Legal Resources & Links for Personal Injury, Wrongful Death, Car Accidents and more.

Wrongful Death

• Wrongful Death Information and Statistics (website): Wrongful Death Statistics and Useful Information

Brain Injury

• Brain Injury Association of America: The Brain Injury Association of America strives to create a better future through brain injury prevention, research, education, and advocacy. Their website is one of the more detailed and comprehensive sites for information and support for brain injury survivors and their advocates. It includes a detailed explanation of brain injury, treatment and rehabilitation, fact sheets, guides for professionals and survivors, legal aspects and prevention.
• National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS): The mission of NINDS is to reduce the burden of neurological disease - a burden borne by every age group, by every segment of society, by people all over the world.
• The Center on Outcome Measurement in Brain Injury (COMBI): The Center on Outcome Measurement in Brain Injury (COMBI) describes several different outcome measurements for brain injuries, which are commonly used in the treatment of brain injury. Primarily for professionals, it includes a survey to help determine which scales are the most effective.
• The National Brain Injury Association: The National Brain Injury Association has developed special interests groups to evaluate brain injury research, standards of care, and outcomes.
• The Traumatic Brain Injury National Data Center (TBINDC): The Traumatic Brain Injury National Data Center (TBINDC) features searchable current research publications about many aspects of brain injury.
• Traumatic Brain Injury- CDC
• Traumatic Brain Injury Survival Guide: Published by the clinical director of the Neuro-Recovery Head Injury Program.

Spinal Cord Injuries

• American Association of Spinal Cord Injury Nurses
• American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA):

  The mission of the American Spinal Injury Association is to promote and establish standards of excellence for all aspects of health care of individuals with spinal cord injury from onset throughout life.

• Association of Spinal Cord Injury Psychologists and Social Workers
• Mayo Clinic - Spinal Cord Injury
• National Spinal Cord Injury Association (NSCIA): Founded in 1948, the National Spinal Cord Injury Association is the nation's oldest and largest civilian organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for hundreds of thousands of Americans living with the results of spinal cord injury and disease (SCI/D) and their families. This number grows by thirty newly-injured people each day.
• Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Forum - Washington State: University of Washington Medical Center
  Cafeteria Conference Room B/C,
  1959 NE Pacific St,
  Seattle, Washington, 98195
  Phone: (206) 685-3999
  Contact: Cynthia Salzman
• Spinal Cord Injury Information from The National Institute of Neurological Disorders
• Spinal Cord Injury Information Network
• The Christopher Reeve Paralysis Resource Center: The Christopher Reeve Paralysis Resource Center promotes the health and well-being of people living with a spinal cord injury, mobility impairment, and paralysis by providing comprehensive information, resources and referral services.

