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…Truck crashes are on the rise, but little is being done
On a warm and sunny September afternoon, a semi-truck driver was gazing out at the Washington countryside when he slammed into the back of a car at nearly 60 mph. The truck driver never touched the brakes. That crash killed Garrett Underland. He was just 15 years old. Andy Sommer was turning down the road...
Truck crashes are on the rise, but little is being done Continue reading…In honor of the short life of Garrett Underland, #77
Garrett Underland should be starting his senior year at White Pass High School. He should one of twelve seniors on the team, a big bruising tackle. He should be driving a second-hand truck to football practice, and thinking about applying for college scholarships. He should be #77. Garrett never got to do any of it....
In honor of the short life of Garrett Underland, #77 Continue reading…Why a lawsuit was filed one day after deadly New Mexico truck crash
In the late summer of 2018, a terrible collision between a bus and a semi-truck shut down a New Mexico highway. The next day, a truck crash lawsuit was filed in court. Here's what happened. A Greyhound bus carrying almost 50 people was headed west along I-40. A semi-truck headed east on I-40 swerved across...
Why a lawsuit was filed one day after deadly New Mexico truck crash Continue reading…Off-tracking truck: how rear tires can crush pedestrians
What is off-tracking? Off-tracking truck: Rear wheels take a different, shorter path than the front wheels when the semi-truck is turning or cornering. We might think of it as "cutting the corner" of a turn. I have seen this before, with a client who was run over by the back wheels of a semi-truck turning...
Off-tracking truck: how rear tires can crush pedestrians Continue reading…Will this be the new roadside test for marijuana impairment?
Whether you are for or against the legalization of marijuana—and I am not taking a position here— no one can dispute that driving a car after the use of marijuana is dangerous. Which means it’s even more dangerous to drive a big rig while under the influence of marijuana. How do you identify a stoned...
Will this be the new roadside test for marijuana impairment? Continue reading…The link between truck driver pay and the risk of a crash
Micheal Belzer, an economics professor at Wayne State University, recently published a study showing a strong correlation between truck driver pay and road safety. In this article, Truck drivers are overtired, underworked, and underpaid, he explains his findings. The data suggest that economic factors affecting drivers contribute significantly to truck crashes. A link between truck driver pay and safety...
The link between truck driver pay and the risk of a crash Continue reading…How to report a crash and start an insurance claim
A guide on how to report a crash and file a claim with your car insurance company If you were involved in a crash, you should always file a car insurance claim—even if it wasn't your fault, or you were a passenger, pedestrian, or cyclist. There are many good reasons to open an insurance claim:...
How to report a crash and start an insurance claim Continue reading…Disregard for safety caused serious burns in Seattle apartment
Apartments in the Seattle area are a booming business for property owners and management companies. The demand is high, and it is a leasers market. Regardless of the power garnered by apartment owners, one thing needs to be at the top of their priority: safety. Recently, one of my clients - "Kay" - suffered serious...
Disregard for safety caused serious burns in Seattle apartment Continue reading…Everyone is tired, but it’s truck driver fatigue you should worry about
The number of road incidents involving driver drowsiness is close to eight times higher than the federal estimate, based on a recent study by AAA. Analyzing data from more than 700 dashcams and 3593 drivers, researchers looked at the 3 minutes prior to a crash. By tracking eyelid closures, they found that 9.5% of all crashes involved drowsiness. That...
Everyone is tired, but it’s truck driver fatigue you should worry about Continue reading…Everyone is tired, but it’s truck driver fatigue you should worry about
The number of road incidents involving driver drowsiness is close to eight times higher than the federal estimate, based on a recent study by AAA. Analyzing data from more than 700 dashcams and 3593 drivers, researchers looked at the 3 minutes prior to a crash. By tracking eyelid closures, they found that 9.5% of all...
Everyone is tired, but it’s truck driver fatigue you should worry about Continue reading…Lowering the CDL age is not the answer to truck driver shortage
It is undisputed: there is a commercial truck driver shortage across the U.S. The Trump administration is pushing forward on a pilot program that would allow people as young as 18 years old to drive commercial trucks. The pilot program will train young people with military experience; it is laying the groundwork for lowering the minimum age...
Lowering the CDL age is not the answer to truck driver shortage Continue reading…