Kent Washington Personal Injury Law Blog

A wrongful death is devastating to a family. It could be a child who loses their life in a car crash or a loving parent who dies on the way to an event. Whoever it is, the loss is sudden, unexpected and tragic.

When you're dealing with a wrongful death, the last thing you'll want to do is to deal with the legal aspects surrounding the case. You'll be focused on caring for your loved ones and helping those around you. You might be reeling from losing someone close to you and need time to grieve. That's why it's important to reach out to your attorney right away, so they can begin taking steps to get you the compensation your family needs.

Even though you pay for car insurance every month, it's your hope that you never have to use it. If you do, it means that something has gone wrong, such as an accident with another vehicle.

When making a car insurance claim, it's critical that you don't fall prey to any mistakes that could cost you time or money. These include but are not limited to:

• Giving a written or recorded statement: It's okay to speak with your car insurance company, but providing a written or recorded statement before you're ready to do so can result in saying something that hinders your ability to obtain all the compensation you deserve.
• Accepting the first offer: Your insurance company would love for you to accept their first offer, as it's typically for less than what you're owed. Don't be surprised if you receive a check marked as "final payment." You don't want to cash this until you're sure that you want to bring an end to your claim.
• Ignoring your policy: Don't take guidance from your agent after an accident. Review your policy, understand your coverage and do your part in receiving compensation based on what you've been paying for. An insurance policy is a contract, so your insurer is obligated to abide by the terms and conditions.

Commercial truckers have a difficult job. Not only are they staffed with safely navigating a large vehicle on cramped roadways, but there are also times when they have to do so when they're not feeling their best.

The more time a trucker spends behind the wheel, the more likely it is that they'll become drowsy. If this happens, they put themselves and everyone else on the road at risk of an accident.

If you are like a lot of people in Washington State, you might assume that all of the awareness campaigns and strong laws concerning drunk driving have made significant and positive impacts in the community. That may be true, but the fact of the matter is that drunk drivers continue to plague the region and cause ongoing and unnecessary tragedies for innocent people and families.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington State's rate of drunk driving deaths in 2017 exceeded that of the national average. That year, the country saw 29% of all traffic fatalities attributed to alcohol. In Washington, 32% of all accident fatalities were due to drunk drivers. That was a higher percentage than the state saw in the previous three years.