2009 December Archive
Fatal Seattle Truck Accident
A 78-year-old woman, who was crossing at a Seattle street intersection, sustained fatal injuries after being hit by a semi-truck. According to a news report on KOMO News, the elderly woman was walking at the intersection of Rainier Avenue South and South Andover Street when the truck hit her. She died at the scene, Seattle police officials said. The truck driver apparently told police that he was trying to make a right turn from Andover to the northbound lanes of Rainier when he hit the pedestrian. Officials are still investigating the cause of this fatal pedestrian collision, but they don’t believe alcohol or drugs played a part.
Washington law requires motorists to yield right-of-way to pedestrians who are walking in an unmarked or marked crosswalk at a street intersection. In this case, it appears that the woman was walking at a street intersection. Officials are probably looking into why the driver, who was making the turn, did not see the woman.
According to the Revised Code of Washington Section 46.61.235 (1): “The operator of an approaching vehicle shall stop and remain stopped to allow a pedestrian or bicycle to cross the roadway within an unmarked or marked crosswalk when the pedestrian or bicycle is upon or within one lane of the half of the roadway upon which the vehicle is traveling or onto which it is turning. For purposes of this section “half of the roadway” means all traffic lanes carrying traffic in one direction of travel, and includes the entire width of a one-way roadway.”
If your loved one has been seriously injured in a Seattle pedestrian accident, please contact a Seattle personal injury attorney right away. In any vehicular accident it is crucial to get to the scene of the crash before it is cleared. Eyewitnesses are also critical to pedestrian accident cases. People who saw the accident can help answer important questions such as: Who had the green light? Was the pedestrian in the crosswalk? Was the driver going too fast? The answers to these questions will usually help determine whether or not there was negligence involved on the part of the driver.
If you need to schedule a consultation about your Seattle pedestrian accident case, please call The Bernard Law Group today. Kirk Bernard and his dedicated legal team will provide a free consultation and will get to work on your case immediately. You can also call us to get a free copy of a brochure that will give you comprehensive information about pedestrian accidents in Washington.
Washington Big Rig Accident Caused by Sleepy Truck Driver
As a skilled Washington injury attorney, Kirk Bernard knows that a number of Washington truck accidents occur because truck drivers are extremely fatigued. Why does this occur? Very often they end up driving longer hours than they are supposed to under the law. Truck drivers are mandated by law not to go over a certain number of hours. The drivers are also required to keep a log of the number of hours they drive and the number of hours they rest. Unfortunately, trucking companies, which impose unrealistic deadlines, turn a blind eye when their drivers break these rules or even falsify their logs. This often has catastrophic consequences. Fatigued truck drivers end up falling asleep at the wheel and causing deadly accidents, which can result in major injuries or death to the truck drivers themselves or the occupants of smaller vehicles that are involved in the accident.
A recent big rig accident in Marysville, Washington, is a perfect example of how this can happen. According to a KOMO news report, the semi-trailer driven by a sleepy truck driver went off the right side of the northbound Interstate 5 and crashed into a tree. The crash destroyed the truck’s cab and tore apart the box trailer. The driver, fortunately, survived with minor injuries, but Washington State Patrol troopers say the trucker was extremely lucky to be alive. Traffic investigators believe that the truck driver was either sleepy or fell asleep behind the wheel.
It is even more fortunate that there were no other smaller vehicles in the path of this big rig that day. Had this driver crashed into another passenger vehicle, this could have led to devastating personal injuries and even fatalities. In cases where a truck driver’s negligence results in injuries or death, the driver and the trucking company could be held liable. If you have been injured in a Washington truck accident, please contact the experienced Seattle personal injury attorneys with The Bernard Law Group. Our team of skilled, aggressive accident lawyers will investigate your case, determine whether there was any negligence involved and hold the negligent parties responsible for their actions. Call us today for a free consultation and evaluation of your Washington truck accident claim.
Sick Drivers Have Caused Deadly Truck Accidents
Every year, Washington truck accidents result in devastating injuries, mostly to occupants of other passenger vehicles on the roadway. A recent Associated Press investigative report shows that a number of tractor-trailer and bus drivers in the United States have suffered seizures, heart attacks or blackouts behind the wheel that led to deadly crashes on the nation’s roadways. The deeply disturbing fact that comes out of this report is that hundreds of thousands of truck drivers carry commercial licenses despite qualifying for full disability payments. These are physically sick or disabled individuals who should not be driving, let alone driving a commercial big rig or a bus loaded with passengers.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), which monitors trucking companies, says it has not completed any of the eight recommendations in this area including one that sets minimum standards for officials to determine whether truckers are “medically safe.” Another prevents truckers from looking for a doctor who might overlook a serious health condition and give unhealthy truckers a clean bill of health.
There is no doubt in my mind that this is a serious public safety problem, which our government needs to fix right away. We’re not talking about small health problems. These are major health issues including heart problems, seizures and sleep disorders. A trucker suffering a medical condition while operating an 80,000-pound vehicle can have disastrous consequences – and it has. There is no question that we need trucking companies to deliver our everyday goods including the food we eat. However, it simply cannot and must not be done at the expense of public safety.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident, please consult one of the experienced Seattle personal injury attorneys with The Bernard Law Group to find out how we can help. Our skilled lawyers will secure just compensation to help you cover medical bills, physical therapy costs, lost wages and other related damages. Call Kirk Bernard and his dedicated legal team today to schedule your free consultation.
Source:http://www.usatoday.com/news/topstories/2008-07-21-2282920414_x.htm
Drug Abuse among Truck Drivers a Serious Issue
A recent investigative news report states that more and more truck drivers may be using drugs to stay alert and to relieve stress during long and lonely trips. According to a Fox news report, drug testing programs are attempting to catch truckers who abuse drugs, but many trucking companies and drivers are yet to get the message. Apparently, many serious injury and fatal truck collisions have been caused because truck drivers were operating under the influence of drugs.
One such accident occurred on the Chicago Skyway Toll Plaza where an 80,000-pound truck veered right, jackknifed and crashed into 22 cars causing numerous injuries. The trucker in that case had fallen asleep and later tested positive for cocaine and the trucking company – his employer – apparently had a history of failing to conduct mandated drug testing. The Fox investigation found that many companies were failing to test newly-hired drivers. Some did not even test their drivers after serious accidents and some others actually put drivers back to work on the road even after they had failed drug tests.
To imagine an out-of-control big rig on the roadway whose driver is operating this large vehicle under the influence of drugs is frightening. But even more frightening to me, is the fact that this has become a very real and prevalent problem on our highways. As we can clearly see from this report, the negligent actions on the part of such truck drivers threaten our safety as motorists on Washington State roads.
Please remember that if you have been injured by an impaired driver, you have legal rights. If you have lost a loved one in a truck accident as a result of a driver who was operating under the influence of drugs, you can file a wrongful death claim against the trucking firm, seeking compensation for medical/funeral expenses, loss of earnings and other related damages. If you have been injured in a Washington truck accident as a result of a negligent truck driver, please consult the experienced Seattle personal injury attorneys with The Bernard Law Group who will fight for your rights, represent your best interests and make sure that the negligent parties are held accountable. Contact Kirk Bernard and his experienced legal team today for a free consultation.
Source:http://www.myfoxchicago.com/dpp/news/investigative/drug-abuse-among-truck-drivers
