The driver, from Everett, was taken to Providence Colby Hospital with severe leg injuries. Troopers suspected drunk driving because of the smell of alcohol on the driver and in the vehicle. They also found marijuana in the car. State Troopers expressed surprise that car was even able to get onto the walkway; it was so clearly marked and protected by the median and pylons.

No matter how many precautions you take or how closely you follow traffic laws, it can sometimes be impossible to predict what a reckless or inebriated driver will do. Too often it is those individuals who are following the law that end up paying the price for these kinds of accidents. As a Seattle auto accident attorney, I see these kinds of accidents all too often. That’s why it is so important to stay alert while on the road, and to make sure that you and no one you know ever gets behind the wheel after drinking.

According to the Fatality Analysis Reporting System, over 30,000 people are killed in car accidents every year.  These accidents result in billions of dollars of property damage, but much more devastatingly, they result in thousands of families being torn apart.  Nothing is more tragic than losing a family member unexpectedly.  Of course, there will always be fatal accidents, but many of them are completely avoidable. And while not every victim of a fatal car crash gets written about in the newspaper, every one of them is one of a kind and irreplaceable to his or her own family and circle of friends.

Losing a loved one in an unexpected accident is devastating to families; the person who was lost can never be returned.  In addition to the emotional damage, there can be tremendous financial loss, and families can experience financial hardship for years to come.  If you have lost a loved one in a car accident, you need to speak with a Seattle car accident attorney as soon as possible.  I have helped many families deal with the financial hardships that can accompany car accidents, and I can help protect your legal rights while you look after the emotional health of your family during this difficult time.  For more information and a FREE CONSULTATION call me at Premier Law Group at (206)285-1743.

As is the case in many fatal car accidents, this tragedy has left at least one child without a mother.  Ms. Baima’s family can never replace the loss that it has suffered, and certainly their focus at this terribly difficult time will be on mourning the loss of a loved one.   Sadly, they are not alone.  Nearly one third of the over 30,000 traffic fatalities that occurred in 2009 were alcohol related, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  This statistic is a shocking reflection of a big problem in our society.

If you have lost a loved one in a drunk driving accident, your first priority is for the emotional health of your surviving family.  However, during this devastating time, it is easy for your legal rights to be overlooked.  If you have lost a primary source of family income, or incurred significant medical bills, your family may be facing financial hardship in addition to emotional hardship.  You need a compassionate, dedicated Bellevue car accident attorney to protect your legal rights while you look after the well-being of your family.  Jason Epstein is an experienced car accident lawyer who will work hard to look out for your financial and legal needs.  For more information, and a FREE CONSULTATION, contact Jason at Premier Law Group at (206)285-1743.

The vast majority of car accidents in the United States do not result in injury, but the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports over 30,000 fatalities annually in motor vehicle accidents.  As this terrible situation demonstrates, some of those fatalities were to people who made the conscious effort to take advantage of the safety features of their car.  There will, sadly, be cases in which despite best efforts, people will be seriously, or even fatally injured.  The biggest factor in driving over which we have no control is the actions of the other drivers on the road.

If you have lost a family member in a fatal car accident, your first concern needs to be mourning your loss and healing the emotional health of your family.  The loss of your loved one can never be recovered, and your attention will of course be on things apart from money.  However, if your family’s tragedy was caused by the negligence of someone else, you may be entitled to compensation which, while it will not heal your emotional wounds, may mitigate the financial damage that the loss of a bread winner may entail.  During this difficult time, you need an experienced, compassionate car accident attorney who can focus on protecting your legal interests while you care for your family.  Jason Epstein is a dynamic Maple Valley car accident lawyer who has helped many clients recover financial compensation.  For more information, and a FREE CONSULTATION, contact Jason at (206)285-1743.

Last night 47-year-old Michelle Caves gave a shining example of why every state should enact “Hailey’s Law,” a law recently passed in Washington State that makes it impossible for drunk drivers to return to their car after being cited for DUI. Hailey’s Law lets police in Washington State call in to have a car towed after arresting a driver for driving intoxicated, but not only that, the driver isn’t allowed to go get their vehicle out of impound for 12 hours; hopefully sobering up during that time. Idaho unfortunately does not have a law like this in place. Michelle Caves was first spotted stumbling around a retail store where employees who noticed a strong smell of alcohol followed her into the parking lot and got a full description of her car as she drove away. Police tracked down Caves soon after and while attempting to pull her over she drove off the road and barely missed a concrete barrier. Her BAC was close to 4 times the legal limit. Caves was arrested and booked into jail but was released a few hours later. The first thing she did was return to her car so that she could continue her drunken drive home. Citizens reported the car and called police who determined that it was the same woman from earlier and took off to pull her over again. Her BAC was still over 3 times the legal limit.

Caves was again arrested, but this time police had her car towed to a private secure lot. As a Bellevue personal injury lawyer I think Caves actions were incredibly dangerous and she is very lucky that no one was hurt.

