Uncontrolled Intersections - Who Has the Right of Way?

When an intersection does not have a traffic light, stop sign, or other traffic control device who has the right of way?  Seattle car accidents happen because drivers don't know the answer to this question.  A 3 year-old child was ejected from a child car seat following a Seattle car accident at an uncontrolled intersection early this week.

Video clip with Seattle PD at scene.

The car accident happened near Pratt Park.  A car and a  full-size van approached the intersection at the same time, the car was traveling northbound and the van was heading westbound.  The car was on the right of the van. 

Washington state law under RCW 46.61.180 says "When two vehicles approach or enter an intersection from different highways at approximately the same time, the driver of the vehicle on the left shall yield the right-of-way to the vehicle on the right."  In this accident, the driver of the van had the duty to yield to the car.  He was negligent in failing to do so and is now liable for the all damages caused to the car and its passengers.  The car had two adults, the 3 year-old child, and another child of unknown age.  Three of the car passengers suffered life threatening injuries.

The full-size van hit the car with such force that the car was spun around into the oncoming lane of travel where it was hit by a mini-van.  The mini-van will likely have no fault in the wreck.  Hopefully, the full-size van had adequate insurance to cover the serious injuries suffered by the car passengers.

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