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Everett-Bellingham WA - Accident News and Resources including car, bicycle, motorcycle and truck accidents and much more.

Whatcom, Island, San Juan, Skagit, and Snohomish Counties comprise the Pacific Northwest Interior

Across these diverse counties, residents and visitors encounter gorgeous mountain views, extensive waterways, the beautiful Puget Sound, and the vast network of San Juan Islands.

Whatcom County, Washington, on the border with Canada, is an established college town with a growing population

Whatcom County has a population of approximately 200,000. The county seat and largest city is Bellingham. The county name ultimately derives from the Lummi word Xwotʼqom, meaning "noisy water."

The largest industries in Whatcom County include manufacturing, agriculture, and healthcare. Whatcom County is the location of Western Washington University.

Island County - A unique and beautiful region composed entirely of islands

As of the 2010 census, its population was 78,506. Its county seat is Coupeville, while its largest city is Oak Harbor. Its name reflects the fact that it is composed entirely of islands. It contains two large islands, Whidbey and Camano, and seven smaller islands - Baby, Ben Ure, Deception, Kalamut, Minor, Smith, and Strawberry.

San Juan County - A beautiful maritime archipelago of 743 islands

San Juan County is a county located in the Salish Sea in the far northwestern corner of Washington State. As of the 2010 census, its population was 15,769. Of the hundreds of islands in the county,  only 60 islands are inhabited.

Skagit County - Situated between near the majestic Cascade Mountains, the fertile Skagit Valley, and the powerful Skagit River

Skagit County, with a population of 116,901, is situated in the gorgeous Skagit Valley. The county seat and largest city is Mount Vernon. The majestic Cascade Mountains stand to the east, overlooking a fertile valley boasting a variety of agricultural crops. Running through the valley is the powerful Skagit River flowing westward toward the beautiful San Juan Islands.

Snohomish County - Home of the world's largest aerospace-industry manufacturing facility

Snohomish County, with a population of 772,501, is the third-most populous county in Washington. The county seat and largest city is Everett. The county is located between the sparkling blue waters of Puget Sound and the rugged, snow-capped peaks of the Cascade Mountains. Snohomish County begins 12 miles north of Seattle, a little under 100 miles south of Vancouver, and a short ferry ride away from the San Juan Islands and the Olympic Peninsula. Snohomish County is home to over 20,000 businesses, ranging from small family farms specializing in organic foods, to the world’s largest advanced manufacturing facility producing state-of art aerospace equipment.

The region's climate can contribute to accidents throughout the Northwest Interior

The climate is generally mild and typical of the Puget Sound region. The year-long average daily high and low temperatures are 59 and 44.1 °F. The western region of the Northwest Interior has a marine oceanic climate that is strongly influenced by the Cascade Range and Olympic Mountains, and gets an average of 42 inches of rain per year.

In Accident Data Center, find recent accidents at the links below:

Whatcom, Island, San Juan, Skagit, and Snohomish County car accidents;

Whatcom, Island, San Juan, Skagit, and Snohomish County pedestrian accidents;

Whatcom, Island, San Juan, Skagit, and Snohomish County motorcycle accidents;

Whatcom, Island, San Juan, Skagit, and Snohomish County bicycle accidents;

Whatcom, Island, San Juan, Skagit, and Snohomish County train accidents;

Whatcom, Island, San Juan, Skagit, and Snohomish County truck accidents.

When someone is injured in an accident in the region, it is important to gather information about what happens next.

Being injured in a serious accident is always a shocking and scary experience, and dealing with the aftermath is exhausting and stressful. Accident victims are forced to deal with hospitalization, medical treatments, missed work, and lost income, often while trying to manage pain and disability from their injuries. And then the insurance adjusters start circling. Find out more about accidents and what issues an injured person needs to be aware of by going to this link.

What to do after a serious injury accident in Whatcom, Island, San Juan, Skagit, or Snohomish County

When someone has been injured or killed in a motor-vehicle collision, the accident victim and their family members are left with medical bills, lost income, and other costs. It is important to get legal assistance to help the accident victim recover, or when the accident is fatal, to help the family members get fully compensated for their losses. Learn more about how a Pacific Northwest personal injury attorney will help injured victims and families.

