In the US, seatbelts have been required in passenger cars for decades and the CDC has reported that they have saved roughly a quarter-million lives since 1977[1]. However, there are mass-occupancy vehicles that use our roadways daily that do not require seatbelts for all passengers.

The primary example of this is the school bus. While required by regulation in some states and jurisdictions, there is no Federal mandate for seatbelts on school buses. While legislation has been proposed[2], there is no school bus seatbelt requirement in Washington State.

A poll conducted by the National Education Association’s NEA Today magazine reported that 53% of respondents favored seat belts compared to 47% who were opposed[3]. However, the NEA outlines the main concerns, often expressed by bus drivers themselves, as follows:

  • Student use of belt buckles as weapons, causing injury to themselves and/or others.
  • Inability to enforce proper usage of seatbelts.
  • Difficulty evacuating panicked students in case of an emergency.

Since it is not uncommon for a bus driver to be solely responsible for large groups of students, these factors have carried a lot of weight in the ongoing discussion about the role of seatbelts on our nation’s school buses.

Most municipal city buses also do not require their passengers to wear seatbelts, nor require them as an option, and there have been studies of rail transportation that may support the aforementioned bullet-point about compromised ability to evacuate during an emergency[4].

On May 23, 2018, the National Transportation Safety Board announced a recommendation to implement seatbelts on all new school buses[5]. As more and more states enact or consider seatbelt requirements for large buses, we can expect more data points and studies to ensure we as a society are making the safest choices possible.

[1] https://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/seatbeltbrief/index.html

[2] https://www.nwpb.org/2019/03/01/legislature-considers-bill-for-seat-belts-in-school-buses/

[3] http://www.nea.org/home/64577.htm

[4] http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/documents/RSSB_Seatbelts2007.pdf

[5] https://knowledgecenter.csg.org/kc/content/national-transportation-safety-board-recommends-seat-belts-school-buses

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In early March a pedestrian was killed on Interstate 5 north of Woodland when a tractor-trailer crashed into him. The fatal pedestrian accident occurred early on the morning of March 3rd. Phillip Reich of Covington was driving the tractor-trailer in the right lane on I-5 when he noticed a blue Toyota Prius on the right shoulder. As he approached the Prius, he moved into the center lane. When he did so, he struck Zeus Perez of Portland, killing him instantly.

Investigators do not know why Mr. Perez was in the center lane of the highway. Yet since there were no other passengers or witnesses present, police are investigating the accident more closely. The deadly trucking accident closed I-5 North for 5 hours that day.

Pedestrians face risk every time they share the road with drivers. Motor vehicle drivers—even in the middle of the day, do not always recognize joggers and other pedestrians in the road. In the night, however, the risks of being injured in a pedestrian accident increase significantly. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, pedestrians were more likely to be killed in crashes during the hours of 3 a.m. and 6 a.m.

Tips for Avoiding a Pedestrian Accident

Before you head out on the road, consider using these tips to stay safe and avoid deadly pedestrian accidents:

  • Wear bright and reflective clothing
  • Do not listen to headphones
  • Do not talk or text on cellphone
  • Keep your eyes on the road and on your surroundings
  • Walk on sidewalks whenever possible
  • Look both ways when crossing streets and intersections
  • Never assume other drivers see you
  • Walk with a buddy
  • Walk facing traffic so you can react quickly to reckless drivers
  • Wait for walk signals and cross at crosswalks

If you or someone you love is injured or killed in a pedestrian accident, it is important to know that you have legal rights. An experienced attorney can help you recover the damages you need after an accident. Pedestrian injuries are often severe and life changing. They often result in permanent disability or chronic pain. As a result, you need a lawyer on your side that understands the long-term complications that can arise.

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When a car and a truck collide, the car is at a serious disadvantage. One particularly devastating type of crash is when the car slides underneath the back of a heavy tractor-trailer. The federal government requires that most heavy truck trailers be equipped with underride guards, which are steel bars that hang down from the backs of trailers. These are designed to prevent the front of passenger vehicles from moving underneath in a crash to the back. Most do a good job, thus increasing survival chances during a crash, as shown by a recent test by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). However, in crashes involving only a small portion of the truck’s rear, most trailers fail to prevent potentially deadly underride accidents from occurring.

