Family Seeks Compensation Following Tragic Wedgwood Accident

By Hardwick & Pendergast, P.S. on August 19, 2013

The family of an elderly couple and a mother has filed a $45 million claim against the city of Seattle after a driver with a blood alcohol level nearly three times the legal limit drove his pickup into a family as they crossed the street. The elderly couple died and the mother and her newborn were injured in the accident.

According to a report in The Seattle Times, the driver at the time was under supervision of Seattle Municipal Court because of a previous drunk driving arrest. The plaintiffs have filed claims totaling $45 million against the city for failing to prevent the crash.

The driver in this case had been arrested twice in the months before the accident for driving under the influence and had been ordered to install an ignition-interlock device on his pickup. He defied that order to install a device and continued to drive, the report states. For failing to get him off the roadway, the family is seeking damages for “physical, mental and emotional injuries,” as well as medical expenses and lost wages. The family is considering filing a claim against the at-fault driver as well.

In cases involving drunk driving, injured victims and families of deceased victims can seek compensation from all at-fault parties involved. Anyone who has suffered a loss because of a drunk driver would be well advised to discuss all of his or her legal options with an experienced personal injury lawyer. Negligent drivers and other potentially liable parties can be held accountable for all losses suffered in the crash.

The experienced Seattle car accident attorneys at Hardwick & Pendergast, P.S. offer their condolences to anyone who has lost a loved one in a fatal collision. We provide free consultations at (888) 228-3860 to all Washington car accident victims and their families.