By admin on April 11, 2012 -
Heatstroke can set in quickly inside a closed car in summer, even if the outdoor temperature does not seem very warm. A car sitting in the sun with its doors and windows closed heats up quickly and can reach a temperatures of over 120 degrees – enough to cause heatstroke, especially in a small child, who can suffer fatal injuries in minutes.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently unveiled a campaign to help warn parents and caregivers about the risk of heatstroke in hot cars. The campaign’s slogan is “Where’s Baby? Look Before You Lock.”
The goal of the campaign is to remind caregivers not only to remove children from cars to prevent heatstroke, but also to be aware and certain that children and pets are out of the car before closing or locking the doors. Knowing where everyone is before closing the car door prevents the mistake of locking both a child and the keys inside the car. In hot weather, the child may suffer permanent injury or death before someone can arrive to unlock the doors and release the child.
Heatstroke can cause permanent blindness, brain injuries, and loss of hearing, according to the NHTSA. The condition can be fatal to young children, who are less able to withstand extreme temperatures than adults. Thirty-nine children died of heatstroke after being left in a car in 2011.
If you or someone you love has been injured, please don’t hesitate to call the experienced Renton personal injury attorneys at Hardwick & Pendergast, P.S. We will focus on investigating your situation thoroughly and fighting for the compensation you need, so that you can focus on getting well. For a free consultation, call us today at (888) 228-3860.
By admin on April 5, 2012 -
Cell phone use in the U.S. has exploded in recent years, according to studies by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) and other highway safety groups. In 1995, only 11 percent of the U.S. population, or about 33,000 people, had a cell phone. By 2010, however, that number had grown to 93 percent of the population, or nearly 300 million people.
Today, cell phones are often a person’s only telephone line and a primary means of communicating not just in phone calls, but also in sharing documents, writing e-mails, and sending text messages. As we become more dependent on our cell phones, we are more likely to use them even in situations where their use is dangerous – such as behind the wheel of a car.
Distracted driving, specifically using a cell phone while driving, is very dangerous. Talking on a cell phone while driving makes any driver four times more likely to cause injury or death in a car accident, according to the USDOT. Research indicates that the risk is the same whether the driver is holding the phone or talking into a hands-free device. The conversation interrupts the brain’s ability to focus on driving, making it much more likely a driver won’t see or respond to a sudden emergency until it’s too late.
At Hardwick & Pendergast, P.S., our experienced Washington distracted driver accident lawyers work hard to help injured people and their families seek compensation after a crash. If you’ve been injured by a distracted driver, call us today at (888) 228-3860.
By admin on April 3, 2012 -
The number of teens who lost their lives on U.S. roads in 2011 jumped up over previous years, when it had been steadily declining, according to a study by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA). The sudden spike has many traffic safety officials concerned, since it deviates from the norm and means that more teenage drivers are dying and possibly injuring others on the road as a result.
Overall, the number of teen driver deaths increased 11 percent in 2011 over 2010. The increase in deaths was the highest for 16-year-old drivers, followed closely by deaths of 17-year-old drivers. Twenty-three states saw their teen driver death rates go up, and eight states and Washington, D.C. saw no changes. Nineteen states saw decreases, indicating that teen driver safety and training programs in these states may be doing something that works more effectively to protect teens than other states.
The GHSA notes that parents can help protect their teen drivers by setting rules for driving safety in Washington and being prepared to revoke a teen’s driving privileges if they are violated. These include prohibiting cell phone use while the teen is behind the wheel and limiting the number of passengers a teen may transport at any one time. Also, giving teens more practice time before allowing them to drive unsupervised provides crucial experience that can help them avoid a crash.
At Hardwick & Pendergast, P.S., our knowledgeable Bellevue auto accident attorneys strive to help injured persons and their families get the compensation they need, so that they can focus on healing. For a free case evaluation, call us today at (888) 228-3860.
By admin on March 29, 2012 -
A study of Washington drivers convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) suggests that requiring all drivers convicted of DUI to have ignition interlock devices installed on their cars or trucks could decrease the number of injuries and deaths caused by drunk driving auto accidents on U.S. roads each year.
The study examined ignition interlock devices that were installed on vehicles after a driver was convicted of a first DUI offense, regardless of his or her BAC at the time of the arrest. In most states, ignition interlock devices are only required for a second or later conviction for DUI, or for cases in which the driver’s BAC was more than twice the legal limit of 0.08 percent at the time of arrest. The study followed the drivers with and without ignition interlock devices to see whether they suffered a later drunk driving accident and/or were arrested again on suspicion of drunk driving.
