Kirkland Man Driving 100 mph Causes Bothell WA Car Accident, Injures 6 in Minivan l Bothell Car Accident Attorney

A Kirkland, WA man, Geoffrey Goddard, was reported driving over 100 mph on I-405 near Bothell, Washington on June 12, 2009.  Goodard smashed his Dodge Dakota pickup into the rear of a Mazda minivan carrying two women and four children.  The force of impact was so great the minivan was thrown across four lanes of traffic onto a dirt median where it flipped over on its roof.  Goddard is suspected of driving drunk.

All six passenger were taken to hospitals with injuries, and two of the children had possible broken bones.  Goddard was also injured and taken to Evegreen Hospital.  When police arrived to question Goddard he ran from the hospital naked.  He left his close and ran out across the parking lot naked.  Are you kidding me, he had to be drunk to think that was a good idea.

As Kirkland Car Accident Attorney who has handled many drunk driver caused car accidents I can tell you these types of crazy stories happen far too often.  Many times the drunk driver has no car insurance or carries the bare minimum coverage of $25,000.  When six people are seriously injured in a 100 mph collision the injury victims are often left paying there own medical bills and any other expenses.

How do you protect yourself and your family from this tragic scenario?  Buy as much Uninsured Motorist (UIM) insurance coverage you can afford.  UIM insurance is the best way to protect yourself and your family from dangerous drunk drivers and other minimally insured drivers.  The UIM coverage in your car insurance policy is designed so it takes the place of the at-fault driver when he/she has no insurance or not enough to cover your medical bills and compensate you fairly for all that you have to go through when seriously injured.  In essence you buy insurance for those who don't or don't buy enough.

You may be wondering how much UIM coverage should you get?  As much as you can afford.  My UIM policy limits are $1,000,000, which is a lot coverage for not a lot of money.  Think about this, driving in your car is probably the most dangerous thing you do almost everyday, and what would happen if you were in a horrible car accident and were not able to work again due to severe injuries.  How much insurance money would you need to replace your income and compensate you for your severe life altering injuries.  One million suddenly doesn't seem like a lot given that picture.  My suggestion is to have at least $500,000 UIM coverage.  This should provide a good cushion if your involved in a catastrophic Washington car accident.

A good place to find a much more detailed look at buying car insurance is our FREE report The Guide To Buying Car Insurance In Washington.

Food for thought! 

LA Road Rage Driver Convicted of 6 Felonies l Seattle Bike Lawyer

A Los Angeles County jury found a car driver guilty of six felonies following a July 2008 incident where the driver had a violent altercation with two bicyclists.  The driver slammed on his brakes in front of the bicycle riders causing serious injuries to both bicyclists.  The driver became angry at the bicycle riders as he drove down a windy canyon road in the Los Angeles area.  He was having difficulty passing the bikes.

The car driver Christopher Thomas was an emergency room doctor in Los Angeles.  He had a prior history of conflicts with bicycle riders.  It was clear from his reported statements that he believed bicycles should not be on the road and needed to get the hell out of his way.  He made it a point to teach these bike riders a lesson.  Well, who was taught the lesson here?

Thomas had been out on bail, but the judge revoked bail and Thomas was place in jail immediately following the guilty jury verdict.  Thomas is no longer an ER doctor and does not live in the LA area.  He is likely to lose his medical license as a result of the felony convictions.  Thank God!  Any doctor that is okay with trying to seriously hurt a bicycle rider with his car should not be permitted to practice medicine.

Thomas faces a maximum of 10 years in prison at his sentencing in a few weeks.  But as a first time offender he likely will not receive the maximum.

It is not okay to use your car as a weapon no matter how frustrated you get with a bicycle rider, motorcycle, or other vehicle driver.  Follow the Golden rule...Treat others how you would want to be treated!