Car Accidents

• Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety: Alliance of consumer, health, and safety groups.
• Air Bag Crash: Air bag black box crash data.
• American Academy of Pediatrics: Car Safety Seats: To help parents and pediatricians better understand how to use car safety seats, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has issued updated, more complete recommendations in the policy statement, "Selecting and Using the Most appropriate Car Safety Seats for Growing Children: Guidelines for Counseling Parents.
• American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators - AAMVA: Non - profit organization which develops model programs in motor vehicle administration, police traffic services and highway safety. Its program development and research activities provide guidelines for more effective public service. Search for events, products and services and news room.
• American Association of State and Highway Transportation Officials - AASHTO: Non-profit, no partisan association representing all five transportation modes; air, highways, public transportation, rail and water in the 50 states, District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
• American Automotive Association (AAA): When you hear the name AAA, the first thing that comes to mind is probably maps and emergency road service, two of the cornerstones of our organization. But these days AAA is known for much more - assisting people in many facets of their lives, including travel and lodging; auto buying, leasing, renting, and repair; financial services such as loans and credit cards; and insurance needs.
• Association for Driver Rehabilitation Specialists: The Association for Driver Rehabilitation Specialists was established in 1977 to support professionals working in the field of driver education / driver training and transportation equipment modifications for persons with disabilities through education and information dissemination.
• Automotive Car Safety: When researching your next new car, think of your safety, or at least your family's. The vehicle that you’re thinking about buying may have the worst rollover or crash test ratings in the industry. You won’t know unless you read official reports, including crash tests, ratings, and available car safety features.
• Department of Motor Vehicles: This Web site was created to provide easy-to-access information and resources for all your Department of Motor Vehicles needs.
• Federal Highway Administration - FHWA: The FHWA is a part of the Department of Transportation, their job is to enhance the country's economic vitality, quality of life and environment through proactive leadership, innovation, and service excellence.
• Governors Highway Safety Association: Governors Highway Safety Association's goal is to reduce the death rate states are enacting Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) laws that phase in driving privileges.
• Insurance Institute for Highway Safety: The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is an independent, nonprofit, scientific and educational organization dedicated to reducing the losses — deaths, injuries, and property damage — from crashes on the nation's highways.
• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration(NHTSA) a part of the U.S. Department of Transportation
• National Motorists Association: The National Motorists Association was founded to represent and protect the interests of motorists.
• Safety Belt Safe USA: Is your child’s car seat safe? More than 95% of the car seats checked by Safety Belt Safe U.S.A are being used incorrectly. Don’t’ take a chance with your child’s life! Safety Belt Safe U.S.A. offers a car seat checkup online.
• Teen Drivers: Car Accident Fact Sheet: Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens, accounting for 36% of all deaths in this age group (CDC 2006). However, research suggests that the most strict and comprehensive graduated drivers licensing programs are associated with reductions of 38% and 40% in fatal and injury crashes, respectively, of 16-year-old drivers (Baker et al. 2007).
• US Department of Transportation: Mission: Serve the United States by ensuring a fast, safe, efficient, accessible and convenient transportation system that meets our vital national interests and enhances the quality of life of the American people, today and into the future.
• Washington State Patrol's Major Accident Investigation Team (MAIT): The Washington State Patrol's Major Accident Investigation Team (MAIT) is charged with investigating catastrophic collisions occurring within the jurisdiction of the Washington State Patrol.
• Washington State Teen Driver Safety Week:

  Because car crashes are the leading cause of death and injury for teens in Washington state, Governor Christine Gregoire has declared October 18-24, 2009 “Teen Driver Safety Week.”

• Washington Statewide Traveler Information: From the Washington State Department of Transportation. Travel alerts, traffic reports, highway camas,travl routes, etc.

Drunk Driving (DUI) Collisions

• Bikers Against Drunk Drivers: Bikers Against Drunk Drivers, better known as BADD, is non-profit organization, founded in 1986.  Its mandate is to reduce the incidence of drunk driving and its consequences through promotion and awareness to the mainstream in malls, major events, annual tours and the media. It also aims to create an emergency fund for victims of drunk drivers while they await other compensation and/or where no other compensation is forthcoming.
  
• DUI Foundation: Driving under the influence of alcohol and other impairing substances is an epidemic in our society that doesn't appear to be going away in the near future. We can never educate people enough on the dangers of this behavior and the consequences it can have on the driver and others around them. It is our goal to help people realize the life-altering effects drinking and driving can have on us and hopefully convince our visitors to think twice the next time they consider getting behind the wheel after having a few too many.
  
• International Drunk Driving Prevention Association
• Mother's Against Drunk Driving - History: Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is a non-profit organization that seeks to stop drunk driving, support those affected by drunk driving, prevent underage drinking, and overall push for stricter alcohol policy. The Irving, Texas–based organization was founded in 1980 by Candice Lightner after her 13-year-old daughter was killed by a drunk driver, Clarence Busch, a 46-year-old cannery worker.
  
• Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD): MADD's mission: to stop drunk driving, support the victims of this violent crime and prevent underage drinking. 
  
• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Impaired Driving Division
• Remove Intoxicated Drivers (RID): Remove Intoxicated Drivers (RID) is one of the oldest national organization in the United States fighting alcohol impaired and drunk driving (DUI and DWI). Established in 1978 by Doris Aiken, the group's mission is to reduce alcohol impaired driving, advocate for victims, promote tough anti-DUI/DWI laws, reduce underage drinking, and serve as a watchdog for effective law enforcement of anti-drunken driving laws.
  
• Stop Underage Drinking: StopAlcoholAbuse.Gov is a comprehensive portal of Federal resources for information on underage drinking and ideas for combating this issue. Community members interested in underage drinking prevention—including but not limited to parents, educators, youth, concerned citizens, prevention specialists, business leaders, law enforcement and public health officials—will find a wealth of valuable information here. The resources featured to the right are among the many useful materials available on this site to aid your underage drinking prevention efforts.
  
