Car Accident

If you’re involved in a car accident in Oregon, even one that looks minor, you should always call the police. It might initially seem unnecessary, but all accidents should be taken seriously. By calling the police and waiting for an officer to arrive, you protect yourself and your rights. The officer’s report can make all…

Imagine you are stopped at a red light on Southeast Hawthorne when a sleek electric SUV on “Autopilot” rolls through and smashes your rear bumper. You did everything right. The question that matters now is who must pay for the damage. Liability in crashes involving self‑driving technology is more tangled than in ordinary car wrecks.…

Seconds after a crash, pain and panic can blur your memory. You need proof, not opinion. A small dashcam clipped behind your mirror can freeze those seconds on video and hand you leverage that the insurance company can’t ignore. What dashcams capture and why it matters Many dashcam models turn on with your ignition and…

If you’ve just been in a car accident in Washington, you’re probably feeling overwhelmed. Between doctor’s visits, insurance calls, and the daily logistics of getting around without your car, it’s easy to put your own questions on the back burner, especially the big one: How much is this all going to cost me? That’s where…

According to data from the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, 30 percent of fatalities and 23 percent of serious injuries in car crashes in the state result from distracted driving. The Commission also found that 70 percent of distracted drivers were using their cell phones. The state passed the Driving Under the Influence of Electronics Act,…

Auto accidents happen every day. According to the Washington State Department of Transportation, Seattle alone experienced almost 3,000 auto accidents in just the first nine months of 2024. That doesn’t include other cities like Tacoma, Olympia, Yakima, or Spokane. Accidents are stressful enough, but when a rental car is involved, things can get pretty complicated.…

Washington State and the rest of the country have recently seen car insurance costs spike. While annual rate hikes are the norm, the new numbers suggest unprecedented jumps in costs for drivers. Sadly, those increased costs could lead to more drivers getting behind the wheel without coverage or with minimal coverage. As a result, drivers…

If you decide to file a personal injury claim after an accident, there is a strong possibility that you have mentioned filing a claim to friends and family members. In doing so, you might have been met with various myths about the legal process. People hold certain misconceptions about personal injury claims. When you hear…

Accidents are traumatic events, and it’s normal to feel overwhelmed in the aftermath. However, it’s important to keep calm, take the appropriate steps to hold the at-fault party accountable and seek compensation for your damages. One of the most important steps is gathering evidence. By doing this, you can build a claim against the at-fault…

Cell phone data can be crucial if you are ever injured in an accident, and it may come as no surprise to learn that cell phone data can be very helpful in personal injury cases. How is cell phone data used after an accident or injury in Vancouver, WA? Cell phone data can be used…

Weather conditions can significantly contribute to car accidents by affecting visibility, road traction, and vehicle control. Drivers should exercise extra caution and adopt preventive measures when driving in poor weather to reduce the risk of accidents. Types of weather that increase car accident risks Various weather conditions can impact driving safety and increase the risk…

After a car accident, one of the first tasks your attorney will recommend is gathering your medical records or documents. These documents can help prove that you were involved in a crash, suffered injuries, and received medical treatment. However, there are a variety of medical-related records and documents that you may need after a car…

After a car accident, you may feel stressed, frustrated, and shaken up. Your mind may be racing, trying to remember every detail leading up to the event. Even if you think you might be partially at fault, do not say anything. The aftermath of a collision is confusing, and you do not want to say…

You should consider hiring a lawyer if you have been in a car accident with an uninsured driver. While not required to have a lawyer, an uninsured driver claim can become difficult and complex, making legal assistance beneficial for pursuing compensation for injuries, property damage, medical expenses, and more. Importantly, there is a deadline to…

As cars have evolved, it’s apparent that these changes may be making us worse drivers. Whether due to new technological features, advances in sustainability, or increasing vehicle sizes, our cars  are affecting our driving habits, leading to more injuries and fatalities in Vancouver, WA, and across the country. According to a recent article published by…

After the screeching tires and the echoes of a car accident settle, the road to recovery often takes an unexpected turn, leading many to consider filing a personal injury lawsuit. In the aftermath of such incidents, seeking damages is a pivotal step, especially when it comes to covering medical expenses. These damages are not just…

A major part of our job as personal injury attorneys for car accident victims is to anticipate the arguments that insurance carriers and defense lawyers are likely to make to deny the liability of their clients or reduce the amount of compensation the law says you deserve. Understanding these defenses and showing why they have…

The safety of vehicles on the road is a critical concern for regulators, manufacturers, and consumers alike. Over the years, various rating systems have been developed to evaluate and communicate the safety performance of cars. These systems aim to provide consumers with information about crashworthiness, occupant protection, and other important safety features. Recently, there has…

In the event of a car accident in Washington State, law enforcement will generate a Police Traffic Collision Report, also referred to as an accident report. This report will contain the pertinent information to the incident that may prove critical if you are filing a claim for damages. The accident report is filed by the…

If you are a driver in the state of Washington, you may have been asked about adding a specific coverage when purchasing your car insurance. This coverage is called Personal Injury Protection (PIP). Most people have heard about this, but there may be people who have it and do not even realize it. Many drivers…

One of the first few states to legalize cannabis, Oregon is now leading the way for another Schedule I drug: psilocybin mushrooms. These hallucinogenic fungi have been known in popular media as the drug that causes trippy experiences, including users imagining melting walls or multicolored skies. As exciting as that image is, the scientific reality…

Cars crashing into buildings aren’t just the stuff of movies. They happen all too often. When cars collide with buildings (called car incursions), the consequences can be catastrophic. The people inside the building have no protection from the vehicle and no way of even anticipating the collision so they can get out of the way.…

Distracted driving is, sadly, not uncommon. Plenty of people have glanced at a text or maybe typed in a new address into their GPS while stopped at a red light or as they’re pulling out of a parking lot. However, just because it is common doesn’t mean it is any less dangerous. Thousands of lives…

At Philbrook Law Firm, our lawyers represent personal injury victims. This means we represent anyone who is injured due to the preventable conduct of others. More precisely, it means the following: Someone owed you a duty of care. That someone breached their duty of care. You suffered your injuries (or a loved one died) due…

A recent accident in Vancouver, Washington is a reminder that vehicle rollover accidents are extremely dangerous. News about an accident on State Route 500 near southbound Interstate 205 disclosed that two people were seriously injured when they were ejected from a vehicle that rolled over several times. Traffic was backed up to the Fourth Plain…

Washington is a large and beautiful state, from our lush rainforests to our awe-inspiring mountains. Our state holds plenty of natural and man-made wonders for anyone to come and visit. Already, our state welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors every year to come and explore what we have to offer. While this attention stimulates our…

Driving on flat straight roads is difficult enough for most drivers. Driving on on-and-off ramps is especially dangerous. The first danger is that these roads curve forcing drivers to drive slowly to stay on the road and in their lane of travel. The second danger is that drivers entering roadways from ramps need to merge…

Video footage of the car accident that caused your injuries is usually the strongest evidence you can have to bolster your case. The damage to the vehicles, the police report, and the statements of eyewitnesses all count – but if you want to sway an insurance adjuster, a defense lawyer, or a jury, then video…

It seems like common sense to pull over to the side of the road when we hear a siren, or we see those flashing lights in our rearview mirror. But the Move Over laws in Washington state are actually a little more complicated than you might think. The law does not simply require you to…

Everyone who drives in Washington State needs to anticipate wet weather driving conditions. Many days of the year, the clouds cause drizzles and slight showers. There are also a lot of days when it rains so hard you can barely see. Everyone should know that driving in the rain is dangerous, but not everyone takes…