Highway 9 in Washington is a scenic route winding through three major counties including Snohomish, Skagit, and Whatcom. It’s an almost 100-mile historic run through agricultural landscapes which include railroad crossings, loaded trucks entering and exiting, and areas with little or no road shoulder. Despite the historical significance of Highway 9 and its function as an important component of Washington’s infrastructure, it’s also the scene of frequent car accidents despite improvements made between 2004 and 2009 removing some of its iconic hairpin turns. If you or a loved one were injured in an accident, make sure to consult a personal injury attorney in Everett for legal guidance and support.
Common Types of Car Accidents on Highway 9 in Washington
The Washington State Department of Transportation describes the historic portion of Highway 9 as “a relatively narrow, two-lane roadway with narrow or no shoulders, with occasional widening, restricted sight distance, limited clear zones, railroad and rural road at-grade crossings and frequent reduced speed limits due to curves, some 90 degrees.”
Common car accidents on Highway 9 include the following types:
- Rear-end collisions
- Side-impact (T-bone) accidents
- Sideswipes
- Single-vehicle accidents
- Roadway departures
- Head-on collisions
- Commercial truck accidents
- Multi-car pileups (chain reaction accidents)
- Rollovers
Bicycle and pedestrian accidents also occur on Washington’s Highway 9, sometimes with deadly results.
Causes of Car Accidents on Washington’s Highway 9
Sections of Highway 9 include road hazards such as narrow or soft shoulders and sharp curves. Still, the most common causes of accidents on this route are driver error or negligence. When drivers fail to follow traffic laws and speed limits, the results can be deadly. Common causes of crashes on Highway 9 include the following:
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Unsafe lane changes
- Failure to yield the right of way
- Failure to reduce speed around curves
- Improper passing
- Tailgating
- Intoxicated driving
- Drowsy driving
In some cases, the at-fault party in Washington Highway 9 car accident cases is a negligent road maintenance or roadway planning agency or the maker of a defective auto part.
Who is Liable for Damages in a Highway 9 Car Accident?
Washington has a fault-based comparison negligence insurance system that requires car accident victims to prove fault and recover compensation from the at-fault party’s insurance company. Even if a driver contributes to the cause of an accident, they can still recover compensation, but it will be minus their percentage of fault. The most common liable parties in Washington car accident claims—including on Highway 9—include careless or reckless drivers, negligent commercial truck drivers or trucking companies, negligent road maintenance entities, and roadway planning agencies who created a confusing intersection, dangerous road design, or lack of adequate signage.
Proving liability in an accident claim requires gathering compelling evidence showing that an at-fault party owed a duty of care to motorists, they breached this duty through negligence, their breach of duty caused an accident with injuries or a fatality, and the injury victim or their family suffered economic and non-economic damages from the accident.
How Can a Washington Car Accident Lawyer Help?
Proving liability requires a skilled investigation, compelling evidence, and strong negotiation skills to obtain the full amount of compensation for injury victims against powerful insurance companies. Hiring a car accident attorney in Everett with years of experience in Washington’s traffic laws and insurance system is the best way to move forward on your claim with an optimal chance at recovering compensation for damages like medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Contact Wells Trumbull today for a free confidential consultation on your Highway 9 car accident case.