2ND QUARTER | 2013

A Quarterly Newsletter for our

&Friends Family

www.glpattorneys.com | 800.422.4610

IN THIS ISSUE

Emergency or Construction Zone Ahead? How to Navigate .............................1

GLP Announces New Partner .................... ...........2

Commitment Creativity Compassion Collaboration

These are the core values that inspire our attorneys and staff to work together diligently to get proven results for our clients.

A Personal Touch

Our attorneys, paralegals and entire staff are dedicated to providing professional advocacy, along with caring and supportive guidance in the area of personal injury law.

We undertake all aspects of a case to alleviate the stress and frustration inevitably created by the claims process, thereby leaving our clients free to focus on their treatment and rehabilitation.

Emergency or Construction Zone Ahead? How to Navigate:

Continued on page 3

Do you know how to properly react when approaching a construction zone or emergency vehicle on the roadway? Do you move left? Do you move right? Do you slow down or speed up? Do you simply ignore the situation and continue driving normally?

You may not know it, but scores of emergency responders, State Patrol Officers, transportation workers, and tow truck drivers are injured or killed every year while working on Washington State roads and highways. In fact, traffic deaths are the number one killer of police officers nationwide. In response to these dangers, there are several relatively new laws in Washington State designed to keep you and these public servants safe.

The Emergency Zone

Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 46.61.212 defines an Emergency Zone as the adjacent lanes of a roadway 200 feet (10 car lengths) before or after a stationary emergency vehicle with flashing lights, an emergency assistance vehicle using warning lights, a police vehicle using emergency lights, or a tow

truck using red lights.

The law states that a driver approaching an Emergency Zone shall proceed with caution. If the road has four or more lanes (with at least two lanes intended for travel in the same direction as the approaching vehicle) the driver should change lanes to provide a cushion of space for the emergency vehicle. Before doing so, however, you should always keep in mind traffic conditions and the safety of other vehicles on the road.

On a roadway of less than four lanes, you should proceed with caution, reduce the speed of your vehicle and pass to the left at a safe distance. Of course, you should also yield the right-of-way to all other vehicles on the roadway. If changing lanes or moving away is unsafe or not reasonable, you should reduce your speed and proceed with an abundance of caution.

The monetary penalty for speeding in and/or failing to move over or slow down in an Emergency Zone is double the amount of the typical speeding infraction. In addition, drivers could be

charged with Reckless Endangerment if the driving conduct endangers an emergency worker. This offense can be very expensive and could lead to a driver’s license suspense.

The Construction Zone

Penalties for unsafe driving in a Construction Zone are similar to those of the Emergency Zone. RCW 46.61.527 defines a Construction Zone as an area where construction, repair, or maintenance work is being conducted on or adjacent to any public roadway.

2ND QUARTER | 2013

Page 2 | www.glpattorneys.com

2013 | 2ND QUARTER

Graham Lundberg Peschel

WITH YOU FROM INJURY TO RECOVERY

The attorneys at Graham Lundberg Peschel only handle personal injury cases. We are an experienced law firm fully staffed to assist injured parties.

We dedicate all of our resources and highly trained support staff to guide an injured person through the complexities of a case. We work diligently to obtain fair compensation for our clients.

Benefits may include:

• Medical Expenses

• Lost Wages

• Loss of Future Earnings

• Property Loss

• Pain & Suffering

• Impairment & Disability

GLP announces that Heather D. Webb has become a Partner in Burlington

Graham Lundberg Peschel is proud to announce that Heather D. Webb has become a Partner and will be the firm’s managing partner for the firm’s North Washington Offices, which encompass Skagit, Whatcom, San Juan, Island, Chelan, Douglas and Okanogan Counties. Graham Lundberg Peschel’s North Washington Office is based in Burlington, with a satellite office in Wenatchee, where Heather works with fellow Partner John D. Webber and Associate Attorney Kevin Conner. Heather has worked in the legal field since 1990, progressing from Paralegal to Rule 6 Law Clerk to becoming an attorney in 2007. Heather has been instrumental in developing Graham Lundberg Peschel’s work in North and Central Washington and in opening our staffed office in Burlington in 2011. Heather began working at GLP in 2002, and from 2003 to 2007 she was a Rule 6 Law Clerk through the Washington State Bar Association while still working at the firm. The Washington State Bar Association runs the Admission to Practice Rule 6 Law Clerk Program as an alternative to the traditional law school program. It is a four-year program designed to supply a theoretical, scholastic, and clinical experience through the combination of work and study with an experienced lawyer or judge. After graduating from the program under the guidance of Graham Lundberg Peschel attorneys and Partners Scott F. Lundberg, Brian J. Peschel, Cydney C. Webster and John D. Webber, Heather passed the Washington State Bar Examination and joined the firm as an Associate Attorney in 2007.

