by cooneylaw | Apr 2, 2024 | Auto Accidents, Bodily Injury, Car Accidents, Motorcycle Accident, Pedestrian Accidents
April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month. There were about 800 traffic fatalities in 2023 in Washington State and too many were the result of distracted driving. Modern technology has given us amazing tools, like built–in touch screens and cell phones. All these...
by cooneylaw | Mar 26, 2024 | Employment Law, Severance Agreement
By 2022 Nondisclosure Agreements and Non-disparagement Agreements had become common tools in many Washington State employment settings. A Nondisclosure Agreement is a contract, usually between an employer and an employee. They typically require certain information to...
by cooneylaw | Mar 12, 2024 | Criminal Defense, DUI
Baby DUI refers to the criminal charge of Driver Under Twenty-one Consuming Alcohol or Marijuana. This is a different charge from an adult DUI and the consequences can be different, too. Those facing a Baby DUI still have to fight two separate cases: a court case and...
by cooneylaw | Mar 5, 2024 | Estate Planning & Probate, Wills
A Power of Attorney (POA) is a document that allows someone you designate to act on your behalf. These should be part of every adult’s estate plan. A POA can help reduce stress when unforeseen problems pop up. For individuals, there are two main types of POA’s: a...
by cooneylaw | Feb 27, 2024 | Criminal Defense, DUI
Washington State DUI law sets the legal limit for alcohol at .08 if you’re 21 or older. There is talk in Olympia about lowering this limit. Setting a legal limit implies drivers can legally drive with some amount of alcohol in their body, but it can be confusing....
by cooneylaw | Feb 20, 2024 | Auto Accidents, Bodily Injury, Car Accidents, Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrians struck by motor vehicles climbed nearly 40% in Spokane in 2023. Excessive speed and distracted driving are among the most common causes for these accidents. In addition to driver’s slowing down and paying attention, there are plenty of things both drivers...
by cooneylaw | Feb 6, 2024 | Criminal Defense, DUI
Folks accused of one DUI often face another later in life. An old DUI arrest within the past seven years will most likely count as a prior offense sentence enhancer, but you must analyze both the date and court resolution to be sure. In a prior blog post we addressed...
by cooneylaw | Jan 30, 2024 | Criminal Defense, DUI
Washington State DUI laws set mandatory minimum penalties for convictions, including higher penalties if there are priors within 7 years. To determine whether a misdemeanor DUI is a first, second or third offense you must look at the dates of other DUI arrests, dates...
by cooneylaw | Jan 23, 2024 | Auto Accidents, Bodily Injury, Car Accidents, Uncategorized, Uninsured/underinsured Motorist Accidents
Auto accidents are jarring, and our minds often need a moment to process the shock of what happened. Once the mental fog has cleared, the first step is to check if you or anyone else has been injured and, if necessary, immediately call 911. Assuming there’s no...
by cooneylaw | Jan 9, 2024 | Estate Planning & Probate, Wills
Dying without a Will, or dying intestate, can trigger unnecessary stress for your family. Many people think dying without a will turns the probate process into a free for all. However, in the absence of a will, Washington State law dictates how your property will pass...
