Davis Law Group Receives Seattle Business Magazine’s ‘Best Companies to Work For’ Award Learn More
Davis Law Group Receives Seattle Business Magazine’s ‘Best Companies to Work For’ Award Learn More
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Drunken driving accidents often occur at high speeds, and the injuries and other types of damage that can result from these collisions can be catastrophic. Auto accidents caused by drunken drivers have been a major public safety epidemic in the U.S. for decades. It is estimated that DUI-related crashes account for nearly one-third of all traffic-related fatalities each year.
In many cases, alcohol-impaired drivers who cause serious car accidents are repeat offenders whose destructive behavior has finally caught up with them. Hiring an experienced Seattle car accident attorney after a serious collision can ensure that injury victims achieve justice and that drivers are held responsible for their negligent actions.
Mischelle Davis, wife of attorney Chris Davis, is an active advisory board member of the Washington state chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). Mischelle was first personally affected by the impact of drunk driving when she was a teenager and several of her high school classmates were injured and one was killed in a drunk driving crash that took place shortly before graduation. Mischelle has dedicated the last decade of her life to working with Washington state officials to promote public safety legislation, policies, and public safety programs aimed at preventing DUI-related crashes, reduce injuries, and save lives.
We Only Represent DUI Victims, Not Impaired Drivers
Some attorneys will represent drunk driving collision victims while also defending drunk drivers in criminal cases. Seattle attorney Chris Davis only represents the innocent victims of crashes caused by impaired drivers, not DUI offenders who are responsible for causing horrific accidents and the injuries that result from them.
During his career as a prosecutor for King County, Mr. Davis brought hundreds of DUI offenders to justice. Now he helps the victims of drunk driving collisions and their families gain financial compensation for the harm caused by DUI offenders.
If you or a loved one has been badly injured after a crash caused by a drunken driver, Davis Law Group Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers has a team of dedicated and experienced lawyers who will fight for the highest possible compensation for you and hold wrongdoers accountable. Call 206-727-4000 to schedule a no obligation consultation.
Like our friends at Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), Davis Law Group Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers believes that there is no such thing as a drunk driving accident. Drunk driving collisions result from carelessness or deliberate dangerous driving (under the influence of alcohol), not from circumstances beyond the control of the at-fault driver. Car crashes that are caused by a drunk driver are entirely avoidable, and we believe in doing everything possible to stop drunk drivers before they cause injuries on the road.
“On behalf of the Board of Directors and staff of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, I would like to express my deepest appreciation of Davis Law Group Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers’s generous support of MADD…”
–Jan Withers, MADD National President
Each year Mischelle is a presenter at Rookie Success Camp, a series of educational programs delivered to the incoming Seattle Seahawk rookies. Mischelle and other MADD volunteers speak to the rookies about the dangers of drinking and driving and the tragic consequences it can have on their lives and the lives of others, along with the permanent damage it can cause to their careers.
Drunk or otherwise impaired drivers who cause car accidents may face both criminal and civil court proceedings.
It’s important to note that the criminal and civil sides of the legal system are completely separate and have no impact on one another. If you hire Davis Law Group Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers to represent you after a collision with a drunk driver, the basis of our representing you is with regard to the civil personal injury claim.
We cannot directly control a criminal prosecutor’s decision to pursue criminal charges against a drunk driver, but we do often cooperate with prosecutors to provide evidence, victim impact statements, and more information relating to the case in hopes that the person who injured our client will be brought to justice. While we can never guarantee the outcome of any criminal investigation, we go above and beyond the level of service that you might expect to receive from any other personal injury law firm when it comes to drunk driving collision cases.
In the state of Washington, regardless of who is at fault for an accident, an injured person can receive compensation for lost wages and medical expenses from their Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance. The following is a list of damages recoverable after a drunk driving crash:
Washington State law provides that the drivers on the road have the duty to not operate a motor vehicle when under the influence of alcohol. See RCW 46.61.502. A DUI arrest in Washington means license suspension, jail time, and up to $5,000 in fines and fees. You may be ordered to install and pay for a device (called an ignition interlock) that won’t allow your car to start if you have any alcohol in your system. The court can order you to pay for and attend alcohol or drug treatment.
Washington State Dram Shop Law
Dram shop laws make it possible for bar owners and alcohol servers to be held financially liable if a customer becomes obviously intoxicated on their premises and subsequently injures someone or causes property damage, typically by driving drunk. Washington State law forbids the selling of alcohol ‘to any person apparently under the influence of liquor.’
RCW 66.44.200(1)
(1) No person shall sell any liquor to any person apparently under the influence of liquor.
(2)(a) No person who is apparently under the influence of liquor may purchase or consume liquor on any premises licensed by the board.
(b) A violation of this subsection is an infraction punishable by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars.
(c) A defendant’s intoxication may not be used as a defense in an action under this subsection.
(d) Until July 1, 2000, every establishment licensed under RCW 66.24.330 or 66.24.420 shall conspicuously post in the establishment notice of the prohibition against the purchase or consumption of liquor under this subsection.
(3) An administrative action for violation of subsection (1) of this section and an infraction issued for violation of subsection (2) of this section arising out of the same incident are separate actions and the outcome of one shall not determine the outcome of the other.
Washington State’s ‘Drive Hammered-Get Nailed’ Program
Washington State Patrol helps to enforce the Washington Traffic Safety Commission’s “Drive Hammered-Get Nailed” campaign to catch drunk drivers. This program puts many more DUI task forces out on Washington streets, roads, and highways throughout the state between mid-August and early September. The idea is to catch more drunk drivers during the days and weeks surrounding Labor Day weekend in order to stop the drunk driver before they do any damage to themselves or others.
Drunk driving is one of the leading causes of motor vehicle collisions in Washington State. Forty-two percent of all fatal motor vehicle crashes involve a driver that was under the influence of alcohol. Each year over 200 people in Washington state are killed in drunk driving crashes. There is a sharp increase in the number of drunk driving incidents near major holidays and during the summer months.
According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), 10,228 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes in the United States in 2010. This figure represents 31 percent of all traffic incident deaths. More than 500,000 Americans are injured in drunken driving crashes each year.
The top-rated team of Washington car accident attorneys at Davis Law Group Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers will review your drunk driving accident case absolutely free of charge and help you better understand your legal rights and options for pursuing a personal injury claim. If we believe we can improve the chances of a favorable outcome, our attorneys will meet with you for a free legal consultation to discuss your case in greater detail.
We also work on a contingency fee basis, which means there are no up-front costs and you owe no attorney’s fees until your case has been successfully resolved. Call our office in Seattle at 206-727-4000 or use the confidential contact form on this page to have your case personally reviewed by our award-winning legal team.
Client Reviews
Our experience with the Davis Law Group Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers was positive from the first moment we consulted with Chris Davis. Chris Davis was attentive, thorough, and helpful throughout a very difficult time. Our paralegal was with us every step of the way with insight and compassion, always responding quickly and effectively with any questions or issues as they arose. I highly recommend the Davis Law Group Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers.
Scott P.
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2101 4th Ave #1030,
Seattle, WA 98121
Phone: 206-727-4000
Complete this CONFIDENTIAL form or call 206-539-0939 for a FREE consultation.
Complete this CONFIDENTIAL form or call 206-727-4000 for a FREE consultation.
