Wrongful Death Accident Injury lawyers
An accident happened in Frederickson in Pierce County on August 14th that resulted in two deaths. A BMW was speeding northbound on Canyon Road East, and ran a red light. The driver in the vehicle had been trying to race other cars earlier. The driver kept revving his engine, and quickly accelerated to pass other cars. He appeared to not be in control of his vehicle.
It’s estimated that the car was driving at a shocking 130 miles per hour. Another car, an SUV, tried to make a left turn on a green light from 160th Street onto Canyon Road East to go south when the speeding car crashed into it. Witnesses heard a loud crashing sound from the impact. There were not any skid marks at the scene, which means the at-fault driver didn’t try to brake at all. One of the vehicles was pushed up the hill near the intersection about 250 feet because the force of the impact was so strong. The accident happened just after midnight on Wednesday morning.
Witnesses tried to save the drivers from their vehicles, but once the flames began, it proved impossible. Both of the vehicles burst into flames after they collided. People grabbed a fire extinguisher from the gas station nearby, but trying to extinguish the fires with it was futile. Pierce County first responders were dispatched to the scene, where they found both vehicles still completely engulfed in flames. Firefighters were able to eventually put out the fires.
Unfortunately, both of the drivers were found to be deceased inside their vehicles. It has not been stated whether it was the impact of the crash or the fires that killed them. Their identities have not yet been revealed to the public, most likely so that the families of the deceased can be notified.
Witnesses knew that something bad was going to happen when they saw the at-fault driver speeding. Melissa Dean, who works at Canyon Road Gas and Deli at the intersection of where the accident happened, saw what happened. She said that an innocent life was lost just because someone wanted to race on a public road. Reckless drivers are putting other people’s lives on the line just for a thrill.
Both 160th Street and Canyon Road East were closed so that traffic investigators could collect evidence from the scene. It was closed down for hours. The crash caused a power outage, although it hasn’t been stated as to why. Presumably, one of the vehicles hit a telephone pole or an electrical utility box.
This tragic accident is actually the third fatal crash that has happened on Canyon Road this year alone. It’s also the ninth fatal accident this year in Pierce County. The leading factor behind fatal accidents in Pierce County is speeding, like in this accident. Driving under the influence used to be the highest cause of car accident deaths, but that’s not true anymore. When you’re driving significantly over the speed limit, it’s easy to lose control of your vehicle. Additionally, it takes longer to stop the faster you’re going.
Puyallup Wrongful Death Law Firm
The Pierce County Sheriff’s Department is trying to crack down on speeding to prevent accidents like this. The issue is, they can’t have someone watching every road around-the-clock, although they try to patrol the whole county. PCSD is short on staff, with about 40 less deputies than the department would prefer. There’s new laws to try and target street racing. People caught recklessly driving can have their vehicle towed, and it’s held for 72 hours. On a person’s second offense, their vehicle could be forfeited.
The number of annual deaths in Washington state has increased in recent years. This includes 251 fatalities from accidents involving excessive speed. High risk behaviors in general are responsible for most car accident deaths, which is unfortunate because it means the deaths could have been prevented if people just drove safely and responsibly. 2023 had the highest number of traffic deaths in Washington since 1990, 810 fatalities. This is also a ten percent increase from the previous year, 2022. The Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC) provided this information. Statistics for 2024 have not been compiled yet because the year isn’t over, but it isn’t looking good.
It’s so important that drivers don’t drive with excessive speed, because erratic behavior such as that is far more likely to result in injuries and death. The Washington Secretary of Transportation, Roger Millar, says that steps such as installing speed safety cameras in work zones are being implemented to prevent speeding accidents. They have also proposed making investments to keep highways that go through population centers safe. Fatal crashes are twice as likely to happen there. However, no matter what measures are taken, the only way to truly stop the problem is for drivers to not engage in reckless behaviors. People need to be making the right choice and not speed so that they don’t cause serious accidents.
Speeding has been a serious issue across America, including in Washington state, for a long time. Speeding might not seem like a big deal, but speed limits are there for a reason. When drivers speed, it makes roadways much more dangerous for other people. According to the NHTSA, here are some of the ways that speeding can be dangerous:
- Firstly, speeding is more likely to cause serious accidents.
- Speeding makes it more likely that a driver will lose control of their vehicle.
- When you’re speeding, it takes longer to stop so that you can avoid crashing.
- Speeding makes a vehicle’s safety equipment less effective.
If you or a loved one was injured in an accident caused by another driver’s speeding, reach out to an experienced Tacoma wrongful death lawyer at Sears Injury Law so that we can go over your options with you. When you have a lawyer helping you, it’s more likely that your case will be successful. A person wrongfully injured by another person’s negligence is entitled to full compensation to cover a variety of damages. Some examples of damages include medical bills, lost wages/income, vehicle repairs, pain and suffering, ongoing care, and more.
Sears Injury Law has extensive experience specializing in personal injury law, and are prepared to represent victims and their families. We fight to achieve justice and recover the compensation that victims are entitled to. Our personal injury lawyers help put victims back in control of their lives. Set up an initial consultation to learn about how we can help you. For a car accident injury lawyer in Puyallup, we are the firm to trust.