Washington Injury Attorney Blog

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has given a record number of new automobiles their TOP SAFETY PICK award for the 2012 model year. Automobiles of all descriptions from mini cars to luxury sedans to pickup trucks have increased their safety ratings to earn the coveted safety award.

To earn the TOP SAFETY PICK award, a vehicle must protect the occupants of the vehicle in head-on collisions, side impact collisions, rollover crashes and rear-end collisions.

The IIHS is a non-profit organization which is funded by automobile insurance companies and conducts research and product ratings for passenger vehicles and child safety seats. It seeks to reduce the number of motor vehicle accidents and reduce passenger injuries and property damage.

Electronic Stability Control

The U.S. Government started requiring electronic stability control (ESC) in all motor vehicles starting with model year 2012. ESC is a computerized technology which avoids loss of control accidents by improving a vehicle's stability by detecting and minimizing skids.

Roof Strength

Many manufacturers redesigned their roofs to make them stronger to protect occupants in rollover car accidents and this allowed these vehicles to make the list. The IIHS requires a rating of "GOOD" in rollover crash tests to earn a TOP SAFETY PICK award. Rollover motor vehicle accidents account for approximately 25% of all car accident fatalities. Improving roof strength, implementing ESC and side airbags reduces injuries and fatalities in rollover crashes.

The IIHS started testing roof strength in 2009 and manufacturers took heed and implemented stronger roofs.

Subaru

Subaru is the only auto manufacturer that earned the TOP SAFETY PICK award for every vehicle it manufactures including its small car, the Impreza.

Continue reading " More new cars win TOP SAFETY PICK award " »

Jillian Gordon, 22, of Woodinville was killed in a head-on collision with a semi-truck on State Route 520 in Bellevue near 108th reports The Washington State Patrol (WSP).

According to the WSP, the motor vehicle accident occurred around 4:00am on February 22 when a Mitsubishi Gallant driven by Gordon ran into a semi-truck after being involved in at least one other collision.

The WSP is seeking anyone with knowledge of the accident to contact Detective Sergeant Jerry Cooper (360) 805-1192 or Detective Greg Wilcoxson (360) 805-1195 to aide in their investigation.

It appears that Gordon struck a barrier on westbound 520 near 92nd Avenue Northeast and stopped her vehicle near a construction zone when her vehicle was struck by a Cedar Grove composting truck which spun her car around. She then drove the wrong way on 520 without her lights and collided head-on with a semi-truck near 108th.

Continue reading " Driver killed in Bellevue Highway 520 head-on accident " »

A 70-year-old wheel-chair bound man is in serious condition at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle after he was hit by a pickup truck while on a sidewalk near Lynnwood.

The pedestrian accident occurred in the 15000 block of Highway 99 just north of Lynnwood according to the Herald of Everett.

Washington State troopers say it appears that the man in the wheelchair was hit while crossing a parking lot entrance when a 59-year-old Edmonds man failed to provide a proper lookout when he pulled into parking lot in his pickup truck.

Troopers are investigating the accident and may cite the pickup truck driver.

It is unclear why the pickup trucker did not see the wheelchair-bound man.

Pedestrian accidents injured more than 100,000 and kill approximately 5,900 every year. Statistically, the elderly, the handicapped and young children are more apt to be the victims in pedestrian accidents.

The major causes of pedestrian accidents include:

• failing to yield to the pedestrian
• failing to come to a full stop at a red light or stop sign
• failing to stop at a crosswalk
• failing to stop before turning right on red
• failing to keep a proper lookout
• speeding

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured in pedestrian accidents and the family of those who have died. With our help, you may recover compensation for your damages.

Continue reading " Wheelchair-bound man serious injured when pickup truck hits him " »

The Washington State Patrol is investigating a head-on car accident on Highway 500 west of Camas in which Jaime L. Saemann, 45, of Camas was critically injured and Makayla M. Yost, 17, of Vancouver was taken to the hospital with less serious injuries.

