Advanced Search

Tips on avoiding a DUI

There are more ways than every to avoid a DUI nowadays. Personal injury attorney Bill Coats in Bellingham, WA writes about creative ways to use technology to avoid one, as well as tried and true common sense. For tips on safe and sober driving, click here. 

Being drunk makes you much more likely to crash. Here's how to avoid it

At .08 BAC, a driver is 11 times more likely than the non-drinking driver to be involved in a crash. It's easy to avoid driving drunk. From Bellingham, WA personal injury attorney Bill Coats, here are tips on how to protect yourself and loved ones from driving drunk.

Do ignition interlock devices work to keep drunk drivers off the roads?

If a drunk driver is caught and reprimanded through fines, loss of license, and even jail time, does it mean that the lesson is learned? Unfortunately, the data says no. The hope is always that he or she will never drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol again. An ignition interlock device can greatly reduce the number of drunk drivers on the road by enforcing behavior change and consequences for harmful choices. Click here to learn more about the effectiveness of interlock devices in keeping drunk drivers off the roads.

MADD - Mothers Against Drunk Driving

The mission of Mothers Against Drunk Driving is to stop drunk driving, support the victims of this violent crime and prevent underage drinking.

New law affects drivers who use marijuana in Washington State

If you are driving in Washington State -one of the two states in the U.S. that have legalized marijuana - and have marijuana in your vehicle, learn about what the current laws are. Recent changes to laws regulating marijuana usage and driving have taken effect. 

How Much Does a DUI Really Cost?

While a DUI can feel like someone's worst nightmare, the alternative is so much more severe, as often drunk drivers speed, tailgate, or cross the center line - behaviors that can bring on deadly injuries to all involved. But do you want to know how hard a DUI will hit your wallet? Click to learn how much you'll pay after getting a DUI.

Whatcom County Community Legal Resources

This page gives links to a variety of self-help legal resources.

Washington State Office of Public Defense

The mission of the Washington State Office of Public Defense (OPD) is "to implement the constitutional and statutory guarantees of counsel and to ensure the effective and efficient delivery of indigent defense services funded by the state... ."  RCW 2.70.005.  Established by the Legislature in 1996, OPD is an independent agency of the judicial branch.

Tips on how to be a safer boater

It's up to boaters to prepare themselves for worst-case scenarios, and that begins with property boating safety. If you've never taken a boating safety course, every state and national boating agency will encourage you to do so - even if your state doesn't require it. If you're just taking a course to get your license, you're taking it for the wrong reason. Safety is much more important than a card in your wallet. Click here for classes and resources on how to avoid boating accidents.

What survivors need to know about recoverable damages in wrongful death cases

It may feel overwhelming to dig through all the complexities and bills at such a difficult time, but this short article by Bill Coats Law, a personal injury firm in Bellingham, WA, guides survivors through the morass. Click here to learn what survivors need to know about recoverable damages in wrongful death cases.