Kirk Bernard – Seattle Personal Injury Lawyer

A number of serious auto accidents in Washington State and elsewhere in the country are caused by sleepy and tired drivers. Whether these accidents involve commercial truck drivers or drivers of regular passenger vehicles, fatigued driving is extremely dangerous. Such negligent driving practices can result in serious injuries or even fatalities, thus affecting not only the tired driver, but also others on the roadway.

According to a recent KHQ news report, the driver of an RV fell asleep at the wheel. His camper drifted off the roadway into a ditch, causing it to rollover onto its side. The crash occurred on Highway 2 just north of East Westmoreland Road in Deer Park, Washington. The driver in this accident was extremely lucky not to have sustained injury or have seriously injured another person.

As a skilled Seattle personal injury attorney, Kirk Bernard has seen first-hand how serious of a problem fatigued driving is; yet, it is often dismissed by motorists and seems to receive the least attention from drivers. In fact, many drivers admit to falling asleep at the wheel 10 or more times in a year. Several studies show that driving fatigued can be as dangerous as driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. According to the American Automobile Association (AAA) Foundation for Traffic Safety, the effect of being awake for 17 hours causes a performance on psychomotor coordination tests equivalent to that of someone who has a blood alcohol level of 0.05 percent. If they stayed awake a full 24 hours, their test performance compared with that of a person who had a blood alcohol level of 0.10. Some states consider you intoxicated at 0.08. Know your limits. If you are tired or sleepy, rest up and do not get behind the wheel.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a Washington auto accident, please contact the experienced Seattle car accident attorneys with The Bernard Law Group at 1-800-418-8282 or info@bernardlawgroup.com for a FREE, comprehensive and confidential consultation. We can also send you our FREE brochure, which has useful, educational information about Washington auto accident cases to help you understand your legal rights and options. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his skilled legal team today.

Source:http://www.khq.com/global/story.asp?s=11944700

At least four people were injured in a Seattle car accident after a full-sized pickup truck hit two other vehicles at a high rate of speed, King5 reports. The major injury collision occurred in the 11200 block of 1st Avenue South. Four people sustained injuries and one of those victims is said to be in critical condition. All four of the injured victims were transported to local hospitals. Initial news reports described the incident as a hit-and-run accident, but later reports clarified that the pickup truck was stopped further down the road, but did not leave the scene. An investigation into the cause of the collision is ongoing.

In this particular case, initial reports suggest that excessive speed may have played a part in the crash. State law (RCW 46.61.400) sets Washington’s basic speed law and the maximum speed limits for state highways, county roads, and city streets. The statute also authorizes agencies to raise or lower these maximum speed limits, when supported by an engineering and traffic investigation. Experienced Seattle auto accident attorneys know the serious consequences that may result if motorists fail to constantly adjust their driving behavior to fit the conditions they encounter while driving. Speed limits encourage consistent travel speeds, fostering safety for the traveling public by reducing the speed differentials between motor vehicles.

If an accident and injuries are caused by excessive speed, the speeding motorist could be held liable. Accident victims in such cases could seek compensation to cover medical expenses, lost earnings, cost of hospitalization, rehabilitation, physical therapy, surgeries, long-term care and any other expenses related to the accident. If the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured, the motorist’s own auto insurance policy could help compensate for these expenses. However, insurance companies are extremely tough to deal with and may not readily pay the compensation that you are rightfully due.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a Washington auto accident, please contact the experienced Washington personal injury attorneys with The Bernard Law Group at 1-800-418-8282 or info@bernardlawgroup.com for a FREE, comprehensive and confidential consultation. We can also send you our FREE brochure, which has useful, educational information about Washington car accident cases to help you understand your legal rights and options. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his skilled legal team today.

Source:http://www.king5.com/news/local/Multiple-vehicle-hit-and-run-accident-in-Seattle-83440922.html

The Seattle Times tells the story of a West Seattle man whose Toyota Prius was totaled a year ago as a result of “unintended acceleration.” According to the news report, the driver lost control of his Prius, knocking down a fence post and jumping a retaining wall in West Seattle. In this particular case, the driver escaped without injuries. However, the vehicle was declared a total loss by insurers and he filed a complaint with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). This driver is not alone. This man’s complaint was one of more than 100 submitted by American drivers who had issues with Prius speed controls for 2004 to 2010 models.

