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Just like newspapers, our blog reports news. We then go a step further--we provide legal analysis of actual events, based upon the news reports, in order to provide our readers real world insights into their legal rights and legal options. It is our intention to help to preserve the legal rights of accident victims by educating our readers as to what their rights may actually be, what laws may apply, how frequent similar accidents occur, who may be legally at fault, time limits (statute of limitations) for taking action and so on. It is our hope that by doing so, fewer people will lose their rights due to lack of information and more wrongdoers will be held accountable.
Type: Serious Accidents
Date: November 14, 2009, 11/14/09
Location: Lynwood
Outcome: 2 dead, 2 injured
Two young adults died in a fatal car accident Saturday night around 2 a.m. near Lynwood.
Brandon Norton and one of his passengers, Ehlo Blacknall died instantly. Two other passengers were transported to Harborview Medical Center with serious injuries.
The crash took place after Norton, the designated driver, was making his second trip to pick up three more friends.
He was driving northbound on North Road in unincorporated Snohomish County near Lynwood when the car went off the road and crashed into a tree.
According to Snohomish County Sheriff's Detectives, the car was travelling 70 to 80 mph in an area where the posted speed limit is 35 mph.
One of the passengers in the crash returned home Sunday evening, the other remains in serious condition.
Our hearts go out to the families of all those involved in this crash and we hope that those injured make a quick recovery.
Nearly 6,000 teens are killed in car accidents every year and are three times more likely to get in a car accident after 9 p.m.
Dealing with the legal aspects involved in a fatal crash can be difficult and emotional. Speaking with a compassionate and experienced Seattle accident attorney would give you peace of mind and provide you with expert legal advice.
Date: October 18, 2009, 10/18/09
Location: State Highway 112, west of Port Angeles
Outcome: Two killed, one in critical condition
Mary Wyman and her grandson Theodin Nelson, both Port Angeles residents, died in a car crash west of Port Angeles on Sunday afternoon.
Wyman and Nelson were both pronounced dead at the scene.
According to Washington State Patrol, Wyman was driving eastbound on State Highway 112 near Power Plant Road in a Subaru Legacy when it veered off the road to the right. The Subaru then came back onto the road, crossing into the westbound lane rotating around.
Wyman's driver's side was then hit by a Toyota Camry driven by Joshua and Emily Dickens of Vancouver Wash.
Both occupants of the Camry were taken to Olympic Medical Center with serious injuries. Emily Dickens' condition was changed to critical and she was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center for surgery.
Our deepest sympathies go out to the families of Mary Wyman and her grandson Theodin. Joshua and Emily are also in our prayers for a rapid recovery.
National Car Accident Statistics state that a person dies in a car accident every 12 minutes and each year, car crashes kill 40,000 people.
Claims dealing with the death of a loved one can be a sensitive and difficult topic and should be handled by a lawyer with experience in death or serious injury cases.
The Washington Supreme Court recently overturned a King County Superior Court ruling that dismissed a wrongful death claim against a step-father for the death of a 2 year old girl who drowned in the family swimming pool.
The step-father, Joel Zellmer, was watching his 2 year-old stepdaugther. He claims he fell asleep and then woke to find the young girls floating in the family pool. The girls's mother divorced Zellmer and then filed a wrongful death action on behalf of the young girl. It turns out that Zellmer had taken out a $200,000 life insurance policy on the girl months earlier. Zellmer's former wives also came forward to state that he had abused their children.
The wrongful death claim against Zellmer was dismissed under a 100 year-old doctrine called the Parential Immunity Doctrine. The doctrine holds parents immune from being sued for negligence by their children. There is an exception for reckless and intentional conduct. The purpose of the Doctrine is to protect the right of parents to raise their children and not punish parents who may be negligent in the supervision of their children, as opposed to those who engage in wanton or willful behavior that leads to the child's injury.
The Supreme Court re-affirmed the Parental Immunity Doctrine as good law, but said there were issues of fact as to whether Zellmer was acting in the capacity of a parent when the child died. The child's mother submitted evidence to show that Zellmer did not support the child, was not allowed to discipline the child, and did not treat her as is own. Also, Zellmer was not married to the girl's mother for very long raising the question of whether he was truly a parent to the child. Therefore, it is up to the jury to decide whether Zellmer was acting as a parent at the time of the child's death. The case was sent back to the trial court for trial.
In the end I believe the decision was a good one. It allowed the mother to pursue her claim against Zellmer, which based on the facts, suggests that Zellmer may have had a history of abusing step-children and marrying for pure financial gain. These facts should come out and the jury should decide.
Davis Law Group and attorney Chris Davis has been featured in news reports on these local and national news sources:
Vehicle Accidents
Wrongful Death
Child Injuries
Medical Malpractice
Catastrophic Injuries
Dog Bites