Unavoidable Car Accident on I-5 Highway...

Submitted by Hopeless_Misery t3_zval4h in Washington

Hi everyone,

I had an accident on the highway yesterday near exit 270 where there were unavoidable trees that were in the middle of the road blocking all lanes at night at 4 AM. I could not see them as they appeared after a turn where all cars were going 70 miles per hour and it was literally pitch black out there with no street lights. Several cars also rammed into these trees after me.

Unfortunately I do not have collision insurance so my insurance company will not cover the damages. As it isn't really my fault, am I able to claim with the city or anything to try to get my car fixed?

Here are some photos of the accident area.

https://preview.redd.it/w333cz4nz48a1.jpg?width=1200&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2067396ec87f784784e2b098df394055c6b51702

https://preview.redd.it/dacn635nz48a1.jpg?width=1200&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=da817e0c9e3a0a1bddfe58ba141f47e22c3280c9

https://preview.redd.it/bcq5o75nz48a1.jpg?width=1200&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b332dea270f9612abf8226fd58a6486e6909422c

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Comments

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TVDinner360 t1_j1o88gv wrote

If it was on I-5, WSDOT would be the agency from which to seek redress. However, in order for WSDOT to be liable, they would have had to have known about the trees and not taken action. That’s extremely unlikely. The speed limit is a maximum, not a minimum, and we were all taught in driver’s ed to slow down when conditions are dicey. I can think of no more dicey a condition than the one you just described. Frankly, if the state patrol didn’t cite you for exceeding safe speeds or driving too fast for conditions, it was a gift.

I’d take the L and regroup. Insurance exists precisely to support you in the unexpected. Pay for full coverage next time if you can’t afford a loss like this. And slow tf down when conditions are bad.

I’m glad you lived and weren’t seriously injured.

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Hopeless_Misery OP t1_j1rr4iz wrote

Yea my tow truck guy said I was lucky I didn't get blinded or anything so I will take the L and just get full coverage next time and drive more carefully.

I know to slow down in snowy conditions, but a part of my brain turned off when it's for things like random road debris appearing on the road. I've never had this happen in the 8 years I've driven so it never kind of came to my mind as a hazard, but yes, I've realized now that it's entirely my fault. Thank you.

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Salmundo t1_j1o4cxo wrote

Driving 70mph in pitch dark and couldn’t see, am I getting that part right?

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Hopeless_Misery OP t1_j1rq941 wrote

Well people usually go the speed limit out of habit.. Conditions looked like it was getting better since the snow was melted away by the rain.

I don't know why, but I never considered the possibility that something was blocking the road like that. I have driven for 8 years and it is my first accident. I know it is stupid of me looking back, but now I learned to drive more cautiously I guess.

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Salmundo t1_j1rxf2i wrote

There you go. I had a similar accident when I hadn’t been driving very long, definitely a learning experience. Good news is that you weren’t injured.

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cft4nh t1_j1s5up2 wrote

For lots of people it’s a deer in the road that doesn’t move and then your car ends up in the ditch or the trees. Or a moose if in Canada.

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StupidizeMe t1_j1o7n2x wrote

Everybody was going 70mph on a slick rainy pitch-dark road with a blind curve? Each driver has the legal responsibility of driving safely under whatever conditions are present, so I doubt that excuse will fly.

When I was a 15 year old girl, my Dad and I were driving on I-5. He told me to look around at the individual people in all the other vehicles. Then he said, "It's YOUR responsibility that they each get home safely to their loved ones."

It's been decades, and I've never forgotten that lesson. I think of it often.

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Hopeless_Misery OP t1_j1rt8i7 wrote

Well I've heard people say that everything always happens for a reason... I guess this event made me realize that I need to drive more carefully, especially at night. Car accidents can be deadly, so I will appreciate that I've smartened up now and potentially dodged a tragic future.

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StupidizeMe t1_j1slk5a wrote

Glad to hear it! I think we all have to do our best to help each other stay safe. Happy New Year!

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non-member t1_j1o9757 wrote

You fucked up twice… you CHOSE to drive too fast for the conditions… and you CHOSE to drive without full coverage.

Take it as a lesson learned since there’s nothing else you can do in this case.

About the only occasion you can hit a tree in the road and have somebody to cover your damage beside your own insurance is if the trees fell from private property like a business or home as their insurance will payout just to get rid of you.

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savvy-librarian t1_j1o5io1 wrote

You were driving 10 over the speed limit in less than ideal conditions in the dark and you think that the city is going to fix your car for you?

.... Seriously?

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ClimateChangeC t1_j1o79p6 wrote

I think that the speed limit is 70 mph for cars and 60 mph for trucks in that section all though it's still quite dumb.

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savvy-librarian t1_j1obewi wrote

The interstate speed limit in urban areas in the state of WA is 60, regardless of vehicle. Pretty sure this exit is right on top of a small town?

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kileyh t1_j1omsfo wrote

Exit 270 is up near Blaine and it’s definitely 70. A small town is not an urban area.

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HuskyKMA t1_j1omt4q wrote

The speed limit doesn't drop everytime there is a town. The SL is 70 mph here.

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Unicorn187 t1_j1o4x0s wrote

It was entirely your fault. "Driving too fast for conditions." If you weren't going too fast for the conditions of darkness and snow on the ground, you would have been able to stop in time. If a cop had witnessed it, you could have received a ticket for that quoted reason.

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Tresizzle t1_j1o7w8m wrote

OP, I urge you to make smarter decisions in life. Driving 70mph on the freeway @4AM in the darkness, when it’s ice out isn’t smart… Do you come across trouble often in other aspects of your life?

Edit: Just read the posts on your profile about your Gambling Addiction… Not to pick at wounds, but you obviously just don’t make smart decisions in life.

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snowphoto18 t1_j1phfrw wrote

Addiction had nothing to do with this post. Have some common decency and don’t say anything if you cannot be helpful.

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EvilPsyentist t1_j1q68tf wrote

"unavoidable trees". LMAO.

"as it really isn't my fault" double LMAO.
Collision insurance is for when you hit something (or something hits you) that doesn't have it's own coverage, like a tree.

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Hopeless_Misery OP t1_j1rs8co wrote

Yeah well sometimes in life you think something isn't your fault as it's a really unlucky event, but of course, there is always some control I could of had over the situation.

Couple cars behind me also had the same accident, so I wouldn't say that it was entirely just me being an idiot. Things like this are rare and unexpected. You drive on an everyday basis and nearly never see something like this, so I can see why people just autopilot going regular speed and forget about the potential hazard of something blocking them.

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SparrowAgnew t1_j1o8jlq wrote

That was an avoidable accident.

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HuskyKMA t1_j1omvv5 wrote

Take this as an expensive life lesson.

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conartist101 t1_j1pa44s wrote

You gambled and lost, accept the L and note the lesson learned 🙏🏽

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whelanbio t1_j1phmnf wrote

You gotta know when to hold em,

know when to fold em,

know when to walk away

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Lupine-lover t1_j1qkui0 wrote

There was no driving 70 anywhere yesterday. I drove to Winthrop, there was not any traffic moving above 50. Lots of 30-35. Each pass took an extra hour. Conditions were nasty…I feared for my safety several times

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dubzi_ART t1_j1qrq4u wrote

And Christmas spirit is gone. I know everyone is giving you tough love. Hope you get through this OP, I’m sure affording the repairs is beyond your budget and during Christmas. I’m rooting for you to come out on top.

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