Working as a personal injury attorney in Bellevue, Washington I have seen the effects of poor weather time and time again and this year being a La Nina winter I expect the numbers to increase.  La Nina is characterized by stormy weather in the Pacific Northwest- the heavy rain and snow and high winds that accompany this weather system lead to poor road conditions that cause serious Washington auto accidents. In addition to the wet, slick roads flooding in local rivers, creeks and ponds is often the result of the high levels of precipitation. These Washington floods not only cause phenomenal damage to businesses, property and houses, but also prove treacherous to the cars wading through the flood waters.

Though many drivers think they can navigate through the flooded streets it is important to consider that it takes very little water to cause you to lose control of your car- as little as an inch of standing water can send your car onto oncoming traffic or off the road. It only takes 6 inches of moving flood water to push your vehicle off the road way and your vehicle can float in as little as 2 feet of water which can send it floating down stream. The water is not only treacherous on your car, it can cause significant damage to the roads in a short period of time- causing wash outs and making roads unstable for heavy vehicles. With all of these dangers that accompany a heavy rainfall it is important to take certain precautions before driving in these conditions.

Seattle Auto Accident Attorney

Flooded Washington Street

1.       Know Before You Go: knowledge is power when it comes to road closures and flooding. Simply watching the news before you venture out or visiting the websites of local news sources will help you plan your trip. All major news sources will keep up-to-date information on Washington floods and road closures. King 5, Komo 4, Kiro 7

2.       Know Your Area: make sure you are familiar with the area you are traveling around. Be knowledgeable of the typical Washington flood areas and which routes are safer for travel. If you have a GPS system this can be extremely useful if your route is blocked by water, if you do not have a GPS keeping a map in your car will be a useful safety net in case you need to find an alternate route.

3.       Obey Traffic Signs and Barricades: caution signs, barriers, road closure signs and blockades are there to ensure your safety. If a water over roadway sign is present be extremely cautious when driving through the area- scan the area before attempting to drive it is always possible that road crews have not arrived yet to shut down the road- if you think it is safe- drive slowly and grip the steering wheel firmly. If the road is closed or blocked DO NOT attempt to drive around the signs and barriers- turn around and find an alternate route.

4.       Leave Your Car Behind: If your car stalls or becomes stuck in the rising water do not stay with the vehicle. Staying with the car in a flood often leads to fatalities as the vehicle can be swept away by the water. Leave your car immediately and head to higher ground.

5.       Watch Out at Night: judging the water during daylight is difficult enough, at night it can be nearly impossible. Drive very slowly and watch for any signs of water over the roadway.

6.       Don’t Drive: If it is possible for you to not venture out into the flooded streets—don’t. It is much safer to wait for the water to subside.

If you have been the victim in an auto accident contact a personal injury attorney to review your case immediately. There is a limited time for you to make a personal injury claim. Contact our Bellevue personal injury law office to schedule a FREE consultation.