Wrongful Death Lawsuit - Illegal Passing in Washington State

I just filed a wrongful death lawsuit in one of the most tragic cases I’ve ever had, along with co-counsel Ronaldo Delgado. Fifteen-year-old Gisella Morales was riding in the front passenger seat on State Route 24 in Grant County when her driver attempted to pass a semi-truck from a no-passing zone, colliding head-on with another vehicle. Both vehicles became engulfed in flames. Ms. Morales passed away at the scene.

In addition to signs and road markings indicating no-passing zones, Washington does not permit overtaking vehicles unless it is clearly safe to do so. RCW 46.61.120 states that drivers may not overtake vehicles through the oncoming lane “unless such left side is clearly visible and is free of oncoming traffic for a sufficient distance ahead to permit such overtaking and passing to be completely made without interfering with the operation of any traffic approaching from the opposite direction or any traffic overtaken.”

This means that sight obstructions such as other vehicles, or other conditions like weather, are not an excuse. Passing on the left into the oncoming lane is one of the most dangerous maneuvers in driving. Don’t make assumptions. Account for the combined speed of your vehicle and oncoming vehicles. And when in doubt, play it safe.