Need an Injury Attorney for a DUI Accident in Washington?
DUI accidents accounted for 32% of traffic-related deaths in the U.S. for 2009 alone. Under Washington Law, anybody who operated a motor vehicle must consent to a breathalyzer or another test that proves they have been drinking and driving when they are pulled over on suspicion. In 2010 in Washington State, there were 170 alcohol-related fatalities related to DUI accidents. This number may seem small but keep in mind that many more people have suffered severe injuries in these cases that will take a lifetime to recover from. You can easily be killed in a drunk driving accident when a driver acts so carelessly that they get drunk and go behind the wheel of a car. How will you compensate for your injuries when a driver has made this negligent choice and risks your life as well as others who share the roadways?
Starting With the Police
The police will play a huge role in your drunk driving case because they are the people who are able to tell for sure that a driver has been driving drunk. In any other accident, you may turn the cheek and collect information from any involved drivers, but in DUI accidents, you know that something more serious has occurred and that you must turn to law enforcement for help.
The law enforcement in your case will be able to discover whether or not a driver has been drinking and driving by taking a look at the details of the scene. If they have suspicion to believe that a driver has been drinking, they can issue a Breathalyzer. After an accident, obvious clues would be a driver who is acting erratically or smells like alcohol, or open alcohol containers in a vehicle. Police understand how to best investigate these cases and will help determine if a party should be charged, which could lead to a police report and help you work toward the compensation you deserve.
Who is Liable in DUI Cases?
When a driver is involved in a Washington DUI accident, they may be able to compensate for their serious injuries. In these accidents, it is clear that a driver has acted negligently because they chose to drink and get behind the wheel of a car, knowing that it could cause serious accidents. Their criminal case will help pave the way to your civil case when it comes to liability.
These cases could have more than a physical impact on you as you suffer from serious injuries, but an emotional and financial aspect as well. For instance, you may be suffering from the turmoil of having experienced this accident and the emotions it puts you through every day. It may affect you financially due to the fact that it costs money to pay for things like medical bills, rehabilitation to get back on your feet, and more after you have sustained injuries. And what happens when you are unable to work? These are important aspects in any case that you will want to determine so that you can move forward with your life.
If you have been injured in a drunk driving accident, you may be able to make a claim against a driver who chose to disobey the law, a bar under “dram shop laws” that hold a bar liable when they sold alcohol to a minor or somebody who was already intoxicated, or any other related party. You have rights and we want to help. If you have been injured in a Washington DUI case, you have options and we can help you pave the way to the compensation you deserve.