Many people treat Interstate Highways as if they were race tracks. Some drivers get away with their actions, but others leave tragic consequences behind them. A recent multi-vehicle accident on I-5 in Thurston County involved five vehicles and left two individuals with serious injuries.
At about 4 p.m. on March 4, police received reports of a driver traveling in excess of 100 mph in a Nissan sports car. The driver was also weaving in and out of traffic. The sports car struck two other vehicles near milepost 87. One of the vehicles, a Ford pickup, rolled several times before coming to rest on its top in a roadside ditch. Another vehicle was disabled when it collided with debris from the initial collision.
The driver of the pickup was taken to Providence Centralia Hospital with a hip injury that was not life threatening. According to the Washington State Patrol, the accident stopped traffic on I-5 for five hours. Police on the scene cited potential impairment of the driver of the Nissan by drugs or alcohol as a likely cause of the accident.
Anyone who has suffered an injury or lost a loved one in a similar accident may wish to explore the possibility of recovering damages from the party who was at fault. Based upon initial press reports, the driver of the sports car appears to bear the majority of fault for this accident. A conference with an experienced accident lawyer can provide a helpful evaluation of the evidence, an assessment of potential liability and an estimate of the likelihood of recovering damages for medical expenses, lost income and pain and suffering.