Seattle Injury Lawyer Blog

Washington drivers get the facts about drugged driving

January 2, 2015 | Kraft Davies Olsson PLLC

The National Survey on Drug Use and Health declares nearly 10 million drivers in 2013 aged 12 and older admitted to driving while impaired by illegal drugs. This figure translates to about 3.8 percent of the population, and in the same year, about 11 percent, or 28.7 million drivers, confessed to driving under the influence of alcohol. While the numbers have dropped over recent years, many drivers test positive for both drugs and alcohol after causing motor vehicle accidents.

The NSDUH survey also showed that the highest risk group for impaired driving is those aged 18 to 25. Statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in 2009 showed that 18 percent of the drivers across all age groups who died in motor vehicle accidents that year tested positive for at least one type of drug.

Drugged driving, whether the drugs are prescription medications or illegal substances like marijuana or cocaine, can impair a driver’s ability to safely operate a vehicle because reaction times and motor skills are easily affected by these substances. Many prescription drugs, including those used for pain relief and anxiety, come with specific warnings against operating machinery or motor vehicles. Other studies have determined that 4 to 14 percent of drivers who suffered injuries or death in auto accidents tested positive for marijuana use.

Wrong-way accident in Washington kills 1, injures 5

December 29, 2014 | Kraft Davies Olsson PLLC

An accident caused by a wrong-way driver along Interstate 82 has resulted in numerous injuries and one death. The accident occurred on Dec. 15 near Granger when an 87-year-old woman began driving down the wrong lane of the highway. Police do not believe she was intoxicated at the time of the incident, but they are still conducting an investigation to learn what may have led to the collision.

The accident occurred at 6:30 p.m. when a Volkswagen Beetle was traveling west in the eastbound lanes of the interstate. The woman collided with an oncoming Toyota Corolla occupied by a 32-year-old female driver. The Corolla then crashed into a Honda Accord in the eastbound lanes. The woman driving the Corolla was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center where she was said to be in serious condition.

The wrong-way driver died at the accident scene. The 35-year-old female driver of the Honda and her three passengers, which included two minors, were taken to Yakima Regional Medical and Cardiac Center to receive treatment of undisclosed injuries. It was reported that all those involved in the accident except for one juvenile had been wearing seat belts during the collision.

3 men seriously injured in double accident

December 17, 2014 | Kraft Davies Olsson PLLC

Three men were injured in a crash on Interstate 205 in Washington after an earlier accident caused one man to hit the concrete barrier on Dec. 7. According to media outlets, a pickup that caused the initial wreck and reportedly left the scene was found later in the day in Vancouver, Canada. The truck owner was taken into custody on unrelated charges.

Witnesses say that the Ford F-150 pickup was driving erratically before it hit the Honda CRV from behind, causing it to hit the barrier. A second driver pulled over and walked across the freeway to assist the CRV motorist. However, a Honda Odyssey van then struck him and the CRV.

The 25-year-old CRV driver was seriously injured and taken to the hospital. According to officials, his condition was listed as satisfactory the night of the accident. The driver who tried to assist him was also seriously hurt. He was also hospitalized, but his condition was unknown. The Odyssey driver suffered unspecified injuries in the wreck.

Man killed on his way to help wife with flat tire

December 10, 2014 | Kraft Davies Olsson PLLC

Washington State Patrol troopers confirmed that a man was killed after pulling his car over to the side of a highway on Dec. 6. The man had apparently stopped to adjust a load on the back of his truck when another driver sideswiped the truck and killed him. The fatal accident took place in Smokey Point on the side of I-5.

According to his wife, the man had been on his way to Stanwood before suffering from fatal injuries. When the man’s wife called him to say that she had gotten a flat tire on her way to Kingston, the man turned around to come help her just before the fatal accident took place.

Troopers say that the driver who allegedly struck and killed the man was swerving to avoid hitting traffic that had slowed down in front of him. Impairment from alcohol or drugs is not believed to have been a factor in the accident. It is unclear if anyone else was injured in the accident or if the driver at fault was handed any criminal charges.

Cyclist severely injured in accident

December 4, 2014 | Kraft Davies Olsson PLLC

A Washington bicyclist was critically injured in an accident when he was hit by a vehicle driven by a 19-year-old woman police say was impaired. According to a Puyallup police representative, the bicyclist had the right of way at the intersection where the accident occurred.

Police said the driver appeared impaired after the crash and allegedly told officers she had used marijuana that day. She said she was taking a new antidepressant that she believed affected her ability to drive. Police administered a field sobriety test and determined the driver was impaired. She was taken into custody and arraigned on Nov. 26 in superior court where she was charged with vehicular assault, and bail was set at $250,000. Two passengers in the vehicle were released from custody.

The 66-year-old bicyclist was hit where SW Fourth Street intersects SW Ninth Avenue near the fairgrounds. According to arrest records, the woman was heading south when she failed to stop at a traffic sign and continued through the intersection, hitting the former church pastor. The woman continued on, pushing the bicycle and its rider into the side of a building. Witnesses said two passengers in the vehicle pulled the driver outside of the car but did not approach the injured cyclist.