Crash Test Results

The Institute tested trailers to see how well guards prevented underride in a 35 mph crash. Trailers were tested from eight different manufacturers, which together account for 80% of the heavy truck trailer market. Each trailer, which met U.S. and Canadian standards, was tested up to three times; in a full overlap crash test, a 50% overlap crash test and a narrow overlap crash test.

All trailers prevented underride in the full overlap crash test at 35 mph. All but one prevented underride in the 50% overlap scenario. And, only one, manufactured by Manac, prevented underride in all three-overlap tests.

Underride Guard Requirements are Inadequate

Modern cars are equipped with a crush zone at the front that is designed to minimize injury to occupants, but this crush zone only works in a collision with a trailer if the trailer’s underride guard stays in place.

Research shows that minimum strength and dimension requirements for underride guards are inadequate, prompting the Institute to petition the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for more stringent requirements. Already, though, trailer manufacturers have responded by installing guards that are significantly stronger that the agency mandates.

A likely reason for this is that trailers in Canada have had to meet tougher guard standards since 2007.

Underride Guard Improvements

In their successful underride guard, Manac engineers have moved the vertical supports further from the center of the trailer, which makes the ends of the guard stronger. With this guard, not only did the test car and dummy fare better, but the trailer sustained less damage and was less expensive to repair. The IIHS test indicates that the tougher Canadian requirements are a good first step, but that design improvements are necessary to make underride guards even more effective.

Contact Seattle Trucking Accident Attorneys

If you or someone you love is injured in a trucking accident, an experienced Seattle truck accident attorney at Phillips Law Firm can help. Time is of the essence; so don’t delay. Trucking companies have large firms on their side that are dedicated to protecting their bottom line and limiting their liabilities. You need a firm on your side who knows how to take on the large trucking companies.

If you are interested in learning more about your legal options, call us at 1-800-708-6000. Our Seattle personal injury lawsuit attorneys are waiting to assist you 24/7, offering a free case evaluation. Remember our no fee promise. If we do not recover anything for you, you do not owe us an attorney fee.

The personal injury lawyers at Phillips Law Firm have successfully represented injured individuals and their families in Seattle, Tacoma, Vancouver, Bellevue, Everett, Kent, Auburn, Renton, Federal Way, Bellingham, Marysville, Lakewood, Redmond, Shoreline, and throughout the State of Washington.

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Seattle highways and interstates are often full of commercial trucks transporting a variety of goods and products across the state. From livestock to hazardous chemicals, these large trucks pose a significant risk to all those who share the roads with them. When trucking accidents do occur, the results are often catastrophic and deadly.

When it comes to trucking accidents in Seattle and across the country, did you know…

  1. Nearly half-a-million truck accidents occur each year in the United States: While this is only a small portion of the 10 million car accidents that occur, these accidents are disproportionately fatal. In fact, there are over 5,000 trucking accident fatalities every year.
  2. The majority of trucking accidents occur in rural areas: This is also true. Rural roads are typically narrow and not maintained as well as in urban areas. This combined with decreased visibility on many rural roads can increase trucking accidents. Nearly 70% of all trucking accidents occurred in a rural area.
  3. 90% of trucking accidents are caused by driver error: Forget about Mother Nature, truck driver error and motor vehicle driver error cause the majority of the trucking accidents. Fatigue, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and distracted driving all lead to fatal trucking accidents.
  4. Fatal trucking accidents cost Americans more than $20 Billion each year: These costs are astronomical, especially when you consider that almost 98% of semi-truck accidents result in a fatality. Automobiles are simply so much smaller than semi-trucks and tractor-trailers and this results in catastrophic and life threatening injuries.
  5. In 2012, 46 people were killed in trucking accidents in Washington State: Sadly, these numbers are on the rise. In 2009 there were only 31 people killed in trucking accidents. With more commercial vehicles hitting the road every year, experts warn that these numbers could increase even more.

