Recent Blog Posts
Dog Attack Liability in Washington & Oregon – Strict Liability Doesn’t Cross State Lines
In September, a Skamania County woman was attacked by five dogs—pit bulls of varying size—owned by a neighbor. She was at the Skamania General Store when the neighbor told her he had a litter of puppies and offered her one. So, she followed him up the road to his house. As the woman got… Read More »
Pedestrian Accidents on the Rise in 2018
An alarming number of pedestrian accidents have caused several deaths and injuries in Portland recently. On October 12, a Portland woman was killed in a hit-and-run crash as she was crossing SE Division Street near 138th. A car slammed into her, drove away, and then she was struck again by a drunk driver while… Read More »
E-Scooters Are on the Scene in Portland, But Are They Safe?
Over the summer, the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) commenced a pilot program to test the use of electric scooters as an alternative mode of transportation in Portland. We started seeing e-scooters on Portland streets around the end of July, and the program runs through November 20, at which time we’ll find out whether… Read More »
Liability in Chain-Reaction Car Crashes, Plus the Effect of Unusual Circumstances on Auto Accident Injury Claims
Earlier this year, a 61-year-old woman driving a Toyota Prius stopped for ducks crossing the road on the southbound Interstate 205 on-ramp from westbound Mill Plain Road in Vancouver. A male driver in a Nissan Maxima saw her brake lights and slowed down appropriately. A third driver in a Dodge Ram pickup did not… Read More »
Safety Technologies that Could Prevent Large Truck Accidents in Washington are Not Being Used
Recent years have seen a troubling rise in motor vehicle accidents nationwide, and the rate of fatal large truck crashes is no exception to this rule. Despite the advances that vehicle manufacturers have made in developing safety technologies, few of these advances are being implemented in the nation’s growing fleet of large commercial trucks…. Read More »
Speed Kills, but is it as Bad as Drunk Driving? Actually, Yes.
In a safety study released last year, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) concluded that speeding is just as dangerous as drunk driving in terms of the number of lives lost to car accidents caused by each factor. Read on to learn just how dangerous speeding can be, and contact an experienced Washington personal… Read More »
Distracted driving worse than previously believed
Smartphones play an ever-expanding role in our lives. Unfortunately, this means that more and more of us are unable to resist the pull to look at our phones while we’re behind the wheel. According to a study recently published by a technology company, the problem of behind-the-wheel phone use is even more widespread than… Read More »
Rear-Facing Car Seats Protect Children, Even in Rear-End Crashes
Pediatricians and safety experts have long advised parents to place their small children in rear-facing seats when they ride in the car. While research shows that children are safer in front- or side-impact crashes when in a rear-facing position, questions remained about whether riding in a rear-facing seat could cause a greater risk of… Read More »
Drivers Show Signs of Drowsiness Prior to Crashes in Larger Share of Car Accidents than Previously Believed
Drunk driving and distracted driving are known to be dangerous driving behaviors which receive (appropriately) public disapproval and attention from law enforcement, but until recently, few of us have considered the serious dangers of driving while highly fatigued. A team of researchers with the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety has recently published a study… Read More »
Red Light Running: a Source of Deadly Accidents
When in a hurry, the temptation to avoid the wait and run a red light can be overwhelming. Unfortunately, the possible consequences to other drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists from red light accidents can be catastrophic. A recent local accident that left a teenaged pedestrian in serious condition is but one example of the possible… Read More »
