compensation

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.

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.

Nationwide road collision statistics and costs

October 9, 2014 | Kraft Davies Olsson PLLC

According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration statistics, 33,561 people were killed and 2.36 million people were injured in the 5.42 million motor vehicle accidents that authorities reported across the United States in 2012. This means that a crash-related death occurred every 16 minutes. In Washington state alone, 444 people died in traffic collisions the same year. Despite these statistics, the agency estimates that around 10 million or more car accidents a year are never reported.

With the NHTSA reporting an increase in motor vehicle crashes and deaths in 2012, an auto insurance claims study from the Insurance Research Council shows that the medical costs for auto injuries continues to rise quicker than inflation while the seriousness of the injuries decreases. The average economic damages claimed between 2007 and 2012 rose 8 percent annualized in relation to personal injury claims, and the average damages claimed for bodily injury increased 4 percent. By 2012, the average bodily injury claim was for $14, 653 while the average property damage claim was for $3,073. The average comprehensive claim cost $1,585 while the average collision claim cost $2,950.

The NHTSA reports that car accident victims only pay around 26 percent of the expenses. While local and state municipalities pay around 3 percent and federal revenues pay about 6 percent, medical providers and charities pay around 14 percent. Private insurers account for the remaining percentage of total crash expenses. In 2010, the total costs amounted to nearly $1 trillion.

Woman dies after pedestrian accident with alleged drunk driver

September 17, 2014 | Kraft Davies Olsson PLLC

A 23-year-old Washington woman is dead following an accident that occurred around 2 a.m. on Sept. 10 in Kitsap County when she was struck by a car as she was crossing the street. A 25-year-old male who was walking with her was critically injured. According to police, the driver of the vehicle appeared intoxicated and was unable to complete field sobriety tests after the accident.

The crash occurred after the pedestrians and the 26-year-old driver left a party at a local tavern. The woman was declared dead at the scene. The male pedestrian was taken to a hospital in Seattle for treatment of critical injuries. The driver and two passengers in the vehicle were uninjured.

According to police, the man admitted to drinking both beer and vodka before driving. He was also allegedly traveling at a speed of 35 mph in a 25 mph zone. The man is facing charges of vehicular homicide and vehicular assault. At the time of the report, he was in jail on a $500,000 bond.

Washington woman injured when car crashes Lake City bar

September 9, 2014 | Kraft Davies Olsson PLLC

The Back Door Pub in the 12300 block of Lake City Way NE, Washington became the scene of an accident that injured one woman when a man in his 30s allegedly crashed his car into the bar. The woman was pinned between the building and the man’s vehicle. According to the owner of the bar, the man sped his SUV toward a power pole but instead veered toward a group of people and crashed into the building, damaging a wall.

The 31-year-old woman pinned against the building had to be extricated. She was taken to Harborview Medical Center where she was treated for a fractured leg.

The bar owner alleged the man purposely caused the accident because he had been refused a drink at the bar. Police are investigating the accident but have not yet confirmed if the driver was arrested or is facing a DUI charge.