The researchers reported that, among drivers who had ignition interlock devices installed on their cars after a first conviction, the rate of accidents and of second arrests dropped significantly. Researchers predict that if all drivers convicted of DUI were required to have ignition interlock devices, the rate of alcohol-related car accidents would be cut in half.
Drinking and driving is just one way in which another driver’s negligence can result in injury or death. If you’ve been injured in a drunk driving accident, please don’t hesitate to call the skilled Washington drunk driving accident lawyers at Hardwick & Pendergast, P.S. For a free, confidential consultation, call today: 1(888) 228-3860.
By admin on March 27, 2012 -
Teenagers suffer serious injuries and deaths in car accidents at a rate four times higher than the general population, according to a report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Many of these accidents are due to inexperience, which prevents teens from making the right call in an emergency situation – even if their driving is not what originally causes the emergency.
The first step in helping protect your teen on the road is to extend your teen’s supervised driving time. Most driver education programs require teens to practice driving with a parent or other licensed adult in the car, but you can help your teen get crucial experience by logging more hours than the minimum required for a license as your teen’s supervising parent in the car. Adding night driving hours also helps teens gain important experience.
Next, set rules for the road. Limit the number of passengers your teen can transport, and instruct him or her never to use a cell phone or other electronic device while operating the car. Instead, have your teen make it a habit to pull over before sending or returning calls or texts.
Parents can help teens prevent accidents, but they can’t control others’ negligence on the road. If you or someone you love is injured in a car accident, call the experienced Seattle car accident attorneys at Hardwick & Pendergast, P.S. to learn about your legal rights and options. Your initial consultation is free. Call us today at 1(888) 228-3860.
By admin on March 22, 2012 -
Personal injury accidents happen every day throughout the state of Washington, occurring in an instant and often turning a victim’s life into chaos. While the victims of personal injuries caused by the actions of another person can seek compensation for their losses, many do not understand this process or their legal rights. To aid injured Washington residents, personal injury attorney Joseph E. Pendergast, III with the law firm of Hardwick & Pendergast, P.S. has released a new online book entitled Auto Accident & Personal Injury Claims: A Guide for Consumers to Protect Their Rights.
The new book is free to download from www.hardwickpendergast.com and offers information on victims’ legal rights in a variety of personal injury accidents and an in-depth look at the legal process for finding compensation. Personal injury topics covered in this free book include Washington personal injury claims, safe driving tips, auto accident injuries with a specific focus on whiplash, and details on insurance companies’ involvement in injury claims. Washington personal injury accident victims can also better understand an attorney’s role in seeking personal injury compensation and what can make or break a case.
Of specific interest to many dealing with personal injury cases is a chapter entitled “The Biggest Mistakes You Can Make to Ruin Your Personal Injury Claim.” In this chapter, details are given on the pitfalls of improperly documenting an accident and injuries, failing to preserve evidence from the accident, quickly settling with an insurance company, and many other common yet damaging mistakes a victim can make.
While understanding legal rights concerning personal injuries is a great help, it cannot prevent others from acting out of negligence or recklessness and causing injury. The Seattle personal injury attorneys at Hardwick & Pendergast, P.S. are dedicated to helping victims find fair and full compensation for the losses they suffer at the hands of a negligent party. For a complimentary consultation on your case from our experienced legal team, call our offices at (888) 228-3860. We also welcome you to request your free copy of Auto Accident & Personal Injury Claims: A Guide for Consumers to Protect Their Rights.
By admin on March 22, 2012 -
In the past week, the United States saw four bus accidents in just two days. In Indiana, a student and a driver were both killed when a school bus crashed into a bridge support. In Missouri, eleven students suffered broken bones and other injuries when their bus rolled into a ditch, the result of a distracted driver. Washington State and Ohio also saw crashes that left dozens of students injured, some seriously.
With this sudden increase in school bus accidents come concerns from parents nationwide about the safety of traveling by school bus. However, experts say that the accident rate is a fluke. Normally, school buses have a much lower rate of accidents and injuries than other forms of motor vehicle travel. Although most school buses are not equipped with seat belts, they are equipped with a great deal of safety equipment, including lights and signs, and most drivers are committed to the safety of their passengers above all else.
