Serious tragedy was averted last month when a pickup truck crashed into a house in Jefferson County, Wash. According to the Washington State Patrol, a 65-year-old Port Hadlock man was behind the wheel of the 1990 Chevrolet pickup when it struck a stop sign and a fire hydrant before crashing into a corner of the house. Reports indicate that the vehicle was traveling at a speed high enough to have caused considerable structural damage to the house. The driver was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center with multiple injuries. The only person inside the house at the time was not injured. The accident was under investigation.
It is truly amazing that no one inside the home was injured in the crash; however, the property damages to the house appeared to be extensive and costly. When most people think of car accident damages, they think of physical or emotional injuries to the victims. Property damages can be a significant result of a car accident as well.
Washington State Car Accidents
Across the State of Washington, 250,000 car accidents were reported in 2010, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. About 2,600 people suffered serious injuries and 458 people died in car wrecks that year. Washington State car accidents occur for many reasons, including the following:
- Distracted driving which includes texting, talking on a cellphone, eating, grooming, and talking to passengers while driving
- Speeding
- Reckless driving
- Drowsy driving or falling asleep at the wheel
- Drunk driving or driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Weather conditions such as snow, rain or fog
Common Injuries in Washington State Car Accidents
Victims of car accidents may suffer injuries that range from mild bumps and bruises to life-threatening injuries. Some common injuries that you may suffer as the result of a car accident include:
- Neck and spine trauma
- Head and brain injuries
- Back injuries
- Whiplash injuries
- Sprained, strained muscles or ligaments
- Facial injuries
- Psychological injuries
Washington State Laws on Negligence
If you have been injured in a Washington State car accident due to someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation. Negligence is a legal term to refer to responsibility or fault in an accident. Washington State uses a comparable negligence system, meaning that you could be entitled to compensation even if you were also partially negligent in the accident.
You could recover compensation for both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages include the cost of medical treatment, the income you lost as a result of the accident, and the cost of repairing damage to your vehicle or even your house, as in the Jefferson County accident. Your non-economic damages reflect the emotional trauma the accident caused you.
Discuss Your Case with a Washington State Auto Accident Lawyer
Only an experienced car accident attorney can evaluate your case and determine what legal options you may have to recover compensation for your physical and emotional injuries as well as your property damage and lost wages. The Washington State car accident attorneys at Mariano Morales Law can help. Contact the team today by calling 866-972-0493 or by using our online contact form for your free initial consultation.
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