Davis Law Group, P.S.

Three injured in Coupeville accident

Story Highlights:
Three injured in Coupeville accident
Motor vehicle collision caused by speeding
Highway 20 closed for over an hour



Date: July 22, 2011, 07/22/2011
Location: Coupeville, Island County, Washington
Type: Car accident, Motor vehicle collision
Outcome: Three injured

Three people were injured in a multi-vehicle collision near Coupeville on Friday.

Just before 2:30 p.m. 52-year-old Robert Richardson was heading south on Highway 20 when he crashed into a nother car that was stopped at the NW Broadway St and Ebey Road intersection.

The other driver, 39-year-old Michael Watson and his 11-year-old son, were spun and then flipped before their vehicle landed in the middle of the road on its wheels. Richardson's vehicle continued and rear-ended 25-year-old Jeffrey Strickland, who was waiting in front of Watson.

Richardson suffered head and eye injuries and was taken to Whidbey General Hospital. Watson and his son were also taken to Whidbey General for precautionary measures. Strickland was not injured.

Washington State Patrol is investigating the crash and do not believe that alcohol or drugs were involved in the crash. Richardson was cited for driving too fast to avoid a collision.

Washington State Speed-Related Accident Statistics

• Speeding-related fatalities have been increasing over the past ten years.  The number of speed-related deaths from 1997 to 2001 was 237.8, while the average from 2002 to 2006 was 244, a 2.6% increase. 
• In 2006, Washington experienced the second highest number of speed-related fatalities since 1997, with 253, second only to 2002’s number of 260.
• The speed-related fatality rate per 100 million vehicle-miles-traveled has decreased slightly, from .47 in 1997 to .45 in 2006, a 4.3% decrease.
• 59.6% of all speed-related deaths occurred on rural roads- for vehicle-occupants alone the percentage was 62.3%.  However, a larger majority of motorcyclist, bicyclist, and pedestrian deaths occurred on urban roads, with 57.5%. 
• On average, from 1997 to 2006, the speed-related fatality rate per vehicle-miles-traveled on rural roads was 2-4 times higher than the respective urban road rate.  Rural county roads experienced the largest percentage of speed-related deaths, with 30.7%, followed by rural highways, with 20%, and urban city streets, with 19.6%. 

Basic rule and maximum limits (RCW 46.61.400)
No person shall drive a vehicle on a highway at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions and having regard to the actual and potential hazards then existing. In every event speed shall be so controlled as may be necessary to avoid colliding with any person, vehicle or other conveyance on or entering the highway in compliance with legal requirements and the duty of all persons to use due care.

Seattle Motor Vehicle Accident Attorneys
A motor vehicle accident is when a road vehicle collides with another vehicle, pedestrian, road debris, or man-made object.  These collisions can result in personal injury, property damage, or death.  Motor vehicle accidents can involve automobiles, trucks, semi or tractor trailer trucks, delivery vehicles, passenger vans, motorcycles, etc.  Contributing factors in traffic accidents can be vehicle design, speed of operation, road design, driver distraction (texting or talking on a cell phone while driving), and driver impairment (drunk driving). If you or a family member has suffered as the result of a car accident in Washington state,  Seattle motor vehicle accident attorney Chris Davis and the Davis Law Group, P.S. can help you.  We are committed to helping car accident, trucking accident, DUI accident, and motorcycle accident victims recover the just and fair compensation they are entitled to receive under the law.