Wildfire Burns Home, Leads To Evacuations In Washington

Authorities have ordered evacuations as a wildfire threatens crops and homes in a rural part of Washington. The State Fire Marshal’s Office on Sunday morning said one home and one outbuilding were lost.
August 14, 2017 Property Washington

New Washington State Law Bans Electronics While Driving

The new distracted driving law goes into effect on Sunday, July 23. It means drivers will no longer be able to use a cell phone or any electronic device while driving, even when stopped at a traffic light. Deaths from distracted driving went up by 32% from 2014 to 2015.
July 18, 2017 Legislation & Regulation Liability Washington

Insurance Agent Charged For His Own Workers’ Comp Fraud

A Washington state insurance agent has been charged with felony theft for a workers’ compensation scam. James C. Kooy, 53, has been accused of claiming he was too disabled to work while running his own insurance agency. Authorities say he fraudulently received more than $233,000 in benefits.
July 10, 2017 Fraud Washington

30 Large Wildfires Are Burning Across The West

More than 8,000 firefighters across the West battled dozens of wildfires Thursday that forced thousands of local residents to pack up families, pets and personal treasures to flee the advancing blazes.
June 29, 2017 Property Arizona California Nevada New Mexico Oregon

Legalizing Recreational Marijuana Is Linked To Increased Crashes

Legalizing recreational marijuana use in Colorado, Oregon and Washington has resulted in collision claim frequencies that are about 3 percent higher overall than would have been expected without legalization, a new Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) analysis shows.
June 22, 2017 Auto Legislation & Regulation Colorado Oregon Washington

Dashcam Records Plane Crash Onto Street During Rush Hour

A small plane that had just taken off from Paine Field crashed on a busy Mukilteo road Tuesday afternoon, sending a rain of fire down on cars parked in early rush hour traffic below.
May 3, 2017 Auto Excess & Surplus Lines Liability Washington

Burglars Recorded Stealing $25K Worth Of Items From Home

Take a look at the thieves who broke into a home in Redmond in the middle of the day. King County detectives say the woman climbed through a window at the back of the home that had been left unlocked and then opened the door for her partner in crime.
April 17, 2017 Property Washington

Semi Trailer Splits After Hitting Overpass Supports, Spills Cargo

A flipped semi-truck blocked all lanes traffic on Northbound Interstate 405 in downtown Bellevue Wednesday morning. At one point, traffic was backed up for at least 7 miles.
March 16, 2017 Excess & Surplus Lines Washington

Uber Driver Slams Into Gas Pump, Creating Fireball

Surveillance video shows a gas pump burst into a ball of flames after being hit by an SUV on Monday night in North Seattle.
That crash ended a series of incidents in which another driver was seriously injured.
March 15, 2017 Auto Excess & Surplus Lines Liability Washington

Insurer May Pay $25M For Damaged Seattle Wastewater Plant

Damage to the crippled West Point wastewater-treatment plant in Seattle could cost more than $25 million to repair and might have happened after a power surge knocked out two pumps, resulting in major flooding, according to new details from King County.
February 28, 2017 Excess & Surplus Lines Washington

Blaze Consumes Huge Auburn, Washington Residence

An Auburn home was completely destroyed by fire Sunday morning, according to the Valley Regional Fire Authority. Firefighters received a call of smoke in the 30700 block of 124th Avenue Southeast about 6:15 a.m. and found a 5,000-square-foot two-story home fully involved, spokeswoman Kimberly Terhune wrote in a news release.
February 27, 2017 Property Washington

Vancouver Driver Caused Two Separate Pedestrian Fatalities, But Not At Fault

Marion Thomas has a hard time describing how he became the driver who on two occasions struck and killed a person in the roadway. The closest he gets is comparing it to lightning striking him twice.
February 23, 2017 Auto Liability Washington

98-Foot Fishing Boat With 6 Crewmen Missing Off Alaska

The U.S. Coast Guard in Alaska is searching for a fishing boat with six people that has been missing in the Bering Sea for more than a day. Ships and aircraft have looked through the night for the 98-foot-long F/V Destination, according to a news release from the agency on Sunday afternoon.
February 13, 2017 Marine Workers' Compensation Alaska Washington

Washington Lawmakers Propose Workers’ Comp Presumption For Nuclear Plant Workers

A bill that would provide a workers compensation benefits for cancer and other illnesses suffered by workers at a decommissioned nuclear site in Washington state could spur other states with antiquated and toxic nuclear sites to consider similar legislation, according to experts.
February 9, 2017 Legislation & Regulation Workers' Compensation Washington

Spokane Condo Carport Collapses Under Wet, Heavy Snow

Danielle Remington was in her kitchen Saturday night when she heard a loud noise coming from her condominium parking lot. What she heard was the sound of a carport crashing down on parked cars.
February 7, 2017 Auto Washington
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