Nevertheless, about 17,000 children are treated for school bus accident injuries each year, leading many to question whether a federal law should require seat belts in all school buses. Currently, only buses under 10,000 pounds are required to have seat belts under federal law, although six states also require them in all buses.
The road to recovery can be long and difficult after a serious school bus accident. At Hardwick & Pendergast, P.S., our Seattle bus accident attorneys understand the struggles injured victims face and we are dedicated to obtaining just compensation so that you and your family can focus on healing. For a free and confidential consultation, call us today at (888) 228-3860.
By admin on March 20, 2012 -
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently decided to table a plan to require rear cameras in new vehicles built in 2014 or later model years, according to a recent article in USA Politics Today. The delay was called after automakers raised concerns about the cost of installing rear cameras and the possible increases in accidents due to driver distraction that the technology might cause.
The requirement that NHTSA develop a regulation mandating rear cameras on all vehicles was passed by Congress in 2007. The bill specified that by 2014, the NHTSA needed to have regulations in place explaining to automakers what sorts of cameras were required, where they should be placed, and how the driver should have access to the information. These regulations would be a floor, not a ceiling; automakers would have to meet their minimum requirements, but could install higher-quality equipment on some vehicles if they wished.
Accidents that occur when a driver is backing up are responsible for many serious injuries and deaths in the U.S. each year. At particular risk are small children, who are often impossible for drivers to see because they are very short, and who do not understand the risks of darting behind a vehicle when it is backing up or preparing to back up.
Injuries caused by car accidents can be serious, disabling, and even permanent. At Hardwick & Pendergast, P.S., our experienced Washington car accident attorneys fight every day on behalf of those who have been injured by another’s negligence. Call us today at (888) 228-3860 to learn more about how we can help you seek compensation, so you can make the fullest recovery possible.
By admin on March 16, 2012 -
St. Patrick’s Day is a popular day to celebrate with family and friends for large numbers of U.S. residents, including those in Washington State. Unfortunately, many people include alcohol in their celebrations without thinking about how to get home safely – resulting in serious and tragic Washington drunk-driving accidents that can injure or even kill anyone involved.
In 2009, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that 103 people lost their lives in car accidents in St. Patrick’s Day, and thousands more were injured nationwide. Over one-third of those who died were involved in a crash with at least one driver whose blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was above 0.08 percent – the legal limit in all 50 U.S. states.
If you’re planning on going out for St. Patrick’s Day and enjoying an alcoholic drink or two, be smart. Figure out ahead of time how you’re going to get home in a safe, sober fashion, whether that’s riding with a designated driver, calling a cab, or walking. Or join those who have decided to take their safety and their friends’ safety one step further and volunteer to be the designated driver yourself.
At Hardwick & Pendergast, P.S., our knowledgeable Seattle car accident lawyers are dedicated to helping injured people and their families seek the compensation they deserve, so that they can focus on getting well. If you or someone you love has been injured in an accident, call us today at (888) 228-3860 for a free, confidential consultation about your case.
By admin on March 14, 2012 -
Speeding is a major factor in one out of every three serious auto accidents, according to a recent news article in USA Today. Unfortunately, many U.S. states have not responded to the risks posed by speeding in a sufficiently aggressive manner to reduce the number of injuries or auto accidents caused each year.
In 2005, states joined forces to address the rising number of speed-related deaths on U.S. roads. While different states offered different ideas for solving the problem, few have actually taken action since that time. Seven states lowered speed limits on at least some of their roads, and two more states increased the price of fines for speeding.
However, speeding – defined either as driving faster than the posted speed limit and/or driving too fast for conditions – killed over 10,000 U.S. drivers, passengers, and pedestrians in 2010 alone.
The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) provides support for states that want to lower their annual number of speeding-related deaths. According to the GHSA, 35 states have recently sought grants and other funding to increase patrols and buy new equipment to crack down on speeding. Only fourteen states currently allow automatic speed-monitoring cameras; the others must rely on old-fashioned police patrol work, often augmented by 21st-century speed-monitoring technology.
At Hardwick & Pendergast, P.S., our dedicated and passionate Washington speeding accident attorneys strive for outstanding results in each case we handle, so that our clients and their families can focus on healing and moving forward after a speeding-related accident. To discuss your situation with us, call our office today at (888) 228-3860 for a free, confidential consultation.
