According to Washington State Patrol, the driver of a Ford F350 crossed the center lane on State Route 2 a few miles north of Spokane and struck a Kia Optima head on killing one and injuring another. Paramedics at the scene pronounced the 20-year-old woman and driver of the Optima dead, and they took the passenger, a 20-year-old man, to Sacred Heart Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries.
According to KHQ, the drunk driver was arraigned on charges of vehicular manslaughter and driving under the influence.
Drunk Drivers, Fatalities and Severe Injuries
A recent study has shown the more impaired a driver is, the higher the chance for severe injuries and death is for the victim. This means that when someone is hit by an impaired driver, they are at a much higher risk of being killed or severely hurt.
This bad news comes in light of some good news as drunk driving fatalities have dropped since the 1980’s. However, much of this might be due to increased seatbelt use and advances in engineering making vehicles safer as DUI themselves are on the rise across the nation. In Spokane County, the District Attorney’s Office announced there was a staggering 25 percent increase in the amount of DUI’s so far in 2018.
Do I need and Attorney If I’m hit by a Drunk Driver?
You might think that since the driver was drunk, the insurance company won’t give you a difficult time paying out on the claim. However, this is not the case. There are several issues that accompany drunk driving cases including dealing with high medical bills and loss of future earnings that come with severe injuries. In some circumstances, you might not have to pay back all of your medical bills, and the law on future damages is complicated at best. In the event a loved one was killed, be aware that you can also file a wrongful death claim.
After any crash involving a drunk driver, consult with an attorney that specializes in these types of cases to make sure the highly-paid defense lawyers and the insurance companies treat you fairly. Crary, Clark, Domanico, & Chuang, P.S., has experienced attorneys trained in the law dealing with drunk driving and personal injury. We can go toe-to-toe with the insurance companies and their lawyers to get you fair compensation for your injuries.