Last year, Prius models were involved in Toyota recalls where consumers were advised to remove floor mats in order to prevent the gas pedals from getting jammed. Now, the company in the process of looking into brake failure problems reported by drivers of 2010 Prius models. In the West Seattle incident, the driver reported that as he slowed down his Prius to make a right turn to park, his car raced forward. His brakes did not work.

I hope Toyota is seriously investigating both the unintended acceleration and brake failure problems in the Prius. It is indeed fortunate that this West Seattle driver did not get seriously injured or killed in this accident apparently caused by either brake failure or unintended acceleration. If you are a Toyota owner and have sustained injuries because of these or other product defects, please contact a Seattle auto products liability lawyer to find out about your legal rights and options. Knowledgeable auto product defect lawyers would advise victims to preserve the crashed vehicle in its current condition until it can be properly examined for auto defects or malfunctions. In any auto products liability case, please remember that the vehicle is the main piece of evidence.

If your loved one has been seriously injured by a defective auto, please contact the reputed Washington auto products liability lawyers at The Bernard Law Firm to find out about your legal rights and options. Please call us at 1-800-418-8282 or e-mail us at info@bernardlawgroup.com to schedule your FREE, comprehensive and confidential consultation. We can also send you our FREE brochure about Washington auto product defect cases, which has useful, educational information to help you better understand your rights. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his skilled legal team today.

Source:http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2010986936_toyotaseattle05m.html?syndication=rss

A 62-year-old man recently sustained serious injuries in a Spokane area car accident, the Wenatchee World reports. The man was driving a pickup truck on Frosty Road about a mile east of Tonasket when his vehicle ran off the roadway, over an embankment and came to rest in a creek. Washington State Patrol officials said the man suffered a cut to his head and chest bruising in the accident. Officials are looking into what caused the man to lose control of his vehicle.

There are many reasons why single-car crashes occur. If the accident was not the driver’s fault, then it is important to look into whether the accident was caused by a mechanical failure or an auto product defect in the vehicle. If that was the case, the injured victim may file an auto product liability claim against the auto maker or the manufacturer of the defective product. In some cases, single vehicle crashes also occur because of a dangerous or defective roadway. An experienced Spokane car accident lawyer will be able to analyze a case from all angles and help determine whether you have a claim.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a Washington auto accident, please contact the experienced Washington personal injury attorneys with The Bernard Law Group at 1-800-418-8282 or info@bernardlawgroup.com for a FREE, comprehensive and confidential consultation. We can also send you our FREE brochure, which has useful, educational information about Washington car accident cases to help you understand your legal rights and options. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his skilled legal team today.

Source:http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2010/jan/21/driver-suffers-head-chest-injuries-in-accident/

A 25-year-old man sustained critical injuries in a Tacoma pedestrian accident after a vehicle struck him on Spanaway Road and fled the scene. KOMO News reports that the man was walking with a friend when he was hit. The force of the impact pushed the man on to the hood of the car, which kept going for about 20 feet with the man on the hood. Instead of stopping, the driver increased speed, causing the pedestrian to fall off the hood. The pedestrian suffered numerous injuries, including a collapsed lung and shattered leg. Doctors are saying that his injuries could take more than a year to heal. Family members say that he will also have to undergo physical therapy in order to be able to walk again. Officials are describing the suspected car involved in the hit-and-run as a red Acura Integra or red Honda with front-end damage.

Leaving the scene of a crash, or “hit-and-run” as it is commonly called, is a serious violation under Washington State law. Under the Revised Code of Washington Section 46.52.020: “A driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting in the injury to or death of any person or involving striking the body of a deceased person shall immediately stop such vehicle at the scene of such accident or as close thereto as possible but shall then forthwith return to, and in every event remain at, the scene of such accident until he or she has fulfilled the requirements of subsection (3) of this section; every such stop shall be made without obstructing traffic more than is necessary.”

