Vancouver, WA Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers
Strong advocacy for victims and families in Vancouver, Battle Ground, and the surrounding areas
Drunk driving accidents are inexcusable. At Philbrook Law Offices, we hold intoxicated drivers accountable for the devastation they cause. There is no need to show a driver was legally intoxicated to prove a successful claim. All that’s necessary is to show that the driver’s negligence caused your injuries or the death of a loved one. Our Vancouver, WA drunk driving accident lawyers demand compensation for your financial and personal damages (such as pain and suffering). We can also help you pursue a wrongful death claim. Call us for help today.
Quick Questions
- How dangerous is drunk driving?
- What injuries does drunk driving cause in Vancouver, WA?
- Who is responsible for drunk driving accidents in Vancouver, WA?
- How do you show the driver who struck my car was intoxicated?
- What compensation can victims and families receive for drunk driving accidents?
- Do you have a drunk driving lawyer near me?
How dangerous is drunk driving?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly 37 people die in drunk-driving accidents in America every day. More than 13,500 people died in preventable drunk driving accidents in 2022. In Washington state, nearly half of all fatal traffic accidents were due to impaired driving.
The NHTSA explains that alcohol impairs thinking, reasoning, and muscle coordination – all essential for driving safely. The effects of a driver’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) are as follows:
- .02. Some judgment loss, altered mood, less ability to track moving objects, and less ability to multitask.
- .05. Loss of small muscle control, lowered alertness, less coordination, difficulty steering, and a reduced response to emergencies.
- .08. Poor reaction time, hearing loss, impaired memory, less ability to concentrate, reduced ability to process information, and impaired perception.
- .10. Poor coordination, slow thinking, reduced ability to stay in one’s lane and brake properly, and reduced reaction time,
- .15. A significant loss of balance, limited muscle control, and a substantial inability to control the vehicle and process information.
The effects are cumulative.
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What injuries does drunk driving cause in Vancouver, WA?
At Philbrook Law, our car accident lawyers handle all types of catastrophic, permanent, chronic, and serious injuries. Drunk driving accidents often cause severe injuries because the behavior of a drunk driver is so unpredictable. Our Vancouver, WA drunk driving lawyers represent car, truck, and motorcycle accident victims, as well as pedestrians and bicycle riders.
Common drunk driving injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord damage including paralysis
- Severe burns
- Loss of limb/traumatic amputation
- Nerve and muscle damage
- Ligament, tissue, and tendon damage
- Damage to kidneys, lungs, and other organs
- Vision and hearing loss
- Heart failure
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Neck, shoulder, and back pain
- Post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD)
- Other serious injuries
Tragically, many drunk driving accidents are fatal.
Who is responsible for drunk driving accidents in Vancouver, WA?
Philbrook Law Offices works with investigators, the police, and other experts to determine who is responsible for drunk driving accidents. We also thoroughly question everyone involved in the accident, everyone who was hurt, and everyone with knowledge about the accident.
The responsible parties may include:
- The driver of another care
- The driver of a car in which the victim was a passenger
- An employer of the driver
- The owner of the vehicle the driver used if the driver is not the owner – such as when parents allow a teenager to use their car
- A seller of alcohol to someone who is under the influence of alcohol and later causes an accident due to their impairment
- Other defendants depending on how the accident occurred
Manufacturers may be liable if seat belts or airbags are defective.
How do you show the driver who struck my car was intoxicated?
Our drunk driving accident lawyers in Vancouver and Battle Ground, WA often work with law enforcement. If the police officer who is called to the accident site suspects the driver drove while intoxicated, the officer will likely ask the driver to submit to a breath or blood test. We can coordinate your civil claim with any criminal charges that are filed. We can question the driver and the occupants of the vehicle about where the driver was drinking, what they were drinking, and how many drinks they had.
We show what other factors contributed to the drunk driving accident such as speeding, running stop signs and red lights, swerving into other lanes, and other factors.
What compensation can victims and families receive for drunk driving accidents?
Injury victims from car accidents deserve compensation for all of their damages from liable defendants. Our Vancouver, WA personal injury lawyers demand compensation for all your current and future:
- Medical expenses. These include emergency transport, emergency department care, surgeries, hospitalizations, physical therapy, vocational therapy, other types of rehabilitative therapy, psychological counseling, medications, and assistive devices and technology.
- Loss of income and benefits. This amount includes wage and income loss for as long as you can’t work.
- Physical pain and suffering. This amount of your damage claim includes every pain, ache, moment of anxiety, worry, stress, and depression.
- Loss of bodily function.
- Loss of consortium (enjoyment of marital relations).
- Loss of life’s pleasures.
- Property damage.
You might also be eligible for punitive damages if the court finds the defendant acted with wanton or reckless abandonment.
Many drunk driving accidents in Washington are fatal. We file wrongful death actions on behalf of family members. We demand compensation for:
- The funeral and burial expenses
- The loss of financial support your loved one would have provided
- The loss of guidance, support, and comfort your family member would have provided
- The value of the household services your loved one would have provided
Do you have a drunk driving lawyer near me?
Philbrook Law Office maintains three office locations for your convenience:
- 300 W. 39th Street in Vancouver, WA
- 105 N Parkway Ave., Ste 104 in Battle Ground, WA
- 107 SE Washington St., Suite 520 in Portland, OR
If your injuries are too severe to come to our office, we can meet you at a hospital, another medical facility, or your home. Our car accident attorneys also conduct phone and online consultations.
Speak with our experienced Vancouver, WA drunk driving lawyers today
We understand how upset and anxious you are. Your life was changed forever because a drinker refused to plan ahead by arranging for a sober driver, walking home, or choosing not to drink. At Philbrook Law Office, we hold drunk drivers and drivers impaired by drugs accountable when they cause accidents. To schedule a free consultation, please call us or fill out our contact form. Our drunk driving lawyers in Vancouver and Battle Ground, WA also represent clients in the greater Portland area and throughout Oregon.