Spokane car accident victims can seek swift justice after being struck by drunk drivers. They can demand help with their doctor bills and in replacing the paychecks they lose while they are too injured to work. A skilled Spokane Car Accident Lawyer can help them file a claim and receive the maximum in support available.
CCD Law is happy to speak with injured accident victims in a free case consultation. There’s no obligation for this meeting. It’s a chance to tell us what happened to you and how a drunk driver’s mistake changed your life. Let’s find the best way to earn you the maximum compensation possible to speed along your recovery.
Do I Need a Lawyer After an Accident Caused by a Drunk Driver?
It’s a good idea to discuss your case with a lawyer if you have a serious injury and a DUI driver is responsible. Medical bills will be higher, and that means car insurance companies will fight even harder to avoid having to help you.
They can try to blame you for an accident or attempt to question how bad your injuries are. You’ll want a skilled local attorney to protect your case and make sure you receive everything necessary for your recovery.
In some cases, DUI drivers are repeat offenders, and this may mean they struggle to get car insurance and may carry the bare minimum in coverage. A CCD Lawyer will exhaust every option and identify every source of support to get all of your hospital expenses paid and your other hardships compensated.
A CCD Lawyer conducts a full investigation into the accident and the driver’s history. This yields the evidence needed to build a strong case that shuts down an insurer’s attempt to deny your claim. The bottom line: Our skilled attorneys can often win you drastically more for a car accident claim than you could hope to win yourself.
How Can I Help Prove The Driver Who Hit Me Was Impaired?
In some cases, the evidence you collect at the scene of your accident, even before Spokane Police arrive, can help you prove who was impaired and who was at fault.
This can be critical because not every drunk driver is found at fault for every accident. They might be charged with DUI, but it doesn’t mean their actions necessarily caused a collision. Car insurance adjusters know this and can try to shift blame in the accident to an innocent driver. It’s why you may still need to offer proof that you didn’t cause the crash.
After calling 911, and if the scene is secure, victims can take these actions to help build their cases:
- Take photos at the scene. Show the damage to cars and show how the collision unfolded by taking pictures of street signs and lane markings. Get both vehicles in a photo to show how they came to rest. Take photos of any visible injuries you are left with. If you see signs of drug paraphernalia, alcohol bottles, or cans in the other driver’s car, take a photo, but don’t get into a confrontation.
- Give Officers a Full Report. Cooperate with the Spokane Police or the Washington State Patrol (WSP) officers on the scene. Tell them anything you observed before and after the accident that points to an impaired driver. Inform them of the other driver’s behavior, slurred speech, odor, etc.
- Talk to Witnesses. Get their contact information and ask them if they saw any behavior indicating the other driver was drunk.
What Is Considered DUI in Spokane?
The Washington State Department of Licensing goes over the definition of DUI, involving alcohol in Spokane and everywhere else in the state.
The results of a breath or blood test show the amount of alcohol in the driver’s blood to be:
- .08 or higher for adults (21 and over).
- .04 or higher for commercial vehicle drivers (CDL disqualifications).
- .02 or higher for minors (under 21).
However, drivers can still be charged with DUI, even if they don’t go over these limits. An officer’s judgment on the scene takes precedence over the limits. Suspects can be arrested for DUI any time they are visibly affected by alcohol, drugs, or a combination. Prescription drugs can contribute to DUI violations.
Drunk drivers get into more accidents and can cause more severe accidents. Experts say inebriated drivers don’t always have the awareness to recognize when they are heading into a collision, and don’t always hit the brakes. It’s a normal reaction for sober drivers, and often lessens the impact force in accidents.
Accident victims can suffer much more serious injuries and even be at risk of death. It’s why CCD Law works to secure as much in recovery support as possible. Victims may require care for weeks or months. They can also have injuries flare up and need surgery or additional physical therapy years down the road. A DUI accident settlement claim must include support for these complications.
Beware of a Potential Change in Washington’s DUI Limits: As of January 2026, Washington State legislators are considering a drop in blood alcohol concentration (BAC) allowances. The change would mean drivers couldn’t exceed .05 BAC. According to the Washington State Standard, the State Senate has approved the measure, but the House still needs to deliberate and vote on the matter.
