The Seattle Personal Injury Blog
Posted Friday, June 18, 2021 by
Chris Thayer
Authorities continue to investigate a tragic incident that occurred earlier this week, in which a man riding an e-scooter was hit and killed by a semi-truck. The man, who was in his 50s, was reportedly weaving in and out of traffic when he was hit by a semi-truck making a right-hand turn. It is believed that he did not see the semi-truck (and vice versa). The man initially survived the accident but then died of his injuries.
*E-Scooter Fatalities on the Rise * E-scooters have become increasingly popular in cities and college towns nationwide over the past couple of years. However, as their popularity has increased, so too have the dangers associated with riding them. In most cases, cities and areas that allow e-scooter rentals have no infrastructure to actually support the safe use of them. Additionally, many cities have ordinances and rules that make it illegal to ride e-scooters on sidewalks. This means that e-scooters must drive along with traffic. This is dangerous for a number of reasons. One being that scooter-riders, most of whom rented scooters on the go, are not wearing helmets or protective equipment. Scooters also provide no protection to riders as compared to other cars and vehicles on the road. Further, drivers are not accustomed to having to share the ride with e-scooter riders. It can be hard to distinguish them from pedestrians, which means it is easy to misjudge their speed. Finally, all that is required for most e-scooter rentals is downloading an app and paying a small fee. That means there is nothing stopping inexperienced and intoxicated individuals from operating e-scooters, as well as tourists who are not at all familiar with the area. All of these factors increase the risk for everyone on the road.
*Legal Options for E-Scooter Accidents * If you are involved in an e-scooter accident, chances are you will be facing major injuries, high medical bills, and a long recovery period. With no protection against a vehicle up to a hundred times your weight, the physical and financial harm can be catastrophic. A personal injury lawsuit cannot keep the accident from happening, but it aims to put you back in the position you would have been in had the accident never occurred. A successful personal injury lawsuit allows you to recover all costs related to the injury. This includes all past and future medical expenses as well as any lost wages due to time off of work. If you are unable to return to the same job because of your injuries, you can also pursue compensation for lost earning potential. Additionally, you can be compensated for pain and suffering and other noneconomic damages. In some cases, where the harmful conduct was particularly reckless or egregious, punitive damages, intended to punish the offender and deter similar conduct, may also be available.
*Talk to a Seattle Personal Injury Lawyer * Serving Seattle, Bellevue, Kent, Renton, Burien, Mercer Island, Issaquah, and the greater Washington State area, Pivotal Law Group is ready to fight to get you the compensation that you deserve. If you have been injured in an e-scooter accident or vehicle accident, call today to schedule a free consultation.
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Posted Friday, June 11, 2021 by
Chris Thayer
Slip-and-fall injuries are not always taken seriously. There is a sense that these types of accidents are embarrassing, leading people to feel like they need to walk them off or downplay their severity. However, slip-and-fall accidents should not be taken lightly. In fact, they cause over 8 million people to seek emergency treatment at hospitals each year. Slip-and-fall accidents can have fatal consequences, particularly for the elderly. However, across all age groups half of all accidental deaths at home are caused by falls. Additionally, slips and falls are the leading cause of traumatic brain injuries, which can easily prove fatal.
*Slip-and-Fall Accidents and Traumatic Brain Injuries *Traumatic brain injuries can result in a lack of consciousness and long-term physical and mental consequences, including anxiety, depression, vertigo, migraines, and memory loss. Physically, traumatic brain injuries can result in trauma to the brain that can affect cognitive functioning. It is not uncommon for a traumatic brain injury to result in unconsciousness. This can become life-threatening, particularly if it occurs near a pool or body of water, increasing the likelihood of accidental drowning. This becomes an even more important consideration during the summer when slippery pool surfaces are often left untended.
*Slip-and-Falls Injuries at Work *Slips and falls are the #1 cause of workers’ compensation claims in the United States. This means that slip and fall accidents are also the #1 cause of days missed from work, costing companies across the country more than any other form of accident or injury. Interestingly, most slip and fall accidents resulting in a claim do not involve a fall from a higher level. Rather, they occurred on the same level (i.e. a slip on the floor vs. a fall from a ladder). This really emphasizes the importance of keeping floors and surfaces clean, free of slips and hazards, and providing traction (such as carpets) when appropriate. According to the CDC, floors and flooring materials contribute to causing over 2 million slips and falls each year.
