Washington State Patrol is investigating a head-on crash on the busy interstate I-5 that killed a 17-year-old boy on northbound I-5 just south of the Nisqually River Bridge.
The 17-year-old driver was traveling south on northbound I-5 when he hit another car head-on at about 3 a.m. The driver died at the scene and the driver and passenger of the other car were seriously injured. Drugs or alcohol were reported to have played a part in the crash.
The Dangers of Distracted and Impaired Driving
Unfortunately, drugs and alcohol is often involved in fatal car accidents. More than 1 million drivers each year are arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics.
Distracted driving is another instance that can be fatal, but is entirely avoidable. Talking or texting on your phone, eating and drinking, talking to people in your car, or adjusting the stereo are all examples of distracted driving. Sending or reading a text message takes your eyes off the road for at least 5 seconds- which is the length of a football field when driving at 55mph.
Distracted and Impaired Driving Lawsuits
Simply put, distracted and impaired driving are negligent driving. Evidence of intoxication or using a phone while driving can be used to prove negligence. Once you establish your physical, mental, and economic damages from an accident, you may be able to seek compensation due to the negligence of the other driver.
When it comes to distracted driving, texting while driving is extremely common. Approximately 500,000 people per year are killed due to texting and driving and texting while driving makes an accident 23 times more likely to occur. If you are in an accident with a driver that was texting while driving, law enforcement has the authority to obtain cell phone records to prove whether or not the driver was using their phone at the time of the accident. In the case that the driver was on the phone during the accident, cell phone records could prove negligence or recklessness.
Reach Out Today
Distracted driving and outside influences like alcohol can cause life changing events. Reach out to Ye Law Firm if you have been severely injured in a motor vehicle accident.