Personal Injury Advice, Opinions, and Support for the Washington Injury Victim

How to Spot a Drunk Driver | Bellevue Injury Attorney

We can be sure we're driving sober, but we can never be sure about other drivers. It is important to be aware of what to look for to protect you and your family

According to WSP media release there will be approximately 75 extra troopers patrolling the roadways during the Memorial Day Weekend from Friday, May 22nd to Monday, May 25th.  They will be looking for:

1)  drivers who are speeding

2)  drivers who are driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (DUI)

3)  drivers who fail to buckle up

4)  vehicles carrying unsecured loads

5)   aggressive and negligent drivers (WSP will use an aircraft to help with that)

The WSP also asks that motorists be aware of increased number of motorcycle riders this weekend!

The Seattle, Bellevue, Washington attorney at Andrew Kim Law Firm represents people injured in car accidents whether through negligent or reckless driving of the other driver.  Call us for a free initial consultation at 425-289-2990 or 1-800-636-3676.

A young Concrete man is under investigation for a driving under the influence  and vehicler homicide after killing a pregnant 22-year-old Sedro-Wooley woman reports The Seattle Times .  Just before 10:00 pm on Highway 20 near Sedro-Wooley a car that caused the crash ran a red light, hit the victim’s car on the driver’s side and pushed it across the intersection and into a ditch.

Drunk driving is a cause of many motor vehicle accidents.  The Washington State Court System posted in its 2008 Annual Report that over 40,000 DUI charges were filed in WA State in the past year.

This represents a decrease in over 5% of the total number of DUI charges in Washington from 2007.  Over 17,000 people were convicted of DUI in Washington in 2008.  Over 18,000 people in Washington were able to resolve their DUI case by way of a reduction to a lesser offense (Reckless Driving, Negligent Driving).  And over 8,500 people in 2008 entered into a deferred prosecution as a result of their Washington DUI.

In addition to criminal charges, the family of the deceased may recover damages in a wrongful death civil suit. Washington State's wrongful death statue allows the surviving spouse, child or parent to file a lawsuit on behalf of their deceased loved one.

The Washington car accident attorney at Andrew Kim Law Firm  aggressively pursues claims against drunk drivers when someone was injured as a result of a car accident as well as families of fatal accidents and wrongful death victims. Call us toll free at 1-800-636-3676 for information about your legal rights and how to present your injury claim against drunk drivers.

A drunk driver made a U-turn on Highway 270 and started driving the wrong way into the westbound lanes.  33 year old Nickole Head of Moscow, Idaho was arrested for DUI and vehicular assault after causing the car crash with a vehicle driven by Paola Segal, 20, of Sandpoint, Idaho and her passenger Hasiba Muhic, 22, of Moscow, Idaho.  Muhic was airlifted Wednesday to Spokane’s Sacred Heart Medical Center from Pullman Regional Hospital where she was in satisfactory condition.

The Washington car accident attorney at Andrew Kim Law Firm aggressively pursues claims against drunk drivers when someone was injured as a result of a car accident.  Call us toll free at 1-800-636-3676 for information about your legal rights and how to present your injury claim against drunk drivers.

Another case of drinking and driving in Yakima, eastern Washington ending in a serious injury rollover car accident. 

According to the Washington State Patrol, a 39 year old Rhonda Ruhland from Yakima was seriously injured in the early morning hours around 12:26 am when she was speeding eastbound on Maple Way, left the roadway, and overturned.  She was not wearing her seat belt.

Ruhland was transported to Yakima Regional Medical and Cardiac Center, where she is listed in critical condition.  This woman is lucky to be alive and lucky that she didn't harm or kill someone else driving down the roadway.

Call the Andrew Kim Law Firm if you've been injured by a drunk DUI driver.  We will pursue the responsible person and if necessary the bar or tavern that may have over-served the intoxicated driver.  Call us toll free at 1-800-636-3676 for a free initial consultation.

Two Sunnyside, Washington residents were injured in a one car rollover accident in Yakima, Washington.  The Washington State Patrol has stated that alcohol or drugs may have contributed to the car crash.  20 year old Ricardo Chavez Jr. was driving westbound on Factory Road at around 10:30 p.m. when his car left the road, rolled and hit a power pole near Ray Road.
 

Neither Chavez nor his 15 year old passenger, Janet S. Castillo, were wearing a seat belt and were injured.  They were taken to Sunnyside Community Hospital where Castillo was treated and released but Chavez was taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle with more serious injuries and was admitted into the intensive care unit.  Chavez was likely be investigated for DUI with a blood draw at the hospital.

The Andrew Kim Law Firm aggressively pursues injury claims against drivers who have been drinking and driving whether charged with DUI or not.  If you've been injured by a drunk driver, please call us for a free consultation at 1-800-636-3676.

New National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) research shows that between 2002 and 2006, nearly four fatalities out of 10 involved alcohol impaired crashes in the last two weeks of December. The new study also found that 21-24 year old drivers are involved in more alcohol-impaired fatal crashes than any other age group.

Deaths from drunk driving crashes is higher between Christmas and New Year’s than any other time and so we are into the last week before the New Year 2009.  If you go out this weekend or on New Year's eve and have some drinks, arrange for a designated driver.  Avoid the risk of getting in a car accident, avoid the risk of injuring yourself or worse killing someone, and avoid the costs financially and personally if you are arrested for driving under the influence (DUI).

The national campaign to curb drunk driving called the “Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest”  law enforcement and public awareness campaign is in effect through the New Year holiday.  Please don't drink and drive.

The Bellevue car crash attorney at Andrew Kim Law Firm, PLLC will vigorously pursue claims against drunk drivers who cause injury or death to others in a car crash, truck accident, or bike wreck.  We can be reached at (425) 289-1990 in Bellevue and (253) 682-2000 in Tacoma, or 1-800-636-3676 anywhere in Washington state.

Washington State - Nighttime Seat Belt enforcement project

It is well known fact that wearing a seat belt can saves lives if you are involved in an auto accident. The difference of wearing a seat belt is between having no injuries or very minor injuries such as neck and back strains/sprains, to suffering serious, permanent, or life changing injuries and in the worst case scenario, death. I insist that all passengers in the vehicle that I am driving put on their seat belts before a drive and we all should practice this.