Davis Law Group, P.S.

Woman injured in Tacoma crash

Story Highlights:
One injured in Tacoma accident
Motor vehicle collision cause unknown
Southbound I-5 traffic backed up for six miles
Northbound I-5 traffic backed up for two miles



Date: May 9, 2011, 05/09/2011
Location: Tacoma, Pierce County, Washington
Type: Car accident, Motor vehicle collision
Outcome: One injured

A woman was injured in a three-car collision on Interstate 5 in Tacoma on Monday.

Around 2 p.m. a 35-year-old woman was driving on Interstate 5 near 38th Street when her Volkswagon Jetta hit another vehicle while attempting to merge. A 43-year-old man driving a Volvo tractor-trailer then hit the Jetta.

The woman was taken to Tacoma General Hospital in serious condition.

Washington State Patrol is investigating the crash but they have ruled otu alcohol or drugs as causing factors in the accident. Traffic was blocked in both directions for an undetermined amount of time while the wreckage was investigated and cleared.

Tacoma Fatal Accident Statistics for 2009
Fatal accident count: 10
Vehicles involved in fatal accidents: 16
Fatal accidents caused by drunken drivers: 6
Fatalities: 10
Persons involved in fatal accidents: 27
Pedestrians involved in fatal accidents: 3

Washington State Fatal Accident Statistics
Overall, 21-30 year olds comprise the largest majority of fatalities, at 21.5%, followed by 15-20 year olds at 16.2%. When we control for differences in the population, 15-20 year olds have the highest fatality rate per 100,000 population of 19.9, compared to the rate of 16.8 for 21-30 year olds. At the other end of the age spectrum, 80+ year olds have the second highest fatality rate, mostly due to their low representation in the population and their vulnerability to injury when involved in a collision.

Whites represent the largest percentage of traffic fatalities, at 85.8%. However, they also comprise 81.5% of Washington’s population and thus have one of the lower fatality rates per 100,000 population. Native Americans by far have the highest fatality rate at 28.45, followed by Hispanics with 16.19.

Fatalities occurred almost equally during daytime hours (49.7%) and nighttime hours (50.3%) from 1997 to 2006. The time of day with the highest number of fatalities was between 2 pm and 5:59 pm with 22.1%, followed by 6 pm to 9:59 pm with 19.7%. Research indicates only 10-15% of traffic volume occurs during the nighttime hours. If we use a conservative estimate of 20%, we find the nighttime fatality rate per vehicle-miles-traveled is consistently 3-4 times higher than the daytime rate.

Seattle Car Accident Victim Attorneys
If you or a family member has suffered as the result of a car accident, Seattle car accident attorney Chris Davis and the Davis Law Group, P.S. can help you. We understand the devastation that can occur as a result of being in a serious auto accident. We are committed to helping car accident, trucking accident, and motorcycle accident victims recover the just and fair compensation they are entitled to receive under the law.