Need An Injury Lawyer After A DUI Accident in Washington State?
Driving while intoxicated is a serious crime, one which frequently carries tragic consequences. Not only has a driver made the extremely poor decision to drive drunk, but innocent bystanders and other drivers may suffer the consequences of that decision as well.
Under Washington law, you are considered to be driving under the influence a) if you are 21 or over and have a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08% or over, b) if you are driving a commercial vehicle and have a BAC of .04% or over, or c) if you are under the age of 21 and have a BAC of .02% or over. Penalties for DUI offenses in Washington State range from jail terms from 24 hours to one year, fines from $865.50 to $5,000 and license suspensions from 90 days to 4 years, depending on whether there were any prior offenses, and other factors.
How Will the Drunk Driver Be Held Accountable to You?
Have you been left in the wreckage of a drunk driver’s criminal actions? Have you lost your ability to work, your physical or mental abilities or even worse, a loved one?
The drunk driver will face their punishment from society in general through the criminal court system. However, the criminal court system will most likely not address the damages to you in the financial sense. The drunk driver should be held accountable to you in every way that the court system allows, and that way is usually through a financial award.
However, obtaining a financial award from the court can be very difficult, especially if an insurance company is fighting you every step of the way. Insurance companies are certainly in the business of making money, and they will frequently attempt to make money by denying claims brought because of damages caused by a drunk driver.
Why You Need an Experienced Washington State Trial Attorney
Insurance companies are very adept at fighting claims, even when those claims are valid. Unfortunately, there are some insurance companies who place profit over the importance of individuals’ quality or even loss of life.
To confront these insurance companies from whom you are seeking relief, you need a skilled personal injury attorney who is experienced in dealing with both accidents caused by drunk drivers, and in taking those cases to trial.
Insurance companies will frequently deal more fairly in settlement negotiations if they know that your attorney is fully prepared to take a case to trial. They will also be much more willing to deal fairly if your attorney has a proven track record at trial. Trials are certainly not for everyone – not even all attorneys. Trials involve a tremendous amount of time, effort and often emotional turmoil. However, trial attorneys face these challenges with gusto and often win. This gets insurance companies’ attention, and will deal more fairly with you in granting you the financial relief you deserve.
So, choose an attorney from Need An Injury Lawyer Washington State, where you will find many skilled and experienced lawyers who know how to recover the compensation you deserve. Please contact us today!