By admin on September 21, 2011 -
The Washington Department of Health collects data on injuries suffered by Washington residents each year, sorting information according to factors such as age, type of injury, location, and other variables. Recent reports indicate that, despite improvements in child seat safety and overall vehicle safety, car accidents still claim the lives of many Washington residents ages 17 and younger each year.
According to the Department of Health, a total of 170 children lost their lives to unintentional accidents of various kinds from 2005 to 2009. Older children ages 15 to 19 were most likely to lose their lives in car accidents; a total of 49 teens died in this way in recent years, compared to only 11 children ages 1 to 14.
However, motor vehicle accidents were also a major cause of death among younger children. In the 10-14 age group, three children lost their lives from 2005 to 2009 in car accidents, the same number that died in pedestrian accidents. In that same time period, five children ages 1 to 9 were also killed in motor vehicle accidents while they were riding in the car.
Parents strive to keep their children safe and healthy. When an accident takes a child’s life, the burden the family must bear can be overwhelming. At Hardwick & Pendergast, P.S., we understand the unique loss faced by a family that has lost a child due to a car accident, and we strive to uncover the causes of the accident and hold negligent parties accountable for their actions so that families have the time and space they need to honor the memory of their loved one.
If a child you love has been injured or lost in a car accident, call us today at (888) 228-3860 for a free consultation with one of our experienced Washington child car accident attorneys.
By admin on July 27, 2011 -
A multi-vehicle pileup accident on Interstate 90 near Bellevue, Washington, left several people injured, one critically, according to a recent article in The Seattle Times.
The crash began when a tractor-trailer driver caught up to slow-moving I-90 traffic near 133rd Avenue Southeast. He hit the truck’s brakes, trying to avoid a crash. Instead, the truck skidded and then jackknifed, colliding with a logging truck. The impact damaged the logging truck’s rear axle, causing both the truck and some of the logs it was carrying to hit other vehicles as the drivers of both the semi and the logging truck struggled to get their vehicles under control.
In all, 13 vehicles were involved in the accident, which stretched for half a mile along the interstate. Six people were treated for minor injuries. The worst damage from the accident, however, was suffered by a nine-year-old girl who was in one of the cars that took the hardest hit from the skidding larger trucks. She was in critical condition at Harborview Medical Center, but sadly, succumbed to her injuries.
The trucking company that owns the semi has been cited by the U.S. Department of Transportation multiple times for vehicle maintenance violations and fatigued driver violations in the past two years, according to The Seattle Times. Investigators have not yet said whether they think a maintenance problem or driver fatigue caused this accident, however.
Commercial vehicles like semi trucks, their drivers, and their owners are held to high standards regarding vehicle care and driver health and safety. When one of these factors is overlooked, serious injuries can result. If you have been injured in an accident caused by another driver’s negligence, please don’t hesitate to contact the experienced accident lawyers in Bellevue at Hardwick & Pendergast, P.S. For a free consultation, call us today at 888-228-3860.
By admin on July 11, 2011 -
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) provides safety guidelines for child car seats. Nearly all children from birth to age 12 need to ride in some kind of car seat in order to be restrained properly if an accident occurs. The following tips can help you choose the right car seat for your kids.
Starting at birth, infants should ride in a rear-facing car seat in the back seat of the car. Never put a rear-facing car seat in front of an airbag, since the child can be severely injured if the airbag goes off. Use a rear-facing car seat as long as your child fits the seat’s height and weight requirements – usually, about one to three years. When a child has outgrown a rear-facing car seat, they may switch to a forward-facing seat, but should still ride in the back seat of the car.
Starting at about age four, most children will outgrow their car seats and will need to switch to a booster seat. A booster seat lifts a child up so that the seat belt fits correctly, with the lap belt lying low on the lap and the shoulder belt lying across the child’s chest and shoulder, not the neck. Children should stay in booster seats until they are large enough to use the seat belt properly without one.
When choosing a car or booster seat, check the manufacturer’s height and weight requirements in order to ensure the seat is the right fit for your child. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) also offers information about car seats, including information about recalls and safety issues.
Car accident injuries are always distressing, but they can be particularly terrifying for children. If your child has been injured in a car accident in Washington, please don’t hesitate to contact the experienced child car accident victim attorneys in Seattle at Hardwick & Pendergast, P.S. For a free and confidential consultation, call us today at 888-228-3860.
