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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
How Bellingham car accident victims answer "How are you?" could impact their claim
Bellingham accident victims can expect insurers to dispute future expenses
Bellingham remembers the wrongful death of this child

Accident reports by county

Island County, WA - 15
San Juan County, WA - 2
Skagit County, WA - 113
Snohomish County, WA - 327
Whatcom County, WA - 155

Legal Resources

Everett-Bellingham WA
Red light runners put everyone in their path at risk

Red light runners put everyone in their path at risk

Every time we buckle up in a car and hit the road, we have an unspoken - and legal - agreement that we will all follow the law and drive safely. However, not everyone will maintain this agreement at all times. Intersections are particularly important places to adhere to this agreement, as vehicles cross each others' paths, sometimes at high speeds. If you were  hit by someone who ran a red light, someone didn't keep up their end of the bargain. Click for more information on what to do.

Everett-Bellingham WA
Tips on collecting physical evidence at the scene of an auto accident

Tips on collecting physical evidence at the scene of an auto accident

Auto accidents - no matter how minor - are shocking, scary events to all involved. First and foremost, the top priority is to get the injured medical care ASAP, as those first few moments are critical to recovery, and sometimes, survival. However, accident victims have other things to consider too. This article is intended to be shared with friends and loved ones before an accident happens, to keep in mind some things to do in the event of an accident that can help in going through the insurance claims process or even building a tort case. Click for information on the importance of collecting physical evidence after a car crash and other tips. 

Everett-Bellingham WA
4 Tips for car accident victims where fault is disputed

4 Tips for car accident victims where fault is disputed

Car crashes are complicated events that happen in the blink of an eye. Many factors can contribute to the series of missteps that make vehicles collide, and many people will look at those factors and have a completely different take on who was at fault. In cases that aren't cut and dried, fault can be disputed. If you've been in an accident where fault is disputed, this article has four tips on what you can do to build a best case scenario for yourself. 

Everett-Bellingham WA
Getting There Safe: 17 Tips for Safe Holiday Driving

Getting There Safe: 17 Tips for Safe Holiday Driving

Driving in inclement weather can  happen at any time of year, though fall and winter increase a driver's chance of running into dicey conditions. Luckily, with a little study and practice, drivers can get through even long trips on the road during the holiday season unscathed. Take it from a personal injury attorney practicing in  Bellingham, Washington, there are ways to lower ones chances of a car crash by following these safe-driving tips.

Everett-Bellingham WA
4 Key Factors in Having a Safe Motorcycle Ride

4 Key Factors in Having a Safe Motorcycle Ride

While helmets are effective in preventing deaths for motorcycle drivers in crashes four out of ten times, only 19 states and the District of Columbia require their use by law. More and more research improves bike helmet material and design, and more data demonstrates why they should be  used. Personal injury lawyers who work with motorcycle accident victims see cases where injuries could have been prevented by helmet usage all too often. For motorcycle riding safety tips from a Bellingham, Washington lawyer well-experienced with helping motorcycle accident victims, click here.

 

 

Everett-Bellingham WA
Commercial Truck Drivers Are Especially Susceptible to Fatigued Driving

Commercial Truck Drivers Are Especially Susceptible to Fatigued Driving

Commercial truck drivers by and large are behind the wheel longer than anyone else on the road. Increasingly, these drivers are  under pressure to meet tight delivery deadlines which can make a driver feel like cutting back on sleep or using alcohol or drugs to cope with the stress. However, there are strict rules governing how long truckers must rest, though they're not always followed correctly. If you have been involved in an accident with a commercial truck, click to learn more about your options.

Everett-Bellingham WA
5 Common Causes of School Bus Accidents

5 Common Causes of School Bus Accidents

School bus collisions carry the added complexity of endangering - and sometimes injuring - innocent children. Adding to the emotional and physical distress in the aftermath, the claims against parties involved in such a crash tend to be complicated, involving various at-fault parties and insurance companies, each with their own agenda to protect their assets and defend the claim. Don't think that you are at the mercy of what these other parties decide. If you or a loved one has been involved in a school bus accident, learn what factors tend to be common causes of bus accidents and what are your options for what to do next.

