When a person gets behind the wheel of a vehicle after a few drinks, they put the lives of every person on the road with them on the line. It is clear that the law aims to prevent these actions, but every year, thousands of people across the country die from alcohol-related accidents.
At Puget Law Group, in business for 11 years, we have a drunk driving accident victim lawyer in Kent who can help you seek fair compensation against those who changed your life with their reckless behavior. Set up a free consultation with our Kent car accident lawyer to learn more.
What You Do After a DUI Accident Matters
If a drunk driver strikes you, take action to protect yourself as a first step by getting out of the way of additional harm. If you are able to do so, begin gathering evidence that demonstrates what occurred, why it happened, and what it did to you. In the ideal situation, take these steps:
- Call 911 immediately so that police can arrive on the scene to document the incident. When they arrive, tell them that you believe the driver was under the influence and why, such as seeing them swerve before the accident.
- Document the injuries you have, the damage to your vehicle, and the damage to the other vehicle in photos. If you see bottles or alcohol present, make sure to document that information as well.
- Get the name, contact information, driver’s license information, and insurance information from the at-fault driver. If it is unsafe to approach this person, request the information from the reporting police officer.
- Gather the name and contact information for all involved, including any witnesses who stopped to help you. They may have valuable insights into what they saw.
- Get medical care immediately after the accident. This allows you to show your losses stem from the accident. It also allows you to address any unseen injuries, such as whiplash, traumatic brain injuries, or soft tissue injuries that may not be obvious just yet.
At that point, seek the help of our drunk driving accident lawyers in Kent. When you do, we will begin gathering all available evidence to support your claim. We will also build a claim to seek action against all parties at fault and even file a claim under your uninsured motorist policy if applicable.
By allowing our Kent personal injury lawyer at Puget Law Group to help, you reduce the risk of complications down the road.
For a free legal consultation with a drunk driving victim accidents lawyer serving Kent, call (253) 627-4696
Why You Need a Drunk Driving Accident Attorney in Kent
If you have serious injuries, trauma, and financial loss related to your accident, we strongly encourage you to hire an attorney to represent you throughout your case. If you agree to a claim by the at-fault party’s insurance company, it could very easily be a fraction of what they really owe to you. There are other reasons why you need a drunk driving accident lawyer in Kent like ours on your side:
- In some cases, a drunk driver may lack insurance. That makes it far more challenging for you to recover from all your losses. Our experience includes seeking compensation against all other sources of potential liability protection, such as your uninsured motorist coverage.
- Proving DUI without a test can be challenging. In some situations, a person may have been intoxicated, but the police did not test them, or they may try to get the test tossed out. That makes it more challenging for you to file a claim using that as fault.
- A third party may also be responsible. In some situations, Washington dram shop laws, such as RCW 66.44.200 and RCW 66.44.270, allow you to hold those who overserved a patron accountable for your losses.
In these situations, having an experienced and trusted attorney by your side can prove critical. Without legal guidance, you may find it nearly impossible to recover fair compensation, even if the individual faces a conviction of DUI under the law. Our drunk driving victim lawyer in Kent brings the confidence and peace of mind you need to your case.
A Third Party Could Be Responsible
In some situations, especially in cases where a driver has the bare minimum liability insurance or no insurance at all, and you have serious injuries and financial loss, you could face serious financial devastation without a way to hold that party at fault. This is why one of the tools our legal team uses is the dram shop laws:
- If we can show that someone sold alcohol to the at-fault driver even when they were apparently under the influence of liquor, that party could be liable. If they served liquor to someone under the age of 21, even without intoxication signs, they could also be held accountable.
- The law allows you to seek action against commercial establishments, such as bars, restaurants, and clubs, if the at-fault driver demonstrated visible evidence of intoxication, such as slurring their speech, acting aggressively, or demonstrating a lack of coordination. We can use video footage to demonstrate this.
- You may also be able to seek action against a social host, a person who is hosting an event with alcohol, if a minor consumes it and then causes an accident.
In many of these cases, finding the evidence to substantiate these claims can be complex. Still, our experience helps us better understand what might be available to prove your claim. Not every DUI case involves a dram shop law claim, but if it applies to your case, our Kent drunk driving victim accident attorney will explore it as a means to seek additional compensation for your losses.
Kent Drunk Driving Victim Accident Lawyer Near Me (253) 627-4696
Do Not Wait to Contact Our Drunk Driving Victim Accident Attorney in Kent Now
At Puget Law Group, we care about the outcome of your case, and that means we bring in the heavy hitters to build a claim and resources to build the value of that claim.
You can expect our Kent drunk driving victim accident lawyer to be thorough in seeking full and fair compensation for all your losses. Set up a free consultation now.
Click to contact our Kent Car Accident Lawyers today (253) 627-4696