Archive for the ‘ Vehicle Damage ’ Category

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14
Mar

Reform Of DUI Penalties Occurring in Washington

March 14, 2012

In an effort to better protect the citizens of the state of Washington from the dangers of drunk drivers, the state legislature has implemented several changes to the penalties for being caught under the influence while behind the wheel. According to reports from KNDU 25 News, lawmakers hope that the changes will lower the number of fatal accidents caused by alcohol on the state’s highways.

Current estimates show that drunk drivers kill more people in the state of Washington each year than all other crimes combined. To combat this, new measures would allow officers to administer breathalyzer tests to suspected drunk drivers without their consent. Once convicted, they would be forced to install a camera and an ignition interlock system on their vehicle—which won’t allow the vehicle to start if alcohol is detected on the driver’s breath.

Kennewick Police Officer Craig Hanson says that drunk drivers who are required to have the devices installed on their vehicles will often have someone else blow into the device to get the car started if they have been drinking. The camera will be installed in order to prevent this.

Felony DUI sentences will also now be kept as public record.

The Washington Auto Accident Attorneys with the Defoe Pickett Law Firm ask that all motorists in Washington do their part to keep our highways safe by not drinking and driving. Instead, call a cab or a sober friend to take you home.

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7
Mar

Renton Four-Vehicle Head-On Collision Injures Three People

March 7, 2012

Drugs and alcohol are to blame for the actions of a driver who caused multiple vehicles to have head-on collisions in Renton, Washington, Tuesday night. According to reports from the Tukwila Reporter, the accident happened around 10:30 p.m. along Martin Luther King Jr. Way near the intersection with 57thAvenue South.

Reports from troopers with the Washington State Patrol who responded to the scene say that a 34-year-old Renton man was heading east in a westbound lane when his 1993 Toyota Camry struck a 27-year-old Seattle man’s 2002 Honda Civic head-on. After the accident, the driver of the Camry sped away before hitting a 1999 Toyota 4Runner. The impact of the collision also caused the 4Runner to hit another vehicle in the opposite lane head-on.

While the driver of the Civic and Camry both suffered injuries in the initial accident, no one was hurt as a result of the secondary crash. Two male passengers and a female passenger in the Civic were taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle to receive treatment for their injuries.

Police say that the driver of the Camry will face charges pending the outcome of a full investigation into the incident.

The Washington Car Crash Lawyers with the Defoe Pickett Law Firm ask that all Washingtonians do their part to keep our streets safe by utilizing designated drivers when you are going to be drinking and to encourage others to do the same.

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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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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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11
Jan

Dangerous Conditions And Speed The Cause Of Single-Vehicle Crash

January 11, 2012

About ten accident calls within 45 minutes Tuesday morning kept Washington state patrol and the Pasco Police Department busy for a good portion of the day. According to reports from the Tri-City Herald, the worst of those crashes occurred on Taylor Flats Road in Franklin County, six-miles north of Pasco, Washington.

Authorities say that a 16-year-old driver of a white 1992 Ford Bronco was driving too fast for the weather conditions, hit an icy patch and lost control of the truck. The vehicle spun out of control before flipping several times and coming to rest in a field. Luckily, the teen was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash and escaped with only minor injuries.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say that motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for teens in the United States, accounting for one in three deaths within the age group. In 2009, 3,000 teens between the ages of 15 and 19 were killed in the United States as a result of car crashes. An estimated 350,000 were treated in emergency rooms for injuries related to car crashes.

This is why the Washington auto accident attorneys with the Defoe Pickett Law Firm would like to encourage teens to be mindful of speed limits, put on your seat belts, and eliminate distractions. Following these three simple tips will help keep you and others around you safe on the highway.

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