Updated on: 11/22/2019
A speeding driver in Walla Walla caused a collision with two other vehicles Monday night, injuring a total of three people, according to the Walla Walla Police Department
WWPD says that a 20-year-old College Place man was speeding west on Rose Street when he attempted to navigate between two vehicles. He struck one of them before colliding with the rear of a Valley Transit vehicle. The speeding driver then crossed the median, striking a truck traveling eastbound.
The speeding driver was injured, as was his female passenger. The man was flown to Seattle for treatment, while the passenger was treated at Providence St. Mary Medical Center in Walla Walla.
Reports say that the Valley Transit vehicle driver had a possible injury. Those inside the eastbound truck were uninjured.
According to My Columbia Basin, the speeding driver has history with local law enforcement. WWPD says that possible causes for the crash are high speeds and reckless driving.
WWPD and the Washington State Patrol are investigating the incident, which has been categorized as a felony vehicular assault.
High-Speed Car Accidents In The United States
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to prove that speeding causes a sharp increase in car accidents. Speeding significantly impacts a person’s ability to drive safely in the following ways:
- Reduces the driver’s ability to steer safely through turns in the road
- Increases the risk of losing control or crashing
- Greatly extends the braking distance
- Increases the distance traveled during the driver’s reaction time
A study from the National Transportation Safety Board looked at U.S. passenger vehicle crashes from 2005 to 2014. The study found that speeding was the main factor in 112,580 deaths, or about 31 percent of all traffic fatalities.
“People don’t think of speeding the way that they think about some other hazardous driving behaviors,” NTSB chairman Robert Sumwalt said. “Unlike other crash factors such as alcohol impairment or unbelted occupants, speeding has few negative social consequences associated with it, and does not have a leader campaigning to increase public awareness about the issue at the national level.”
As you can probably guess, speeding not only increases the likelihood of a crash, but it makes the consequences of the accident much more severe. Higher speeds increase crash energy, which equals more severe injuries.
Contact A Personal Injury Attorney Today
Speeding is a violation of the law and puts the lives of everyone else on the road in danger. If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident caused by a speeding driver, or any negligent person on the road, you may benefit from speaking with a personal injury lawyer.
If you can prove that another driver’s negligence caused your injuries, you may be to recover damages for the following things:
- Medical costs
- Loss of earning capacity
- Physical impairment
- Disfigurement
- Physical pain
- Mental anguish
Attorney Chris Davis and the personal injury lawyers at Davis Law Group, P.S., have the necessary knowledge and resources to see your case through to the end and get you the justice you deserve. Mr. Davis has nearly 25 years of experience representing victims of serious accidents in Washington State.
Contact us today for a free case evaluation. Call (206) 727-4000, use the chat feature below or fill out the form on this page.