• Students Against Drunk Driving (SADD)
• Underage Drinking Enforcement Training Center: The Underage Drinking Enforcement Training Center was established by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (within the U.S. Department of Justice) to support its Enforcing Underage Drinking Laws Program.
  

Pedestrian Accidents

• Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute
• City of Seattle Bicycle Program: SDOT's Bicycle Program has been working steadily toward developing an urban trail system to accommodate bicyclists.
  
• Committee on Automobile and Pedestrian Safety: National Federation of the Blind's Committee on Automobile and Pedestrian Safety/Quiet Cars
  
• National Center for Bicycling & Walking (NCBW): The mission of the National Center for Bicycling & Walking (NCBW) is to help create bicycle-friendly and walkable communities across North America by encouraging and supporting the efforts of individuals, organizations, and agencies.
  
• Perils for Pedestrians: A monthly television series promoting awareness of issues affecting the safety of people who walk.
  
• Seattle Department of Transportation's (SDOT) Pedestrian Program: The Seattle Department of Transportation's (SDOT) Pedestrian Program seeks to improve pedestrian safety and to encourage more walking by creating an environment where pedestrians can walk safely and comfortably.
  
• Seattle Pedestrian Safety Committee: A Special Council Committee on Pedestrian Safety will lead the Council’s 2007 Pedestrian Safety Legislative Initiative.
  
• Washington State Cycling Laws: With more people riding bicycles, following the rules of the road is especially important. A bicycle is a legal road vehicle, just like a car. This means that bicycle riders have the same rights and responsibilities as drivers, even though bicycles are lighter than cars and generally slower.
  

Motorcycle Accidents

• American Motorcyclist Association: The AMA focuses on motorcycle rights, motorcycle riding and racing through its government relations work, by sanctioning road and off-road motorcycle riding activities and overseeing professional and amateur motorcycle racing events.

Distracted Driving Accidents

• Focus Driven: FocusDriven is an advocacy group for victims of motor vehicle crashes involving drivers using cell phones. We work with those who support our mission and want to make our roadways safer for all motorists.
  

Bus, Shuttle, Taxi & Mass Transit Accidents

• Seattle Department of Transportation
• Washington State Ferries: Ferry schedules, fares, route maps, fleet guide, news and travel information.
  

Child Injuries

• Child Health Stats- CDC
• ChildAdvocate.net: ChildAdvocate.net serves the needs of children, families and professionals while addressing mental health, medical, educational, legal and legislative issues.
• Safe Kids USA: Safe Kids USA is a member of Safe Kids Worldwide, a global network of organizations whose mission is to prevent accidental childhood injury, a leading killer of children 14 and under.
• Seattle Children's Hospital, Research & Foundation: Ranked as one of the best children's hospitals in the country by U.S. News & World Report magazine, Children’s serves as the pediatric referral center for Washington, Alaska, Montana and Idaho.

Dog Bites & Attacks

• National Dog Bite Prevention Week: The third full week of May is National Dog Bite Prevention Week, and the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the United States Postal Service, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are each working to educate Americans about dog bite prevention.

Medical Mistakes

• Institute For Safe Medical Practices: The Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP),is the nation’s only nonprofit organization devoted entirely to medication error prevention and safe medication use.
• The National Coordinating Council for Medication Error Reporting and Prevention (NCC MERP): The mission of the National Coordinating Council for Medication Error Reporting and Prevention (NCC MERP) is to maximize the safe use of medications and to increase awareness of medication errors through open communication, increased reporting and promotion of medication error prevention strategies.
• The National Patient Safety Foundation: The National Patient Safety Foundation is an organization that has been diligently pursuing one mission since its founding in 1997 – to improve the safety of patients.

Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect

• Adult Victims of Crime and Abuse in Residential Care Facilities: The National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA), the National Association of Adult Protective Services (NAAPSA) and the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) have initiated a unique action partnership bringing together experts and other individuals across the country to collaborate in order to better address the needs of adults victims of crime and abuse who live in residential care facilities.
  
• Elder Care Advocates: Elder Care Advocates provides professional care planning and care supervision for seniors no matter what their health status or living environment.
  
• End Abuse: The Family Violence Prevention Fund - The Family Violence Prevention Fund works to prevent violence within the home, and in the community, to help those whose lives are devastated by violence because everyone has the right to live free of violence.
  
• National Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse
• Nursing Home Abuse News