The Columbian reports that Saemann was traveling westbound on state Highway 500 when she crossed the centerline in her Suzuki Sidekick and hit a Honda Element driven by Yost head-on.

Saemann was taken to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center leg and facial injuries and was listed in critical condition.

Yost was taken to PeaceHealth and was treated for bruises and was being evaluated for other injuries.

Both vehicles were totaled in the head-on collision.

Head-On Auto Accidents

Head-on collisions are more deadly that other types of motor vehicle accidents because of the force involved when two vehicles are traveling at high speeds.

Many times, head-head on or cross over accidents occur when a driver is distracted, drowsy or under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Continue reading " Head-on car accident critically injures driver " »

As a Bellevue personal injury law firm, The Farber Law Group read with interest an article in The Olympian about a lawsuit filed in Pierce County Superior Court against a Gig Harbor pharmacy alleging that the pharmacy twice made a mistake in filling a patient's anti-seizure medication causing harm to the patient and requiring him to be hospitalized.

Eric and Laura Carlson's attorney, Darrel Cochran, filed suit in Pierce County Superior Court and named Olympic Pharmacy and Healthcare Services as the defendant after the Carlson's son was twice a victim of a pharmacy dosage error.

The Carlson's allege that in 2009 Olympic Pharmacy put eight times the prescribed dosage of Lorazepam in a single syringe. The overdose of medication caused their son to hallucinate and become unconscious and he was hospitalized as a result.

Subsequent to the first pharmacy error, the Carlson's decided to use Olympic Pharmacy again as they were assured that pharmacy procedures would be change to prevent errors in the future. However, in 2011, they allege the pharmacy made another mistake in dispensing anti-seizure pills and the overdose sent their son to the intensive care unit.

In the negligence lawsuit, the plaintiffs claim that Olympic Pharmacy was negligent in "hiring, training and supervising the staff members who dispensed the medications."

Consumer Protection Act
The Carlson's are asking for compensation claiming emotional distress and for damages under the Washington Consumer Protection Act, RCW 19.86.090.

Continue reading " Gig Harbor pharmacy sued after prescription mistakes land boy in hospital " »

Paul F. Stewart, 52, was taken to Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia with critical injuries after he was injured in an Olympia bicycle accident.

The Olympian, in an article written by Rolf Boone, reported that Stewart was riding on Meridian Road Northeast at 46th Avenue around 11am, when he was struck from behind by a Ford Expedition driven by Samalaulu C. Punimata, 22, of Lacey.

Police are investigating the bicycle accident but the article says that charges are pending. It's unclear whether alcohol or drugs were involved or if Punimata was distracted by a cell phone. The section of Meridian Road where the bicycle accident occurred has a speed limit of 60mph.

If it is determined that Punimata was speeding, distracted or under the influence, he could face serious charges including Vehicular Assault.

Stewart's bicycle accident is one that bicyclist's fear most, getting hit behind. Even when a bicyclist is doing everything right, there is no way to avoid a hit-from-behind accident. In these types of accidents, bicyclists are thrown from the bicycle, sometimes out into traffic , and they can suffer blunt force trauma injuries or head injuries. Stewart was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident which hopefully went a long way in protecting his head.

Continue reading " Bicyclist critically injured in Olympia accident, driver may be charged " »

If you want to keep your teenage driver safe and lessen their chance of being involved in a motor vehicle accident, you might consider having your teen drive the family's large SUV, minivan or large car instead of letting them drive a motorcycle, sports car or a mini car. There are two factors operating here:

1. SUV's and other large vehicles crash less regardless of who is driving. SUV's are also equipped with electronic stability control (ESC) which reduces collision claims by overall by 18 percent.
   