23-year-old Peter Sedrak of Port Orchard is in jail facing charges of Vehicular Homicide after he crashed head-on into 52-year-old Harold Keith, killing him instantly. Both Sedrak and Keith were driving down State Route 160 when Sedrak, who was intoxicated, rear ended Keith’s vehicle. The strength of the impact forced Keith’s vehicle off the road where it rolled before finally stopping at the bottom of a 20 foot embankment. Keith was wearing his seatbelt at the time of the accident, but it just wasn’t enough and he was pronounced dead at the scene. Sedrak has two passengers in his vehicle, his wife 27-year-old Rachel Sedrak and friend 24-year-old Jeremy Dilidy. Rachel suffered neck and back injuries and had to be transported to a local hospital and Jeremy ran from the scene but was later tracked down by police.

As a Seattle wrongful death lawyer my thoughts go out to the family of Harold Keith, and although I know that nothing can bring Keith back, hopefully some justice is dealt to Sedrak. Seattle drunk driving accidents are completely avoidable, there are so many other ways to get back home like calling a cab or a sober friend that there is absolutely no excuse for getting behind the wheel intoxicated.

Last Thursday night, 18-year-old Randreaita Coleman killed both herself and her 10-month-old son when she lost control of her vehicle while trying to send a text message. Coleman was driving down Interstate 65 in Alabama when she crossed over the median and smashed head-on into a Peterbilt dump truck. 45-year-old Robert Paulk, the driver of the dump truck, sustained minor injuries and was transported to a local hospital but Randreaita was pronounced dead at the scene. Her son, Carter, was barely alive when officers arrived on the scene and was transported to an area hospital where doctor’s worked tirelessly to revive him, but his injuries were too severe and they were unable to bring him to life.

Distracted driving is an epidemic in the country and takes hundreds of lives every year, but hearing about and seeing so many people die doesn’t seem to be enough to get people to stop using their phones while they drive. As a Seattle car accident lawyer, I think that it is time to significantly increase the punishment for cell phone use while driving and it should be illegal everywhere, not just in certain states. Drivers need to understand that they are putting far too many lives at risk when they pull out their phone and start texting while driving.

For example, it is very important that you maintain good communication with your attorney throughout the legal process, including informing the attorney about any change to your contact information. An attorney may have questions for you regarding the case or may need to notify you about an upcoming court date. Therefore, it is essential that you promptly return all phone calls to your Seattle personal injury attorney as soon as possible. In addition, an attorney will need your signature on an attorney authorization form to obtain a copy of your medical records or any other documents that contain your personal information.

Following the accident, an attorney may ask you to take photographs of the scene of the accident or the injuries you sustained. Photographs are important pieces of evidence to support your serious injury claim, and it is imperative that you take all photographs when instructed to do so by an attorney. Also compile a file of all medical records, bills, and expenses related to the accident and prepare a list of possible witnesses who can testify regarding the injuries that you sustained following the accident. In addition, follow any other instructions that your attorney gives you promptly and do not hesitate to contact your Seattle personal injury attorney if any issues arise.

If you are not already represented by a Seattle serious injury attorney, please contact the Premier Law Group, PLLC at 206.285.1743 for a free evaluation of your case.

As a Seattle personal injury lawyer I have seen just how devastating it is for a family to lose a loved one in an auto accident. During a motocross race at Ephrata Raceway Park in Grant County, one of the racers lost control of his bike, which slid off of the dirt track and into a five-year-old boy who was watching the race. The boy and his family had been watching from the side of the dirt field, and the boy was sitting on a bicycle when he was struck by the motorcycle.

The boy sustained serious injuries and was pronounced dead after being transported toColumbiaBasinHospital.GrantCountysheriffs say that the death was most likely an accident. Criminal charges are not likely to be filed against the motocross rider.

This terrible tragedy illustrates the importance of understanding the danger inherent in all motor vehicles. There are some accidents we can’t plan for, but there are certain things we can do to minimize our risk of injury.

If a driver does not minimize these risks, he or she can be liable for injuries caused if he or she is found to be negligent in operating the vehicle. In other situations where the driver is not negligent, another party could be liable for damages, such as a vehicle manufacturer whose safety equipment fails or a city that fails to maintain its roads.

If you have been injured due to a driver’s negligence, or if one of your loved ones has been injured or killed, you may be eligible for financial compensation. If you are not already represented by a Seattle personal injury attorney, please contact the Premier Law Group, PLLC for a free evaluation of your case.

Washington State Patrol officers believe that 26-year-old Christopher Roman was drunk and driving excessively fast when he crashed into another vehicle that was carrying two adult passengers and a 3-month-old boy. The victims had pulled their car off to the side of the road because of a flat tire when Roman lost control of his vehicle first crashing into the median and then slamming into the back of the disabled vehicle, killing the young baby instantly. The two other passengers, a 23-year-old woman and 21-year-old man both from Burien, sustained minor injuries that are nothing compared to the loss they must feel.

Roman was taken to the hospital with minor injuries and was immediately arrested after he was released from medical care. He is now being held on $200,000 bail and will face charges of vehicular assault and DUI. As a Seattle personal injury lawyer I can only hope that he receives punishment severe enough to make him really realize what he has done. Nothing will bring back the life that was lost and hopefully our justice system will put Roman away for a very long time.