In February 2021, the Spokane Police Department responded to several vehicle crashes in one night, with one of the accidents resulting in a fatality.

The Spokane Police Department was first sent to the scene of a hit-and-run at Belt and Wellesley. Soon after, dispatch received several reports concerning an accident on Albert and Queen. At this location, law enforcement found a vehicle flipped over with a father and child inside of it. Early reports suggest this vehicle was traveling at speeds much greater than the speed limit when it collided with a stop sign and then struck a truck. Fortunately, the father and child only incurred minor injuries.

Later, it was determined that the driver who caused the crash at Albert and Queen was also responsible for the accident at Belt and Wellesley. The man who caused the accident has since been charged with felony hit-and-run in the first accident, while the driver also faces additional charges for the second collision involving reckless driving as well as driving on a suspended license.

A third accident involving a sedan and a truck also occurred that night close to Lee and Boone, resulting in one death.

What is the Deadliest Time of the Year for Drivers?

Many motorists believe that the deadliest time of the year is the winter months. While it is true that this season sees slippery roads, wind, and lowered visibility, the deadliest time to operate a motor vehicle is actually the summer. Some of the deadliest accidents each year occur on Memorial Day and Labor Day. On these days, many motorists drink alcohol and drive more recklessly than usual.

When is the Safest Time to Drive in Spokane?

It is impossible to eliminate all risks of ending up in an accident. Fortunately, however, there are some helpful steps that motorists can take to avoid ending up in crashes. One helpful piece of advice is to try to drive during statistically safer times.

The data shows that weekdays are the safest time to drive. In particular, Tuesday is the safest day to drive all week. Conversely, dates like Friday and Saturday are the most dangerous. Perhaps this has something to do with more people going out to social events and drinking on Friday and Saturday.

No matter what day you are out on the roads, you have to be cautious about the time of day that you drive. The deadliest time for motor crashes is between midnight and 4 am because this is the time when the greatest number of impaired motorists are on the road. 

Mornings and afternoons tend to be the safest time to drive, but this is not always true. Rush hour traffic runs from 8 to 10 AM each morning and again from 4 to 7 PM. Due to the high number of cars on the road during this time as well as the number of motorists who are in a hurry and likely to make errors in driving, this can also be a dangerous time to drive. If you are interested in driving when the roads are the safest, it is a good idea to avoid rush hour times, too. 

Contact an Experienced Car Accident Attorney

When accidents occur in Spokane or the surrounding area, victims often feel confused about what to do next. One of the best steps that you can take is to obtain the assistance of an experienced accident attorney like those at the West Law Office.