If you or someone you love has recently been involved in a motor vehicle accident (MVA) in the state of Washington, recovering from such an ordeal can be a very arduous and lengthy process. Depending on the severity of your accident, you may be suffering from serious physical pain and stressful emotional trauma that could both take weeks or months to heal. On top of that, you could be faced with crushing medical bills, confusing insurance claims, and be seeking legal assistance from a professional accident attorney as a final result. Additionally, you or someone you love may have been injured by criminal activity such as someone driving while intoxicated or negligent/careless driving, in which case, the intervention of an experienced accident lawyer could assist you in receiving significant compensation for the losses you’ve suffered related to your recent motor vehicle accident.
Although these issues can seem overwhelming and complex, the following resources were compiled by Local Accident Reports to assist you in moving forward on your own personal path to recovery and normalcy after your recent accident. Whatever the case may be following your accident, whether you need a lawyer or if you are just looking for some emotional support, the links provided were gathered in an effort to assist the victims of motor vehicle accidents in the state of Washington.
If You Are Unable To Immediately Return To Work After Your Recent Washington Traffic Accident
Traffic accidents have the potential for injuries that sometimes are life-threatening or at the very least, life-changing. If your recent traffic collision has injured you to the point of not being able to immediately return to work and you are losing money as a result, the following resources may be of some assistance to you depending on your current situation.
- Disability through Social Security: If your recent motor vehicle accident resulted in a debilitating injury that is not expected to heal in the next year or is expected to eventually be fatal, you may be able to collect disability through Social Security.
- Supplemental Security Income: SSI provides cash assistance and other types of help to individuals suffering from disabilities who don’t have access to adequate resources.
- Washington State Bar: The WSBA website allows you to search for a lawyer right for your case. Depending on the circumstances of your accident, you could receive significant compensation for the resulting damages you are now dealing with.
If You Need Help Getting An Official Copy of The Police Incident Report
Obtaining an official copy of the police incident report related to your recent accident is important if you are planning on filing a lawsuit of any sort. It contains vital evidence pertaining to the circumstances of the incident and can possibly prove your case in your favor. It may also be able to prove whether or not a criminal activity was a factor. In order to obtain a copy of the police report related to your incident in Washington, you can visit the
Washington State Patrol website to submit a request. Sometimes you can receive your report in minutes. Also, you can submit a public records request to the police agency that responded to the crash.
If You Are Seeking Emotional/Psychological Support After Your Recent MVA in Washington
Being in a potentially life-threatening situation can damage a person in more ways than just physical. Emotional wounds are complex and take time to heal. Traffic accidents are often traumatic and result in an emotional strain that can be severe and call for medical intervention. The following resources can be used to find help with the emotional aspects of your life that are out of whack after your recent traffic accident.
- Washington Psychological Association: This association works to expand the parameters of psychology in Washington and provide top-notch mental-health care to the residents of Washington state. Their website allows you to search for a psychologist in WA that specializes in traumatic events such as traffic accident victimization.
- WA State Department of Social and Health Services: This resource offers an array of different services ranging from behavioral health, developmental health, economic services, financial services, and more. They offer a search engine that finds different resource pages linked to resources in Washington state.
- Washington State Therapists: Click this link to search for therapists in Washington. A therapist can possibly assist in easing stress after a traumatic event by helping you navigate your own thoughts.
If You Need Monetary Assistance Following an Accident Caused by Criminal Activity
If you know that the accident you were involved in was the result of criminal activity such as intoxication, negligence, or a hit and run, you may be entitled to compensation for help with legal fees and other costs associated with your unexpected accident aftermath. You may be able to collect compensation through the following resource, and also by contacting a trusted legal advocate to work on your behalf.
- Office of Crime Victims Advocacy: Washington state has a fund in place for the victims of crimes to utilize when they need help following that victimization. Sponsored by the Washington State Department of Commerce.
Washington State Car Insurance Minimums
In the state of Washington, licensed drivers are required to carry certain car insurance minimums to be utilized in the event of an accident. The following amounts reflect those minimums:
- $25K per bodily injury or death per person
- $50K per bodily injury or death of 2 people per accident
- $10K for property damage
Traffic accidents are an unfortunate part of life that need to be dealt with accordingly. They often blindside us into a world of fear, pain, and stress. You do not have to face your accident aftermath alone. Visit Local Accident Reports for statements related to your specific motor vehicle accident today.
If Your Recent Motor Vehicle Accident in Washington Was Caused By Intoxicated Driving
Drunk or drugged driving accidents are often worse than regular accidents in that the at-fault driver is not in their right mind and has probably made a horrible judgment call which resulted in a horrific accident. Everyone affected by these accidents feels pain in one way or another. In the state of Washington, there are legal blood alcohol concentration limits for drivers of the legal drinking age. If you’re a regular driver over 21, the legal BAC limit for you is 0.08. If you’re a commercial driver over 21, the legal BAC limit for you is 0.04. There is a no-tolerance drug policy in Washington, which means that no legal limit exists for drugs in the bloodstream while driving. You cannot ingest any type of mind or mood-altering substance while choosing to operate a motor vehicle. If you do, you are breaking the law and endangering the lives around you. The following resource could serve to be helpful if you know that your accident was caused by drunk or drugged driving. You should also consult a professional accident attorney to discuss your case today to see if you qualify for financial compensation for your losses.
- MADD Washington: Mothers Against Drunk Driving has been around since 1980 and was put in place by the mothers of the victims of drunk driving accidents. They wish to help the victims of these violent crimes through their own accident aftermaths in any way possible. Call their 24-hour helpline today for more information at 1-877-MADD-HELP.
Accident Prevention Services in Washington
Recently, Washington state has established tactics and put services in place in order to lessen the amount of fatal motor vehicle accidents that occur on their roadways.
Traffic in Washington
In this section, we have provided a plethora of information pertaining to traffic in Washington and accident rates, fatality rates related to those accidents, and accident rates by type in certain years. It is important to remember that a state’s population directly correlates with its accident rates. The current population of Washington is about 7.615 million.
- In 2019, there were 497 fatal accidents
- Serious injury accidents: 1,938
- No apparent injury accidents: 72,266
- Total accidents: 103,347
Crash Report by Type 2019
- Passenger vehicle crashes: 103,310
- Bicycle: 112
- Pedestrian: 457
- Motorcycle: 1,951
- Teen driver: 14,251
- Bus: 1,091
Drunk Driving Facts for Washington
- There were 161 drunk driving fatalities in Washington state in 2016.
- People aged 21 to 34 represent the largest DUI victim group with 4 fatalities per every 100,000 Washington residents in that age bracket.
- From 2003 to 2012, 1,921 people were killed in drunk driving accidents in Washington.
- In Washington, 2.1 percent of adults report that they drive after drinking too much. The national average sits around 1.9 percent.
