Western Washington Personal Injury Law Blog
Factors that make rustic roads more dangerous than urban ones
Compared to the urban roads that many drivers in Washington travel each day, rural roads can seem safer, especially because of the lack of traffic. But this is far from the case, and it is precisely those drivers who are unfamiliar with rural roads who often make them...
The effects of drowsy driving
You may not know this, but fatigued driving can be every bit as dangerous as driving while under the influence of alcohol. When you get behind the wheel and drive on a Washington road without getting the proper rest, you can be a danger to other drivers on the road as...
Why people shouldn’t drive while impaired
Consuming drugs or alcohol can interfere with a person's ability to judge his or her surroundings. Therefore, it is illegal to operate a motor vehicle in Washington and most other states after drinking a beer or using substances like marijuana or cocaine. It may also...
GAO pushes for pedestrian safety standards for all new cars
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has safety standards that all automakers are supposed to meet, but these standards concern the vehicle occupants only and not those outside a vehicle. Residents of Washington should know that by contrast, many...
Distractions make highway work zone crash 29 times likelier
Highway work zones seem to be a magnet for car crashes in Washington and across the U.S. In fact, crashes occur in these zones every 5.4 minutes. Narrow lanes and speeding are two factors that raise the risk for a crash and increase its severity, and a new study has...
More coffee over long term may raise truckers’ risk for crash
Many truckers in Washington would admit that they need caffeine to stay awake sometimes, but they may not be aware of the dangers. A study conducted by a U.K. transportation safety expert and the Virginia Tech Transport Institute has tentatively linked high coffee...
Who drives too slow, and why it’s dangerous
It's against the law in Washington to drive so slowly that one impedes the normal flow of traffic. It's dangerous, and it leads other drivers to act dangerously, too, possibly causing an accident. If you were injured at the hands of a slow or an aggressive driver,...
Many truck accidents are caused by distracted drivers
The roads of Washington are filled with drivers who are busy texting, talking on their cellphones or eating a quick meal while behind the wheel, which is very distracting and dangerous behavior. Unfortunately, many of these drivers are commercial truckers. Truck...
IIHS recommends three ways to improve driver-assist systems
Washington residents should be aware that the driver-assist systems found in many newer vehicles have been linked with serious, sometimes fatal, accidents. In March 2018, for example, a driver was killed after he engaged Autopilot on his Tesla Model X and proceeded to...
Daylight saving time linked with higher fatal crashes
Daylight saving time has been studied for its negative impact on health and safety, and it has come to the point where Washington and several other states are considering abolishing it. A new study shows just how deadly the spring switch to DST can be. Researchers at...
