Archive for February, 2012

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29
Feb

Alcohol And No Seat Belts At Fault For Washington Crash That Injures Three

February 29, 2012

Alcohol and failure to wear seat belts were to blame for an Olympia, Washington, single-vehicle crash that left the driver seriously injured and two passengers rattled. According to reports from The News Tribune, the accident happened just after 3:00 a.m. at the on-ramp for Interstate-5 located on Plum Street.

Reports of the incident from the Washington State Patrol indicate that the 22-year-old driver of a 1999 Volkswagen Passat was attempting to get onto the highway when he veered off the shoulder of the road and struck a guardrail.

The driver was seriously injured in the crash and was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center. A male and female passenger in the vehicle, both 21-years-old, also suffered minor injuries and were treated and released at the scene by paramedics.

Although the driver has not been charged with any crimes yet, troopers believe that alcohol or drugs contributed to the crash. Charges against the driver are pending the outcome of a full investigation into the crash.

The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration estimate that alcohol plays a role in roughly 39 percent of all fatal crashes in the United States.

This is why the Washington Auto Accident Attorneys with the Defoe Pickett Law Firm support measures that stiffen penalties against intoxicated drivers and make the roads safer for everyone. You can do your part to keep yourself, and other motorists, safe by not drinking and driving.

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22
Feb

Washington Man Killed After Falling Into Vat Of Corrosive Liquid

February 22, 2012

A 57-year-old Washington man died Sunday after falling into a tank of corrosive liquid on a barge where he worked. According to reports from NWCN News, crews were called to the barge, which was docked at the Swan Island Basin, around 10:00 a.m.

A co-worker of the victim told investigators that the two men were walking on the deck of the barge next to a vat of Lignin, a corrosive and combustible byproduct of manufacturing lumber, when he looked back and noticed his co-worker was gone. Upon further investigation, he noticed that the man’s emergency safety line led to the bottom of the tank. About two hours later, rescue crews found and recovered the body of the victim.

Investigators say he was probably unconscious within seconds of falling, as oxygen level readings at the top of the tank were at less than 1%.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, on the job falls were responsible for killing 635 employees in the United States in 2010. Of those fall victims, 226 were employed in the natural resources extraction industry, a number that has grown in recent years. Another 58 employees were killed after being exposed to harmful substances or environments, making jobs in the natural resources industry among the deadliest in the nation.

The Washington Slip and Fall Accident Attorneys with the Defoe Pickett Law Firm hope that the family of the victim can find closure after this tragic accident.

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15
Feb

Three Injured In Seattle Tractor-Trailer Accident

February 15, 2012

All lanes of traffic along I-5 in Seattle, Washington, were shut down for several hours yesterday after a tractor-trailer hauling eggs collided with a passenger car. According to reports from The Seattle Times, the two occupants of the car and the truck driver were hospitalized with injuries.

It was just before 11:00 AM when the truck collided with the small vehicle as they headed southbound. Trooper Julie Startup, spokeswoman for the Washington State Police, stated that reports on the accident say the tractor-trailer then rolled over a barrier wall in the median of the highway and crashed onto the Northeast Ravenna Boulevard on-ramp. The passenger car then spun out and hit the wall as well.

According to state police, an investigation into the accident is ongoing and charges are pending its outcome.

The trucking industry is regulated by strict rules that dictate the size and weight of vehicles and how long a driver must rest before going out on the road again. Failure to observe these rules can put all motorists at a great risk.

It’s because of the complexities of these regulations that the Washington Truck Accident Lawyers with the Defoe Pickett Law Firm would suggest hiring a lawyer if you’ve been injured, or a loved one was killed, in an accident involving a tractor-trailer that was not your fault. Contact us today for a free consultation of your case if you have any questios regarding your accident.

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8
Feb

Yakima City Council To Decide On Settlement For Accident Victim Today

February 8, 2012

A Yakima, Washington, man is expected to receive a $350,000 settlement after an accident involving a police chase by Yakima officers left him seriously injured and two others in the car with him dead. According to KNDO 23 News, the accident happened in 2006 at the intersection of 48th and Nob Hill.

It was there that a stolen vehicle being pursued in a chase by officers with the Yakima police department struck the man’s vehicle.  Reports of the incident show that the driver of the stolen vehicle was speeding in excess of 80 MPH when he T-boned the victim’s car and killed two passengers.

While the driver of the stolen vehicle has since been sentenced to 36 years in prison, the families of the deceased victims settled civil lawsuits for the wrongful deaths of both their loved ones.

The Yakima City council will vote later today on if a settlement will be made with the victim, and if so, for how much.

The Washington auto accident attorneys with the Defoe Pickett Law Firm know how difficult it can be to get back on your feet after an accident. Between the medical and repair bills, it may seem like you will never catch up. If you have been injured in an accident that was not your fault, get the help you need today. Contact an experienced attorney now for a free initial consultation of your case.

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1
Feb

78-Year-Old Washington Man Injured In Boat Explosion

February 1, 2012

A 78-year-old man from Sequim, Washington, is lucky to be alive after suffering serious injuries in a massive explosion that occurred on a boat the man was working on. According to reports from The Peninsula Daily News, the explosion occurred at approximately 5:48 PM, on Dock C of the Sequim Bay marina.

Witnesses on boats near the explosion reported being knocked to the ground by the force, and the blast was heard miles away by others. Reports of the incident indicate that the victim was working on a propane tank in the cabin of a 38-foot vessel when the blast occurred. He was thrown into the water and pulled to safety by rescuers. The man suffered serious back injuries as well as shrapnel injuries that left open lesions on his body.

Investigators are working to determine what may have sparked the gas that caused the blast.

Accidents like these often involve a complicated legal process due to the different laws that govern maritime accidents. Hiring an attorney to help walk you through the process of filing your claim and answer your questions along the way can be beneficial.

If you have been injured in a boating accident at no fault of your won, the Washington boat accident lawyers with the Defoe Pickett Law Firm are available anytime to discuss your case with you.

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