DUI and Drug Use in Washington State
Recreational marijuana use may be legal in Washington, but it’s not okay for drivers. Marijuana users can also be charged with DUI and face the same consequences as drunk drivers.
The Revised Code of Washington (RCW) details when a driver using marijuana can be charged with DUI:
RCW 46.61.502
“(b) The person has, within two hours after driving, a THC concentration of 5.00 or higher as shown by analysis of the person’s blood”
As with alcohol use, drivers can be charged with DUI without exceeding the limit for THC concentration. The investigating officer’s judgment comes back into play, dependent on the visible effects that drug use has on the motorist.
DUI Investigations in Spokane and Your Accident Claim
Officers on the scene will also investigate the other driver’s condition. This can include using field sobriety tests and portable breath tests. Drug Recognition Experts (DRE) may be utilized to gauge potential drug use.
Drivers can refuse breathalyzer tests, but this is not usually in their best interest. A refusal often means an immediate suspension of the suspect’s driver’s license for up to two years. The refusal is also used as evidence in a criminal trial and can factor into accident claim negotiations.
An officer would usually seek a warrant for a blood test, and be able to perform a test soon enough anyway.
Any evidence you can provide or your lawyer can uncover could also help your civil claim, asking the driver’s car insurance company to accept financial responsibility for what happened.
The WSP provides further guidelines on how these investigations are handled here.
Does a DUI Suspect Have to Be Convicted Before I Can File an Insurance Claim?
No. The criminal proceedings for a DUI suspect are handled separately from an accident claim, which is considered a civil case.
Injured accident victims can file an insurance claim or a civil lawsuit at any time. Usually, the time it took to build a strong case would determine when a claim was submitted.
Accident victims can file without worrying about these factors:
- They can file no matter what stage the criminal proceedings are in.
- They can file even if a DUI trial hasn’t started yet.
- They can file even if a driver is exonerated of DUI charges. The driver could still be responsible for the collision.
Can I Sue the Bar or the Store that Sold the Driver Alcohol?
It’s illegal to sell alcohol to a minor or to someone who’s visibly intoxicated, so businesses can be found liable for DUI accidents for serving someone they shouldn’t have. If an accident victim is injured because a restaurant negligently provided alcohol to the driver at fault, then the victim can sue the provider for damages. It’s not automatic, and you have to prove that the shop or bar owner knew or should have known that the person was too intoxicated to continue drinking.
Support Available for The Victims of a Drunk Driver
A drunk driver may cross the center line on Washington Street or along Sprague Avenue to cause a devastating collision. Victims can suffer traumatic injuries and may struggle to get their lives back to normal.
The amount on a settlement check is about more than just punishing the decision to drink and drive or use drugs and drive. It’s the money victims use to help restore their health, support their families, and rebuild their lives.
It’s why our lawyers demand the most from unhelpful insurance companies on behalf of our clients. That money may be critical to a victim and the victim’s family’s well-being.
These and other hardships you endure must be included in any settlement:
- Past medical bills and medical bills reasonably expected to be incurred in the future
- Life-long support for a physical disability
- Support for the pain experienced and that may continue for years to come
- Support for the emotional trauma caused by a frightening DUI collision
- Support for the anxiety and depression that may occur due to a difficult recovery and having to give up cherished hobbies and family activities
- Past lost earnings and earnings reasonably expected to be lost in the future
- Wrongful death benefits provided by insurers for families who lose a loved one to a drunk driver’s mistake
Contact a Skilled Spokane Car Accident Lawyer
If you are unsure if you need a lawyer after a drunk driver hits you, there’s a no-risk way to determine your best options. Contact us and set up a free, no-obligation consultation. We can help you find the best and fastest path to getting support. We can also help you support your case with the strongest evidence to make sure a DUI driver and insurers can’t escape blame.
And if you need our help, you don’t need any money to hire CCD Law. We don’t get paid unless we win your case. If your case is unsuccessful, we don’t earn anything. If we win, our attorney’s fee comes out of the settlement that an insurance company is forced to pay you.