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Since it's formation in 1980, Mothers Against Drunk Driving has made leaps in the education of Americans about drunk driving. Even today there are more and more studies and statistics available to highlight the dangers. From Whatcom County lawyer Bill Coats, here is a summary of statistics on drunk driving.

How a drunk adult can contribute to a child's death without being anywhere near the accident scene

Here is one client's story of how a series of tragic mistakes in the name of having a good time drinking at the lake led to the death of a teenager. Lawyer Bill Coats represented the family of this teen in recovering $2.5M in a wrongful death lawsuit in which the adults who should have been supervising were too drunk to do so.

Signs, Symptoms and Seriousness of TBI

The symptoms of TBI can be subtle, even things that most people experience now and then normally. But the effects of them can be serious, even deadly. Click to learn more from personal injury lawyer Bill Coats of Bellingham, WA about how to recognize a TBI and the #1 thing you should do immediately if you hurt your head in a car accident.

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.

What kinds of damages are available in a wrongful death lawsuit?

Bill Coats Law, a personal injury firm in Bellingham, WA, specializes in wrongful death lawsuits and the complexities of car accident cases. A common question when family members come out of the fog and trauma of losing a loved one in a car accident is what kinds of damages are available to help them dig out of the financial tragedy. Click to read about your rights in wrongful death lawsuits.

Calculating wage loss is an important aspect of assessing damages

One of the most important aspects of figuring out a fair settlement is including money for lost wages. Lost wages don't just mean the time off of work someone had to take while recovering from injuries. What if you can't go back to the same job you had before and must take a lower paying job instead? Check out this video on wage loss to determine if you might be due more money for your claim than the insurance company is trying to offer.

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:

Court:

Unknown Arizona State Court

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.

Motorcycle passenger's lawyers win suit, awarding the passenger $1,000,000 and finding the city of Coachella negligent in its placement of a wall at an intersection

Accident Type:

Motorcycle Accident

Result Date:

Sunday, February 1, 1981

Monetary Result:

$1,000,000

Topics:

Court:

Unknown California State Court

Mr. Zamarripa, a 17-year-old youth, sustained severe brain damage, including spastic paralysis and a speech impediment when the motorcycle he was riding as a passenger crashed into a van at an intersection. Zamarripa claimed that a five foot high wall on the Union Oil company’s property caused his stepfather, who was driving the motorcycle, to be unable to see on-coming cars at the intersection. Zamarripa sued the city of Coachella for negligently placing the wall. The defending oil company denied this claim and argued that the wall had nothing to do with the accident which took place 86 feet past the intersection. The verdict was in favor of Zamarripa, who recieved $1,000,000 damages. It was judged, however, that only the city, and not the oil company, were responsible for the placement of the wall.

Certain vehicles have a higher likelihood of rollover

The higher the center of gravity, the higher the likelihood that a vehicle will rollover. Accidents and sudden turns can sometimes prove to be too much for trucks and SUVs to handle, which can result in one of the scarier – and deadlier – kinds of crashes. If a vehicle rolls, common results are that occupants are ejected and/or the roof is crushed. Catastrophic injuries may occur such as multiple fractures, back or spinal cord injuries, or traumatic brain injuries. And in the worst case scenarios, fatalities may result. For more info on rollover crashes, factors that contribute to rollovers, and what to do, click here.

Common factors that make a rollover accident more likely

Certain vehicles have a higher likelihood of rollover. Trucks and SUVs, with their higher center of gravity, are especially prone. Rollover accidents are some of the more dangerous types of accidents, and can involve deadly events such as ejecting passengers from the vehicle, or crushing the roof. If you have been involved in a rollover crash, it's highly likely you're facing a great deal of medical bills and expensive damages. Click to learn more about what to do next if you were the victim of a rollover car crash.