Hit-and-run victims, especially those who are seriously injured, get the short end of the stick because they have no one to hold accountable for what happened to them. However, under Washington law, if you have been seriously injured by a hit-and-run driver or an uninsured/underinsured driver, you may still be able to seek compensation through your own auto insurance policy. If you are involved in such an accident, please get in touch with an experienced, knowledgeable personal injury lawyer who can help you secure the compensation you rightfully deserve.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident caused by a negligent driver, please contact the experienced Washington personal injury attorneys of The Bernard Law Group at 1-800-418-8282 or info@bernardlawgroup.com for a FREE, comprehensive and confidential consultation. We can also send you our FREE brochure, which has useful and educational information to help you understand your legal rights and options. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his skilled legal team today.

Source:http://tacoma.komonews.com/content/thank-god-hes-not-dead-he-could-have-been-dead

A 59-year-old woman suffered serious injuries after her bicycle was struck by a Seattle Police patrol car. According to a KOMO News report, the female bicyclist was struck at the intersection of 12th Avenue and Jackson Street in Seattle’s International District. The woman was transported to a local hospital and is said to have sustained neck and back injuries. The officer in the patrol car was uninsured. Investigators are still looking into the cause of this collision.

According to the Washington Department of Transportation, bicycle commuting in Washington State has increased over 75 percent in the last decade. More people are simply choosing bicycles over other automobiles because of traffic congestion and escalating fuel prices. More people are choosing to bike to work or to run errands or simply to add exercise into their daily lives. With more people resorting to bicycle commuting, bicycle accidents have also increased remarkably over the last decade.

Although there is an increase in the number of bicycles on our roadways, motorists often fail to remember that they share the roadway with bicycles, other small vehicles and pedestrians. As a result, we are looking at an increase in bicycle accidents, not to mention other car accidents as well. Such collisions often result in serious injuries to the bicyclist, who has very little in terms of protection. Bicycle accidents could result in severe head injuries, spinal cord injuries, broken bones or even death. If you have been injured in a bicycle accident as a result of someone else’s negligence, you could seek compensation to cover medical expenses, lost earnings, cost of hospitalization, physical therapy and other expenses.

Please contact the experienced Washington personal injury attorneys with The Bernard Law Group at 1-800-418-8282 or info@bernardlawgroup.com for a FREE, comprehensive and confidential consultation. We can also send you our FREE informational brochure, which has useful, educational information to help you understand your legal rights and options. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his skilled legal team today.

Source:http://www.komonews.com/news/local/83376102.html

Several people were injured in a Washington car accident involving four vehicles. The Wenatchee World reports that the major injury crash was caused by a 56-year-old man in a Chevy Monte Carlo who crossed the centerline of Highway 97A near Entiat and collided head-on with a Mini Cooper. The Monte Carlo then struck two other vehicles. A passenger in the Monte Carlo, a 61-year-old woman, suffered the most serious injuries. Three others sustained neck and back injuries.

If you were injured in a car accident caused by someone else’s negligence, there are three components in making a claim for personal injury:

1. Determine liability, or determining who caused the accident and who should be held legally responsible for the accident.
2. Establish the amount of damages to which you are legally entitled.
3. Determine where to collect the damages such as insurance or individual assets that are available for payment of a settlement or a damage award.

If you have been injured in a Washington auto accident, it is very important that you contact an experienced Seattle personal injury attorney. You need a skilled injury lawyer who will thoroughly investigate your case, gather critical evidence and make sure you receive fair compensation for your injuries and loss.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident in Seattle, please contact the experienced Washington personal injury attorneys with The Bernard Law Group at 1-800-418-8282 or info@bernardlawgroup.com for a FREE comprehensive and confidential consultation. We can also send you our FREE informational brochure, which has useful educational information about car accident cases to help you understand your legal rights and options. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his skilled legal team today.

Source:http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2010/jan/05/woman-in-serious-condition-after-four-car/

A 97-year-old woman suffered fatal injuries in a car accident on the Benson Highway. According to a news report, the elderly woman was a passenger in a 1985 Toyota Camry, which collided with another vehicle at the intersection of Southeast 200th Street and the Benson Highway in unincorporated Kent. The Camry was traveling south on Benson Highway when it crashed with a 2004 Kia Sedona headed north in the left turn lane on the highway. The woman was taken to a Seattle hospital where she died. The driver, an 82-year-old woman, was also hospitalized with injuries. Washington State Patrol officials are looking into what caused this fatal accident.

