Accidents happen on Interstate 205 every day, ranging from minor to extremely serious. Serious physical injuries can lead to long-lasting or even permanent disabilities, trauma, or death. The high speed and weight of cars, trucks, and other vehicles make them incredibly dangerous to everyone who travels I-205.
Interstate 205 is a loop route that serves the Portland and Vancouver metropolitan areas, meaning it is incredibly busy. As a bypass route for Interstate 5, it is a popular way to drive around downtown in an attempt to save time. It also interchanges with Interstate 84 and U.S. Route 26, busy intersections which can always complicate negotiating traffic.
Many of the accidents on Interstate 205 are caused by the negligence of another person. When that negligence causes you injury, experienced personal injury attorney Quinn Posner of Quinn Posner Law Office, P.C. can fight for the financial compensation you deserve.
Car Accidents on Interstate 205
More than 35,000 car accidents happen in the state of Washington every year, over 500 of which are fatal. Accidents may lead to serious and possibly permanent injuries. A variety of causes can lead to an accident, including an impaired driver.
Chain-Reaction Crash on Interstate 205
In May 2018, a driver was speeding on Interstate 205 and not paying attention when he rammed into the back of one car, which then was pushed into the back of another car. Traffic on the interstate quickly backed up for a half an hour, and one of the drivers had to be transported to the hospital for her injuries. The driver was going to be charged with speeding and distracted driving charges.
Truck Accidents on Interstate 205
A large number of trucks travel through Washington on I-205 every day. Accidents which involve semi trucks can be incredibly serious, even deadly. In truck accidents, the crash may be the fault of the truck driver or even the truck company. A personal injury lawsuit can be filed against the driver, the company, or the insurance carrier for each.
Semi-Truck Driver Charged with DUI
A driver of a semi-truck was heading the wrong way on I-205 before he caused a crash that closed the highway for several hours in March 2013. The driver was later charged with DUI, and luckily no one was hurt or killed during this incident. If someone had been injured or killed, they or their loved ones could have held the driver, the trucking company, or insurance carrier liable for the crash.
Motorcycle Accidents on I-205
Nearly 4,000 motorcyclists are killed every year in traffic accidents in the United States. There are as many as 70 fatal motorcycle accidents and almost 300 serious injury crashes each year. Because motorcyclists are unprotected by a car's frame and have no seat belt, accidents lead to very serious injuries or even death.
Motorcyclist Killed on I-205
A man from Salem, Oregon was killed on I-205 in the State of Washington in the afternoon of July 25, 2017. Michael D. Shields, age 60, was traveling northbound on his motorcycle. As he moved between lanes, he struck the side of a pickup truck that was stopped for busy traffic. That pickup truck then hit the rear end of an SUV, which then rear-ended the car ahead of that. Shields was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. As a result of this complex accident, multiple personal injury lawsuits could be filed between the parties for their respective injuries, and property damage.
Under Washington's personal injury laws, those injured by another's negligence are entitled to recover damages in the form of:
- Medical bills,
- Hospital bills,
- Lost wages,
- Lost earnings,
- Damage to property,
- Pain and suffering, and
- Loss of consortium
Pedestrian Accidents on I-205
There are a great many pedestrians who walk on and around I-205. Pedestrians typically account for around 14% of all traffic-related deaths in Washington. Many of these accidents occur in urban areas, where populations are higher and more people walk on busy and congested streets. Even impacts at low speeds (15-30 mph) can cause very serious injuries to pedestrians.
Pedestrian Struck While Walking on I-205
A 26-year-old man was walking south on the northbound lanes of I-205 on March 20, 2018, when he was hit by a vehicle who fled the scene of the accident. He was taken to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center. He suffered from a fractured leg and other types of injuries common to pedestrian accidents. While the exact cause of the accident is unclear, whether a personal injury lawsuit can be filed is best suited to a discussion with an experienced personal injury attorney.
Bicycle Injuries on Interstate 205
When a bicyclist is struck by another vehicle, serious injuries are often the result. Bicyclists are susceptible to extreme injuries that can be compensated in a personal injury lawsuit.
Some of these serious injuries include:
Woman Drives on Bike Path on I-205 Bridge
On April 21, 2013, at around 10:30 a.m., two bicyclists were riding on the bike path on the Glenn Jackson Bridge/I-205, a bridge which connects Oregon to Washington. While on the path they made an upsetting discovery, a woman in a car was driving on the bike path straight towards them. Apparently, the woman had become confused and accidentally drove onto the bike path. Luckily, no injuries resulted from this particular incident. If injuries had occurred, those injured could file a personal injury lawsuit against the car driver for her negligent driving.
Consult a Washington Personal Injury Attorney
If you have suffered injuries as the result of an accident on or near I-205, you need an experienced attorney who understands the personal injury process and how to effectively prove that another person caused you harm. You do not have to face this process alone.
Experienced personal injury attorney Quinn Posner represents clients in Camas, Washougal, Vancouver, and the rest of Clark County. Contact Quinn Posner today to schedule a free consultation.