Contact Seattle Trucking Accident Attorneys

If you or someone you love is injured in a trucking crash, the experienced Seattle trucking accident lawyers at Phillips Law Firm can assist you and your family obtain the compensation you need to recover fully. To learn more about your legal options, call us at 1-800-708-6000. Our Seattle personal injury lawsuit attorneys are waiting to assist you 24/7, offering a free case evaluation. Remember our no fee promise. If we do not recover anything for you, you do not owe us an attorney fee.

The personal injury lawyers at Phillips Law Firm have successfully represented injured individuals and their families in Seattle, Tacoma, Vancouver, Bellevue, Everett, Kent, Auburn, Renton, Federal Way, Bellingham, Marysville, Lakewood, Redmond, Shoreline, and throughout the State of Washington.

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One of the major causes of trucking accidents in Seattle continues to be truck driver fatigue. A 2005 study published by the FMCSA found that 3 out of 4 truck drivers reported experiencing at least one type of driving error due to fatigue. 41% of truck drivers who were involved in a crash, cited fatigue or distractedness as the reason for their crash—7% actually fell asleep at the wheel.

Fatigue impairs a driver’s ability to react appropriately in an emergency. They may oversteer, fail to apply the brakes quickly, or misjudge distance between vehicles. Safety studies have proven that driving fatigued impairs driving performance similar to alcohol. Being awake for 18 hours is similar to driving a large commercial vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration above the legal limit.

In order to combat truck driver fatigue and improve the safety of America’s roads, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has imposed specific rules and regulations regarding how many breaks and rests truck drivers are required to take. These regulations are also known as the FMCSA’s Hours-of-Service (HOS).

Common HOS Requirements:

  • Truck drivers must take a 30 minutes break during the first 8 hours of driving
  • Property carrying drivers are only allowed to work a maximum of 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty
  • Truck drivers may not driver after 60/70 hours on duty in 7/8 days
  • A 34-hour off-duty period is required to restart the workweek
  • Drivers who driver less than 100 miles can skip the 30 minute rest breaks

Unfortunately, many truck drivers and trucking companies find ways around the HOA requirements. They may falsify driving logs, encourage truck drivers to drive longer periods, or truckers may fail to sleep during designated rest periods. When this occurs, deadly trucking accidents can occur, causing harm to you or someone you love.

Contact Seattle Truck Accident Attorneys

If a negligent truck driver injures you or someone you love, an experienced Seattle trucking accident attorney at Phillips Law Firm can help. If you are interested in learning more about your legal options, call us at 1-800-708-6000. Our personal injury attorneys are waiting to assist you 24/7, offering a free case evaluation. Remember our no fee promise. If we do not recover anything for you, you do not owe us an attorney fee.

The personal injury lawyers at Phillips Law Firm have successfully represented injured individuals and their families in Seattle, Tacoma, Vancouver, Bellevue, Everett, Kent, Auburn, Renton, Federal Way, Bellingham, Marysville, Lakewood, Redmond, Shoreline, and throughout the State of Washington. 

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Trucking AccidentThe Importance of Black Box Data

Rainy and wintry weather make tractor-trailer accidents some of the most catastrophic and deadly accidents that occur on Seattle roads. When a trucking company or truck driver is responsible for these accidents, you will need an experienced trucking accident attorney on your side. Proving fault in a trucking accident can be difficult, but if you act quickly, it is not impossible.

Many commercial trucking companies outfit their large trucks with electronic data recorders known as black boxes. Most of these black boxes will record maintenance issues, driver performance and email exchanges between the driver and the trucking company. Specific information about driver performance includes rate of speed, hard braking, engine RPMs, and whether or not the clutch was engaged. Obtaining the data contained in these black boxes is vital to winning your case in Seattle courts.

