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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: 
  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: 
  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.

 

Rollover Accidents Are Especially Dangerous on Whatcom and Skagit County Roads

While it’s hard to imagine a vehicle accident that isn’t scary, rollovers have particularly dangerous aspects. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) they tend to happen on rural roads that lack barriers like guard rails, roads which are common in Whatcom and Skagit Counties. This means that the vehicle can end up in a ditch or down an embankment. Also, the faster the vehicle is going, the higher the chance it will roll. Faster speeds result in harder impacts. Drunk or distracted driving also tend to factor into rollover crashes. As these are typically single-vehicle accidents, a driver who is drunk or distracted is inattentive and careless to the conditions on the road. Even a simple curve in the road can start the chain reaction of circumstances that result in a rollover. Swerving to avoid a pothole, or a tire blow out can result in flipping your vehicle over. If you have been in a rollover accident, some of these factors might have been involved in your crash. Click here for more information on what to do after a rollover accident.

The benefits to hiring a lawyer who focuses in car accident cases

It takes a lot of knowledge of the loopholes insurance companies will use to try to get out of paying on claims. To get the maximum settlement, you need someone who can outsmart these corporations' teams of lawyers. However, not all lawyers are equipped to give you the best legal advice. In this post, Bellingham, Washington personal injury attorney Bill Coats writes about the importance of choosing a lawyer for your personal injury case who specializes in those types of cases. 

Two key characteristics to look for in a good attorney

Not every attorney is well equipped to negotiate top settlements for their clients. Some have never even set foot inside a courtroom! You'll want the best representation for your case, so here are two things an injured person should look for in a personal injury lawyer.

Teenage pedestrian Daejah Hough is dead after being struck by 2 vehicles in Darlington County while attempting to cross the street. Hough died around 6:30 a.m. after being hit by a freightliner truck and then by a Chrysler minivan while attempting to cross US Highway 52 at Syracuse Street. She died at a local hospital and no charges will be filed against the drivers. Hough was at fault for unlawfully trying to cross the highway and the incident is under investigation by the Darlington County Coroner and the SCHP.

When a bicycle accident is fatal, survivors have hard decisions to make

No one wants to lose a loved one to an accident. But to lose someone because of the negligence or recklessness of another person makes the loss that much harder. Survivors often face anger and confusion in the aftermath of a wrongful death, and yet have so many decisions to make, from funeral arrangements to learning how to live without their loved ones. And making ends meet can be more pain on top of what feels insurmountable. If your loved one was killed while riding their bike, it is unfortunately not likely that the insurers from the negligent driver’s car company are going to offer compensation that fully covers your losses. Having a personal injury attorney on your side can make your financial recovery possible so that you can focus on the emotional healing. Click for more information on filing wrongful death claims from a bike accident.