Budigan Law Firm - 2601 42nd Ave W., Seattle, Washington, 98199

Seattle Near the Bottom of Best Drivers List

February 29, 2016 By

Allstate insurance company has issued their list of the cities with the best drivers in America and once again Seattle is near the bottom of the list.

Last year Seattle was at number 173 out of the 200 largest cities in the country and this year the city is down to 184.

The data is based on claims the insurance company receives and given the size of Allstate, insuring around one in 10 drivers in the United States, it is a representative sample.

The report states that drivers in Seattle are on average likely to have a crash once every 6.9 years, which is about 46 percent more often than the national average. The reason for the frequency of accidents in Seattle is not known but it could be the fact it has a high population density and lots of rain.

The city with the worst drivers is Boston where they have a serious crash every 3.9 years on average and the safest drivers are in Kansas City, Kansas where they only have a crash every 13.3 years.

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in an accident and that accident occurred in the Puget Sound area or anywhere in Washington State, please talk to the Seattle accident attorneys of the Budigan Law Firm right away. Call us at (206) 284-5305 or contact us online today to schedule your free initial consultation.

Filed Under: Auto Accident

How to Drive Safely When Overseas on Vacation

January 30, 2016 By

The idea of driving yourself when you are overseas on vacation giving you freedom to go and see the sights can be very attractive but when it comes to actually getting in the car you may naturally feel somewhat concerned.

By following some key rules your journeys will be less stressful. First check out the local rules and regulations and learn what the speed limits are. Remember not all countries use miles so work out how to change kilometers to miles so you know roughly what the limits are.

Every country has different drinking and driving laws, some have a zero tolerance policy so never drink and drive. Even in those countries where the alcohol restrictions are more lax it is both dangerous and stupid.

If the rule of country you are in is to drive on the left take special care especially at roundabouts where you have to drive around them the other way. Also be careful at pedestrian crosswalks as different countries have different rules when it comes to giving way.

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in an accident and that accident occurred in the Puget Sound area or anywhere in Washington State, please talk to the Seattle accident attorneys of the Budigan Law Firm right away. Call us at (206) 284-5305 or contact us online today to schedule your free initial consultation.

Filed Under: Driver safety

Ride the Ducks Bus Had 442 Safety Violations

December 30, 2015 By

Following the accident to the Ride the Ducks tour bus in Seattle which was responsible for the death of five people with several others injured, the Utilities and Transportation Commission have released their report showing that there were 442 violations of safety protocols.

The commission will shortly decide whether or not Ride the Ducks will be allowed to resume service and how much to fine the company – they are allowed to impose a fine of up to $1,000 for each violation.

The company has offered full cooperation and if they are allowed to resume service they will no longer use the bridge where the accident occurred.

Should the company be allowed to continue the vehicles must pass federal Commercial Vehicle Safety inspections and improve its safety ratings from unsatisfactory to conditional by the end of January. They must also produce a safety management plan showed what action they have taken for each violation.

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in an accident and that accident occurred in the Puget Sound area or anywhere in Washington State, please talk to the Seattle accident attorneys of the Budigan Law Firm right away. Call us at (206) 284-5305 or contact us online today to schedule your free initial consultation.

Filed Under: Truck Accident

Head Protection Safety Features

November 30, 2015 By

When it comes to buying another car, it is very important not just to check out the engine, but also to check all the different safety features.

One of the most important features to look for is how well your head would be protected in the event of a crash as head injuries can be the most devastating injuries to suffer.

Head injury protection is usually made of foam or some other material which will absorb energy. You should check that the interior of the vehicle, such as the sides and the roof have some sort of protection under the trim. Another useful feature is head air bags which either deploy in side impacts or rollovers, or both. Both of these come into their own if the heads of people inside hit the upper part of the car during an accident.

In addition, you should check the head restraints which are that part of the seat at the top and they are there to prevent whiplash or head injury during a rear impact. They are required by law in front seats but may not be present on older vehicles and although not required in rear seats they are a useful safety feature to protect rear seat passengers. Most can be adjusted manually but what are called dynamic head restraints are the best safety feature as they change automatically in a crash to provide maximum protection.

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in an accident and that accident occurred in the Puget Sound area or anywhere in Washington State, please talk to the Seattle accident attorneys of the Budigan Law Firm right away. Call us at (206) 284-5305 or contact us online today to schedule your free initial consultation.

Filed Under: Driver safety

Multi Vehicle Crash Closes Northbound I5

October 31, 2015 By

On Monday, October 5, there was a serious multi vehicle crash which resulted in the closure of all northbound lanes of the Interstate 5.

According to authorities, the accident happened at around 2 p.m. on the interstate near 272nd Street in Federal Way, Seattle.

A blue sedan in the southbound lanes crossed the median crashing into an SUV in the northbound lanes. The impact caused the sedan to be sheared in half and trapped the rear end of the car under the SUV. The female driver of the blue sedan was taken to Harborview Medical Center with serious injuries. Other vehicles then crashed into the first accident with six vehicles in total involved. There were at least six other injuries which are thought to be of a minor nature.

The accident caused tailbacks of seven miles in both directions with drivers taking pictures of the crash causing further delays. The freeway was closed for three hours while troopers cleared the scene and conducted investigations into the accident. State Patrol confirmed that investigations are still ongoing and it is not known at the stage whether any charges will be brought against the driver.

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in an accident and that accident occurred in the Puget Sound area or anywhere in Washington State, please talk to the Seattle accident attorneys of the Budigan Law Firm right away. Call us at (206) 284-5305 or contact us online today to schedule your free initial consultation.

