Seattle Car Accident Attorney | Governor Gregoire Hit on I-5

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It is that time of year again, the rainy season here in Western Washington. As drivers, we need to remember to leave greater following distance and drive slower when the roads are slick from rain. As a Seattle car accident lawyer, I see every day how important it is for drivers to account for poor road conditions on our highways and adjust their driving habits accordingly. The State Patrol indicated in an article in the Seattle Times that on Monday there were a number of mishaps on the road caused by rain; notable among those incidents was one involving Gov. Gregoire. The governor’s vehicle, driven by her State Patrol security detail, was sideswiped on I-5 in Des Moines. The State Patrol released no further information on the incident other than that no one was injured in the accident, which occurred at about 2:00 in the afternoon as Gov. Gregoire was heading back to Olympia after an event in Seattle.

Many legal principles, especially when it comes to civil law, are based on the hypothetical reasonable person test. What we all need to understand as Washington drivers is that, when road conditions deteriorate, driving at the posted speed limit may be considered speeding. The State of Washington’s Target Zero initiative estimates that about 40% of fatal crashes in Washington are speeding-related, with over 200 fatalities. Speeding-related car accidents in Washington also account over 800 serious injuries annually. When weather, potholes, traffic, or any other situation cause road conditions to deteriorate to a level where a reasonable person would feel the need to drive below the speed limit, then that is exactly what each of us needs to do.

Often, we think of these accidents happening in highly congested areas like downtown Seattle, but they happen every day in outlying communities like Edmonds. If you or a loved one have been injured by a driver neglecting to yield to poor road conditions, speak with an Edmonds auto accident lawyer who has experience with these types of cases. Under the best of circumstances, negligence can be difficult to determine and when trying to decide whether the speed limit was too fast for road conditions, Edmonds car crash attorney Jason Epstein can help. Jason has worked with many victims of negligent drivers, and knows how to protect your legal rights. For more information, and a FREE CASE EVALUATION, contact Jason at Premier Law Group at (206)285-1743.