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According to Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center, in 2012, 726 lost their lives in bicycle/motor vehicle crashes nationally, just under two people every day of the year in the U.S. The death rate from bicycle crashes is high due to the relative lack of protection bicyclists have in an impact with a motor vehicle.
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.
The first thing accident victims need to do when the other driver doesn't have insurance
We take to the roads throughout Bellingham and Whatcom County trusting that other drivers will have insurance. But that’s not always the case. You can well imagine the protocol as it’s supposed to happen after an accident: get medical attention for any injuries, file a police report, and exchange insurance information with other motorists involved. What happens if that last step can’t be followed because the driver has no insurance, or a policy that simply doesn’t cover all of the damages that occurred? So quickly, an already a stressful time just became even more worrisome. Click to learn more on what to do if the driver who hits you has no insurance.
At one point or another, everyone is a pedestrian. As the expense of driving and insuring a vehicle rise, more and more people choose to walk to their destinations. As the number of pedestrians increases, so do the number of pedestrian accidents. To see where the Seattle and Tacoma regions rank in terms of pedestrian collisions nationally, please go to this National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report.
The size and speed of trains brings death and destruction to anyone and anything in their path. The main forms of train accidents are train derailments, train and pedestrian accidents, and train and car accidents.
To learn more about train accidents in Western Washington, go to the Federal Railroad Administration site.
Wrong Way Driving Causes Devastating Car Crashes in Bellingham
Like many cities, Bellingham has its share of one-way roads. It's not uncommon to see drivers who travel against the direction they're supposed to. Especially when this happens at highway speeds, such as along I-5 or Whatcom County roads,being hit by a wrong-way driver is one of the most devastating kinds of collisions possible. These crashes can happen very fast, without the victims’ seeing them coming. Often the injuries sustained in these kinds of accidents are major and possibly fatal. Click here if you've been involved in a wreck where the driver was going the wrong way.
Truckers are a growing motorist group using Washington's highways, and commercial trucking accidents occur regularly in Seattle and Tacoma. When a truck crash happens, serious injuries and fatalities are a common result.
Common causes of commercial truck accidents in Seattle and Tacoma
According to IIHS, a large percentage of trucking crashes are caused by:
Hit and run car accidents are some of the worst kinds of crashes
No one will dispute that a motor vehicle accident is traumatic for everyone involved, including the driver who caused it. But fleeing an accident is never a good idea, and makes a tragic situation worse every time. If you have been hit by a hit-and-run driver, life can get really complicated very fast. Click here to learn more about what to do next.
Motor vehicle accidents are a common occurrence in Spokane and throughout Eastern Washington. Many crashes are completely avoidable, caused by drunk drivers or distracted drivers. Whatever the cause, car accidents are a major safety and economic issue for the community.
Motorcycle accidents are a common occurrence in Spokane and across Eastern Washington. With so many bikes on the roads, the number of collisions is high, and motorcycle accidents are a major safety and economic issue for riders in the region.
Get information here on Spokane motorcycle crashes and laws.