Semi-truck driver pleads guilty for crash that killed 16
On a clear and bright April afternoon, a semi-truck driver speeded past four warning signs, and an oversized stop sign, striking a bus with violent force. The collision killed sixteen people, most of them 16 to 21-year-old members of the Humboldt Broncos junior ice hockey team. Two more were paralyzed, and another thirteen people were...
Semi-truck driver pleads guilty for crash that killed 16 Continue reading…Is the trucker to blame when a semi-truck tips over in high wind?
It's a complicated question. As a lawyer, my first response is often "it depends." When a semi-truck tips over, it's certain that something has gone wrong. We need to determine what exactly went wrong in order to order to understand who is at fault, and what should have been done differently. When a semi-truck tips...
Is the trucker to blame when a semi-truck tips over in high wind? Continue reading…How truck drivers can avoid semi truck crashes in the snow
Winter Storm Diego flooded parts of California last week. It dumped rain and snow across Texas, breaking snowfall records in several cities. As it moved over the Appalachian mountains, the snow and ice knocked out power for about 300,000 people, and in some areas, left nearly two feet of snow.There were more than 700 winter...
How truck drivers can avoid semi truck crashes in the snow Continue reading…A clean water legacy for a teenage crash victim
Garrett was 15 years old when he was killed by a distracted semi-truck driver at 60 mph on a Washington State highway. Before he died, Garrett wrote that “a legacy is something you leave behind.” Garrett knew that his own legacy was still unknown, but wrote that he “planned to change the whole world.” He...
A clean water legacy for a teenage crash victim Continue reading…Here’s what happened in the powdered milk truck crash on I-5
Overview of I5 Crashes Interstate 5 (I-5) runs through the heart of Washington State and is one of the region's busiest and most critical highways. This section provides a statistical overview of crash incidents, highlighting the road's reputation for heavy traffic and high accident rates. Statistics of I-5 Crashes Recent statistics underscore the hazardous nature...
Here’s what happened in the powdered milk truck crash on I-5 Continue reading…Here’s what happened in the powdered milk truck crash on I-5
For several hours yesterday, a rollover truck crash on I-5 resulted in the closure of all the southbound lanes, and part of the northbound lanes. The crash occurred between Tumwater and Maytown near 113th Avenue, but affected drivers from Portland to Seattle. The Thurston County Sheriff reported that a second crash – a hit-and-run on...
Here’s what happened in the powdered milk truck crash on I-5 Continue reading…5 quick tips for preventing a winter weather crash
Snow, freezing rain, and high winds are in the forecast for western Washington State this week. While that shouldn't come as a surprise - it's standard winter weather for most of the Pacific Northwest - there are always too many drivers who are caught off guard. The result is often a slew of predictable, often...
5 quick tips for preventing a winter weather crash Continue reading…How marijuana laws have changed – but not for truck drivers
Laws in several states permit the sale and use of recreational marijuana. In another 31 states and Washington D.C., laws allow for medical marijuana. Oregon, Washington, and Colorado—the first states to legalize recreational marijuana—have had a 5.2% overall increase in crashes, according to an IIHS study. We are only beginning to understand the effect that...
How marijuana laws have changed – but not for truck drivers Continue reading…How marijuana laws have changed – but not for truck drivers
Laws in several states permit the sale and use of recreational marijuana. In another 31 states and Washington D.C., laws allow for medical marijuana. Oregon, Washington, and Colorado—the first states to legalize recreational marijuana—have had a 5.2% overall increase in crashes, according to an IIHS study. We are only beginning to understand the effect that marijuana...
How marijuana laws have changed – but not for truck drivers Continue reading…Why most people don’t notice the 40,000 killed in “car accidents”
By 11:59 on December 31st, somewhere around 40,000 people will have died in car accidents crashes in the U.S. this year. That should be a shocking number. If even 10% of those people had been killed in plane crashes, the country would be outraged. There would be investigations into airline safety, and memorials built to...
Why most people don’t notice the 40,000 killed in “car accidents” Continue reading…What made I-90 in Washington so dangerous for semi-trucks?
It was this I-90 crash, with five semi-trucks and three cars in a pile-up, that brought attention to an ongoing problem. Reportedly, a semi-truck jackknifed in the westbound lane of I-90. Another semi-truck driver lost control while trying to avoid a collision with the first truck, and ended up in the ditch on the opposite...
What made I-90 in Washington so dangerous for semi-trucks? Continue reading…What you need to know about our pedestrian traffic laws
It seems straightforward: people usually have the right-of-way over motor vehicles. But most of our roadways were designed for the ease of cars, not the safety of pedestrians. As a result, drivers often forget—or simply disregard—the laws protecting the rights and safety of pedestrians. Washington pedestrian traffic laws Q: When do pedestrians have the right-of-way?...
What you need to know about our pedestrian traffic laws Continue reading…