Seattle Accident Statistics

The “Fatal Four” Causes Spike in Washington Traffic Deaths

Statewide (August 31, 2023) – Washington State has seen the deadliest year on the roads since 1990, according to the Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC). Out of the 750 individuals who tragically lost their lives on Washington roadways in 2022, 565 fatalities were associated with one or more of the fatal four behaviors: impairment, distraction, speeding, and not wearing seat belts. Data shows that while the total number of fatal incidents has decreased overall, the total number of multi-fatality crashes has increased. 

If you lost a loved one in a fatal accident due to someone else’s negligence, contact the Seattle car accident attorneys at Lerner and Rowe. Source: WTSC

Alcohol Top Cause of Fourth of July Fatalities

Statewide (June 30, 2023) – According to the Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC), alcohol was the top cause of fatal car accidents during the Fourth of July holiday from 2013 to 2022. Out of the 120 fatalities from 2013 to 2022, 46% were caused by an impaired driver. 

The Seattle car accident attorneys at Lerner and Rowe encourage everyone to practice safe driving during the holiday weekend. If you are injured in an accident due to someone else’s negligence, contact us today. Source: WTSC

Top Causes of Washington Memorial Day Fatal Car Accidents

Statewide (May 24, 2023) – According to the Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC), the top causes of fatal car accidents during the Memorial Day holiday from 2020 to 2022 include speeding, impaired driving, and distracted driving. Out of 238 fatal accidents, over 54% were caused by impaired driving, 34% were speed-related, and just over 15% were caused by distracted driving.  

The Seattle car accident attorneys at Lerner and Rowe encourage everyone to practice safe driving during the holiday weekend. If you are injured in an accident due to someone else’s negligence, contact us today. Source: WTSC

Bent Track Factor in Deadly 2021 Amtrak Derailment

Seattle (March 1, 2023) – The National Transportation Safety Board has determined that the 2021 Amtrak derailment in Montana was caused by bent railroad tracks. The train was enroute to Seattle at the time of the accident. The NTSB identified the problem based on video footage, including from two trains that went around the accident curve 90 minutes before the derailment. The investigation found that three passengers died and two were seriously injured.

If you’ve been injured or lost a loved one in a train accident in Washington, contact a Seattle personal injury attorney to learn more about your legal options. Source: King 5 News

Impaired Driving in Washington Causes Over Half of Yearly Fatalities

Statewide (January 2, 2023) – More than half of all fatal car accidents in Washington are caused by impaired driving, says the Washington Traffic Safety Commission. Data from 2021 shows that impaired driving deaths hit a 20-year high in the state. Preliminary data from 2022 shows that 15% of traffic fatalities were caused by impaired driving. 

Lerner and Rowe urges everyone to avoid impaired driving and to call and report any impaired drivers on the road. If you’ve been injured by an impaired driver or lost a loved one to wrongful death caused by an impaired driver, contact the Seattle personal injury attorneys at Lerner and Rowe. Source: Spokesman-Review

Fires Caused By Humans in Washington State Increase

Statewide (October 28, 2022) – Data from the Washington Department of Natural Resources finds that humans were a top cause of wildfires in 2031. Last year, there were 737 fires in Washington caused by people. The number of human-caused fires increased by 55% from 2020. 

Police revealed that the Nakia Creek Fire, which started burning on October 9, was started by humans. The fire is currently being investigated after a man turned over a cellphone video of the possible perpetrators of the fire. Police believe the fire was either started by a gun or fireworks. If you’ve been injured in a fire due to negligence, contact the Seattle personal injury attorneys at Lerner and Rowe. 

Source: The Daily News

Larger Vehicles Lead to Increase in Seattle Pedestrian Deaths

Seattle (September 30, 2022) – Since 2015, Seattle has attempted to eliminate pedestrian deaths with the Vision Zero project. However, pedestrian fatalities increased by 150% in the five years after the pedestrian safety project began. According to the Washington Department of Transportation, larger vehicles were the leading factors in Seattle’s increased pedestrian deaths. 40.9% of pedestrian deaths occurred after a collision with an SUV, van, or pickup truck. 

If you or a loved one have been injured in a pedestrian accident, call a Seattle personal injury lawyer at Lerner and Rowe. Source: KUOW

Washington State Heatwave Leaves 3 Dead

King County (August 2, 2022) – The recent heat wave broke the all-time record in the state. A report from the Seattle King County Public Health Department said three died from heat illnesses brought on by the heat during the last week of July. 51 patients were also admitted to King County emergency departments for heat illnesses over a 3-day period from July 26 to July 28.