State: 
Washington

Legal Data Center

Top 7 reasons to hire an experienced personal injury attorney
What every family needs to know about a wrongful death case
When a bicycle accident is fatal, survivors have hard decisions to make
Twelve tips to improve your personal injury claim
If a loved one died in an accident, this could be considered a wrongful death

Accident reports by county

Island County, WA - 15
San Juan County, WA - 2
Skagit County, WA - 113
Snohomish County, WA - 327
Whatcom County, WA - 156

Legal Resources

Everett-Bellingham WA
Negligence is the key issue in most personal injury cases

Negligence is the key issue in most personal injury cases

Negligence is one of the biggest factors in personal injury - otherwise known as tort - cases. The idea behind negligence is the belief that every member of society is supposed to act responsibly and avoid putting other people at risk – much like the golden rule. Every time someone is hurt doesn’t automatically mean negligence was involved, however. So it’s up to the plaintiff to show that a reasonably prudent person in the defendant’s position would have done things differently under those same circumstances, and that would have avoided the problem in the first place. To learn more about negligence and how it factors into personal injury claims, click here.

Everett-Bellingham WA
5 Tips to help you during the first conversation with the insurance adjuster after a car accident

5 Tips to help you during the first conversation with the insurance adjuster after a car accident

Many accident victims are nervous about their first contact with the insurance company’s adjuster, and justifiably so. Assuming anyone who was recently in a car wreck is dealing with injuries and emotional stress that come from a traumatizing event, it’s hard to think clearly through a claim negotiation. Here are some tips for that first contact with the insurance adjuster to help you advocate for yourself or a loved one and set the stage for financial recovery instead of further anxiety and financial stress.  

Everett-Bellingham WA
When a bicycle accident is fatal, survivors have hard decisions to make

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.

Everett-Bellingham WA
Bicyclists lack the protection motorists have in crashes, and that means worse injuries

Bicyclists lack the protection motorists have in crashes, and that means worse injuries

Little is there to protect your body from the ground if you are thrown over your bike’s handlebars. Always wear a helmet, because it can be the only thing that protects you from injuries. Yet it is technically not a law in all cities that bicyclists must wear helmets. A car has seat belts, airbags, and other safety features that are engineered to protect driver and passengers in case of a crash. However, a bike lacks these features. Chances are, if you have wrecked your bike and gone over the handlebars, you were injured and might be facing a long road to recovery.

If this accident happened because of the recklessness or negligence of another party, don’t face the burden of finding compensation for your losses alone. Click to learn more about your legal options if you were hit on your bike.

Everett-Bellingham WA
Traumatic Brain Injuries are not uncommon for bicyclists hit by cars

Traumatic Brain Injuries are not uncommon for bicyclists hit by cars

Riding a bike offers little protection between rider and the environment. If you are on your bike and are hit by a vehicle, or your crash was caused by some factor beyond your control, you are likely dealing with a lot of injuries. In a collision between a bike and a car, the injuries a bike rider receives are almost always far worse than what the driver walks away with, especially if the cyclist’s head takes the impact of the hit. If you have a TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) after a bike crash, you will likely face a lot of financial problems in addition to the strain of healing from trauma. Don’t let the stress convince you that you have no options and must go it alone. You do have options for compensation for your losses and financial trouble, and are not alone in fighting the insurance companies to get full, fair, and fast compensation after your accident. Understand your rights and legal options if you have TBI after a collision by clicking here.

Everett-Bellingham WA
Tips on what to do next if your child was hit by a car

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.

Everett-Bellingham WA
You have legal options if you were "doored" by a car while on your bike

You have legal options if you were "doored" by a car while on your bike

It’s not just embarrassing – being “doored” while on a bicycle can be lethal. Being doored means a bike rider slams into the door of a vehicle that has been opened negligently. Sometimes the bike zone is actually in a dangerous place, or riding in this zone is unavoidable. This can happen on any road where bikes travel alongside cars parked parallel to the street. Depending on your state, there are laws against it, which means being doored can mean there was an at-fault party. But this doesn’t mean the claim would be so cut and dried. Click here to learn about your legal options if you were "doored" by a car while riding your bike.

Everett-Bellingham WA
How do personal injury lawyers get paid? [VIDEO]

How do personal injury lawyers get paid? [VIDEO]

If you're in an accident, and you're hurt, you probably can't work. Maybe just for a short time, maybe you'll never be able to return to that job again. You might have injuries that needed medical help, and you're getting bills in the mail. If you decide to go after the person whose mistake harmed you, does this mean you've got to pay high lawyer's fees in order to get good legal help? 

Personal injury attorneys aren't paid that way in most tort law cases. So how do personal injury attorneys get paid? Hint: it's not until you do. Bill Coats, of Bill Coats Law, explains how contingency fees apply in personal injury cases.  Click here to watch this video explaining contingency fees.

Everett-Bellingham WA
Bicyclists who are hit by a hit and run driver still have options for financial recovery

Bicyclists who are hit by a hit and run driver still have options for financial recovery

A hit and run accident that happens to a bicycle rider is unconscionable. In most accidents between a car and a bike, the bicyclist is the one with the far greater injuries. On a bicycle, you are much more vulnerable to impact than in a car, even at relatively low speeds. If the driver takes off, added to the pain of the injuries is the frustration and anger at that terrible response. Even if the driver who hit you while you were on bicycle is never found, you have options for recovery. Click to learn what they are.