*Slip and Fall Injuries *Slips and falls can cause a wide range of injuries from sprains, bruising, and broken bones, to fractures, herniated disks, and traumatic brain injuries. About 5% of people who experience a slip or fall accident suffer a fracture, which is considered a serious injury. Of all fractures, hip fractures are the most serious, and are experienced at the highest rates among the elderly. Slip and fall accidents are the second leading cause of death among individuals 65 years of age and older, and this is largely due to hip fractures. More than 15,000 people over the age of 65 die as a result of falls each year, and that number continues to increase. In fact, statistics reflect that each year one out of every three elderly adults will experience a slip or fall accident and 1.8 million are treated in the emergency room each year as a result.
*Talk to Pivotal Law Group*If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a slip or fall accident in Seattle, Bellevue, Kent, Renton, Burien, Mercer Island, Issaquah, or the greater Washington State area, the experienced personal injury lawyers at Pivotal Law Group want to help you get the compensation to which you are entitled. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.
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Posted Friday, June 4, 2021 by
Chris Thayer
A serious accident took place earlier this week at the intersection of East Marginal Way South and Diagonal Avenue South in Seattle. The collision occurred around 10:00 p.m. between two sedans. According to witnesses, an Infinity sedan was driving recklessly before it drove over the median and into oncoming traffic, where it hit another sedan head-on. Both vehicles were totaled by the accident, with the second vehicle almost entirely compacted. The 25-year-old driver of that car had to be cut out of his vehicle by emergency crews and transported to a hospital for treatment. When police arrived at the scene, however, the driver of the Infinity sedan was already gone. According to witnesses, a male driver who had been following the Infinity sedan stopped at the scene of the accident, pulled the reckless driver from the car, and put him into his car before quickly driving away. Police were later able to track the missing responsible driver to Harborview Medical Center, where his friend had taken him for treatment of his serious injuries (coincidentally, the same place the victim of the accident was taken as well). Police say the driver’s friend had been following him home when he got in the wreck, and the friend removed him from the scene and eventually took him to receive medical treatment. Police arrested the driver at the hospital on suspicion of DUI. Additional charges have not yet been announced, and the conditions of both men are currently unknown. However, the police investigation into the crash remains ongoing.
*Suing Someone for Reckless Driving * If you have been injured in a car accident in Seattle due to someone else’s negligence, you have options legally to seek compensation for the harm you have suffered. When someone drives drunk or under the influence of drugs (even legal ones) that impair their ability to drive safely, they breach their duty of care to you and all other drivers on the road, and they can be legally held accountable for the harm that they cause as a result of this breach. While the civil process for bringing a personal injury lawsuit is separate from the criminal process of charging someone with DUI or another driving-related offense, these processes are not mutually exclusive. In fact, you can pursue both criminal charges and a personal injury lawsuit. A conviction of DUI or reckless driving can support your civil claim. This is especially true because the criminal court system has a much higher standard of proof than the civil court system. For this reason, if evidence of negligence (such as intoxication, reckless driving, etc.) is found in criminal court, it will almost certainly suffice to meet the lower standard of proof required in civil court. While a lawsuit cannot keep the accident from happening, it can restore you to the position you would have been in financially, had the accident never occurred.
*Consult With a Seattle Personal Injury Attorney * If you have been involved in a Seattle, Bellevue, Kent, Renton, Burien, Mercer Island, or Issaquah accident and suffered serious injury, contact Pivotal Law Group and schedule a consultation today.
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Posted Friday, May 28, 2021 by
Chris Thayer
A woman is being hospitalized for serious injuries after an accident on Interstate 5 just south of State Route 516 in Kent occurred around 5:30 a.m. earlier this week. The woman was pulled over in a disabled vehicle when it was struck at a high speed by a large box truck. The woman’s car was almost entirely crushed, and was sent flying into a ditch, where she remained trapped and seriously injured until a crew was able to extricate her. The woman is now being treated at a local hospital for serious injuries. It is unclear at this point what her condition is or whether the injuries are believed to be life-threatening. The right lanes of northbound I-5 South were blocked for several hours while crews worked on the scene. Police say they believe it is possible that the driver of the box truck fell asleep behind the wheel, however, they do not suspect intoxication or impairment otherwise.