When an accident occurs at an intersection, it is important to look into whether one of the drivers failed to yield right-of-way. The at-fault driver in these cases is usually held liable for the accident and resulting injuries. Where negligence or wrongdoing is involved, families of deceased victims can also file a wrongful death claim seeking compensation for funeral expenses, loss of love and companionship and other related damages.

If you have been injured in a car accident, please contact the Seattle auto accident attorneys with The Bernard Law Group at 1-800-418-8282 or info@bernardlawgroup.com for a FREE comprehensive and confidential consultation. We can also send you our FREE informational brochure, which has useful educational information about car accident cases to help you better understand your legal rights and options. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his skilled legal team today.

Source:http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/south_king/ken/news/81026057.html

A 68-year-old man was struck by a pickup truck as he was walking across the street in a marked crosswalk in the Silverdale area, the Kitsap Sun reports. Washington State Patrol officials say the man was walking across Ridgetop Boulevard when a 26-year-old woman driving a 2002 Ford pickup struck him. The woman will be cited for failing to yield to a pedestrian, troopers said. They say drugs or alcohol did not play a part in the crash. The pedestrian accident victim sustained severe head injuries. However, his injuries are not life-threatening.

A number of Seattle pedestrian accidents occur because of drivers who are distracted, inattentive or are simply not following the rules of the road. Washington law requires motorists to yield right-of-way to pedestrians legally walking in crosswalks. The Revised Code of Washington Section 46.61.235 (1) states: “The operator of an approaching vehicle shall stop and remain stopped to allow a pedestrian or bicycle to cross the roadway within an unmarked or marked crosswalk when the pedestrian or bicycle is upon or within one lane of the half of the roadway upon which the vehicle is traveling or onto which it is turning. For purposes of this section “half of the roadway” means all traffic lanes carrying traffic in one direction of travel, and includes the entire width of a one-way roadway.”

In such cases where negligence is involved, the injured pedestrian can seek compensation to cover medical expenses, lost earnings, cost of hospitalization, rehabilitation, surgeries that may be required and cost of other therapy and treatment.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a Washington pedestrian accident, please contact the experienced Seattle personal injury attorneys with The Bernard Law Group at 1-800-418-8282 or info@bernardlawgroup.com for a FREE comprehensive and confidential consultation. We can also send you our FREE informational brochure, which has useful educational information about vehicular accident cases to help you better understand your legal rights and options. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his skilled legal team today.

Source:http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2010/jan/04/pedestrian-hit-at-central-kitsap-interchange/?partner=yahoo_feeds

A Spokane Washington man has filed a $500,000 lawsuit against the state of Idaho for injuries he says were caused by potholes on the Interstate 90, the Associated Press reports. The 22-year-old man was a passenger in a vehicle pulling a trailer when the trailer became dislodged while running over potholes. According to court documents, the driver pulled into the median to reattach the trailer when another vehicle hit the same series of potholes, causing that vehicle’s steering mechanism to break. The vehicle then struck the trailer, which in turn hit the Washington man. He sustained pelvic injuries as a result of this crash.

Dangerous or defective roadways can cause serious accidents that result in catastrophic injuries or deaths to vehicle occupants. In this particular case, the potholes seem to have been extremely dangerous. If they caused a vehicle’s trailer to come loose and another vehicle’s steering mechanism to break, those were some potholes! Kirk Bernard and his legal team have represented several clients who sustained severe or fatal injuries in car accidents or motorcycle accidents as a result of poorly maintained roadways with potholes or uneven pavement.

In such cases, the governmental agency responsible for maintaining that roadway could be held liable for the accident and resulting injuries. Victims could seek compensation to cover medical expenses, loss of wages, cost of hospitalization, physical therapy and other related damages.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident in Seattle, please contact the experienced Seattle personal injury attorneys with The Bernard Law Group at 1-800-418-8282 or info@bernardlawgroup.com for a FREE comprehensive and confidential consultation. We can also send you our FREE informational brochure, which has useful educational information about car accident cases to help you better understand your legal rights and options. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard today.

Source:http://www.nwcn.com/news/Spokane-man-files-pothole-lawsuit-against-Idaho-80140822.html