One Call, That’s All 800-404-9000
CASE EVALUATIONS ARE FAST, EASY, AND FREE.
Washington state goes through significant changes in weather throughout the year. On top of that are the toll roads, interstates, and mountain passes that have to be monitored. To try and assist the public with safe driving, the Washington State Department of Transportation offers insightful details on a daily basis. This allows drivers to modify their travel plans to take the safest route possible. However, accidents still happen. That’s because, like just about every other city in the country, most of the causes in Spokane car accident cases are driver errors and, in most cases, could have been avoided.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration collects data every year so that they can further understand the causes and results of car accidents. This data allows them to measure what issues exist, but it also allows them to measure the effectiveness of the laws designed to reduce the number of car accidents that happen each year. Nationally, one of the biggest problems is distracted driving. It accounts for almost 20% of the fatalities that resulted from car accidents. Furthermore, many of the distracted driving cases involved the use of cell phones. One of the most common causes of car accidents in the country is drivers paying more attention to phones and other passengers than to driving.
The leading cause of car accidents in Washington is people not yielding the right-of-way when they should. This is followed closely by speeding. Driving too close to the cars in front of drivers comes next, followed by inattentive driving. As you can see, most car accidents are avoidable. If you are in a car accident that is caused by someone else’s negligence, you deserve to be compensated for your injuries and damages.
When it comes to fatalities, the numbers are adjusted to include only accidents that ended in one or more fatalities. Speeding is the number one cause of fatalities resulting from car accidents in Washington, Spokane included. Unfortunately, 155 deaths occurred as the result of someone going over the speed limit, sometimes dangerously so. Even the speeds that weren’t deemed reckless or dangerous resulted in a fatality, which says something about driver perception of safe speeds.
Although the numbers for Washington include the city of Spokane, Spokane has its own unique issues due to its size. Larger cities with a denser population face higher risks for several reasons. For one thing, traffic, general driving conditions, and weather can all have an impact on how people drive. These factors can increase stress levels so that drivers are not always making the best decisions. Couple that with distracted driving while using cell phones or dealing with other issues and it is surprising that the numbers are not higher.
The numbers do not lie. Like accidents in other cities, Spokane car accident causes are largely attributed to choices that drivers make. When they make that split second decision to take a narrow opening or opportunity to get just a little further, a little faster, all while multi-tasking, they end up putting lives at risk. Almost all of these accidents could have been avoided if people had simply followed the rules of the road and done one thing at a time, like focusing on driving while behind the wheel and only texting when the car is parked. For drivers who pay attention and follow all safety precautions, these accidents can have devastating consequences at no fault of their own.
If you or a loved one has been in a car accident caused by someone else, you could be entitled to compensation for your injuries. You can’t afford to risk your health and your future on an inexperienced lawyer, or by attempting to navigate the process alone. At Craig Swapp & Associates, our lawyers have many years of experience and are determined to help you get the compensation you deserve.
Contact our office online immediately or call 1-800-404-9000 for a free consultation so we can help.