Drunk driving car accidents in Kent, WA

One of the most irresponsible things that a person can do is decide to get behind the wheel of a motor vehicle while intoxicated. Drunk driving is more than just stupid – it’s downright dangerous. In fact, drunk driving is responsible for 50 percent of roadway fatalities in Washington, according to the Washington Traffic Safety Commission. At the offices of the Khan Injury Law PLLC, our experienced drunk driving accident lawyers can help you if you or a loved one has been involved in a crash caused by a drunk driver. For a free consultation, please call our law firm directly. We are here to help you.

The Dangers of Drunk Driving

When a person gets behind the wheel of a car after having too much to drink, their mental and physical faculties are impaired. To be sure, drinking slows one’s reaction time, can impair memory and reason, interferes with the brain’s communication pathways, changes mood and behaviors, and disrupts coordination. As such, a driver who has had too much to drink may:

Drive far too slowly for conditions;
Swerve erratically into other lanes, including oncoming lanes of traffic;
Drive much faster than is safe;
Hit something and be unaware of the accident;
Follow another vehicle too closely;
Fall asleep at the wheel; or
Perform dangerous maneuvers, such as running red lights.

Note that drunk driving is not only dangerous but illegal. While the person who hit you while drunk may face criminal charges, criminal charges will not yield any type of monetary compensation. In order to recover monetary damages, you will need to pursue a civil action. Criminal and civil actions are entirely independent from one another.

Injuries Caused by a Drunk Driver

When a drunk person gets behind the wheel of a car, they put themselves and others at risk. If a crash occurs, particularly one that happens at high speeds, injuries that may result include:

Traumatic brain injuries;
Spinal cord injuries;
Limb crush or amputation injuries;
Bone fracture injuries;
Internal injuries;
Laceration injuries;
Burn injuries; and

These injuries can be debilitating, painful, disabling, and expensive to treat. What’s more, serious physical injuries are often accompanied by serious psychological injuries, including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Who’s Liable for Damages Caused By a Drunk Driver?

The state of Washington is an at-fault state, which means that drivers who cause accidents are responsible for paying for them. As such, if you are in a crash caused by a drunk driver, you maintain the right to file a claim against the driver’s insurance, or file a lawsuit directly against the driver. Depending upon the situation and the type of insurance coverage that you carry, you may also be able to pursue compensation from your own insurance company (i.e. underinsured motorist coverage).

In order to recover the amount that you’re truly owed, you’ll need to prove that your injuries and accident would not have occurred but for the actions of the driver against whom you’re pursuing damages.

While the legal limit in Washington state is .08 percent, you do not need to prove that the driver who hit you had a blood alcohol concentration at or above this limit; instead, you’ll just need to prove that the driver acted negligently, and that the negligence was the cause of your accident. Negligence simply means failing to act with the required degree of care; speeding, performing an illegal maneuver, swerving, and more are all examples of negligent acts.

How Our Lawyers Can Help

Being involved in a crash with a drunk driver, or receiving a call letting you know that your loved one is in the hospital because of a drunk driver-involved crash, is nothing short of devastating. Our lawyers realize this, and understand what you’re going through and the pain and loss you are experiencing. When you call our law firm, we can help you to hold the drunk driver accountable for their actions and responsible for the damages you’ve suffered. Our Kent drunk driving lawyers will help by:

Investigating your case. One of the most important roles that our lawyer will perform throughout the course of working for you is that investigator. We will work hard to collect all evidence that’s relevant to your case, including police reports, eyewitnesses’ testimonies, proof of alcohol impairment, photos of the accident scene, vehicle control module data, and more. This will allow us to bring a strong case against the drunk driver and prove negligence and liability.
Calculating your damages. Another important role that our firm will fill is that of being responsible for calculating your damages and determining the total amount of compensation that you’re owed. We will then send a demand letter to the insurance company requesting compensation on your behalf.
Settlement negotiations. Once we have issued a demand letter, it is customary for the insurance adjuster to respond to the demand by offering a settlement; however, first-time settlement offers are often much less than claimants are actually entitled to. As such, we will enter into negotiations on your behalf, working hard to get you the settlement that you deserve.

In addition to the above, we will also advise you of your options, help you determine against whom to file a claim, represent you in all interactions with the insurance company, and file a lawsuit on your behalf if negotiations are unsuccessful.

Drunk Driving Car Accidents in Kent, Washington – Get a Lawyer Who Cares About You

If you have been hit by a drunk driver in Kent, Washington, you need a lawyer on your side who cares about you. At the Khan Injury Law PLLC, we have brought cases against drunk drivers in the past, and know how to hold those who are negligent and irresponsible liable for the damages they cause. More importantly, we care about our community and those in it – when you call our law firm, you can count on our attention and diligence in managing your case. If you’ve been injured, don’t wait any longer to take action. Reach out to our Kent law office today for a free consultation by calling us directly or sending us a message at your convenience. Our Kent drunk driving accident lawyers are ready to advocate for you.