The King County Medical Examiner’s Office warned more heat-related deaths may be confirmed later. If you’ve suffered injuries from a heat-related illness due to negligence, contact the Seattle accident attorneys at Lerner and Rowe. Source: K5 News

Top Causes of Washington State Car Accidents in 2021 

Statewide (June 30, 2022) – The number of fatal car accidents in Washington reached a 15-year high in 2021. The Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC) found the top three causes of fatal and serious injury car accidents in 2021 were speeding, alcohol impairment, and lack of restraint/seat belt use. The rate of non-restrained fatal and serious injury increased 56.5% from 2019 to 2021. The rates of alcohol-impaired fatal accidents/serious injury increased by 31.2%. Speeding accidents that resulted in either fatalities or serious injury increased 26.4%. 

Lerner and Rowe want everyone to drive safely and follow traffic rules when on the road. If you’ve been injured in a car accident, call one of our Seattle car accident attorneys. Source: WTSC 

2021 Deadliest Year on Tennessee Highways Since 2010

Statewide (June 2022) – Traffic fatalities are the highest they’ve been in Tennessee since 2010, according to the Department of Safety & Homeland Security. In 2021, there were 1,327 traffic fatalities in the state compared to 2020 with 1,217. This is a 9% increase overall, with crashes increasing 16% from just 2 years ago in 2019. In 2022, so far, the state has recorded 579 traffic-related fatalities. In Nashville alone in 2021, there were 131 fatal car accidents. 

Contact Lerner and Rowe’s Nashville personal injury lawyers if you or a loved one have been harmed in a car accident caused by someone else’s negligence. Source: TN.gov

2023 Is Washington State’s Deadliest Year Since 1990

Statewide (August 31, 2023) – According to the latest data from the Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC), 417 people were killed in traffic incidents statewide through the end of July. That number was at 413 over that same period in 2022. Last year, the state saw its most traffic-related deaths since 1990. 

The Seattle car accident attorneys at Lerner and Rowe encourage everyone to practice safe driving. If you are injured in an accident due to someone else’s negligence, contact us today. Source: WTSC

Traffic Fatalities Rising in King County

King County (July 31, 2023) – According to the Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC), traffic fatalities in King County increased 30% from 2021 to 2022. In 2021, there were a total of 65 deaths and 85 in 2021. These fatalities do not include those caused by distracted or impaired driving. 

If you’ve lost a loved one due to negligence in a car accident, contact the Seattle personal injury attorneys at Lerner and Rowe. Source: WTSC

Impaired Driving Fatalities Increase Over 15%

Statewide (June 30, 2023) – According to the Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC), traffic fatalities caused by impaired driving in Washington state increased over 15% from 2020 to 2021. In 2020, there were a total of 259 deaths attributed to impaired drivers and 300 in 2021. 2021 had the highest number of impaired driving fatalities in almost a decade. If you’ve lost a loved one due to negligence in a car accident, contact the Seattle personal injury attorneys at Lerner and Rowe. Source: WTSC

Pedestrian Fatalities Down Over 6%

Statewide (May 26, 2023) – According to the Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC), pedestrian fatalities caused by car accidents in Washington state showed a decrease of over 6% from 2021 to 2022. In 2021 there were a total of 146 pedestrian deaths attributed to car accidents and 136 in 2022. 

If you’ve lost a loved one due to negligence in a pedestrian accident, contact the Seattle personal injury attorneys at Lerner and Rowe. Source: WTSC

Washington State Traffic Fatalities Increase Over 10%

Statewide (April 28, 2023) – According to a report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA), traffic fatalities in Washington have increased 10.4% from 2021 to 2022. The Early Estimate of Motor Vehicle Traffic Fatalities in 2022 report showed the state had 670 traffic fatalities in 2021 and 740 in 2022, an increase of 10.4%. 

If you’ve lost a loved one in a car accident, contact the Seattle car accident attorneys at Lerner and Rowe. Source: NHTSA

Audit Shows 104 Preventable King County Bus Accidents

Seattle (March 27, 2023) – The King County Auditor’s Office has released an audit report stating that the local bus system, King County Metro, is one of the safest in the United States. According to the report, Metro buses have covered over 200 million miles since 2018, with 104 preventable accidents. The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) recommends Metro Transit places more emphasis on responding to accidents rather than preventing them and advises Metro Transit to include all accidents in its reports to continue finding ways to prevent incidents. 

