The "Act of God" defense is frequently invoked by insurance companies. Far more frequently than we actually experience palpable "Acts of God".
The following were all reported on Friday:
A collision closed three southbound lanes of Interstate 5 near South 178th Street.
There was a rollover crash that blocked the right lanes on the ramp from westbound state Route 520 to southbound I-5 in Seattle.
Another accident closed the southbound lanes of the Battery Street Tunnel.
There was a collision on the left shoulder of northbound state Route 167 at 24th Street and a vehicle was reported facing the wrong way on westbound state Route 16 at the Nalley Valley Viaduct from southbound I-5.
Should the at-fault drivers escape responsibility because it rained hard on Friday? Rain–particularly in Seattle–is a foreseeable event. It’s not an Act of God like parting the sea. It’s a common weather related event and drivers should exercise increased caution when it’s wet out.
The Act of God defense is just one of many that is cynically interposed by insurance companies hoping to exploit primitive notions of personal responsibility.
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