Recent Blog Posts
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 »
Senators Look to Improve Tractor-Trailer Safety through Greater Underride Protections
Tractor-trailer accidents were to blame for nearly 1,500 fatalities among passenger vehicle occupants in 2016. These massive vehicles are capable of causing great harm when they hit other vehicles, but collisions with big rigs and semi-trucks can also be deadly when smaller, lower-riding vehicles slide under large trucks in what are known as underride… Read More »
Fatal Train Crash Raises Questions of Liability
A federal investigation has now begun in the derailment and crash of an Amtrak train in DuPont, Washington. The fatal crash appears to have resulted from the train’s excessive speed, and investigators are looking for reasons why the speed was not brought under control prior to the crash. The Amtrak Cascades Train 501 was… Read More »