Everett-Bellingham WA
Intersections are dangerous places where bikes and cars meet

Intersections are dangerous places where bikes and cars meet

Many bike accidents could have been prevented, which means someone was at fault. And in instances where a driver failed to field at an intersection, the consequences can be deadly for bicyclists. Many drivers who hit a bike claim that they didn’t see the rider, and failed to yield the right of way. While that may be true, it could also be from negligence or carelessness on their part. If you've been hit by a car on your bike, click here to learn more.

Most recent accident reports

Small-plane crash results in minor injuries at Harbor Point Boulevard Southwest and Mukilteo Speedway in Mukilteo, Washington

Date: 
Tuesday, May 2, 2017
Roadway: 
Harbor Point Boulevard Southwest and Mukilteo Speedway
City: 
Mukilteo, WA
Type: Aircraft Accident

Three people injured in hit-and-run car crash on Beverly Lane in Everett, Washington

Date: 
Friday, April 21, 2017
Roadway: 
Beverly Lane
City: 
Everett, WA
Type: Car Accident
Topics: 
Hit and Run

Man in his 20s crushed to death under vehicle in parking lot off Highway 2 in Monroe, Washington

Date: 
Tuesday, April 18, 2017
Roadway: 
Highway 2
City: 
Monroe, WA
Type: Other Type of Accident

Motorcyclist seriously injured in collision with van on Highway 532 near Stanwood, Washington

Date: 
Monday, April 17, 2017
Roadway: 
Highway 532
City: 
Stanwood, WA
Type: Motorcycle Accident
Topics: 
Red Light/Stop Sign

Peter Shulga, 18, killed in single-vehicle motorcycle crash on Monument Lane in Ferndale, Washington

Date: 
Monday, April 17, 2017
Roadway: 
Monument Lane
City: 
Ferndale, WA
Type: Motorcycle Accident

Two pedestrians injured and driver charged in collision at U.S. 2 and Old Owen Road in Monroe, Washington

Date: 
Saturday, April 15, 2017
Roadway: 
U.S. 2 and Old Owen Road
City: 
Monroe, WA
Type: Pedestrian Accident

Steven B. Vinson, 37, seriously injured in collision on Interstate 5 in Ferndale, Washington

Date: 
Monday, April 10, 2017
Roadway: 
Interstate 5
City: 
Ferndale, WA
Type: Car Accident

Rex A. Radcliff, 85, killed in pedestrian collision on Interstate 5 near Bellingham, Washington

Date: 
Saturday, April 8, 2017
Roadway: 
Interstate 5
City: 
Bellingham, WA
Type: Pedestrian Accident

Cesar Cruz-Cruz, 21, and Jorge L. Cruz-Cruz, 19, killed in single-vehicle crash at Old Guide and West Pole near Lynden, Washington

Date: 
Friday, April 7, 2017
Roadway: 
Old Guide and West Pole
City: 
Lynden, WA
Type: Car Accident
Topics: 
High-Speed/Excessive Speed

Man killed after being struck by freight train near Reese Road in Sultan, Washington

Date: 
Sunday, April 2, 2017
Roadway: 
Reese Road
City: 
Sultan, WA
Type: Train Accident

Eric Weight killed in bicycle collision at Old Fairhaven Parkway and 30th Street in Bellingham, Washington

Date: 
Wednesday, March 22, 2017
Roadway: 
Old Fairhaven Parkway and 30th Street
City: 
Bellingham, WA
Type: Bicycle Accident

Glorita D. McIntyre , 78, killed and August L. Giaccaglia, 31, injured in head-on crash on State Route 2 near Snohomish, Washington

Date: 
Saturday, March 18, 2017
Roadway: 
State Route 2
City: 
Snohomish, WA
Type: Car Accident
Topics: 
Head-on

Pedestrian killed in collision with pickup on State route 532 in Stanwood, Washington

Date: 
Friday, March 17, 2017
Roadway: 
State Route 532
City: 
Stanwood, WA
Type: Pedestrian Accident

Paden C. Newberry, 27, dies in single-vehicle crash on I-5 north of Burlington, Washington

Date: 
Thursday, March 2, 2017
Roadway: 
Interstate 5
City: 
Burlington, WA
Type: Car Accident

Minor injuries reported when small plane crashes at Bellingham International Airport during snowstorm in Bellingham, Washington

Date: 
Monday, February 27, 2017
City: 
Bellingham, WA
Type: Aircraft Accident
Topics: 
Fuel Spill