Black box data can be lost if the truck is driven after the accident, so it is important for attorneys to download a truck’s black box data as soon as possible. Trucking companies are well aware of their importance in a personal injury case, and consequently many black boxes are “accidentally” lost or destroyed after trucking accidents.

Using Black Box Data

How lawyers use the black box data varies depending on the facts and circumstances of your individual Seattle trucking accident. The data can be used by an expert witness to prepare a computer animation that re-creates the accident. Such demonstrative aids are very effective tools for proving liability.

Additionally, the data can be used to contradict defense experts’ opinions. If their opinions are based on assumptions that are inconsistent with the data downloaded from the black box, your attorney can show that the defense’s reconstructions are incorrect.

How a Seattle Trucking Accident Attorney can help You

A knowledgeable Seattle trucking accident attorney can effectively use data obtained from a truck’s black box to prove liability and recover compensation for your medical bills, property damage, and lost wages after a commercial vehicle wreck. The damage that results from these collisions can be incredible, and the risk of serious injury to you can be significant.

Contact Seattle Trucking Accident Attorneys

If a large commercial truck driver injures you or someone you love, an experienced Seattle trucking accident attorney at Phillips Law Firm can help. If you are interested in learning more about your legal options, call us at 1-800-708-6000. Our Seattle trucking accident lawsuit attorneys are waiting to assist you 24/7, offering a free case evaluation. Remember our no fee promise. If we do not recover anything for you, you do not owe us an attorney fee.

The personal injury lawyers at Phillips Law Firm have successfully represented injured individuals and their families in Seattle, Tacoma, Vancouver, Bellevue, Everett, Kent, Auburn, Renton, Federal Way, Bellingham, Marysville, Lakewood, Redmond, Shoreline, and throughout the State of Washington.

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Seattle Trucking AccidentEvery year, an estimated 15 million trucks travel more than 500 billion miles on United States freeways and highways. From produce to livestock, gasoline to consumer goods, these trucks generate $250 billion annually for trucking company owners. Yet even with this staggering profit, trucking companies still place profits before safety and routinely violate federal trucking regulations.

Trucking companies often look for ways to cut corners, in an attempt to increase profits. This can include cutting back on truck maintenance, neglecting to replace worn tires or auto parts, and encouraging drivers to drive long hours to get their jobs done. This often leads to truck drivers who are driving fatigued or under the influence of stimulant medication, and the results can be deadly to all those who share Seattle’s roads.

An estimated 500,000 trucking accidents occur each year in the United States and account for 1 out of every 8 traffic death. Yet even when a trucking company’s negligence has led to your accident, it is impossible to fight these large trucking companies without obtaining legal representation.

At Phillips Law Firm, our Seattle trucking accident lawyers have extensive experience fighting large trucking companies. Trucking companies often have large legal teams dedicated to protecting their profits and minimizing their liabilities. Our firm has the resources needed to take these large trucking companies to court and hold them accountable for their negligence. We don’t back down because we believe in obtaining justice for you.

When trucking companies are facing a lawsuit, they will stop at nothing to protect their bottom line and avoid responsibility. As such, they may falsify driving records, destroy black box data, and contact injured victims quickly to offer a low-ball settlement. Don’t let the trucking companies take advantage of you. You need to fight aggressively to obtain the compensation you need to fully recover and get your life back on track after a Seattle trucking accident.

Contact Seattle Trucking Accident Lawsuit Attorneys

If a large commercial truck driver injures you or someone you love, an experienced Seattle trucking accident attorney at Phillips Law Firm can help. If you are interested in learning more about your legal options, call us at 1-800-708-6000. Our Seattle trucking accident lawsuit attorneys are waiting to assist you 24/7, offering a free case evaluation. Remember our no fee promise. If we do not recover anything for you, you do not owe us an attorney fee.

The personal injury lawyers at Phillips Law Firm have successfully represented injured individuals and their families in Seattle, Tacoma, Vancouver, Bellevue, Everett, Kent, Auburn, Renton, Federal Way, Bellingham, Marysville, Lakewood, Redmond, Shoreline, and throughout the State of Washington.

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