The policemen and women of Washington State want their message to be heard loud and clear by teenagers statewide: No texting while driving.

“When you’re on the road, things can go from good to horrible in the blink of an eye,” Sgt. Kirk Rudeen told the The Daily Herald recently.

Washington banned drivers from using cell phones nearly two years ago. Officers say they’ve tried to use the time as an educational period, but in 2012 they plan to cite offending drivers in earnest.

According to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, two new studies show that texting while driving or even thinking about texting while driving might distract teenage drivers enough to cause them to wreck a vehicle.

One study looked at the position of the cell phone to determine if it affected drivers’ performance, but found that there is no safe “position” for texting while driving and that drivers who engaged in texting were eight times more likely to swerve between lanes.

The other study by the University of Washington, investigated if thinking about a phone made an impact in driving safety. The results: Each driver who displayed either an emotional attachment to his cell phone or felt frequent anticipation of calls or messages was more likely to be engaged in a car crash.

The Washington Auto Accident Lawyers with the Defoe Pickett Law Office want to remind teenagers—and adults—that texting while driving is never worth the risk.

Each year, approximately 104,000 motorcycle crashes occur resulting in approximately 4,700 lives being lost. According to the Hurt Report, an independent study that culminated years of data gathered on motorcycle accidents, two-thirds of those collisions involve other vehicles.

One such accident claimed the life of a 53-year-old Yakima, Washington, man late last week. KNDU 25 News reported that the accident occurred at around 11:00 a.m. on Summitview Road, about eight miles outside of Yakima. Reports from troopers with the Washington State Patrol who were called to the scene stated that the motorcyclist was riding his bike into town when he crossed over the centerline of the highway and collided head-on with a tractor-trailer. The truck, in an effort to avoid the collision, swerved and overturned.

Medical examiners pronounced the motorcyclist dead at the scene of the crash; however, the truck driver survived, but was injured. He was taken to a local hospital where he received treatment for his injuries.

State troopers say that they will continue to investigate which factors, including alcohol, distractions, or speed, may have led up to the crash.

Washington Auto Accidents leave thousands of individuals, especially motorcyclists, injured each year. That’s why the Washington Personal Injury Lawyers with the Defoe Pickett Law Offices suggest always wearing a helmet to protect yourself when riding a motorcycle. Also, always obey posted speed limits of the roads you are on and drive defensively at all times.

A two-vehicle collision on a bridge spanning the Washington and Oregon border earlier today has left one motorist dead. According to The Daily Astorian, the accident happened around 5:30 a.m. on the 4.1-mile Astoria Bridge.

Reports from Oregon State Police troopers who responded to the crash stated that it appeared as if the driver of a small sedan was heading north across the bridge, when for unknown reasons, the vehicle veered into the oncoming southbound lanes of traffic. The vehicle then collided head-on with a southbound pickup truck, pushing the truck through the guardrail until it was dangling over the edge of the bridge.

Rescue crews worked for nearly an hour to free the trapped driver of the pickup truck as Coast Guard crews patrolled below. The truck driver was eventually pulled to safety and escaped uninjured. Unfortunately, the driver of the car died in the crash.

The bridge was closed for nearly four hours as troopers and detectives gathered evidence for what is now an ongoing investigation into the accident.

Washington State Auto Accidents are said to be responsible for approximately 500 fatalities each year. That’s why the Washington Personal Injury Lawyers with the Defoe Pickett Law Firm ask that all Washington residents work to keep our highways safe by always eliminating anything that may distract you before driving anywhere. It is also important to remember to always buckle up and drive the speed limit.

All employers in the United States have a responsibility to provide employees with a healthy and safe work environment. Failure to do so is sometimes considered negligence, and a company can be held responsible for paying damages to those who were injured.

This was the case earlier this week when it was reported by KNDU News that the Washington Department of Corrections announced that it had reached a settlement of $350,000 with four employees who became ill after exposure to construction dust and debris during a bathroom remodeling project in their office building at the Coyote Ridge Correctional Facility.

The employees at the facility, who were contracted drug and alcohol abuse counselors, had to breath in dust from an ongoing remodeling project for more than three months with no protection.

“It was an egregious situation from the standpoint that several notices were given to DOC and they could care less about the problems,” said Blaine Tamaki, an attorney for the workers.

The lawsuit alleged that the workers suffered serious respiratory and lung problems. Several inmates who were also exposed to the dust and suffered health issues filed claims as well, but were denied and unable to continue proceedings due to lack of counsel.

The Washington Personal Injury Lawyers with the Defoe Pickett Law Office say that it’s vital to make employers aware if you notice something unsafe at the workplace. Documenting your report is also very important.

A recent study revealed that the number of traffic accidents resulting in injuries and deaths increases around certain holidays each year. According to the Seattle Post Intelligencer, the spike is associated with the celebrations and related drinking that occur on these specific days.

The study was conducted by researchers at the University of Toronto and examined thousands of crash reports from the past 30 years. What they found was that a surprisingly high number of accidents occur on Tax Day. Estimates show that 6,783 have occurred on this day since 1982, and 226 people have been killed.

