3 big reasons there are so many car crashes on Aurora Avenue in Seattle

Dangerous and even fatal crashes on Aurora Avenue North in Seattle are far too common. The road is usually at the top of the list of roads with the highest number of crashes in the city. We are a personal injury law firm, not engineers or city planners—but we have seen too many cases, and taken too many consultation calls from people who have been injured on this roadway. Why are there so many crashes on Aurora Avenue? Here are three separate—but connected—reasons that we have learned from our cases, and from the safety advocates working to improve Seattle. People drive too fast There are two parts to this: the speed limit, and the speeds at which people actually drive. The default

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Seattle speed limit changes for safer streets

The recent changes to the Seattle speed limit have been a long time coming, but are just an incremental step in a larger plan for safer streets. The process of setting speed limits for streets and highways is surprisingly complex. Maximum speeds are set by each state legislature, which must balance the interests of stakeholders statewide. The social costs and benefits of lower speeds often lose in a head-to-head competition the economic and political benefits of higher speed limits. Historically, lawmakers have prioritized speed over safety. The consequences have been deadly. “U.S. streets have long been designed to promote speed at all costs, with deadly consequences” Linda Bailey, Executive Director of NACTO The irrefutable fact is that excessive speed causes more

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Our first virtual jury trial in a car crash lawsuit

In November 2020, I had the honor of participating in a virtual jury trial for a car crash lawsuit as plaintiff’s co-counsel with my good friend Jeff Tuttle. His client, Keith, had been riding his bike to work. He hit by a car turning in front of him. Keith suffered various injuries—including a head injury. While the courts have continued to postpone many civil cases during COVID-19, Keith had already waited a long time for justice. It was four years after the collision when his car crash lawsuit finally went to trial last month. One of the first virtual trials in the country A normal trial in a case like this would start with motions, and then jury selection. And originally,

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Fewer injury crashes in North Seattle after lower speed limit, more signs

Just the addition of 25-mph-speed limit signs can significantly reduce the total number of car crashes and injury crashes, according to Seattle’s Department of Transportation (SDOT). SDOT cites the “dramatic reduction in crashes and injuries” after adding speed limit signs to several major streets. Some speed limits were lowered from 30 mph to 25 mph. In Seattle, the speed limit in school zones and on all residential streets is 20 MPH. Of the city’s major streets, almost half now have a 25-mph speed limit. The reduced speed limit, and the additional signage, are components of the city’s plan to achieve the Vision Zero goal of ending traffic deaths and serious injuries on city streets by the year 2030. Study on injury crashes in

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Reducing speed limit to prevent Seattle pedestrian deaths

Three years ago, Adriana was hit and killed in a crosswalk in downtown Seattle. Adriana was one of the 116 Seattle pedestrian deaths in 2017. She left behind a husband, two young daughters and an extended family, as well as hundreds of heartbroken clients, co-workers and friends at the Seattle Athletic Club where she worked. Speed was a contributing factor in Adriana’s death. The driver was “running late” for work. Having represented hundreds of individuals and families of those seriously injured or killed in motor vehicle accidents crashes*, I have seen firsthand the impact of speed. Vehicle speed affects the chances of being involved in a serious or fatal collision. But it also governs the severity of the crash – and of the injuries. Changing the

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Pedestrian death and Seattle’s law on safety enhancement

On the last day of September, Maria Banda and her husband Agustin were hit crossing the intersection of 28th Northeast and Northeast 125th Street in the Lake City neighborhood in the north end of Seattle. There is no marked crosswalk or pedestrian signals to help people get to the Lake City branch of the Seattle City Library or the Lake City Community Center. The couple was crossing the street to get to the community center when they were hit. The vehicle’s driver sped off, and has not been identified. People in this community have long complained about the lack of and condition of the sidewalks, the dangerous crossings and fast traffic. This was at least the second traffic-related death in

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3 big reasons there are so many car crashes on Aurora Avenue in Seattle

Seattle speed limit changes for safer streets

Our first virtual jury trial in a car crash lawsuit

Fewer injury crashes in North Seattle after lower speed limit, more signs

Reducing speed limit to prevent Seattle pedestrian deaths

Pedestrian death and Seattle’s law on safety enhancement

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