Seattle Personal Injury Attorney Chris Thayer
Seattle Personal Injury Attorney Chris Thayer
Handling Personal Injury Claims in the Seattle Area and Throughout Washington Since 1995

My name is Chris Thayer and I am a personal injury attorney practicing in downtown Seattle. I handle personal injury, medical malpractice and wrongful death claims throughout the greater Seattle area, including Issaquah, Mercer Island and Kirkland.

I am here to help you.

Call for a free consultation (206) 340-2008

Fewer DUI Arrests, but Not Fewer DUI Fatalities

Posted Friday, July 7, 2017 by Chris Thayer

Fewer people are being arrested for driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, but DUI fatalities are rising and there is no indication that there are fewer drunk or drugged drivers on Washington roads. According to the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, DUI fatalities rose steadily between 2011 and 2015, but according to the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs, more than 10,000 fewer DUI suspects were arrested in 2015 than in 2011.

(Note that Washington law defines impaired driving as driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol with a blood concentration level of 0.08% or above.)

There are numerous reasons why number of DUI arrests has gone down, including a shortage of state troopers and changes in DUI procedures that have increased the amount of time required to process a DUI. Regardless of the factors involved, if you are injured by a drunk driver, you deserve compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, and other related damages.

Recent Accidents Caused by Drunk Drivers

Here are a few examples of car accidents that were allegedly caused by people driving under the influence (in these cases, police arrested all of the alleged DUI drivers):

These accident victims (or their families) likely have cause to bring personal injury lawsuits against the responsible parties. Note that passengers, even those riding in the car responsible for an accident, may also bring personal injury lawsuits against negligent drivers.

Contact Us Today

Contact one of our personal injury attorneys today for a free consultation if you or a loved one were injured by a drunk driver. We will help you receive the compensation that you deserve, including medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.