Pendergast Law Personal Injury Lawyers

Free Consultations  |  Phones Answered 24/7

Pendergast Law Personal Injury Lawyers

Free Consultations  |  Phones Answered 24/7

Committed to helping you heal while we recover.

We Handle Car Crashes Involving Drunk Or Drugged Drivers

Have you sustained significant injuries or lost a loved one in a drunk driving accident? Did someone’s decision to take prescription medication before driving change your life? We can only begin to imagine the pain you’re going through. Your life has been irrevocably changed because someone decided to get behind the wheel while intoxicated. It’s not right. Why should you have to suffer for someone else’s reckless behavior? You’re angry and distraught, and you want justice. Our compassionate Washington drunk driving accident victim lawyers at Pendergast Law can help.

Drunk drivers are subject to both criminal penalties and civil lawsuits. In other words, you and your family have the right to sue the driver who caused you so much grief. Please let our legal team provide you with the aggressive representation and empathetic support you need to win your case and get the money for medical and funeral expenses, pain and suffering, and other past and future damages. For more information, dial 888-539-9211. We offer free initial consultations.

Even though you know that the drunk driver caused your accident, you have to prove it. Our Seattle car accident attorneys can help you gather the proper evidence as well as formulate an effective legal strategy so that your claim will stand up in court.

Our Washington DUI Accident Victim Attorneys Can Help You Prove Your Claim

At Pendergast Law, our attorneys are skilled investigators who know exactly where to look for solid evidence, which may include testimony from witnesses, accident reconstruction and medical records. In the case of a drunk driver, the police report – which may include the results of a breath, blood, urine or field sobriety test – could be the key factor in establishing a drunk driving accident civil claim.

What About Drugged Driving Accidents?

Individuals who decide to take drugs and drive are committing a crime. If you’re in an accident with someone driving while on drugs, you can take them to court to pay for damages they caused.

Not counting alcohol, there are many drugs that can affect people behind the wheel of a car, truck or motorcycle. Some of these drugs are legal with a prescription, but they can intoxicate a driver and have warnings that they are not to be taken while operating heavy machinery (like a car). In many driving under the influence of drugs (DUID) accidents, the drug in question wasn’t meant to be used while driving a vehicle. The following list is just a fraction of the drugs that have been involved in Seattle DUID automobile accidents:

  • Sedatives and antipsychotics
  • Methamphetamine
  • Antidepressants
  • Sleeping pills
  • Oxycodone
  • Cocaine
  • Valium
  • Heroin

Marijuana DUID And The Legal Limit In Washington

Following the legalization of marijuana in 2012, the state of Washington has seen a rise in fatal accidents involving THC as well as a rise in accidents that included poly-drugs (both THC and alcohol), per a study by the Washington Traffic Safety Commission. THC has also been involved in accidents caused by speeding or distracted driving, further increasing the risks associated with DUID accidents. If a negligent driver had 5 ng/mL of THC in their blood, they can be charged with a DUID and are liable for any damages or injuries caused to other drivers.

What About Child Victims Of DUI Accidents?

Perhaps the most tragic cases are when children are seriously injured or killed by intoxicated drivers. Kids are more vulnerable and can be more easily injured while riding in vehicles, riding their bicycles or simply playing outside. Determining the lifelong impact of and costs from a driving under the influence (DUI) accident in which a child is involved can be difficult, since certain consequences – like brain injuries – might not fully reveal themselves for years. It may seem crass to think about finances when a child has been seriously injured, but planning accordingly can make the child’s life easier in the long run.

For example, a child who suffers a traumatic brain injury (TBI) in an accident with a drunk driver may have cognitive or development issues in the future. These complications can add unforeseen expenses, including medical costs; physical therapy sessions; special education; in-home care; time that the parents have to spend with the child, unable to work; and special equipment for a productive lifestyle.

This is a real possibility any time a child is hit by a drunk driver, so bring a civil suit against the driver to help with future expenses. No one wants to think about these things, but an experienced lawyer can help you in such a terrible time. We are here precisely so that you don’t have to worry about the future.

Getting Compensation For Your Losses In Seattle

A successful legal claim can result in compensation for the following:

  • Pain and suffering
  • Present and future medical expenses
  • Lost wages
  • Loss of earning capacity
  • Permanent injury or disability
  • Mental and emotional trauma
  • Loss of quality of life

Money cannot undo the trauma that has shaken your life, but it can help make your accident a thing of the past so that you can move on and focus on healing.

How Is Fault Proven After A DUI Accident In Washington?

The tragic consequences of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs are widely known, and yet, intoxicated driving is still one of the most common causes of auto accidents in the state of Washington. Under RCW 46.61.502, an individual is guilty of driving while under the influence of intoxicating substances if he or she has a blood alcohol concentration of .08% or higher.

The law is less forgiving for underage drivers, and any amount of alcohol in a minor’s system while behind the wheel is illegal. When an underage driver is responsible for a DUI accident, it is important to look at who else may also be to blame. If that youth was served alcohol in a bar or restaurant, that establishment could be held liable as well. The parents could also be to blame if they allowed this kind of behavior.

At Pendergast Law, we will use our extensive legal knowledge, resources and network of forensic specialists, private investigators and accident reconstruction experts to gather supporting evidence about the accident. The last thing you should have to worry about is building a Washington wrongful death claim on your own. With our guidance and representation, you will have the best chance of reaching an optimal outcome for your claim.

What Damages May Be Recovered In A DUI Accident Death Claim?

Through a wrongful death claim, qualifying family members may be entitled to receive compensation for the following economic and noneconomic losses:

  • Funeral and burial expenses
  • Medical bills
  • Pain and suffering of the deceased before they died
  • Loss of future income
  • Loss of future benefits, such as retirement and medical benefits
  • Loss of love, affection, companionship, guidance, etc.
  • Loss of household tasks the deceased performed, such as child care, vehicle and property maintenance, bookkeeping, etc.

Don’t Talk To An Insurance Company

No matter how friendly an insurance adjuster may seem, the fact is that they do not have your best interests in mind. In many instances, the insurance company tries to discourage accident victims by delaying or denying their claims. And if it does offer a settlement, it is often far from adequate.

Fortunately, you don’t have to deal with the insurance company yourself. You have the right to pass on all contact with the insurance company to your attorney. That way, you won’t be vulnerable to its tricks.

Protecting Your Right To Recover After A DUI Accident In Seattle

When your life has been devastated by the actions of an intoxicated driver, you and your family deserve to have the best representation available to ensure a successful claim. Let the exceptional Washington drunk driving accident attorneys at Pendergast Law hold the at-fault driver accountable for your losses. We will not rest until you get the full and fair compensation that you need and deserve for your recovery.

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