Having a motor vehicle makes our lives much easier, but it’s also dangerous when you have to share the road with unsafe drivers. If you’re trying to keep yourself and your family safe, it’s important to know Washington’s most dangerous roads so you can be extra careful.
Unfortunately, no matter how safely you drive, you may still become a victim of a collision caused by a negligent driver on our state’s deadly highways and roads. At Max Meyers Law, our experienced Washington car accident lawyer will help you obtain the justice and compensation you deserve for your injuries. Here’s how to prepare for the worst—and the help we’ll provide if it happens.
The Most Dangerous Roads in Washington Where You Could Be Injured in a Car Accident
While crashes can happen anywhere and any place, certain roads and highways pose a greater threat. Here are the top three where car accidents leading to serious injuries and fatalities occur:
- Pacific Highway. Also known as State Route 99, it runs approximately 49 miles from Fife to Everett and passes through busy cities like Seattle, Everett, and Federal Way. In some stretches, it’s a highway, while in other places, it’s a busy multi-lane road. Many serious injury collisions and fatal car accidents occur on State Route 99.
- I-5. Another hazardous roadway is 1-5, which spans over 150 miles in Washington and runs through Seattle. Some stretches where accidents are likely include Tacoma and between Federal and Lakewood Way. One reason so many collisions occur on 1-5 is how heavily traveled and congested this interstate gets.
- Aurora St. This is a busy road in Seattle where many auto collisions occur. The stretch between N. Winona Ave. and N. 155th St. is especially perilous.
Other highways where you want to be more careful include:
- SR 167 around Tacoma
- SR 181
- SR 522
- Interstate 90
Leading Causes of Car Accidents on Washington’s Most Dangerous Roads
At-fault motorists cause car accidents for many reasons. However, some of the top causes of auto collisions on our state’s most dangerous roads and highways include:
- Speeding. Unfortunately, your injuries could be much more severe if a speeding driver strikes your vehicle because the force of the impact will be much greater.
- Not paying attention. Distracted driving—like eating and drinking, using a cellphone, and fiddling with instrument controls—is a top cause of car accidents. Although Washington State only allows hands-free talking on a cellphone, many people continue to hold their cellphone and text, leading to catastrophic accidents on our already dangerous roads.
- Drunk driving. Driving while intoxicated causes many tragic car accidents. Drunk drivers have reduced vision, reaction time, and judgment, which increases the likelihood of a wreck, especially on our most congested highways and roads.
What Should You Do If You Suffer Injuries in a Car Accident in Washington?
If you’re hurt in an auto wreck, you must take the proper steps to prove your right to compensation for your injuries. Even if you did nothing to cause the collision, the negligent driver’s insurance company could deny your claim or try to lower the amount it must pay in your settlement. For example, it could argue that your injuries aren’t severe or that you were partially at fault for causing the crash.
If you take the correct steps, you help our car accident lawyer build a winning case and defeat the insurance adjuster’s bogus disputes about your claim. Here’s what we recommend:
1. Take Care of Your Health
Your first priority is your well-being. If you know you were injured, go to the emergency room or urgent care. Even if you don’t believe you were hurt, a doctor should examine you soon after the crash in case you suffered a traumatic brain, back, or spinal injury, but aren’t experiencing symptoms right away. This action protects your health and avoids some disputes with the insurance company.
2. Call the Police
Summon law enforcement to the crash scene and get a copy of the police report. The officer’s report could contain helpful information, such as details of how the collision occurred, who caused it, and any citations issued to the other driver. Experienced Washington car accident attorney Max Meyers will use the police report to help prove the other motorist was 100 percent at fault for causing the wreck.
3. Collect Evidence
If you’re able, gather as much evidence at the scene as you can, or ask someone to do it for you. This includes:
- Driver contact information. Phone number, address, email, and their insurer’s details are just the start. Our legal team will need this information to file your claim.
- Photos. Take photographs and video of the damage to the vehicles, road, and weather conditions, and your injuries.
- Eyewitnesses. Ask for their contact information, too. Our team interviews them and has them sign written statements. Their testimony can be compelling evidence to refute the insurance company’s arguments about the cause of your crash.
You should continue gathering documents in the days, weeks, and months after your accident while we negotiate your settlement. Helpful information for your case includes:
- Your auto insurance policy
- Medical bills and records
- Receipts for the cost to repair or replace your damaged car and personal property
- Paystubs and other income records
4. Consult an Attorney
Finally, call us right away. Although some accident cases can be handled on your own, if you suffered serious injuries on Washington’s dangerous roads and highways because of someone else’s wrongdoing, you want a skilled legal team on your side who can:
- Clarify all evidence. We’ll issue preservation of evidence letters to secure vital proof such as dashcam recordings, GPS information, and business and traffic camera footage. We also have a network of expert witnesses who can assist us by reviewing all evidence to help resolve disputes with the insurance company.
- Take over communications with the insurer. Leave adjuster conversations and negotiations to us.
- Help you avoid mistakes. As you’re trying to recover from your injuries, it’s all too easy to make mistakes that might weaken your case. Max will advise you on errors to avoid—such as agreeing to give a recorded statement, signing the insurance company’s medical release, or accepting a quick settlement—that the insurance company would use against you.
- Negotiate your settlement. Max also provides a thorough review of all your economic and non-economic car accident damages to establish a fair level of compensation. From his decades of experience standing up for the rights of car accident victims, he has effective strategies to fight back if an insurer disputes your claim or delays paying you.
