Bernard Law Group's blog

Should You Ride a Motorcycle?

Riding a motorcycle can be a lot of fun. However, if you do not have the skills needed for safe riding, it can end up in a disaster or tragedy. Besides, different riders have different personalities and varying skill levels. Riding a motorcycle is not for everyone. Here are a few questions you would be well-advised to ask yourself before you get on a motorcycle or decide to start riding one.

1. Are you a big-time risk taker? If you have an aggressive personality and cannot resist taking chances and living dangerously, then riding a motorcycle may not be for you.
2. You need to able to ride a bicycle properly. In fact, this is a prerequisite for enrolling in basic rider courses offered by training schools. Riding a motorcycle takes balance and coordination.
3. How is your vision? The ability to see well ahead is important for safe riding.
4. Are you "safety-minded?" If you decide to ride a motorcycle, you need to take safety seriously. You need to make safety a top priority.
5. Can you focus? Inattention (on the part of motorcyclists AND motorists other than a motorcyclist) is one of the major causes of motorcycle accidents in Seattle and throughout the United States.

Whatever you believe your attitude and skill level, it is very important if you take on motorcycling that you undergo the necessary training. You certainly need to familiarize yourself with the safe operation of a motorcycle. When you are equipped with the knowledge, the skills and the right attitude, riding a motorcycle is just the way it should be – fun.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a Washington motorcycle accident, please contact the experienced Seattle personal injury attorneys of The Bernard Law Group at 1-800-418-8282 or info@bernardlawgroup.com for a FREE, comprehensive and confidential consultation. We can also send you our FREE brochure, which has useful and educational information about motorcycle accidents that will help you better understand your legal rights and options. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his skilled legal team today.

Kirk Bernard's Seven Tips for Driving Safely in Winter Weather

Winter can be a tricky time to drive. At a time when roads are slick with black ice or packed with snow, it is better to avoid driving. However, if you must drive, please use common sense and exercise caution. Here are a few of useful winter driving tips from skilled attorney Kirk Bernard:

1. Always drive with your headlights on. Visibility is usually rather low during the winter months because of overcast conditions, snow or rain. Fog can also hamper visibility quite a bit. Draw attention and be seen. Leave your lights on.
2. If you have four-wheel drive, do not get over-confident with it. Just because you have one of these vehicles, it does not mean that you'll be able to stop faster on an icy roadway.
3. Always give yourself room to stop. If you have anti-lock brakes, press the pedal down firmly and hold it. If you don't have anti-lock brakes, gently bump the pedal.
4. When you approach intersections, off-ramps, bridges or shady spots, please slow down. These are areas that have the potential to develop black ice.
5. It is advisable to avoid abrupt actions while steering, braking or accelerating to lessen your chance of losing control.
6. Do not cut in front of trucks. These large vehicles take a longer time to stop.
7. Avoid using cruise control or overdrive.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a Washington auto accident, please contact the experienced Seattle personal injury attorneys with The Bernard Law Group at 1-800-418-8282 or info@bernardlawgroup.com for a FREE, comprehensive and confidential consultation. We can also send you our FREE brochure, which has useful, educational information about Washington car accident cases to help you understand your legal rights and options. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his skilled legal team today.

Pedestrian Accident Prevention: Understanding Yielding the Right-of-Way

A recent pedestrian accident involving two girls in Seattle emphasizes that pedestrians are at risk of being hit by a vehicle even when walking in a marked crosswalk. According to a news report, the accident occurred in the 12600 block of 100th Ave. N.E. in Kirkland, Washington. The girls were walking eastbound in the crosswalk when a white sport utility vehicle struck both of them. Both girls were airlifted to Harborview in Seattle with broken bones and a head injury. The vehicle's driver remained at the scene and police are investigating the accident.

Yielding the Right-of-Way
Washington State law requires motorists to yield right-of-way to pedestrians walking in marked or unmarked crosswalks. According to the Revised Code of Washington Section 46.61.235 (1): "The operator of an approaching vehicle shall stop and remain stopped to allow a pedestrian or bicycle to cross the roadway within an unmarked or marked crosswalk when the pedestrian or bicycle is upon or within one lane of the half of the roadway upon which the vehicle is traveling or onto which it is turning. For purposes of this section "half of the roadway" means all traffic lanes carrying traffic in one direction of travel, and includes the entire width of a one-way roadway."

In this case, the family of the young victims would benefit from a consultation with a Washington pedestrian accident lawyer, who has successfully represented pedestrian accident victims in these types of crosswalk accidents. In cases where pedestrians were legally crossing and the driver was inattentive or negligent, victims can seek compensation to cover medical expenses and cost of hospitalization, treatment and rehabilitation.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a pedestrian accident caused by a negligent driver, we can help. Please contact the experienced Washington personal injury attorneys with The Bernard Law Group at 1-800-418-8282 or info@bernardlawgroup.com for a FREE, comprehensive and confidential consultation. We can also send you our FREE brochure, which has useful, educational information about Washington pedestrian accident cases to help you understand your legal rights and options. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his skilled legal team today.

Source: http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/east_king/kir/news/82840512.html

Study Shows Cell Phone Bans Have Not Reduced Accidents

A recent study examining cell phone ban laws in four U.S. states conducted by the Highway Loss Data Institute has revealed that such as ban has not reduced accident rates in those states. According to an NPR news report, the study conducted by the insurance industry group found that the month-to-month fluctuations in collision accident claims did not change before and after cell phone bans took effect in New York, the District of Columbia, Connecticut and California. The study also noted that accident patterns did not change in nearby states that did not enforce bans on handheld cell phones.

