Even now, with so many transportation options available including rideshares, cabs, and buses, drinking and driving is still a major problem in Spokane and across the rest of Washington. The Washington Department of Transportation tracks drunk driving accidents and reports that in 2018, there were 414 alcohol involved automobile accidents that resulted in fatalities and serious injuries. 14 of those accidents occurred on Spokane roads with 1 fatality and 13 serious injuries. Spokane drunk driver accident attorneys represent innocent injury victims who were involved in accidents caused by impaired drivers. Our attorneys are aggressive advocates for innocent victims who deserve to be compensated for their injuries and damages.
Besides the at fault driver in a drunk driving accident, in some cases there may be other liable parties as well. Under Washington law, alcohol providers and sellers may not sell alcohol to someone who is apparently under the influence or obviously intoxicated. If they do sell to someone under these circumstances and that person then goes on to cause an accident, the third party seller may be liable for the resulting injuries and damages as well.
Types of behavior that should cause a seller to see someone as apparently under the influence or obviously intoxicated include the following:
A social host is generally only liable in situations where he or she provides alcohol to a minor and that minor subsequently causes an accident. Serving a minor any amount of alcohol is incredibly risky because intoxication does not generally matter. If a social host serves a minor any amount of alcohol and he later causes and accident, the social host may be liable for all of the resulting injuries and damages.
Alcohol is not the only problem when it comes to intoxicated driving. Driving under the influence of drugs such as marijuana, prescription pain pills, and illegal narcotics seems to be on the rise and accidents caused by drivers under the influence of drugs seems to be on the rise as well. Some people place the blame for this on the legalization of marijuana in many states and others point to the opioid crisis in the state of Washington and throughout the country. Regardless of the reason for the rise in driving under the influence of drugs, the problem does not seem to be going away and innocent people are being injured and killed as a result.
If you or a loved one has sustained injuries and damages in an accident caused by a driver under the influence of drugs or alcohol, contact a Spokane drunk driver accident attorney at Russell & Hill, PLLC to schedule a consultation. Our attorneys are passionate about seeking compensation for those who have been injured in a drunk driving accident and they are also passionate about seeing that those who caused the accident are held accountable. They will fight for full and fair compensation for you and your family.