Heather majored in Spanish at the University of Washington and is bilingual in Spanish. She provides representation to the majority of Graham Lundberg Peschel’s Spanish speaking clients across the state. She is passionate about representing her clients which has resulted in favorable verdicts in recent trials.

“Thank you! We are grateful that you represented us. It was such a blessing not having to worry about things – to know you were tending to it all. Thank you does not seem adequate. You continued to work hard on our case even when we were exhausted mentally and physically.

Thank you for being so intentional in discovering all you could about the accident and the impact of the injuries on our lives. Thank you for being consistently compassionate and kind towards us. Thank you for being sympathetic to the strain we were (and still are) living under. If we ever need legal assistance in the future, you can be sure we will be contacting you. You represented us well and we truly appreciated the time we spent with you!” D.C. & P.C.

GLP Client Testimonial

2ND QUARTER | 2013

www.glpattorneys.com | page 3

Graham Lundberg Peschel

GLP HAS EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE IN A WIDE VARIETY OF PERSONAL INJURY CASES, INCLUDING:

• Motor Vehicle Accidents

• Pedestrian vs. Vehicle

• Motorcycle Accidents

• Construction Site Injuries

• Workplace Injuries

• Unsafe Property

• Defective Products

• Dangerous Products

• Nursing Home Abuse

• Wrongful Death

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At a minimum, drivers are expected to obey the traffic control devices, signs, and flaggers controlling the Construction Zone. If you are found to be speeding in a Construction Zone, the usual traffic fine will be doubled and you may be subject to a Reckless Endangerment charge which is a gross misdemeanor.

Following are some good tips for safely navigating Construction Zones:

Watch Your Speed

Slow down when approaching all construction zones. You will be in the work zone quicker than you think. While in the construction zone, follow all posted speed limits. Try to maintain a consistent speed with the traffic flow, and use good judgment to adjust your speed for weather conditions. Resume normal speed only when signs indicate that it’s safe to do so.

Be Aware of Your Space

Leave adequate room between your vehicle, other passenger vehicles, and moving construction equipment. Count out at least two seconds from the time the car ahead of you passes an object and the time your own car passes that object. It’s also a good idea to leave yourself an out. When stopped in traffic, leave a safety zone between you and the vehicle in front of you. A good rule of thumb is that when stopped in traffic you should be able to see the bottom of the tires of the vehicle in front of you.

Plan for Delays

Generally, construction zones are only a temporary inconvenience, and can be anticipated or even avoided with a little advanced planning. The Washington State Department of Transportation is a good resource to help plan a trip that might take you through construction, or to avoid construction delays. You can find this information at www.wsdot.gov/

The bottom line is your safety. Whether you’re driving in an emergency zone, a construction zone or more typical driving conditions, it’s important to be aware of your surroundings. Stay off your cell phone, keep your eyes on the road, and keep both hands on the wheel. It’s up to drivers just like you to decrease the accidents that make routine traffic stops and road repair a risk to life and limb. Safe driving can save your life and the lives of those who are serving and protecting our community.

Emergency or Construction Zone Ahead? How to Navigate: Continued from page 1

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PAIDPERMIT #34

SEATTLE WAGraham Lundberg Peschel, PS Inc.2601 Fourth Ave., Floor 6 Seattle, WA 98121

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Seattle Office 2601 Fourth Ave., Floor 6

Seattle, WA 98121 (206) 448-1992 (800) 422-4610

Burlington/ Mount Vernon Office Cascade Professional Center 160 Cascade Place, Suite 103

Burlington, WA 98233 (360) 424-1110 (800) 422-4610

Spokane Office 601 W. Main Ave., Suite 305

Spokane, WA 99201 (509) 455-3600 (800) 422-4610

Tacoma Office 1420 South Union Ave., Floor 2

Tacoma, WA 98405 (253) 627-7701 (800) 273-5005

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Port Orchard, WA 98366 (360) 876-5005 (800) 273-5005

Vancouver Office

4400 NE 77th Ave., Suite 275 Vancouver, WA 98662

(800) 273-5005