Seattle Injury Lawyer Blog

Police suspect DUI in crash that left 4 hurt

October 21, 2014 | Kraft Davies Olsson PLLC

A two-vehicle collision that occurred on Oct. 12 in Washington on US-101 left four individuals injured. According to the report, the truck accident was believed to have been caused by an intoxicated driver.

Police stated that the crash occurred when a 59-year-old man driving a pickup collided head-on with a sedan as the man drove around a line of vehicles that was waiting at a traffic light. Rescue workers who arrived at the scene took the injured sedan occupants, the driver and two passengers, ages 35 and 11, as well as a 14-year-old passenger in the pickup, to Olympic Medical Center in Port Angeles for treatment. The report did not disclose the nature of the victims’ injuries. The pickup truck driver was unhurt in the crash, as reported. The accident caused traffic delays for over two hours.

Authorities stated that the truck driver was under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Following the incident, the suspect was arrested and placed in the Clallam County jail after undergoing booking procedures. He has been charged with vehicular assault and is awaiting the results of the police investigation.

What is a traumatic brain injury?

October 17, 2014 | Kraft Davies Olsson PLLC

Washington residents may have heard a lot about traumatic brain injuries, or TBIs, in recent years. From the shooting of former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords to lawsuits over repeated concussions suffered by NFL players, TBIs have been all over the news.

The extra attention is helpful because the Centers for Disease Control reports that TBIs are a major cause of disability and death in the United States. In 2010, around 2.5 million emergency room visits, hospital stays or deaths were tied to TBIs, and the condition played a part in approximately 30 percent of all injury deaths in the country.

TBIs can occur due to a blow or bump to the head or a penetrating head injury, such as a gunshot wound, that interrupts a person’s normal brain function. TBIs can be mild, meaning a person may feel dizzy or briefly lose consciousness, or severe, meaning a person may be unconscious for a long period of time or experience significant memory loss. Most TBIs reported are mild and are referred to as concussions.

Nationwide road collision statistics and costs

October 9, 2014 | Kraft Davies Olsson PLLC

According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration statistics, 33,561 people were killed and 2.36 million people were injured in the 5.42 million motor vehicle accidents that authorities reported across the United States in 2012. This means that a crash-related death occurred every 16 minutes. In Washington state alone, 444 people died in traffic collisions the same year. Despite these statistics, the agency estimates that around 10 million or more car accidents a year are never reported.

With the NHTSA reporting an increase in motor vehicle crashes and deaths in 2012, an auto insurance claims study from the Insurance Research Council shows that the medical costs for auto injuries continues to rise quicker than inflation while the seriousness of the injuries decreases. The average economic damages claimed between 2007 and 2012 rose 8 percent annualized in relation to personal injury claims, and the average damages claimed for bodily injury increased 4 percent. By 2012, the average bodily injury claim was for $14, 653 while the average property damage claim was for $3,073. The average comprehensive claim cost $1,585 while the average collision claim cost $2,950.

The NHTSA reports that car accident victims only pay around 26 percent of the expenses. While local and state municipalities pay around 3 percent and federal revenues pay about 6 percent, medical providers and charities pay around 14 percent. Private insurers account for the remaining percentage of total crash expenses. In 2010, the total costs amounted to nearly $1 trillion.

Multiple-vehicle crash injures 3 on I-90

October 1, 2014 | Kraft Davies Olsson PLLC

In Washington, a fiery accident resulted in Interstate 90 being slowed to a crawl while bystanders helped victims in burning vehicles. Authorities report that the driver of an eastbound green SUV did not properly negotiate a turn in the road and crossed the center median before ending up in the westbound lanes of the highway. This error started a chain-reaction collision, and the highway became littered with four wrecked vehicles, at least two of which caught fire.

One couple who were behind the green SUV were able to use a fire extinguisher to put out the fire and offer comfort and aid to the man inside. Heroic bystanders, according to a Washington State Trooper, yanked out another driver who was pinned in her burning vehicle. The woman received severe auto injuries on her ankles.

Two drivers in serious condition were transported to Harborview Medical Center. A third driver experienced minor injuries. Law enforcement on the scene made it clear that seat belts were a contributing factor in everyone making it out of the damaged vehicles alive.

Bus accident in Washington severely injures another woman

September 24, 2014 | Kraft Davies Olsson PLLC

A driver suffered serious injuries after her vehicle collided with a bus in Vashon Island on Sept. 17, authorities reported. The bus was reportedly carrying students who were going on a field trip, but none of the children on the bus suffered injuries as a result of the incident.

Authorities stated that the accident transpired around 11:30 a.m. That is when a large tour bus traveling on Vashon Highway crossed the centerline and collided with a car. Following the impact, the bus careened off of the roadway before finally coming to a stop in a thick hedge adjacent to the highway. Law enforcement officials suspect that the driver of the bus might have had a medical episode prior to the incident. Reportedly, the driver said that he had ‘blanked out.”

