Help Lower Washington’s Drunk Driving Rates, Know When You’re Intoxicated

By Hardwick & Pendergast, P.S. on February 27, 2013

The state of Washington consistently ranks among the worst in the country for drunk driving incidents. According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), Washington is ranked 41st in the country when it comes to efforts to curb drunk driving. In the year 2011, there were 156 driving under the influence (DUI) fatalities in Washington accounting for 34 percent of all traffic deaths. MADD further reports that Washington has a serious issue with repeat offenders. In the year 2011, there were 19,783 three-time offenders and 2,103 five-time offenders in Washington State.

Why is drunk driving so dangerous? As you consume alcohol, your ability to drive safely decreases. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a driver becomes more impaired as he or she consumes more alcohol:

• Two beers: Judgment becomes impaired and you begin to struggle with doing two tasks at the same time.
• Three beers: Coordination and ability to track moving objects are compromised and you will experience difficulty steering.
• Four beers: You are likely over the legal limit and you will struggle to control your speed. You will also find it challenging to process information.
• Five beers: Reaction time will be markedly slowed and you will struggle to stay in your lane.
• Seven beers: You will have serious difficulty controlling the car and remaining focused.

If you or a loved one has been hurt by a drunk driver, you would be well advised to discuss your legal options with a skilled Seattle drunk driving victim attorney. It may be possible to hold the at-fault driver accountable for your losses. In such cases, support should be available for your medical bills, hospitalization, cost of rehabilitation, lost wages, pain and suffering, loss of earning potential, and other related damages.