Russell & Hill, PLLC

In 2020, Washington State saw more than 86,000 car accidents on its roadways, and sadly, more than 500 of those accidents resulted in the loss of life. North of 2,000 injuries sustained in car accidents throughout the state in 2020 involved serious injuries with the capacity to leave victims and their families devastated physically, mentally and financially.

Serious Crashes on the Rise

Overall, crashes throughout Washington have decreased in the previous five years, according to the Washington Department of Transportation. However, the onslaught of COVID-19 did not cause a decrease in serious car accidents and fatalities on Washington’s roads. Serious crashes were up for 2020, according to the state DOT, although car versus pedestrian and bicycle events were down a bit.

Washington Car Accident Causes

There is a bevy of causes when it comes to car accidents that result in the need for representation by a skilled Washington car accident attorney. Chief among them:

  • Distracted drivers: Driving while distracted by cell phones and other devices can lead to some of the most harrowing accidents on the roadway. In fact, officials named distracted driving as the culprit of 11,739 accidents on the state’s roadways in 2020, which is up dramatically from 2019’s figure of 10,449. People are texting, talking, and even recording themselves live like never before while behind the wheel, and accident numbers prove it.
  • Impaired drivers: Of the tens of thousands of car accidents in Washington in 2020, more than 5,200 of them occurred at the hands of drunk drivers.
  • Teenage drivers: Teen drivers are more likely to be involved in serious accidents than more experienced motorists. For this reason, the number of teen-driver-related car accidents in Washington State in 2020—11,752—was just slightly higher than the number of accidents caused by distracted drivers.
  • Drowsy drivers: A driver who is deprived of sleep can lead to dangerous accidents in much the same fashion as an inebriated driver.
  • Speeding: Drivers who speed are a major source of accidents and fatalities in Washington State. Driving over the posted speed limit increases the chance of serious accidents and deaths among drivers, their occupants, and others on the roadway.

Holding At-Fault Drivers Accountable

As your Washington car accident attorney can attest, victims of car accidents are entitled to collect damages for their injuries. Although some accidents are fortunately very minor and can be worked out with the exchange of insurance contact information between those involved, others require the litigation and negotiation skills of a Washington accident attorney. Awardable damages in most car accident claims include:

  • Medical costs
  • Future medical bills
  • Lost income
  • Future loss of income
  • Pain and suffering

Car accident claims are oftentimes complex. Reach out to the competent Bothell injury lawyers at Russell & Hill, PLLC, for help as soon as possible following your accident. You can contact us for a free consultation of your case by clicking here or calling 800-529-0842.

Washington State is home to some of the most beautiful and scenic roadways in the United States, but those same highways and bi-ways are also filled with potential perils, setting the scene for tragic car wrecks. Across the state, thousands of car crashes upend and alter the course of victims’ lives, oftentimes leaving them with lifelong impairments, disabilities, and disfigurements. If you have been involved in a car accident or lost a loved one due to the negligence of another driver on the road, reach out to a Bothell, Washington car accident attorney right away to preserve your rights under the law.

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