 

Everett-Bellingham WA
If a loved one died in an accident, consider this before talking with the insurance company [VIDEO]

If a loved one died in an accident, consider this before talking with the insurance company [VIDEO]

Deaths that occur needlessly due to someone else's negligence are very complex situations. Along with all the emotions that a survivor must sort through, the loss brings up financial questions and concerns. How to pay for funeral costs? And if the deceased was a financial provider, how will their income be replaced? Here's the one thing you should do as soon as possible. Click this link to watch a short video to answer the most frequently asked question of survivors of fatal accidents.

 

Everett-Bellingham WA
Traumatic Brain Injuries and how wearing a bike helmet can protect you

Traumatic Brain Injuries and how wearing a bike helmet can protect you

I'm writing this days away from Halloween, and the subject is fittingly gruesome. As a personal injury attorney in Bellingham, WA, I work with clients who have experienced TBI - Traumatic Brain Injury - due to high speed collisions while they were riding their bikes. This can entail concussions, where the brain may swell and/or fluid collects under the skull, which can lead to brain damage. A head injury, which can come from a very violent rotation of the head, can mean the brain remains stationary while all the bones, tendons, and muscles move. And sometimes hit the pavement, or a car's windshield. Blood vessels and nerves fueling this precious organ may be torn apart. You can imagine how monstrously damaging these forces can be. It helps to be educated if you have been injured in an accident, and painful as it might seem, here is more information on traumatic brain injury, why you should always wear a helmet, and what you should do if you were hurt in a car accident.

 

Everett-Bellingham WA
One clients story of how this Bellingham, WA lawyer helped him recover after a car accident

One clients story of how this Bellingham, WA lawyer helped him recover after a car accident

If you have been injured in a car accident that wasn't your fault, it can help to hear that you're not alone. That you do have options, and there are ways to recover some of what you lost financially. It takes money to be able to recover from serious injuries including bone fractures, like this car accident victim hit by a distracted driver. Sometimes your best option is to seek legal expertise to make sure you receive a fair settlement for your damages and losses. Here is one client's story.

Most recent accident reports

Joel R. Swenson, 33, a passenger in car driven by Aaron C. Loffler, 35, injured, taken to hospital, after their car leaves the Alderwood Ave. roadway and crashes into a power pole.

A Bellingham man was arrested on suspicion of vehicular assault after a passenger in his car was injured in a suspected drunk driving crash early Thursday, March 13. Aaron C.

Date: 
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Roadway: 
Alderwood Avenue
City: 
Bellingham, WA
Type: Car Accident
Topics: 
DWI - DUI - Alcohol or Drug Use

Bernadette M. Casavant, 60, from Surrey, B.C., seriously injured when her car crashes into a guardrail on Slater Road at the I-5 interchange in Ferndale.

A woman from Surrey, B.C., was knocked unconscious when she crashed her car into a guardrail at the Slater Road interchange Friday afternoon, Feb. 28. Bernadette M.

Date: 
Thursday, February 27, 2014
Roadway: 
Slater Road/I-5 interchange
City: 
Ferndale, WA
Type: Car Accident

Car crashes into the entrance of a U.S. post office in downtown Bellingham. No injuries reported.

A car crashed into the south entrance of the U.S. post office on Prospect Street at about 11 a.m. Feb. 28, according to several witness reports.

As of 3 p.m., the post office was open and serving people through the north entrance.

Date: 
Thursday, February 27, 2014
Roadway: 
Prospect Street
City: 
Bellingham, WA
Type: Car Accident

Thomas Peter Tom, 57, arrest for DUI after his speeding truck rolls over on Roeder Ave. in Bellingham.

A 57-year-old man faces charges of reckless driving and driving under the influence after a rollover crash Thursday night, Feb. 27, on Roeder Avenue.

Date: 
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Roadway: 
Roeder Ave.
City: 
Bellingham, WA
Type: Car Accident
Topics: 
DWI - DUI - Alcohol or Drug Use

Whatcom County Fire Dept. SUV damaged on icy roadway while responding to aid call. No injuries reported.

A Whatcom County Fire District 7 SUV was damaged in a crash Tuesday morning, Feb. 11, when it slid on a patch of ice as it was responding to a crash, according to district officials.

Date: 
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
Roadway: 
Mountain View and Church Road
City: 
Ferndale, WA
Type: Car Accident

Taylor Armstrong 23, one other male, airlifted to hospital in serious condition, Charles Wicklander 24, transported to hospital with minor injuries, after their Jeep crashed down 200 foot embankment near the Mt. Baker Ski Area.

A helicopter airlifted a 23-year-old man to St. Joseph Hospital Tuesday afternoon when a Jeep crashed about 200 feet over an embankment near the Mt. Baker Ski Area.

