Western Washington Personal Injury Law Blog

Driver distractions come in many different forms

On behalf of Law Office of James A. Conley posted in car accidents on Friday, September 21, 2018.

Cellphones are an incredible invention and have sped up the rate at which people can communicate and do their work; unfortunately, they have also given individuals handheld distractions that can cause them to lose focus while they are driving.

Driving distractions are not, however, limited to cellphones. Although texting and driving gets a lot of attention as a dangerous driving practice these days, other less technologically-focused distractions also create perils for Washington residents. This post will discuss some of those and what can be done to protect people from car accidents.

Maximizing your compensation after a serious injury

On behalf of Law Office of James A. Conley on Friday, September 14, 2018.

Suffering an injury after a serious accident proves both emotionally and physically exhausting. Due to the negligence of another individual, you face traumatic pain and suffering. As your medical costs increase, and you cannot work due to your temporary or long-term physical impairments, you worry as to how you will continue to provide for your family.

Under Washington law, you have the ability to file a personal injury lawsuit against a negligent party if another individual’s action or inaction caused your injury. Not only can you obtain compensation for actual expenses, you obtain money for unquantifiable damages such as emotional suffering.

What harm can result from a spinal cord injury?

On behalf of Law Office of James A. Conley posted in catastrophic injuries on Thursday, September 6, 2018.

The various injuries that a person can suffer can be incredibly serious and complex. This is particularly true when systems that control functions like movement and sensory perception are involved. When a Washington resident suffers an injury to their spinal cord, their entire life can be severely affected by the limitations that it may impose.

The spinal cord is a group of nerves that is contained and protected in the spinal column. It transmits signals and carries messages from the brain throughout a person's body. When the spinal cord is damaged, body parts that did not directly sustain any trauma can be impacted and may no longer function.

Understanding liability when children are victims

On behalf of Law Office of James A. Conley posted in pedestrian and bicycle accidents on Thursday, August 23, 2018.

When a person is hurt in an accident, they may suffer serious injuries. Those injuries can prevent them from living their lives to the fullest and even getting back to their normal schedules and commitments. Washington residents who suffer harm in accidents caused by the negligence of others can often sue for their losses and seek to recover damages.

However, when a person contributes to the harm they suffer or is the actual cause of their own injuries, they may be barred from seeking a complete recovery of their losses. For example, if a pedestrian walks out in front of a vehicle because they are distracted by their smartphone, they may be partially to blame for the injuries they incur.

Brain injuries common after falls and accidents

On behalf of Law Office of James A. Conley posted in catastrophic injuries on Thursday, August 9, 2018.

Traumatic brain injuries contribute to around 30 percent of all deaths across the country. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, around 2.5 million people sustained a TBI in 2010 alone. A severe TBI can cause the victim to lose consciousness for an extended period of time after the injury or to suffer from amnesia. It also contributes to a number of long-term and short-term medical issues, which is why it is one of the most catastrophic injuries one can suffer.

A brain injury can affect cognitive facility, such as one's attention span and memory. It can change someone's balance and impair their coordination when it affects the victim's motor functions. Sensations can be lost or altered-hearing, vision and touch can all become impaired if there is a brain injury. And, Washington residents may be surprised to hear that emotions can also change-someone suffering from a brain injury could suddenly struggle with impulse control, aggression or undergo other personality changes.

Semi rear-ends sedan, killing one and injuring three

On behalf of Law Office of James A. Conley posted in car accidents on Thursday, July 26, 2018.

Semi-trucks sometimes appear to be the monsters of the Interstate Highway System. They are far larger than the passenger vehicles that use the interstate, and they often cause serious accidents if their drivers are not in complete control. A recent car accident on I-5 near Conway, was apparently caused by the driver of a semi who failed to slow in time.

According to police who investigated the incident, an SUV and a car were heading north on I-5. The drivers slowed at the Conway exit, but the driver of a semi-truck traveling behind the two vehicles did not. The semi slammed into the SUV and pushed it into the car. The woman driving the SUV suffered fatal injuries, and the passenger in the vehicle was taken to Harborview Medical Center. The two people in the car were taken to a local hospital. Police did not state whether the driver of the semi suffered any injuries.

Washington teens delay licenses—are worse drivers

On behalf of Law Office of James A. Conley on Tuesday, July 24, 2018.

There was once a time when reaching the age to drive a car was one of the most exciting in a teenager’s life. Being able to drive provided new found freedom. It gave the sense they were a little closer to becoming an adult.

But these feelings are not currently gripping Washington teens who are in no hurry to get their license. Many of them are waiting until they are 18 or older before getting a license. However, older and wiser does not always mean better, as those who wait are generally worse drivers than the ones starting at the normal 14-16 age range.

Alcohol blamed in fatal multi-vehicle crash on I-5

On behalf of Law Office of James A. Conley posted in criminal defense on Thursday, July 12, 2018.

Alcohol is being blamed for a wrong-way crash on I-5 that killed one person and injured three others. The driver involved in the accident is facing a number of serious DUI-related charges.

The driver had traveled about six miles on I-5 when police say he slammed head-on into another vehicle. A witness estimated that the wrong-way driver was traveling about 90 mph at the time of the crash. The impact killed a passenger in the other car and injured another passenger and an infant in the back seat. The alleged wrong-way driver was also injured. Three other vehicles were struck by debris from the accident, but no additional injuries were reported.

Slip-and-fall injuries can have serious consequences

On behalf of Law Office of James A. Conley posted in premises liability on Friday, June 29, 2018.

Clean floors, wet floor signs and level sidewalks are all things we may take for granted as we run errands and visit local establishments. Going about our daily lives comes with an expectation of feeling safe and avoiding injury from a slippery floor or a hole in the sidewalk.

It is the responsibility of property owners everywhere to maintain an environment that is safe for everyone and mitigates the possibility of injury. You should not be expected to tread lightly or keep your eyes glued to the ground to avoid getting injured.

Serious accidents up for Washington bicyclists and pedestrians

On behalf of Law Office of James A. Conley posted in pedestrian and bicycle accidents on Wednesday, June 13, 2018.

Pedestrian and bicyclist safety has been getting more attention here in Washington in recent years. However, such individuals still encounter plenty of dangers out on the state’s roads.

Unfortunately, it appears that it has recently become more common for pedestrians and bicyclists to face serious accidents here in Washington. Statistics indicate that there was a substantial uptick in such incidents between 2013 and 2017.

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