In 2010, 32,885 people died in motor vehicle traffic crashes on our nation’s highways, and 2,243,000 were injured. Washington’s 87,500 miles of roads, including more than 7000 miles of state and interstate highways, are often the scene of highway accidents; in that same year, 458 fatalities and countless injuries occurred in our state. A person injured or the survivors or a person killed in a motor vehicle accident can make a claim for damages from the accident if it can be shown that it was caused by another driver’s negligence or poor driving.
Highway accidents involving cars, trucks, buses, motorcycles, and other vehicles can be caused by speeding, aggressive driving, driving under the influence, distracted driving, tailgating, failing to signal turns and lane changes, and disregarding traffic laws.
When your life has been torn apart by a highway accident in Washington, the place to turn for help is the law offices of Wattel & York.
HOW HIGHWAY ACCIDENTS HAPPEN
- Lane change or merge accidents are caused by drivers failing to check blind spots or to signal when merging or changing lanes.
- Highway interchange crashes happen where traffic is heavy, especially where slower vehicles are merging onto the highway with faster-moving vehicles.
- Left turn collisions are caused by drivers failing to yield to oncoming traffic.
- Rear end collisions occur when one driver stops short and is hit from behind by another driver following too close (tailgating) or not paying attention to the car in front. Rear end collisions are the most common type of traffic accident.
- Front end collisions usually happen when drivers swerve out of their lane into oncoming traffic.
WHAT TO DO AND NOT TO DO AFTER A HIGHWAY ACCIDENT
- When you’ve been involved in a crash, you must remain on the scene. If you can, move your vehicle to a safe location away from traffic.
- Call 911 to dispatch an officer to the scene; make an accident report.
- If you are able, take photographs of the accident scene.
- Get the other driver’s plate number and insurance and contact information.
- Get checked out at a hospital emergency room, by your personal physician, or at an urgent care clinic. Make sure you report all injuries, even minor ones. Keep follow-up appointments. Remember, things sometimes get worse before they get better.
- Don’t discuss the details of the accident or your injuries with the other driver. Even if you think you are unhurt, don’t comment on your condition. You may not realize immediately that you have been injured, as some injuries don’t become apparent for hours, days, or sometimes longer following an accident. Don’t apologize if you think you may have done something to contribute to the accident.
- You’ll probably receive a call from an adjuster from the other driver’s insurance company. Don’t make a statement or sign anything until you’ve consulted an attorney. Adjusters are trained to get you to make statements that could damage your case, so avoid them.
- Call the law offices of personal injury attorneys Wattel & York in Seattle for a free consultation.
The lawyers at Wattel & York have the experience and knowledge you need when you’ve been injured in a highway accident in Seattle or the Puget Sound area, and access to top traffic safety engineers to investigate and testify, if necessary, on your behalf.
We have a record of impressive settlements for hundreds of car accident victims and are 100 % committed to justice for the injured. We front all the expenses, so you pay nothing out-of-pocket.