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.

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 48^th 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.

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.

The winter weather that has settled here in Washington has led to an increase in the number of slip and fall accidents. According to a report by KNDU 25 News, the accidents are stemming from ice and snow that has collected in walkways.

One area doctor said that he had treated eight accidents that were ice-related Monday morning, with several of those injuries being concussions. Another confirmed treating numerous bumps and bruises on other patients. While these injuries may seem minor, the doctors added that it is not uncommon for them to treat bone breaks and joint dislocations from slip and fall accidents.

It was noted that the elderly might be especially prone to these accidents. According to the National Safety Council, slip and fall injuries are the most common cause of injury-related death for people ages 73 and older.

This is why it is suggested that sand, salt, or cat litter be sprinkled on icy walkways prior to use. People are also advised to keep their hands out of their pockets and bend slightly at the knee when walking in icy conditions. Of course, the best way to prevent these types of injuries is to keep walkways clear of snow and ice with a shovel or snow blower.

The Washington slip and fall injury lawyers with the Defoe Pickett Law Firm hope that these tips will help keep citizens safe and injury-free in the coming winter months.

A Union Gap, Washington, electrician was injured on-the-job last week from an electrical fire. Reports from KNDU 25 News stated that the accident occurred at around 9:30 in the morning last Wednesday at a warehouse near the 3200 block of Bay Street.

Union Gap Fire Chief Chris Jensen said that the man was a contractor who was working on the building’s electrical system when the accident occurred. Jensen added that the flames erupted when a spark on the electrical panel set the man’s clothes on fire. Several other workers who were nearby were able to extinguish the blaze and care for the man until paramedics could arrive.

The victim was then taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, Washington, to be treated for second and third degree burns on his arms and chest.

Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows that electricians experience a work-related injury and illness rate that is well above the national average. The most common forms of injuries they suffer are electrical shock, falls, and cuts.

Because of the dangers these workers can face on a daily basis, it is even more important for employers to ensure that workers are doing their job in a safe manner and in a safe work environment.

Sometimes businesses fail to provide this safe environment, and that is when the Washington workers’ compensation attorneys with the Defoe Pickett Law Firm will be there to step in and help victims get the compensation they need from insurance companies.

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.

Drunk driving related offenses seem to be on the decline across the state of Washington with police reporting fewer DUI arrests this year than in years past. KNDU 25 News reported earlier this week that Franklin County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Tony Haworth attributes the decline to DUI-emphasis patrols taking place statewide over holidays.

A Washington state police news release stated that 253 people were arrested over the New Year’s holiday weekend on suspicion of being impaired by drugs or alcohol while behind the wheel of a motor vehicle; a decline from the 286 individuals who were arrested last year.

Only one fatal accident was reported over the holiday when three people were killed in a collision New Year’s Day along Highway 2 in Lincoln county.

Similar DUI numbers were reported in the month of December as well. Franklin county sheriff deputies reported record low numbers for DUI arrests in the month of December with only nine individuals charged.

The Washington auto accident attorneys with the Defoe Pickett Law Firm are glad to see many motorists chose safer alternative ways home this holiday season instead of getting behind the wheel after having too much to drink. The firm would like to encourage citizens to keep up the safe practices throughout the rest of the year.

Hospitals across the state of Washington reported a spike in the number of emergency room visitors over the holiday weekend. According to KNDU 25 News, some hospitals, like Kadlec Regional Medical Center, reported patient increases as high as 50 percent.

Hospital staff claims that while many of the visitors are there because of alcohol-fueled shenanigans, many others are there for treatment of chronic disorders, like diabetes, heart, and kidney problems. They say that these patients often have nowhere else to go as their primary physicians are often out of town over the holidays.

Emergency Room Physician Benjamin Gold says that visits are often the result of people on strict diets eating foods they shouldn’t. He added that if you are on a strict diet for health reasons, sticking to it through the holidays is vital. One day of improper eating could cost several days in the hospital.

Another common reason staffers say visitors are in the emergency room is because of high stress and depression the time of year can bring on for some people.

The Washington Personal Injury Lawyers with the Defoe Pickett Law Firm urge you to watch your health through the holidays. Whether that means watching what you eat–or how much you drink–the decision to stick with your plan is vital.

A 20-year-old Sunnyside, Washington, man was killed after he was ejected from a vehicle he was riding in. According to the Tri-City Herald, the accident occurred at 3:30 AM this past Sunday morning on the 3600 block of East Factory Road.

Troopers with the Washington State Patrol say that a 21-year-old man from Toppenish, Washington, was behind the wheel of the 2005 Chevy Malibu involved in the crash. They added that speeding and alcohol may have been a factor in what caused the man to lose control of the vehicle, overcorrect it, and send the car rolling.

Two passengers were ejected from the vehicle, one of which was declared dead at the scene of the crash. Four others, ranging in age from 14 to 18, survived with moderate injuries. The surviving victims were treated at Sunnyside Community Hospital.

The driver of the vehicle fled the scene before Troopers could arrive, but was picked up at his home on Tuesday and charged with one count of felony hit-and-run involving a death, one count of vehicular homicide, and one count of vehicular assault. If convicted, the man could face a harsh prison sentence and thousands of dollars in fines.

The Washington Auto Accident Attorneys with the Defoe Pickett Law Firm would like to remind motorists that fatal accidents on US roadways spike during the holiday season because of the increased amount of alcohol consumed by Americans this time of year. Help break this cycle by refraining from drinking if you are going to get behind the wheel of a vehicle.

One person is dead and two others were injured following a car crash last Friday night. According to KOMO News, the head-on crash happened around 6:00 PM on SR 305 at George Lane between Poulsbo and Bainbridge Island.

Spokeswoman for the Washington state patrol, Krista Hedstrom, stated investigators received a call from another motorist reporting a woman driving erratically and with a flat tire along the northbound lanes of the highway. Moments later, Troopers received calls reporting the vehicle had crossed the center line and collided with another vehicle head-on. The two occupants of the at-fault vehicle were airlifted to Harborview Medical Center to receive treatment for critical injuries, where one of them later died.

Troopers believe that alcohol played a part in the fatal crash and say that the female driver of the car might now face vehicular homicide charges. If convicted, state law says the woman could face up to 20 years in prison and a $50,000 fine.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has long stated that drinking and driving is one of the top three factors in fatal car crashes in the United States.

The Washington auto accident attorneys with The Defoe Pickett Law Firm urge citizens to not get behind the wheel if you have been drinking. The decision not to drink and drive will keep driving on the highways safe for all this holiday season.