What Damages Can I Recover for a Drunk Driving Claim?

If you are involved in a DUI accident, it can be a traumatic experience that can leave you feeling vulnerable and overwhelmed. The aftermath of a DUI accident can be chaotic and filled with physical pain, emotional distress, and financial uncertainty. Dealing with severe injuries, mounting medical bills, and the stress of lost wages while navigating insurance claims and legal procedures are all part of what happens after a DUI accident in Washington.

The emotional toll of knowing that a drunk driver’s reckless actions caused your suffering can be immense, leaving you angry, frustrated, and searching for justice. A DUI accident case may be more complex due to the potential criminal aspect. If you were injured in a drunk driving accident, navigating the DUI case and everything else that happens can seem impossible. Let the compassionate and experienced attorneys at McPartland Law Offices help you recover the compensation you deserve.

What To Do Following a DUI Accident in Washington?

If possible, as soon after a DUI accident as possible, you should take several actions if you lost a loved one or suffered injuries. Regardless of how severe your injuries are, seeking the help of a personal injury law firm may be beneficial.

Call 911 Immediately After the Accident

If you can take action at the accident scene, call 911 for the police and emergency medical technicians. If your injuries are not severe, you should still allow first responders to check you over. If you are not transported to the hospital, seek medical attention as soon after the accident as possible, as some injuries may take hours or even days to manifest.

Finding the Liable Parties

A DUI attorney can help you locate the liable parties. They may include the drunk driver and, in some instances, the person or establishment who supplied the drunk driver with the alcohol. While the police report will most likely name the intoxicated driver, it may not name those responsible for providing the alcohol. Other people who may be held responsible include taverns, bars, other commercial alcohol establishments, and social hosts.

Filing a Lawsuit to Recover Compensation

You can recover the compensation you deserve from the driver’s or supplier’s insurance company and file a personal injury lawsuit against the driver.

What Damages Can I Recover for a Drunk Driving Claim?

After being injured in a drunk driving accident, you can receive compensation for two types of damages: economic and non-economic damages, including:

• Medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Loss of future earning capacity
• Funeral expenses
• Pain and suffering

Using Uninsured Motorist Coverage

In some cases, a drunk driver may not have vehicle insurance. Even if you were to file a lawsuit against the driver, you may not be able to collect the compensation you deserve if they do not have enough assets. However, uninsured motorist coverage will cover your damages if the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured.

Even though it is through your insurance company, the situation can still be stressful. Through this coverage, a personal injury attorney can help you recover the compensation you deserve, including compensation for property damage and medical expenses.

Washington Drunk Driving Statistics

In Washington, drunk driving caused 369 fatal crashes. From 2018 through 2023, the number of impaired driving fatal accidents increased from 255 to 369. Most of the drunk drivers were in the 25 to 30 age group. Additionally, 77 percent of impaired drivers that caused fatal wrecks were men.

Compensation From The Crime Victim Compensation Program (CVCP)

An often overlooked coverage – including by attorneys – is Washington’s Crime Victim’s Compensation Program (CVCP). Administered by the Department of Labor & Industries, CVCP provides a payor of last resort for people injured by drunk drivers.

Dangerous Roads in Washington State

Intersections are some of the more common places for accidents, including drunk driving accidents. Additionally, dangerous roads are made more hazardous by drunk drivers – the roads are already dangerous, and when you add alcohol into the mix, you see a higher number of fatalities.

Some of the most dangerous roads in Washington state include:

• SR-17 between Soap Lake and Mesa.
• SR-395 between Ritzville and Pasco. This highway looks like a freeway, but is crossed by many rural roads where farm implements and farm vehicles have to navigate wide intersections.
• SR-195 between Spokane and Pullman.
• SR 99 between N. Winona Avenue and N. 155th Street in Seattle and between S. 252nd Street to S. 176th Street in Des Moines, Seatac, and Kent.
• US Highway 2 in remote areas when the weather is terrible.
• I-5 between S. 96 Street and Exit 133 in Tacoma and Lakewood Center and between Exits 119 and 124 in Lakewood and Lakewood Center.

Why Clients Choose McPartland Law Offices

After being injured in a DUI accident, you do not want just any personal injury attorney – you need an experienced DUI lawyer who is familiar with DUI laws and other motor vehicle laws in Washington.

Client Testimonials

“My wife and I were VERY impressed and pleased with the quality of service and personal attention we received from Bryce and the McPartland Law Office employees. Our case was a 2-year process and they were always prompt with updates, scheduling, and helped us deal with the emotional stress that we were going through.” –Charles S.

“Bryce McPartland and MLO are truly exceptional. I’ve known Bryce from our days growing up in Warden, WA. Bryce exemplifies all that’s good having come from that background: hard work, respect, commitment, honesty and integrity. As an attorney myself, I can confidently say that you will not find a better attorney, counselor, and advocate than Bryce.” –Jon S.

“Bryce and his team were wonderful to work with. They helped us navigate the personal injury claim process, and Bryce always took the time to answer any questions we had. I really appreciated the approach they took with our claim and the outcome was great. I would absolutely recommend this practice to anyone looking for a personal injury attorney!” –Dalari A.

Additional Resources

The Most Dangerous Roads & Intersections in Washington: Learn more about the most dangerous roads in Washington and the risk factors for car accidents.

Top Five Reasons to Hire a Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer: Hiring a drunk driving accident lawyer provides many benefits, including having a compassionate yet aggressive attorney helping you recover the compensation you deserve.

Hold Drunk Drivers Accountable to Their Actions

If you suffered injuries or lost a loved one in a drunk driving accident, contact a car accident lawyer at McPartland Law Offices for a case evaluation by calling 509-495-1247 or by completing our online contact form.