*The Dangers of Rollover Crashes * Rollover crashes account for approximately 35% of all traffic fatalities. Considering how traumatic they can be to the passengers, it is easy to understand why. When a truck rolls over, both the truck and its contents become a threat to all other drivers on the road. A rolled-over truck can easily act as a barrier across several lanes of traffic, and when these accidents occur unexpectedly, drivers may not have sufficient time or space to avoid colliding with it. This can result in dozens of collisions within the span of a few moments. Additionally, trucks carry everything from rocks and timber to hazardous chemicals and livestock. All of these pose unique threats to drivers when they are unleashed on a highway. When standard passenger vehicles roll over, it can cause significant trauma to the necks and spinal cords of occupants. In cases in which occupants are not wearing seatbelts or where a child is not properly strapped into a carseat (or the car seat is not properly fastened to the car) occupants are generally ejected from the vehicle, which can cause extensive physical trauma and even death. Further adding to the damaging impact of these kinds of collisions, a rolled over car or SUV also becomes a hazard to all others on the road, often impacting or colliding with other vehicles, passengers, or ejected occupants. Once the vehicle’s wheels are no longer in contact with the ground, it is simply a 6,000 pound weapon that is entirely out of control.
*Avoiding Rollover Crashes * The best way to avoid rollover crashes is to adhere to posted speed limits, leave plenty of space between you and other cars and trucks, and to make sure that you are alert and awake when driving. However, while these actions can mitigate the risks associated with rollover crashes, it is impossible to avoid them completely. Sometimes you can take all necessary precautions and adhere to all laws and speed limits and still find yourself the victim of a devastating crash due to another driver’s negligence. In these cases, a personal injury lawsuit can help you recover compensation for the physical harm and damage that you have suffered.
*Talk to a Lawyer * If you have been injured in a Seattle, Bellevue, Kent, Renton, Burien, Mercer Island, or Issaquah accident that was not your fault, the experienced personal injury lawyers at Pivotal Law Group are ready to help you get the compensation that you deserve. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.
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Posted Friday, May 21, 2021 by
Chris Thayer
If you have been injured in an accident, the time to contact a lawyer is as soon as possible. Many people mistakenly believe that they have to wait until things get really bad before they reach out for legal help from an experienced personal injury attorney, but the longer that people wait, the harder it is to get effective help.
It is a common misconception that people will know the full extent of their injuries immediately after an accident. Whereas some injuries are immediately apparent, such as broken and fractured bones, other injuries, such as concussions, soft tissue injuries, whiplash injuries, herniated disks, torn ligaments, and more, often do not become apparent for days (and, in some cases, even weeks) after the crash. Additionally, while broken bones and more obvious physical trauma may be immediately apparent, its long-term effects can take much longer to appear.
While you may know that you have a broken femur, it can take multiple consultations with doctors, specialists, and physical therapists before you know the full extent of the treatment plan and how likely you are to be able to recover fully from the injury or if it will have lasting or permanent effects. Insurance companies know this and take advantage, by pressuring you to accept a settlement as soon as possible after an accident, before you could have any idea as to the actual value of your claim or an accurate understanding of the harm done. If you accept a low settlement offer before knowing the full extent of your injuries, you will likely be stuck shouldering the remaining financial burden, and may not be able to afford or pursue helpful treatments that may otherwise have been covered.
Additionally, many people do not realize that when they accept an insurance settlement, their medical insurance can seek reimbursement from it. If they do not plan for this, it can effectively wipe out everything they received or even leave them in further debt. For this reason, it is critical to have a lawyer on board, representing your rights, protecting your interests, and helping you to navigate the process, starting as soon as possible after the accident.
*Suing for Damages *In order to bring a personal injury lawsuit you must have suffered financial damage as a result of the accident. This can be in the form of property damage, medical bills, lost wages due to being too injured to work, and more. Many people are bankrupted as a result of attempting to cope with the costs from a single car accident. A successful personal injury suit aims to put you back into the position you would have been in financially, had the accident never occurred. This allows you to recover for all medical costs and expenses related to the accident, including any necessary therapies and equipment, and compensation for the mental and physical trauma caused by the accident, known as pain and suffering. In some cases, punitive damages may also be appropriate, where the offender’s conduct was particularly reckless, negligent, or can be used to send a message to deter this kind of behavior.
*Talk to a Seattle Personal Injury Attorney *If you have suffered an injury in a Bellevue, Kent, Rento, Burien, Mercer Island, Issaquah, or greater Washington area car accident that was not your fault, the personal injury attorneys at Pivotal Law Group are ready to zealously advocate on your behalf and ensure that you get the compensation to which you are entitled. Call today to schedule a consultation.
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