damages

Man flees scene of Washington car crash

July 18, 2014 | Kraft Davies Olsson PLLC

A car accident that occurred in Seattle on July 11 left a passenger with serious injuries. According to law enforcement officials, two men were headed north around 3:15 p.m when the driver tried to pass a Metro bus but lost control. He then hit a fence and a tree. After the vehicle rolled, it ended up on its side.

The totaled car’s driver ran from from the scene before law enforcement arrived. The passenger, suffering from severe but not life-threatening injuries, was transported to Harborview Medical Center.

Another person at the scene was hit with debris from the fence. She was also transported to the hospital. Her condition was not known at the time of the report, and the accident was still under investigation.

General Motors seeks to put recall scandal in the past

July 5, 2014 | Kraft Davies Olsson PLLC

Not long ago, General Motors announced its plan to award monetary payments to individuals who were injured or who lost loved ones in crashes caused by defective ignition switches installed into various vehicle models by the auto giant. Some of the affected victims may welcome these payments, especially if they are struggling with significant medical debt tied to their injuries. However, relatively modest payments cannot erase the fact that all of the car accidents caused by the defect could have been prevented if GM had acted on its knowledge concerning the problem.

General Motors almost unquestionably hopes that once it pays victims for the harm it caused them that the recent defect scandal will fade into the past. However, the public generally has a longer memory than GM would prefer. In addition, those who have been affected by GM’s staggering negligence and possible fraud will never forget how the auto manufacturer treated consumers who voluntarily chose to purchase its products.

The recent GM payouts highlight an important issue which affects any number of plaintiffs involved in personal injury lawsuits. On the one hand, it is completely justified and appropriate to seek monetary damages against negligent entities which have harmed you or your loved ones. These damages not only represent a physical manifestation of an entity’s liability and provide a deterrent against others who would behave in the same way, they also help to ease the financial burdens caused by harm done.

Auto injuries lead to 1 fatality in Washington crash

December 31, 2013 | Kraft Davies Olsson PLLC

Investigators are still trying to piece together what caused a man to lose control of his vehicle, causing a large crash on Interstate 5 in Washington. The time-consuming investigation and clean up left the southbound portion of the roadway blocked traffic for more than 10 hours. In addition to the auto injuries resulting from the crash, one fatality has also been reported.

According to Washington State troopers, a man was traveling north on I-5 near Mounts Road when he lost control of his pickup truck. The driver crossed the median and crashed head-on with a tractor-trailer after hitting a box truck. Both of the southbound vehicles caught fire as a result of the accident.

The occupants of the box truck were not seriously injured, but the tractor-trailer driver was pronounced dead at the scene. Initial evidence indicates drugs or alcohol were not a factor, but toxicology reports are still pending. Investigators have speculated the driver responsible may have experienced a medical incident just before the crash, but have been unable to interview him as he is currently hospitalized.