Filed Under: Auto Accident

Four Killed and Dozens Injured in “Ride the Ducks” crash

September 30, 2015 By

On Thursday, September 24, four people were killed and dozens injured when a “Ride the Ducks” amphibious tour vehicle and a charter bus transporting foreign students collided.

In addition to the four dead, 12 people were in critical condition and many more suffered minor injuries in the crash that also involved two other vehicles.

The Aurora Avenue Bridge where the incident occurred carries Washington Highway 99 over Lake Union, with three lanes in each direction and has no barrier to separate the traffic in the north and southbound lanes. Emergency crews were quick to arrive on the scene with Northwest Hospital just one of several hospitals receiving patients.

Although investigations are still being carried out in to the cause of the crash, concerns have been raised before about the safety of these amphibious boats which were designed as military crafts and not to navigate the narrow streets of the city. The duck drivers are required to not only drive the vehicle but also be a tour guide and entertainer; all of which some feel is too much for the driver. Previous lawsuits against “Ride a Duck” have included a motorcyclist who was run over and dragged some distance in 2011 and in May 2015 when Elizabeth Karnicki was killed by a “Ride the Ducks” vehicle attributed largely to the vehicles “huge blind spots”.

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in an accident and that accident occurred in the Puget Sound area or anywhere in Washington State, please talk to the Seattle accident attorneys of the Budigan Law Firm right away. Call us at (206) 284-5305 or contact us online today to schedule your free initial consultation.

Filed Under: Truck Accident

Single Car Rollover Leaves One Person Dead

August 26, 2015 By

Very early on Friday morning, August 7, a single car rollover crash left one person dead.

According to officials, the incident happened just after 1 a.m. near the intersection of Renton Avenue South and 68th Avenue South. A car was speeding at over 100 mph down Renton Avenue South near South Fountain Street in Seattle’s Rainier Valley. It appeared to lose control on a curve and crashed into a utility pole and flipped several times. The car then burst into flames caused by the live power lines which fell on it and the fire then spread to a nearby home although it was not seriously damaged.

Fire crews arrived and extinguished the blaze but the person in the vehicle had been ejected from the burning car and died at the scene.

Utility crews also arrived to replace the pole and lift the lines so that the body of the driver could be recovered and although Renton Avenue South remained closed all of the night it reopened shortly after 7 a.m.

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in an accident and that accident occurred in the Puget Sound area or anywhere in Washington State, please talk to the Seattle accident attorneys of the Budigan Law Firm right away. Call us at (206) 284-5305 or contact us online today to schedule your free initial consultation.

Filed Under: Auto Accident

Two People Were Killed and Three Injured

August 11, 2015 By

On Sunday, July 26, two people were killed and three injured in a crash.

According to the Washington State Patrol, the accident happened at around 1.15 a.m. near Meyers Road and State Route 22. Angela Walker, aged 36 and of Toppenish, was driving eastbound on SR 22 in a 2014 Chevy Impala. She was at the intersection when she was hit by a car driven by 19 year old Leticia Gasca of Wapato.

Walker died at the scene along with her passenger, 35 year old Kyle Walker, also of Toppenish.
Gasca was taken to Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital and one of her passengers, 21 year old Karina Lopez, of Moxee, was taken to Yakima Regional Medical and Cardiac Center. The second passenger, 22 year old Yasmin Sepulveda, of Toppenish, was taken to the same hospital, but the nature of their injuries is unknown.

Police said that the accident is still under investigation but they suspect drugs or alcohol were factors in the crash.

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in an accident and that accident occurred in the Puget Sound area or anywhere in Washington State, please talk to the Seattle accident attorneys of the Budigan Law Firm right away. Call us at (206) 284-5305 or contact us online today to schedule your free initial consultation.

Filed Under: Auto Accident

Distracted Drivers

July 31, 2015 By

Washington was the first state in the country to pass a texting while driving ban. That was in 2007. Hand-held cellphone use is also banned. Either is a primary offense, meaning that if an officer sees you holding a phone in your hand while you drive, you can be pulled over and get a ticket. The fine is a mere $124 for the first offense, however, not enough to deter most drivers. If you have been injured in an accident caused by a distracted driver, you may be able to recover substantial compensation for your injuries. Our Seattle accident attorneys can help.

Technology-Based Distractions

Technology-based distractions that have become common on our roads include:

  • Texting
  • Taking selfies
  • Using social media
  • GPS use
  • Talking on the phone, even hands-free
  • Watching videos

More than Devices

Device use has certainly taken distracted driving to a new level, but deadly distractions have been around since automobiles hit the market. These distractions are more difficult to prove because there are no cell phone records involved, but there are other types of evidence that we can use including witness testimony, camera footage, and even on-the-scene admissions by the distracted driver.

Examples of traditional distractions include:

  • Talking to passengers
  • Tending to children
  • Adjusting the stereo
  • Adjusting vehicle settings
  • Reaching for items in the floorboard or backseat
  • Personal grooming
  • Reading
  • Looking at maps
  • Daydreaming
  • Rubbernecking

If you believe that a distracted driver caused your accident or the accident that caused the death of someone you love and that accident occurred in the Puget Sound area or anywhere in Washington State, please talk to the Seattle distracted driving accident attorneys of the Budigan Law Firm right away. Call us at (206) 284-5305 or contact us online today to schedule your free initial consultation.

Filed Under: Auto Accident, Personal Injury