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Being hit from behind on a motorcycle can have devastating consequences

It’s not always so cut and dry who is at fault in a rear-end collision. Usually it’s the fault of the driver who was following behind. Sometimes it’s easy to determine, but other cases have other complications. The insurance companies, you can rest assured, have a group of people whose job it is to find loopholes where there is a gray area. And just about every case has some gray area. So what do you do if you have been hit by someone from  behind when you were on a motorcycle? Find out here.

Ever had to slam on your brakes when driving through Bellingham to avoid a rear-end crash?

 It happens when, of course, Bellingham drivers least expect it – a big rig up ahead has spilled its load, or a distracted driver swerves into the lane ahead, creating chaos for other drivers. Or maybe a herd of deer crosses a Whatcom county road. Here’s what to do so you can avoid a rear-end collision by learning more about panic stops.

One thing you can do to help prevent rear end collisions in foggy conditions

Here's a hint: turn your lights off! But only if you have stopped well away from the roadway. For the explanation of why you'd ever want to turn off your lights in the fog, and more tips on getting through it safely, head over to the blog for lawyer Bill Coats from Bellingham, Washington, a place that's quite familiar with fog and rain.

When a car and train collide, the results can be deadly

Trains' whistles are often heard in Bellingham, and all through Whatcom County as well as Skagit County. As we are located in a busy corridor for trains traveling along the coast, their visits through here are increasingly frequent. Where cars and trains meet, sometimes deadlly accidents occur. Learn more about what factors can cause accidents at railroad crossings, and how dangerous it is for cars in an accident with a train.

What to do if you were in a motor vehicle and train crash?

It’s a scary thought, and luckily a fairly rare occurrence. Sometimes it’s a defect in the track. Other times, equipment failure. Sometimes a crash is due to a driver’s error.But nearly all cars that are hit by trains sustain devastating damages, and so do the people in them. Railroad companies will hire a team of private investigators to assess train crossing accidents, and are ready to employ them at the scene of any accident. The companies do not want to be held accountable for accidents that may have been due to their mistake. So what do you do if you've been in a vehicle crash with a train?

Arizona motorcyclist's lawyers win his case against the city of Yuma for not installing proper signs after accident that left him paralyzed

Accident Type: 
Motorcycle Accident
Result Date: 
Saturday, January 1, 1983
Monetary Result: 
$1,163,000
Topics: 
  Mr. Roberts, 26­-year­-old journeyman ironworker was rendered paraplegic following his motorcycle crash. The accident happened as he was coming home from a late night out on a road in the city of Yuma, Arizona. Roberts had stopped at a stop sign to enter a major highway, entered the roadway, and attempted to negotiate a curve. As his motorcycle reached the curve, the roadway dropped underneath. The cycle hit a curve and rolled over. Roberts argued that the city was negligent for failing  to reduce the speed of the roadway and failing to warn of the curve. The judge in this case found the city of Yuma was negligent for failure to install proper signs around the area in question and returned a $1,163,000 award. The award was comprised of $514,000 for the present value of future lost earnings, $199,000 for past and future medical expenses, and $450,000 for pain and suffering.

More factors than meet the eye can affect a pedestrian accident case

In this personal injury case won by Bellingham lawyer Bill Coats, he found compensation for the husband who witnessed his wife hit by a negligent truck driver.

Tips on safe motorcycling

There's an allure to motorcycle riding, as all those who love it will tell you. However, it's also one of the more dangerous kinds of vehicles when a collision does occur. Riders lack the protection of an enclosed vehicle and weigh so much less than a car... or semi-tractor trailer. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety(link is external), "the federal government estimates that per mile traveled in 2013, the number of deaths on motorcycles was over 26 times the number in cars."  For yours and other motorists' safety, learn how to ride your motorcycle safely.

Motorcycling – Fun and freedom tempered by increased risk of collision

For enthusiasts, motorcycling is the preferred mode of travel. A sense of freedom, a close connection to the road and nature, and the speed and maneuverability of a motorcycle are all reasons why there has been an increase in motorcycling's popularity. However, given the vulnerability of a motorcyclist to the larger, heavier vehicles sharing the road, the danger in injury or death from a motorcycle accident is significantly greater. Click here for more information on what to do next if you were in a motorcycle crash.

Tips on what to do next if your child was hit by a car

Kids love bikes – from a bigwheel to a ten-speed. But even with the necessary safety gear and careful supervision, accidents can happen. A child can be hit by a vehicle in split seconds, and experience broken bones, bruises, or unthinkable injuries. When someone else is at fault it’s almost too much to bear. Even if it seems that the facts are clear, and the accident was caused by someone else, there is a legal process in filing a personal injury claim. Legal processes are complex and negotiating with the insurance companies – even if criminal charges were filed against the responsible party – can be traumatizing to all involved.  This isn’t the time to go it alone, and take on a big company yourself that is in the business of saving itself money. Click the link to learn more about what to do if your child was hit by a car.