According to the Washington State Patrol, vehicle accidents throughout the State of Washington are at their lowest point in 11 years. Fewer than 99,000 collisions occurred in the State of Washington in 2011, down from a peak of 123,000 in 2005, according to a report in the Everett, Wash., Herald. Darrin Grondel, director of the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, said, “Drivers get the lion’s share of credit for this improvement. Seat belts and air bags can reduce fatalities, but a reduction in collisions means there has been a marked improvement in driver behavior.”
Officials also credit the efforts of local and state agencies to educate drivers about traffic safety through the State’s Target Zero program. Along with an overall decline in accidents, injury accidents are down by 20 percent and fatal accidents are down 30 percent from the 2005 peak. Collisions resulting from driving under the influence are down 21 percent. Slowing down, paying attention and driving sober are the three main factors making Washington State roadways safer, according to State Patrol Chief John R. Batiste. “We don’t have to accept collisions as an inevitable fact of life,” he said.
Washington State Accidents
The figures released by the Washington State Patrol are certainly good news for anyone who drives on the state’s roads. But collisions still happen. According to the Washington State Department of Transportation, 238,387 people were involved in collisions throughout the state in 2010. Of those, 460 were fatally injured, 2,472 sustained serious injuries, and 43,956 suffered minor injuries. In addition, there were 6,126 alcohol-related accidents in 2010. Sadly, 170 people lost their lives that year as the result of impaired driving.
As State Patrol Chief Batiste pointed out, drivers can help lower the chance of an accident. Unfortunately, though, a driver cannot change the behavior of others on the roadway. It only takes a moment of negligence or one bad decision to create a tragedy, so all motorists must remain alert and on guard.
Legal Options for Victims of Washington State Accidents
If you are the victim of a Washington State accident, you may have legal options for compensation. If someone else was responsible for the accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. Washington State is a comparative negligence state. This means that even if the other party is not totally responsible for the accident, you may still be entitled to compensation for medical treatment, lost wages, property damage and emotional trauma.
If you think that you have a valid Washington State accident case, you owe it to yourself and your family to have a Washington State car accident attorney review the facts and circumstances of your accident. The attorneys at Mariano Morales Law can help. Contact the team today by calling (509) 853-2222 or by using our online contact form for your free initial consultation.
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