Western Washington Personal Injury Law Blog
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...
Later school starts may improve roadway safety
Early school starting times in Washington may contribute to a significant number of car accidents involving teen drivers. According to a newly released study from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, starting the school day later could lead to safer...
The NHTSA should upgrade its crash tests and safety ratings
Car buyers in Washington and across the U.S. probably know about the crash test safety ratings given by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. These go from a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the safest. The rating system dates back to the 1990s and has...
Cities that drivers should be careful in
A car accident can happen on any road and at any time in Washington and around the country. However, a study by Go Safe Labs found that some parts of the U.S. are more likely to have one than others. Houston and Charlotte Top the List According to the study, there...