Other days with a high number of accidents included New Year’s Eve and Super Bowl Sunday. According to estimates from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than 50 percent of all motor vehicle accidents that occur on this day are alcohol-related.

Another dangerous time of year to be on the road is during the”100 Deadly Days of Summer.”  NHTSA statistics show that from 2005 to 2009, more than 7,300 teens have been killed in accidents during this time period lasting from May until September. Experts say that the increase is caused by the large volume of teens traveling for summer vacations and an increase in alcohol consumption.

The Washington Auto Accident Lawyers with the Defoe Pickett Law Office would like to remind motorists to stay safe on Washington’s Highways by buckling up, slowing down, and driving defensively.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for young people in the U.S., accounting for more than one in three deaths of teens ages 16 to 19-years-old. Two young Washington drivers nearly became part of this statistic Friday after car accidents left them in serious condition.

The Kitsap Sun reports that a 17-year-old South Kitsap, Washington, girl was the passenger in a vehicle when the driver suddenly lost control, left the roadway, and struck a utility pole. While the driver was not seriously injured in the crash, the young girl suffered severe injuries and was taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle to receive treatment.

The second accident occurred around 2:00 a.m. near Viking Way when a 25-year-old male driver hit a tree. He also was transported by ambulance to Harborview Medical Center, where he remains in serious condition.

To reduce the number of teen fatalities and injuries associated with car accidents, many state governments have enacted laws requiring teens to undergo a graduated licensing program. These programs help teen drivers gain road experience in a more controlled setting, since they must have an adult riding with them.

The Washington Auto Accident Lawyers with the Defoe Pickett Law Firm would like to take this opportunity to remind drivers to stay safe on the roads by always buckling up, slowing down, and driving defensively.

Some of the most common injuries associated with bicycling are broken bones and head injuries. The cost of medical expenses associated with these types of injuries can be high, and depending on the land the biker is hurt on, the land owner could be held responsible for those costs due to negligence.

Because of this, Washington has removed several miles of bike trails and dozens of jumps from public land in the state. According to KOMO News, officials in Whatcom County claim the reason is liability and the risk of lawsuits if a biker gets hurt.

Four years ago, the State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) decided to not allow off-road vehicles, such as dirt bikes and ATV’s, on public land. Soon, mountain bikers stepped in and began building the network of trails, jumps, and bridges.

Now, DNR spokesman Mark Mauren says the obstacles and trails must go as taxpayers would be the ones to suffer if someone was hurt. He stated, “They see this as a fantastic opportunity, and I see it as a government employee as a $2.1 million dollar lawsuit that we as citizens would need to foot the bill for.”

Bikers are still encouraged to use the land, but anyone caught on the trails will be fined.

The Washington Bicycle Accident Lawyers with the Defoe Pickett Law Firm ask that bikers stay safe by always wearing a helmet and staying on marked paths.

Drivers of commercial tractor-trailers must operate under a strict set of guidelines that work to keep both the drivers and other motorists around them safe. Failure to do their job within these regulations is sometimes considered negligence if an accident occurs.

Take, for instance, a recent case that was settled after a truck driver hit and killed another motorist along Interstate 5 near the California/Oregon border in 2008. According to the Mail Tribune, the company that hired the trucker who caused the accident must pay $5.2 million to the family of the victim.

The accident happened around 3:30 p.m. on September 25, 2008, near the Siskiyou Mountain Summit, south of Ashland. Reports show that another trucker had stopped along the highway to fix his trailer, when the trucker responsible for the crash fell asleep at the wheel and veered off the road, striking and killing the other man. It was later determined that the trucker responsible had been under the influence of methamphetamine for several days prior to the crash.

The suit alleges that the freight broker who hired the trucking company was negligent and careless in its action, as the accident may have been prevented if the broker hadn’t hired a trucking company that didn’t drug test its drivers.

The Washington Auto Accident Lawyers with the Defoe Pickett Law Firm hope that the settlement will help bring peace and closure to the family of the victim.

Alcohol may have been a contributing factor in a two-vehicle head-on collision Wednesday in Seattle, Washington. According to KING 5 News, the accident happened at 2:00 a.m. on the onramp for the northbound lane of I-5.

Troopers with the Washington State Patrol who responded to the scene say that a 40-year-old Covington woman, who is believed to have been under the influence of alcohol, was traveling southbound in the northbound lanes of the highway in a Lexus RX 300 near James Street when she collided with a Toyota Tundra pickup truck being driven by a 55-year-old man.

A female passenger who was riding in the Lexus was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the collision and was ejected from the vehicle. She was declared dead at the scene of the accident. Both drivers of the vehicles involved were conscious at the scene of the crash and were taken to Harborview Medical Center to be examined and treated for minor injuries.

Investigators say that charges against the female driver are pending the outcome of a full investigation into the incident.

The Washington Auto Accident Lawyers with the Defoe Pickett Law Firm have seen the negative outcomes of drinking and driving many times. That is why they ask that you not get behind the wheel after consuming any amount of alcohol. Instead, call a taxi or a trusted and sober friend to get you home safely.

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.