Between 2004 and 2008, there were 1,045 fatal crashes in the State of Washington involving drivers who were speeding. This accounts for 40% of all traffic related deaths during that 5-year period. More than 50% of those who died in Washington speeding crashes were between the ages of 16 and 30 years old. These numbers tell a sad story and show that Washington drivers are all at risk when speeding is involved.
Contributing Factors to Speeding Deaths in Washington
Type of Road: Over half of the speeding-related deaths in Washington State occurred in rural areas. Drivers who sped on US/State Highways came in second with 26.5% of all speeding-related fatalities. Interstates in Washington, however, had the fewest number of speeding-related deaths (8.7%).
Time of Day: 3 out of 5 Washington speeding fatalities occurred between the hours of 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. Half of all speeding fatalities occurred on the weekends, suggesting that party-going young adults and teenagers were a bit more reckless during those times.
Speeding Counties: The top 5 counties in Washington represented half of all speeding related deaths. Those counties were:
- King County – 21.1%
- Pierce County – 11.5%
- Snohomish County – 8.1%
- Yakima County – 5.0%
- Thurston County – 5.0%
Time of Year: One-third of all speeding related fatalities in Washington occurred during the warm summer months of July, August, and September. The fewest speeding deaths occurred from December through February.
Safety Factors: 44% of all speeding fatalities involved individuals who were not wearing their seat belts. In addition, more than 60% of those drivers were also under the influence of drugs and alcohol at the time of the crash and 21% were driving distracted.
Contact Seattle Car Accident Lawsuit Attorneys
If a negligent driver injures you or someone you love, an experienced Seattle car accident attorney at Phillips Law Firm can help. If you are interested in learning more about your legal options, call us at 1-800-708-6000. Our personal injury attorneys are waiting to assist you 24/7. We offer free case evaluations and a no fee promise. If we do not recover anything for you, you do not owe us an attorney fee.
The personal injury lawyers at Phillips Law Firm have successfully represented injured individuals and their families in Seattle, Tacoma, Vancouver, Bellevue ,Everett, Kent, Auburn, Renton, Federal Way, Bellingham, Marysville, Lakewood, Redmond, Shoreline and throughout the State of Washington.
