Drive Safely, Avoid Snoqualmie Pass Car Accidents | Personal Injury Attorney

Drive Safely, Avoid Car Accidents on Snoqualmie Pass this Memorial Day Weekend

Memorial Day is quickly approaching, and for many of us this 3-day weekend unofficially kicks off summer travel and outdoor recreation.  Tomorrow, thousands of Washingtonians will load up their SUVs, trucks and trailers and head over Snoqualmie Pass on Interstate 90, most traveling eastbound from the Seattle area to take advantage of warmer weather in Eastern Washington.  The Washington State Department of Transportation estimates that between Friday and Monday of Memorial Day weekend, travelers will experience double the normal number of vehicles traveling on an average summer weekend, which increases the possibility of car accidents.

What can you do to prepare yourself if you’re one of the nearly 200,000 traveling across the state this weekend?  First, anticipate slower traffic, be patient and keep a safe distance between you and the car in front of you.  Children may become cranky on a longer than usual, stressful car trip, but remember, their safety and the safety of all passengers is critical.

Before embarking on any long car trip, make sure your child’s car seat is safely installed, and inspect it for any weakness or signs of wear.  A May 25 USA Today article reported that the Graco Company issued a recall for one of their car seats due to a potentially weak strap.  Read the full story here to review all Graco model numbers affected in the recall and need to replace it prior to travel this weekend.

Washington State booster seat law requires that all children must be secured in an age-appropriate, federally approved booster seat, until their 8th birthday or unless they are 4’9” tall (which ever comes first).  Infants 1 year or younger must ride in a rear-facing seat until they are 1 year old or weigh 20 pounds.  The American Academy of Pediatrics advises parents to keep toddlers in rear-facing car seats until age 2.

Abeyta Nelson Injury Law handles many cases related to car accidents as well as dangerous or recalled products, and we invite you to call our office if you have any questions about a potential case.  We wish you and your families a safe and happy Memorial Day weekend, and we urge all drivers on the road this weekend to drive with extra caution.