In Washington, law makers are talking about making driving while texting and talking on handheld cell phones a primary offense. Despite this new study, there have been many studies in the past that have clearly established that using a handheld phone while driving greatly increases the risk of a car accident. Distracted driving is not only a huge problem in Washington State, but on a national level. Even the federal government has recognized the problem. Federal officials last month banned commercial truck and bus drivers from texting while driving.

Please remember that in Washington State, if you cause an accident while talking on the cell phone or texting, you could be held liable for that accident and injuries caused as a result. If you or a loved one has been injured in a Washington auto accident caused by a distracted or negligent driver, we can help.

Please contact the experienced Washington personal injury attorneys with The Bernard Law Group at 1-800-418-8282 or info@bernardlawgroup.com for a FREE, comprehensive and confidential consultation. We can also send you our FREE informational brochure, which has useful, educational information about Washington pedestrian accident cases to help you understand your legal rights and options. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his skilled legal team today.

Source: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123084040

Walking While Distracted Proves Dangerous for Pedestrians

New studies show that pedestrians who talk on the phone or text while walking may be more prone to harm or danger from auto accidents as a result of their distractions. The same rings true for drivers who talk on the phone or text while operating a vehicle. According to results of a research conducted at Ohio State University, a little over 1,000 pedestrians visited emergency rooms in 2008 because they were distracted and got into an accident while talking on the cell phone or texting. That was twice the number from 2007, which had nearly doubled from 2006.

Lately, texting while driving or driving while talking on the cell phone has received a lot of attention. In fact, in both Oregon and Washington States, legislators are seeking to make driving while talking on the cell phone or texting a primary offense. However, this new study points to a new and growing problem – walking while distracted can be dangerous for pedestrians. If you are walking on the street, please pay attention to the traffic. Obey traffic laws. Connecting with someone when you are walking on a busy street is not as important as your own safety.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a Washington pedestrian accident caused by a negligent driver, we can help. Please contact the experienced Washington personal injury attorneys with The Bernard Law Group at 1-800-418-8282 or info@bernardlawgroup.com for a FREE, comprehensive and confidential consultation. We can also send you our FREE informational brochure, which has useful, educational information about Washington pedestrian accident cases to help you understand your legal rights and options. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his skilled legal team today.

Source: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2010814918_walkers17.html?syndication=rss

Seattle Car Accident Leaves Four with Injuries

Four people, including one pedestrian, sustained injuries in a Seattle car accident after two vehicles collided in the Fremont area. According to a news report in the Seattle Times, the accident involved a Chevy Nova and a sport utility vehicle. The driver of the Nova fled the scene of the crash by foot. A woman in her 30s, who was standing in the southwest corner of Fremont Avenue North and North 39th Street, sustained the most serious injuries after she was knocked unconscious by flying debris from the accident. She was taken to the hospital in serious condition. Three others, a passenger in the Nova and two occupants of the SUV, were also hospitalized with injuries that were not life-threatening. Police believe the hit-and-run driver was wearing a red shirt with his hair pulled back in a ponytail. He may have a suffered a head injury as well.

Leaving the scene of an accident is a serious crime in Washington State. According to the Revised Code of Washington Section 46.52.020: “A driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting in the injury to or death of any person or involving striking the body of a deceased person shall immediately stop such vehicle at the scene of such accident or as close thereto as possible but shall then forthwith return to, and in every event remain at, the scene of such accident.”

Whether you are pedestrian or a vehicle occupant, if you have been injured as a result of someone else's fault or negligence, you may seek compensation for your injuries, damages and loss. If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident in Seattle, please contact the experienced Seattle personal injury attorneys with The Bernard Law Group at 1-800-418-8282 or info@bernardlawgroup.com for a FREE comprehensive and confidential consultation. We can also send you our FREE informational brochure, which has useful educational information about car accident cases to help you better understand your legal rights and options. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his skilled legal team today.

Source: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010608261_freemontcrash28m.html?syndication=rss

Check the Tread on your Tire before Heading Out this Holiday Season

When you are planning your holiday travel, especially if you are planning road trips, it is very important that you check the amount of tread on your tires before heading out. As a skilled injury attorney, Kirk Bernard knows that the last thing you want is to risk having an accident. How do you check tread depth? According to the Rubber Manufacturer's Association, to check tread depth, insert a penny with Abe Lincoln's head facing down into the tire tread. If you can see all of his head, then you need to replace your tire. According to a survey by the Rubber Manufacturer's Association, as many as 28 million vehicles in the United States may have at least one bald tire, which can seriously hinder control on wet roadways.

In this tough economy, it may be tempting to put off buying a new tire. But a defective tire or a bald tire poses serious dangers including potential injuries or fatalities in the event of a crash. It is also important that you check your car or truck's tire pressure once a month, which can help the tires last longer.

While it is important that we as drivers take good care of our tires and make sure that we replace worn out ones, there are also accidents that occur because of defective tires. If this happens, please remember that the tire manufacturer or the maker of the defective auto can be held liable for the accident and the resulting injuries. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in an auto accident as a result of a defective auto, or a defective tire, please contact the experienced Seattle personal injury lawyers with The Bernard Law Group and schedule a free and comprehensive consultation. Also, please ask us and we'll send you a FREE informational brochure about auto product defects.