If you or a loved one have been injured in a bus accident, contact the Seattle personal injury lawyers at Lerner and Rowe. Source: KOMO News

Washington State Saw Highest Traffic Deaths in 2022 Since 1990

Statewide (February 1, 2023) – According to a study by the Washington Road Safety Commission (WTSC), the year 2022 saw the state’s highest number of traffic fatalities in the state since 1990, and more than half of them were related to drunk driving.  The preliminary statistics for 2022, shows this was the highest number of traffic fatalities in Washington in more than 30 years. The data also shows that 745 individuals died in collisions in Washington state in 2022. 

If you’ve lost a loved one in a car accident, contact the Seattle personal injury lawyers at Lerner and Rowe. Source: Fox 13

Seattle Ranked 196th for Most Dangerous Cities for Pedestrians

Statewide (January 2, 2023) – According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), Seattle ranks at 196 out of 305 cities for pedestrian fatalities. Seattle had a total of 45 fatal pedestrian accidents from 2017 to 2020. The data also reported the percentage of pedestrian fatalities as the percentage of total car accident fatalities. Seattle had a high number with 45.5% of fatal car accidents including pedestrian deaths. 

If you’ve lost a loved one due to negligence in an accident, or you’ve been injured in a pedestrian accident, contact the Seattle personal injury attorneys at Lerner and Rowe. Source: FARS

Washington Sees Dramatic Increase in Traffic Deaths

Statewide (November 30, 2022) – Recent data found that there were 327 deaths on Washington’s roadways in the first half of 2022, up from 249 during the same time in 2021. This marks a 31% increase, ranking Washington the state with the sixth-highest increase in car accident fatalities from last year. The data, gathered from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and National Safety Council, includes traffic fatalities involving pedestrian accidents, bicyclists, passengers, and more. 

If you’ve lost a loved one in a car accident, contact the Seattle personal injury lawyers at Lerner and Rowe. Source: Seattle Times

Washington State Fatal Car Accidents Increased Over 25% From 2020-2021

Statewide (October 28, 2022) – Data from the Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC) shows an increase in fatal car accidents between 2020-2021. In 2020, there were 574 fatal car crashes in Washington. In 2021, that number rose to 670, almost 100 more fatalities than the previous year. 

If you’ve lost a loved one in a car accident, contact the Seattle car accident attorneys at Lerner and Rowe. Source: WTSC

Seattle Prepares For Labor Day Traffic

Seattle (August 31, 2023) – The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is expecting heavy traffic on Interstate 5 (I-5) in both directions from Thursday to Tuesday, due to a combination of holiday travelers and regular commuters.

Sea-Tac Airport is also expecting an increase in traffic, with an 18% increase in volume compared to last year’s Labor Day weekend. The busiest day is expected to be Monday, September 4, with 190,000 travelers expected to pass through the airport.

Lerner and Rowe urges everyone in the area to stay safe when traveling over the holiday weekend. If you’ve been injured in a car accident, contact our Seattle personal injury lawyers. Source: KIRO7

Seattle Preparing for Fourth of July Travelers

Seattle (June 30, 2023) – Sea-Tac Airport is bracing for its busiest travel weekend since the pandemic as Seattle’s airports, roads, and waterways prepare for the 4th of July. Washington State Ferries is advising passengers to anticipate longer wait times, while AAA predicts that Seattle will experience some of the most congested roads in the nation. Officials at Sea-Tac Airport are advising travelers to exercise caution and to be mindful of the airport’s current construction project.  

Lerner and Rowe urges everyone in the area to stay safe when traveling. If you’ve been injured in a car accident, contact our Seattle personal injury lawyers. Source: King5

Port of Seattle Police Seeking Witnesses to Accident

Seattle (May 24, 2023) – The Port of Seattle Police are seeking witnesses to an accident at Sea-Tac Airport on Wednesday afternoon, May 18, 2023. The accident occurred when a vehicle unexpectedly accelerated and mounted a curb, colliding with pedestrians standing near a curbside check-in area on the upper departures level. Three people are being treated for serious injuries, including a four-year-old girl. Port Police are urging anyone who witnessed the accident to contact them at 206-787-5401. 