As a result of the crash, the car sustained heavy damage, and its driver suffered injuries that officials deem to be serious. Emergency personnel transported her via airlift to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. The precise nature of the woman’s injuries was not clear in the immediate aftermath of the event.

Woman dies after pedestrian accident with alleged drunk driver

September 17, 2014 | Kraft Davies Olsson PLLC

A 23-year-old Washington woman is dead following an accident that occurred around 2 a.m. on Sept. 10 in Kitsap County when she was struck by a car as she was crossing the street. A 25-year-old male who was walking with her was critically injured. According to police, the driver of the vehicle appeared intoxicated and was unable to complete field sobriety tests after the accident.

The crash occurred after the pedestrians and the 26-year-old driver left a party at a local tavern. The woman was declared dead at the scene. The male pedestrian was taken to a hospital in Seattle for treatment of critical injuries. The driver and two passengers in the vehicle were uninjured.

According to police, the man admitted to drinking both beer and vodka before driving. He was also allegedly traveling at a speed of 35 mph in a 25 mph zone. The man is facing charges of vehicular homicide and vehicular assault. At the time of the report, he was in jail on a $500,000 bond.

Washington woman injured when car crashes Lake City bar

September 9, 2014 | Kraft Davies Olsson PLLC

The Back Door Pub in the 12300 block of Lake City Way NE, Washington became the scene of an accident that injured one woman when a man in his 30s allegedly crashed his car into the bar. The woman was pinned between the building and the man’s vehicle. According to the owner of the bar, the man sped his SUV toward a power pole but instead veered toward a group of people and crashed into the building, damaging a wall.

The 31-year-old woman pinned against the building had to be extricated. She was taken to Harborview Medical Center where she was treated for a fractured leg.

The bar owner alleged the man purposely caused the accident because he had been refused a drink at the bar. Police are investigating the accident but have not yet confirmed if the driver was arrested or is facing a DUI charge.

Washington crash kills 2, 1 critically injured

September 5, 2014 | Kraft Davies Olsson PLLC

A 68-year-old former police chief and a 16-year-old boy were killed in a head-on crash near Redmond on Aug. 24. According to sources, around 9 p.m., the man was driving west when an eastbound pickup truck driven by the teenager hit his SUV head-on.

After hitting the SUV, the teen’s pickup continued moving in the westbound lanes and crashed into another car. The pickup then flipped over and blocked both lanes of the highway.

The man and teen were declared dead at the scene. Police say the man’s 68-year-old wife was also in the car at the time of the crash. She was taken to Harborview Medical Center for treatment, where she was listed in critical condition. The woman in the second vehicle that was hit suffered only minor injuries, and she reportedly declined medical attention.

Washington driver charged after accident

August 26, 2014 | Kraft Davies Olsson PLLC

A 21-year-old driver was charged by police with vehicular homicide for killing his friend while he was attempting to replicate a skateboard trick using his car. The driver was traveling on Saturday, Aug. 16, with friends when one of his passengers asked him to try a ‘slap the rail” trick using his car. The idea was to hit the curb with the tires of the car and cause it bounce the vehicle.

The vehicle was headed north on Interstate 205. The driver took the exit ramp at freeway speed and lost control. The vehicle landed upside down. Police said an 18-year-old passenger was killed in the rollover and the other occupants all suffered minor injuries.

Reports state the group of friends had been watching a skateboarding movie earlier in the day. Police said the driver of the car was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident. The driver was brought into court on Monday, Aug. 18. The judge set his bail at $30,000 and his arraignment for Aug. 29.

Lipitor lawsuits increase

August 21, 2014 | Kraft Davies Olsson PLLC

Residents of Washington may not be aware of the large number of lawsuits that have been filed recently against pharmaceutical company Pfizer. The suits claim that the statin drug Lipitor causes type 2 diabetes; the increase likely follows an FDA warning that the drugs may cause a small increase in risk of type 2 diabetes. Pfizer has reportedly denied the accusations and maintains that it plans to fight the cases.

Lipitor, a cholesterol-reducing drug, is reportedly the biggest-selling pharmaceutical in the United States. Statins typically decrease production of cholesterol which in turn lowers the risk of heart disease. The FDA has encouraged people to continue taking the drug, insisting that the benefits outweigh the risks. Nevertheless, enough suits have been filed for a federal court to consolidate cases. The first trial is expected to take place in July 2015. Pfizer will allegedly use the outcome of this case to plan for the other claims against the company.

Reports indicate that there are nearly 1,000 suits pending against Pfizer; the company has complied with the FDA’s mandate that they add a warning label. The company did not comment on whether funds had been put aside for future litigation.