I-90 Accident Caused by Speeding and Bad Weather

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Bad weather does not by itself cause car accidents, but it surely increases their chance of happening. Having worked in the Northwest as a Kent personal injury attorney and Seattle car accident lawyer, I am familiar with the effect of inclement weather on driving. Even here in Washington where people are accustomed to driving in bad conditions, accidents still occur because of wet or icy roads. Oftentimes this happens when people test the limitations of their cars by going too fast, so make sure you slow down to a safer speed.

An accident involving a pickup truck and a tractor trailer occurred January 12^th on I-90 just outside of Cle Elum. Joseph Magnuson, was heading west in his Toyota pickup before he lost control of his vehicle and slid sideways. The road was slick due to rain and snow from earlier in the day, and Magnuson’s car hit a tractor trailer driven by a man named Roy Walker. The accident sent Magnuson to Harborview Medical Center, where doctors say he suffered numerous cuts on his head and back as well as a fair amount of back pain. It is believed that Magnuson was driving too fast for the conditions, which caused his car to slide into the other vehicle.

Accidents like these show why it is so important to exercise extra safety precautions when driving in bad weather conditions. If you can avoid being on the road when the weather is bad, please do so, but if you must drive, here are some simple tips to help keep safe:

Prepare ahead of time. You should always carry chains in your car if you live in the Pacific Northwest. Weather patterns are unpredictable, but you should always be ready for the worst.
Drive slowly. When the road is wet or icy, it is very important to drive at a slower than normal speed. Make sure to keep a safe distance between you and the car ahead of you, because it generally takes longer to stop a vehicle in bad weather conditions.
Brake slowly. Hydroplaning is one of the scariest feelings a driver can have on the road. Oftentimes, this happens because a driver has to brake suddenly. To avoid this, be sure to apply your brake gradually, and pump it if you begin to hydroplane.

This information is provided by Straight Talk Law, where you can order free information on Seattle auto accidents, buying Washington car insurance, and other valuable legal information, offered as a public service by King county personal injury attorney and author Jason Epstein and his Seattle auto accident, Everett motorcycle accident, and Bellevue wrongful death law firm in Seattle, Washington.