Icy conditions can lead to serious injuries

November 26, 2014 | Kraft Davies Olsson PLLC

Slipping on an icy sidewalk in Washington could result in a variety of injuries. A common injury is a muscle strain or sprain that is generally the result of an individual trying to catch him or herself. In most cases, these injuries can be treated by rest or by putting heat on the injured muscle. However, those experiencing severe pain are advised to see a doctor.

Those who feel tingling or weakness in their legs could be suffering from a herniated disc, an injury that commonly results from years of wear. Those who fall sufficiently hard enough on the ice could also sustain in such an injury. The good news is that this type of injury can be treated without the need for surgery. Painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs and muscle relaxers may be enough to help overcome a herniated disc.

Tailbone and spinal cord injuries are also not out of the question after making hard contact with an icy surface. While tailbone injuries are painful, they rarely require anything other than rest to recover from. Those who experience tingling, loss of movement or numbness should not move. Instead, it is important to get medical help as soon as possible to lower the chances of paralysis resulting from a serious injury to the spinal cord itself.

Elderly man accused of driving drunk, causing accident

November 20, 2014 | Kraft Davies Olsson PLLC

The Washington State Patrol alleged that an 86-year-old man was driving drunk while traveling the wrong way on Interstate 5 in Tacoma on Nov. 10. According to officers, they were dispatched to the area around 10:35 p.m. after receiving calls regarding a wrong-way driver in the southbound lanes of the highway.

Troopers reported that the man, who was driving an SUV, hit a southbound minivan before hitting a sedan head-on. A 36-year-old female passenger in the sedan was injured. Emergency responders transported her to St. Joseph Hospital for treatment.

Troopers placed the elderly man under arrest and took him into custody on suspicion of DUI. He may also face charges of vehicular assault. The accident forced the closure of two lanes of the interstate while police completed their investigation and cleaned up the accident debris.

Woman dies after semi collides with her car

November 12, 2014 | Kraft Davies Olsson PLLC

Washington state troopers say that a woman died in a crash with a semi-truck on Interstate 5 in Thurston County at about 3:50 a.m. on Nov. 7. According to reports, a semi-truck hit a 1991 Geo Metro that had come to a stop on a shoulder near mile post 102 northbound on I-5. The impact pushed the woman’s car about 100 feet.

The truck was reportedly going 58 miles an hour at the time of the collision, and the woman’s car was completely destroyed in the crash. Northbound lanes of I-5 had to be closed for a period due to the accident. There was no word as to the condition of the truck driver. There was also no word as to the conditions of the road at the time of the crash.

If a driver or pedestrian dies from injuries suffered in a truck accident, the family of the victim may file a wrongful death lawsuit. A wrongful death lawsuit may help the victim’s family win compensation for final expenses. The victim’s family may also win punitive damages for the driver’s negligence or compensation to help any dependents left behind.

Massive airbag recall under pressure

November 4, 2014 | Kraft Davies Olsson PLLC

Motorists in Washington may be interested in a letter sent by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to a manufacturer on Oct. 29. So far, two deaths have been attributed to defective airbags manufactured by Takata, an automotive supplier. In the letter, NHTSA officials issue orders and inquire about the company’s ability to expedite the current recall involving airbags in 7.78 million vehicles. The NHTSA has already contacted auto manufacturers and expressed interest in enlisting other suppliers to expedite the process.

The pace of the recall depends on having enough replacement parts available. There have been reports of defective airbags propelling metal and plastic shrapnel at passengers as they deploy during a collision. In the letter, the NHTSA Deputy Administrator inquires about the number of replacement canisters Takata can produce, how much the rate of production can be increased and the quality of controls in place. The NHTSA also ordered Takata to improve their testing procedures for identifying defective airbags.

The NHTSA has already requested that auto manufacturers expedite their own recall notification campaigns. The NHTSA is requesting these manufactures develop innovative strategies for getting their customers to bring their vehicles into local dealers to get the defective airbag component replaced.

Vehicular homicide charges filed following violent crash

October 31, 2014 | Kraft Davies Olsson PLLC

One Washington driver is facing charges of vehicular homicide after an Oct. 26 accident near Shelton that resulted in the death of another driver. The Washington State Patrol reported that two vehicles were involved in the State Route 3 crash, a 2005 Acura TL and a Honda Civic.

According to troopers, the accident occurred at approximately 6:39 a.m., when the northbound Acura crossed the highway’s double yellow line in an attempt to pass other vehicles and collided with the southbound Honda. The force of the collision sent the Civic off the roadway and into a ditch.

The Civic driver, a 20-year-old woman, did not survive the accident. Officials pronounced her dead at the scene of the crash. The Acura driver was transported to a hospital via emergency airlift. The extent of the auto injuries suffered by the Acura driver as a result of the crash was not reported. Nor was the Acura driver’s identity disclosed during the immediate aftermath of the incident.