Date: 
Monday, February 10, 2014
Roadway: 
Mt. Baker Highway
City: 
Bellingham, WA
Type: Car Accident
Topics: 
Seat Belt Usage

Below freezing temperatures and snowfall cause accidents and poor driving conditions in Whatcom County.

A sudden snowfall just before dawn Friday, Feb. 7 has created hazardous driving conditions and put school buses on snow routes in the Bellingham and Lummi Nation school districts.

Date: 
Thursday, February 6, 2014
Roadway: 
Unknown
City: 
Bellingham, WA
Type: Car Accident

David L. Rebman, Colin J. Golden injured, taken to hospital, after their pickup slides into ditch and strikes embankment off Blaine Road

Two men were injured when their pickup truck went off Blaine Road, sliding into a ditch and hitting an embankment early Monday, Feb. 3. David L.

Date: 
Sunday, February 2, 2014
Roadway: 
Blaine Road
City: 
Blaine, WA
Type: Car Accident
Topics: 
DWI - DUI - Alcohol or Drug Use, Seat Belt Usage

Ashleigh N. Graham 27, killed when her car leaves roadway, strikes embankment, and crashes into ditch.

A Maple Falls woman died after crashing her car into an embankment off Mount Baker Highway early Thursday, Jan. 30. Ashleigh N. Graham, 27, was driving west in the 8700 block of the highway at about 12:40 a.m.

Date: 
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Roadway: 
Mt. Baker Highway
City: 
Deming, WA
Type: Car Accident
Topics: 
Seat Belt Usage

Hannah Dashiell killed after two-car crash and fire in Bellingham, WA.

One person was killed when their car caught on fire after striking another vehicle on Barkley Boulevard Sunday morning, Jan. 5. One vehicle was headed down the hill on Barkley Boulevard around 9:55 a.m.

Date: 
Saturday, January 4, 2014
Roadway: 
Barkley Blvd.
City: 
Bellingham, WA
Type: Car Accident
Topics: 
Weather Conditions

Travis Lee Holst, 23, and Brox Mitchell Browning, 20, killed in head-on crash on Guide Meridian in Bellingham, WA

A head-on crash on Guide Meridian left two young men dead early Tuesday, Dec. 31, according to the Washington State Patrol.

Date: 
Monday, December 30, 2013
Roadway: 
Guide Meridian
City: 
Bellingham, WA
Type: Car Accident
Topics: 
Head-on, High-Speed/Excessive Speed

Charles Ostrander, 29, struck by car on Samish Way in Bellingham, Washington

A Bellingham man who hit a pedestrian with his car on Samish Way Saturday night, Dec. 21, was booked into jail on suspicion of vehicular assault.

Date: 
Friday, December 20, 2013
Roadway: 
Samish Way
City: 
Bellingham, WA
Type: Pedestrian Accident
Topics: 
DWI - DUI - Alcohol or Drug Use

Emma Briceno, 25, critically injured in Bellingham hit-and-run car accident on E. Chestnut Street and Railroad Avenue

A pedestrian was critically injured in a hit-and-run in Bellingham early Sunday. A suspect was later arrested. Bellingham Police say officers found a 25-year-old Ferndale woman at 1:47 a.m. at the intersection of E.

Date: 
Saturday, November 23, 2013
Roadway: 
E. Chestnut Street
City: 
Bellingham, WA
Type: Pedestrian Accident
Topics: 
Hit and Run

17-year-old twins Janeah and Janesah Goheen dead and two others injured in accident on Hwy 20 in Anacortes on Oct 31

The Oct. 31 crash on Highway 20 that killed one Oak Harbor teenager near Anacortes has now claimed the life of her twin sister.

Date: 
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Roadway: 
Highway 20
City: 
Anacortes, WA
Type: Car Accident
Topics: 
Accident Topics: Teenaged Drivers - Young Adult Drivers

Wesley B. Martin, 39 and Angela Rodrick, 18, dead in collision on SR-548 in Ferndale on Oct 22

The driver of a pickup truck was attempting to pass a tractor-trailer in heavy fog on State Route 548 early Tuesday when he plowed head-on into an oncoming car, killing himself and the 18-year-old woman driving the car, the Washington State Patrol

Date: 
Monday, October 21, 2013
Roadway: 
Highway 548
City: 
Ferndale, WA
Type: Car Accident
Topics: 
Weather Conditions