Lerner and Rowe wishes the victims a speedy and successful recovery. If you’ve been injured in a car accident, contact our Seattle personal injury lawyers. Source: King 5

Proposed Bill Will Require Additional Education for Young Drivers

Statewide (March, 27, 2023) – Senate Bill 5583 passed on a bipartisan 41-7 vote which will require individuals aged 16 to 25 to attend driving education school before obtaining their first drivers’ license. The bill would also require drivers over 22 and under 25 to finish a condensed traffic safety education course or a self-paced online course before getting a license. 

The proposed bill hopes to reduce the number of accidents involving teen drivers. If you’ve been injured in a car accident, contact the Seattle personal injury lawyers at Lerner and Rowe. Source: My Northwest

Washington State Ranked Second Worst State For Drivers

Statewide (February 1, 2023) – Data from WalletHub reveals Washington State is the second-worst state for drivers in the nation. Washington beat only Hawaii, ranking 49th out of 50. WalletHub gathered data based on cost of ownership and maintenance, traffic and infrastructure, car accident safety, and access to vehicles and maintenance. 

The study also measured positive attributes, including the number of car washes, car repair shops, rates or car thefts, the fewest days with precipitation, and the lowest percentage of rush-hour traffic congestion. Washington State also ranks low on the positive attributes of the study and was the fourth most expensive state for gas prices. 

If you’ve been injured in a car accident, contact the Seattle personal injury lawyers at Lerner and Rowe. Source: WalletHub

Winter Storm Causes Over 200 Accidents in Washington State Over Holidays

Statewide (January 2, 2023) – The ice storm that hit parts of Washington over the holiday weekend caused over 200 accidents, according to Washington State Police. On Christmas Eve, police reported 96 crashes just in King County alone. Because of safety concerns, drivers should avoid traveling on roads that are icy or flooded. However, if you have to be on the road – take it slow and leave extra distance between other vehicles. 

Our hearts go out to the victims and their families. If you’ve been injured or lost a loved one due to negligence during severe weather, contact the Seattle personal injury attorneys at Lerner and Rowe. Source: BBC, King 5

Area Damaged By Wildfires Experience Flooding and Snow

Skykomish (October 27, 2022) – The town of Skykomish, about two hours from Seattle is the main area damaged by the Bolt Creek Fire. The wildfire has been burning since September, according to the Seattle Times. The heavy rainfall and snow in the area has helped put out some of the flames. However, the rain and snow comes with a heightened risk of debris flow and landslides along the Skykomish River. 

Lerner and Rowe want everyone to stay safe during natural disasters. If you need legal assistance after a wildfire or storm, contact our Seattle personal injury attorneys. Source: KIRO7

Efforts Continue to Recover Wreckage from Deadly Whidbey Island Floatplane Crash

Seattle (September 6, 2022) – The identities of all 10 occupants of the floatplane that crashed near Whidbey Island on Sunday were revealed by officials on Tuesday morning. One woman’s body was found on Sunday, but the other passengers, including a child, were still missing. The U.S. Coast Guard stopped trying to find the remaining nine missing passengers Monday afternoon. 

The plane was owned by the charter service and was traveling from Friday Harbor to Renton. If you’ve lost a loved one in a plane crash, contact Lerner and Rowe. Source: Seattle Times

Parents Sue Seattle Company For Wrongful Death

Los Angeles (August 1, 2022) – Kaye and Jonathan Steinsapir, the parents of Molly Steinsapir, who died at age 12 from a traumatic brain injury, have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Seattle company Rad Power Bikes. The lawsuit claims that design problems and defective parts make it difficult for riders to slow down and stop while going downhill. 

The lawsuit claims Rad Power Bikes “inappropriately marketed e-bikes to children” and failed to “adequately warn about the dangers of children operating e-bikes.”

If you or a loved one have been injured in a Seattle scooter accident or by dangerous product, contact Lerner and Rowe. Source: Seattle Times

Pedestrians Rescued From Overturned Semi-Truck in Seattle

Seattle (June 8, 2022) – A pedestrian was rescued after a semi-truck trailer flipped and pinned them underneath. The truck flipped while making a turn, according to the Seattle Fire Department. Crews rescued the pedestrian trapped underneath—she was stable upon arriving at the hospital.  

Another pedestrian was injured as she jumped out of the trailer’s path, SFD officials said. She was also taken to the hospital in stable condition. If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident, contact Lerner and Rowe Injury Attorneys. Source: K5 News