Washington Personal Injury Law Blog

High school students in Washington and across the nation are busier than ever. Each day, they may jam in classes, after-school activities, sports, study sessions and more. Unfortunately, they are often doing this with insufficient sleep, which can cause attention, health and safety problems. To help teens get more rest, some organizations are pushing for schools to implement later start times.

For example, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine says that teens between the ages of 13 and 18 need up to 10 hours of sleep per night for optimum health. As a result, the organization believes that classes for middle and high school students should begin at 8:30 a.m. or later. The organization says later school start times could help teens to be more alert in classes, decrease absences and tardiness, improve mental health and even reduce car accidents.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA), 5,000 pedestrians are killed in traffic accidents each year. Pedestrians in Washington may also fall victim to injuries caused by poorly maintained roads, sidewalks and parking lots. In some cases, more than one party may be liable for causing harm to a person who was walking or riding a bike. It is also possible for a pedestrian to be fully or partially responsible for his or her own injuries.

In a personal injury case, it must be established that the defendant violated a duty of care toward the injured victim. Drivers could violate their duty of care toward others by driving too fast for the road conditions or ignoring a traffic signal. Drivers may be required to exercise a greater level of caution if there is reason to believe that children may be nearby.

A commercial vehicle accident can reshape a victim's life. One of these wrecks can leave an individual with serious physical pain and suffering, oftentimes resulting in permanent disability. It can also have a tremendous emotional impact that permeates a commercial vehicle accident victim's life. Additionally, the financial damages associated with one of these crashes can be completely overwhelming and potentially ruinous.

Fortunately, commercial vehicle accident victims can seek compensation for their losses by pursuing a personal injury lawsuit. However, merely pursuing one of these claims against a negligent driver may not be sufficient enough to cover the full extent of a victim's damages. This is simply because many commercial vehicle drivers don't have the financial resources to pay out a large judgment. This is why it is important for commercial vehicle accident victims to consider whether any other parties can be held liable for the wreck in question.

The winter holidays give many reasons for residents in Washington and other states across the nation to be out and about. Whether they are out shopping for gifts, on their way to holiday festivities or heading to a gathering, it is also a time of year when pedestrian traffic is up. Individuals may be walking from their vehicle to a store or are outdoors looking at lights. And while it is safe to travel by foot in these areas, the unfortunate reality is that motor vehicles are also traveling nearby. If a driver fails to take note of their surroundings or remain attentive, this could result in a pedestrian accident.

While any automobile collision can be serious, a pedestrian collision can cause some of the most severe injuries. This is because a person cannot stand up to the size and weight of a motor vehicle, even when the collision is at a lower speed. A person can easily be thrown, causing injuries to the head, neck and back as well as impact injuries to bones and internal organs.