2. Teens tend to drive a sports car or motorcycle too fast and they tend to show off when driving those vehicles.

A Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) study compared the incident of motor vehicle accidents between two groups: 16-19 year old teenage drivers and 35-60 year old "prime-age" drivers. The study revealed some startling facts:

• Teenage drivers of super sport motorcycles had motorcycle accident claims at the rate of 27.4 per 100 insured vehicle years which is more than 4 times the accident rate of the prime-age driver group.
• Teenager drivers of sport motorcycles had an accident claim rate of 14.5 versus 5.3 for prime-age drivers.
• Teen age drivers of mid-size sports cars had double the accident claim rate than prime age drivers with 14.9 claims versus 2.5 claims per 100 insured vehicle years.
• Teen age drivers of mini cars and small cars had double the car accident claims than that of prime age drivers.
• Teen age drivers who drive large and very large SUVS have almost the equivalent car accident claims as prime age drivers.

Starting in 2012, all passenger vehicles will be equipped with electronic stability control (ESC) which should reduce collision rates overall.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured in motor vehicle accidents and the family of those killed.

Continue reading " Buying your teen a "muscle car" or motorcycle increases their accident risk " »

The estate of a trucker who died after an semi-truck trailer accident involving another tractor-trailer driver, has settled a wrongful death case with the company that employed the trucker for an undisclosed amount after a jury awarded a $7 million verdict.

The widow and estate of Roger Reagan 42 filed the wrongful death claim claiming that Morgan Quisenberry, driving a tractor-trailer for Dunaway Timber Co., was negligent and reckless and caused the accident that killed Reagan. Quisenberry crossed the centerline and hit two other vehicles before hitting Reagan's tractor trailer head-on.

Reagan's truck caught fire in the accident and he suffered internal injuries, a crush injury and burns in the accident and he died of cardiac arrest.

It was proven that Quisenberry had exceeded the 11-hour maximum driving limit and that he had falsified his logbook to cover this fact up.

The estate also filed suit against Dunaway Timber alleging negligent and reckless hiring, training and supervising of Quisenberry. Quisenberry was hired without Dunaway Timber doing a background check and they entrusted the semi-trailer to him even though his driver's license had been revoked twice for driving while intoxicated.

The estate also claimed that Dunaway Timber assigned Quisenberry a trip that could not be completed without violating federal hours-of-service regulations.

Continue reading " Tractor-trailer accident results in confidential settlement after jury awards $7 million in wrongful death " »

John Goodman, 48, the founder of the International Polo Club Beach was involved in a motor vehicle accident in February 2010 in which a person was killed. Now, Goodman has gone to great lengths to protect his assets against a likely wrongful death award against him.

Goodman ran a stop sign in February 2010 and collided with a car driven by Patrick Wilson, 23; Wilson was killed in the accident. Goodman was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, vehicular homicide and leaving the scene of the accident. Reports say that Goodman's blood alcohol content was twice the legal limit at the time of the accident.

Wilson's family filed a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of Wilson. Wrongful death statutes allow the families of a deceased person to file a claim against the person whose negligent behavior resulted in the death of their loved one.

Goodman, in an attempt to shield his assets from a wrongful death judgment against him, has legally adopted his girlfriend, Heather Hutchins, 42. This move may be beneficial to Goodman because he is legally able to set aside money in a trust for his children which reduces his financial worth when the wrongful death jury awards damages to Wilson's family. Goodman also has two minor children who are legitimate beneficiaries.

A probate court will make the determination of whether the adoption was a sham. If the probate court rules that the adoption was a sham, then Goodman cannot shield his assets in a trust.

Goodman's attorney, Dan Bachi, said the adoption, "has nothing to do with the lawsuit currently pending against him." We wonder if Bachi said this with a straight face or a wink. Goodman's girlfriend and now daughter admits that her dating relationship with Goodman began in 2009.

Hopefully, Wilson's family will get the justice they deserve as their son's life was taken away himself and the family prematurely and he was an innocent victim of drunken driving. And, hopefully Goodman will get the justice he deserves which includes criminal penalties of up to 30 years in prison.

Continue reading " Florida businessman legally adopts girlfriend in attempt to shield assets from wrongful death lawsuit " »