Unbelted Passenger Killed in Crash, Driver Arrested

Police arrested the 22-year-old driver of a Honda that hit a construction barrier on Interstate 5 in Seattle late Monday night and crashed into the back of a Department of Transportation vehicle. A 25-year-old passenger in the vehicle would most likely still be alive if he had been wearing his seat belt, according to hospital officials. Both the driver and passenger were rushed to a local hospital, where the passenger was pronounced dead. The driver, who was wearing his seat belt at the time of the crash, was arrested on suspicion of vehicular homicide.

As Seattle accident attorneys, we know firsthand that using safety belts can save lives and help prevent personal injuries when auto accidents occur. In Washington, all drivers and passengers 16 years of age or older are required by law to buckle up. In addition, the driver of the vehicle is responsible for ensuring that all children under 16 are either secured in a federally-approved child safety seat or wearing a seat belt. Observing these seat belt laws can help prevent tragedy in the event of a car accident.

If you or a loved one was injured as a passenger in a car accident, contact the experienced Seattle accident lawyers at Peizer, Richards & Ziontz at (206) 682-7700 to discuss your case. The injury lawyers at Peizer, Richards & Ziontz handle personal injury and auto accident cases in Seattle, Alki, Ballard, Beacon Hill, Bellevue, Bothell, Brighton, Broadmor, Broadway, Fauntleroy, Fremont, Georgetown, Green Lakes, Hazelwood, Kenmore, Kirkland, Laurelhurst, Madrona, Medina, Mercer Island, Metum, Midlakes, Queen Anne, Rainier Beach, Redmond, Renton, Richmond Beach, Shoreline, Wallingford, and Yarrow Point. Our Seattle accident lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, which means you don’t pay a fee unless you receive monetary compensation in your case.