning, one woman died and another was injured in a collision near Selah, Washington. A 22 year old driver was headed north on the southbound lanes of State Route 823, at Golf Course Loop, around 5 AM. A tractor trailer going in the correct direction was hit by the car. The truck had to be towed and the other vehicle was destroyed in the collision. The driver was killed in the incident. Her passenger, a 28 year old woman, was taken to Yakima Regional Medical and Cardiac Center, where her condition has not yet been stabilized. The truck driver was not injured. Investigations into the accident are ongoing and it is unclear of drugs or alcohol played a factor in the crash.
Auto accidents can turn tragic very quickly. What might seem like an innocent action can have life changing consequences. Obviously there is more to this story that we do not yet know. Whatever the cause of this accident, there are certain steps that everyone can take to keep from living through an equally horrifying ordeal. As a Seattle accident attorney, I see how “just one drink” or “a quick text” can turn into tragedy. When you are behind the wheel your entire focus should be on the road ahead. If you have been drinking or have your phone in hand while driving, I can promise you that your ability to drive is impaired and your attention is divided. Be a safe driver, you never know whose life you might be saving.
On Saturday night, a man in a wheelchair was crossing the street in White Center when he was struck by a car. He was using the crosswalk at 15th Avenue Southwest and Southwest 98th Street when he was hit. The driver, a 20 year old woman, stopped her car after the crash. Authorities arrived at the scene shortly after and the 27 year old mobility aid user was taken to Harborview Medical Center, where it is said he is still in critical condition. The woman was questioned and it did not appear that she was under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The incident is still under investigation.
Even a few seconds of inattention can prove deadly. Especially at night, it is so important to be aware of pedestrians who you may be sharing the road with. Pedestrians are not offered the protective covering of a vehicle, so a crash is far more likely to be deadly for them. That quick text or phone call might seem harmless enough, but you never know what you might be missing when you take your eyes off the road for ‘just a second.’ As a Seattle pedestrian accident attorney, I know how life altering the injuries sustained is likely to be. You have a responsibility to keep yourself, your passengers and anyone else who you might be sharing the road with safe. By just keeping your attention on the road ahead, you might be saving a life.
Early Friday, an officer from the Tacoma Police was going east on Sixth Avenue near South Alder Street when a car turned left in front of the patrol, causing the vehicles to collide. The accident occurred at around 2:00 AM Friday morning. When first responders arrived, they found only the officer and a passenger in the other vehicle to be hurt. The driver, who was unhurt, was arrested and booked for vehicular assault. The officer was taken to Allenmore Hospital with an elbow injury, and the other injured party was taken to Tacoma General Hospital for a gash above his right eye. The K-9 dog who was riding with the officer was unhurt.
You have to be ready for more than just bad traffic or weather when you get behind the wheel. Sometimes an aggressive or sudden move by another driver that you are not prepared for can lead to disaster. If you allow yourself to be distracted while driving, you leave your passengers and others on the road open to danger. What starts out as a simple text often ends in injury or death. As a Seattle auto accident lawyer, I see firsthand how seemingly innocuous behaviors and change the life of a family forever. Be a responsible driver, and don’t forget to stay alert; you don’t know whose life you might be saving.
A high speed chase in Snohomish County resulted in one injured suspect last night. A patrol car was responding to a call when one of the two suspects they were looking for jumped into a car and sped away, with the police in pursuit. The suspect led them on the chase for a time before running the car into a power pole near State Route 9 and Soper Hill Road in Lake Stevens. The driver was ejected from the car and he was pinned to the fence. Live wires that had been knocked loose kept police and other emergency personnel from reaching him initially. Eventually the power was cut and the suspect was transported to the hospital. He sustained serious but not life-threatening injuries to his leg.
This crash was a deadly combination of two factors: speed and distraction. You don’t have to be on the run from the police to get caught in a situation like this—just send a text on the freeway. When your mind or eyes are focused on anything other than the road ahead, you are putting yourself and anyone who happens to be on the road with you at risk. This might seem like a case of “got what he deserved” but every day average drivers engage in activity that is just as dangerous. As a Seattle personal injury attorney I see how one timey bad choice can change a life forever. Do everything you can to limit distractions and drive safe!
