There’s no excuse for anyone ever driving while impaired due to alcohol or drugs. Anyone who drinks alcohol should be held accountable. Anyone who uses any type of controlled substance (or even legal drugs known to affect a person’s ability to drive) should be held accountable. Along with driver distraction, drunk driving is a leading cause of fatal car and truck accidents in Kennewick.
Our Kennewick drunk driving accident lawyers work with the police and local prosecutors to show that a driver was legally intoxicated at the time of an accident. Andrea and George, partners at Telaré Law, are committed to each other, the local Kennewick community, and to fighting for justice for anyone who is injured due to the negligence of others. Our experienced car accident attorneys have a strong record of personal injury settlements and verdicts. Former clients constantly recommend us for our dedication to our work and to others.
Drunk driving is extremely dangerous. Drivers who are intoxicated or under the influence of drugs don’t have control over their vehicles. Impaired drivers drive erratically, meaning there’s no way for another driver to drive defensively. Drunk drivers might drive anywhere. They swerve, cross into other lanes, drive the wrong way, run through red lights, and create many other dangers.
According to Forbes Magazine (which relied on numerous government and private studies)
The NHTSA states that drivers who have a blood alcohol content (BAC) level of .08 (the DUI level in most states) have poor muscle coordination (e.g., balance, speech, vision, reaction time, and hearing), and poor judgment, reasoning, and memory, which all makes it harder to detect dangers.
The NHTSA also identifies the following substances which can cause a driver to be unable to properly control his/her vehicle:
Using a combination of drugs and or drinks only increases the risks of a serious or fatal accident.
A person is guilty of driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor, cannabis, or any drug if they drive a vehicle in Washington and:
The driver of a car, truck, motorcycle, or an Uber or Lyft who drives while intoxicated or drugged is primarily liable in the event of an accident. Our Kennewick drunk driving accident lawyers also file claims, when justified, against other defendants including:
A Kennewick drunk driving accident lawyer could work with the police and our investigators to show that a driver was intoxicated or drug-impaired and that their impairment caused your injuries or a family member’s death.
Possession of certain controlled substances has “effectively been decriminalized” in the state, and both medical and recreational marijuana are legal here (under certain circumstances). But this does not mean a person can drive under the influence of marijuana or other substances.
Under state law, the same rules apply to recreational drugs as to alcohol, which means the same parties could potentially be liable: a driver, an employer, and even a seller.
The “rules” may be different, however, if the person is impaired by a prescription medication. Generally, it will be the driver who is liable unless there is proof that the drug caused impairment but did not warn of this risk (through a label on the bottle or an insert, for example). In some rare cases, it is possible that the manufacturer or even prescribing doctor may share liability.
Drunk driving and drugged driving accidents are often more severe and deadlier than other accidents because drunk drivers often drive fast, cause head-on crashes, and broadside other vehicles. Pedestrians and bicycle riders have little chance of survival against a drunk driver. Our Kennewick drunk driving accident lawyers represent victims who suffer all types of catastrophic and severe injuries including:
We also represent parents, spouses, and children when a loved one dies due to a drunk or drugged driver.
There is no legal requirement that a driver is charged with a DUI offense in order to file a civil personal injury claim. There isn’t even a need to show that the driver was drunk or under the influence of drugs. Drivers are liable for accidents and injuries they cause if they act unreasonably. Drunk and drugged drivers can also be held liable if they speed, drive in the wrong lane, or act in any unreasonable way.
Driver while intoxicated or under the influence is one type of negligence. Generally, we review the report by the officer who stopped the driver, administered field sobriety tests, and gave the driver breath or blood tests. If a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) was involved, we will review and analyze those finding as well. We also coordinate your civil case with the prosecution if the local prosecutors file DUI charges.
Since the dangers of drunk and drugged driving are so well-known, we may also file for punitive damages along with your claim for your medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost income, property damage, and all other damages.
Telaré Law speaks with drunk driving victims and the families of loved ones who died due to a drunk driver at our office in Kennewick at 819 South Auburn St. We also see clients at our office in Richland.
Our injury lawyers also see clients at their homes or a hospital if they are too ill or injured to travel to us. We conduct video conferences by appointment.
We understand just how traumatic drunk driving accidents are. We’re skilled at showing a driver was indeed intoxicated or impaired by drugs.
Every driver knows that drunk driving and drugged driving are extremely dangerous. At Telaré Law, our Kennewick drunk driving accident lawyers fight for all the compensation you deserve. We work to hold the driver and any other responsible parties accountable. Contact our attorneys at any time to schedule a free consultation.