Washington Personal Injury Law Blog

Pedestrian accidents can cause devastating injuries to victims that can affect them for some time to come physically, cognitively and emotionally. Because of the tremendous effect of pedestrian accident injuries on pedestrian victims, it is important for them to be familiar with the legal protections available to them when harmed in pedestrian accidents.

In Washington State, approximately 25 percent to 30 percent of the population relies on walking as their primary form of transportation and almost all Washingtonians walk on a daily basis. Washingtonians commute to work and get to school by walking.

Car accidents can be costly in so many different types of ways for car accident victims. In the Bellevue area, where many drivers spend a lot of time in traffic, an unexpected car accident can turn a regular day into a potential nightmare as injured victims face injuries, medical bills, interactions with insurance companies and lost earnings for time away from work dealing with their car accident. As a result, car accident victims should be familiar with the ways a personal injury claim for damages can help them.

Whether the car accident victim has suffered serious or catastrophic injuries, the legal process provides important protections for them to be familiar with. Car accident victims who have been injured in a head-on collision, rollover accident, highway accident, rear-end collision or have been t-boned may all be able to pursue a claim for damages against a negligent driver responsible for the injuries and harm they have suffered.

Distracted driving is a serious problem on roadways throughout Washington, oftentimes leading to serious car accidents and injuries for victims. It is important for victims to know the laws in Washington state related to distracted driving and texting while driving as well as the legal protections available to them if they have been harmed by a distracted driver.

The Washington Traffic Safety Commission data reports that the number of car accident deaths caused by distracted driving are increasing. In Washington, distracted driving accounts for 30% of car accident fatalities and 23% of serious car accident injuries. Another important fact to note about distracted driving is that driving while using a cell phone increases the risk of a car accident as though the driver were drunk. In addition, one in four car accidents involves the use of a cell phone prior to the car accident.

Brain injuries can be overwhelming injuries for victims and their families to manage following an unexpected car accident. Brain injuries are, unfortunately, commonly suffered in car accidents. Brain injuries can be costly to treat and may require ongoing treatment and care. Victims and their families should know what those costs are and how best to prepare for them.

Over the course of a lifetime, it can cost between $600,000 and $1.875 million to treat and care for a victim of a severe traumatic brain injury. The cost of brain injuries varies based on the nature of the brain injury and how severe it is. A mild injury may cost $85,000, while a moderate head injury can cost $941,000 and a severe head injury can cost $3 million.