Under Influence Driving in WA leads to Fatalities

Accidents involving wrong-way drivers and people driving under the influence are some of the most destructive types of accidents. Unfortunately, wrong-way accidents often happen because a person is driving under the influence, which means that these factors could combine to create an especially dangerous accident. That’s exactly what happened on Sunday, December 1st, 2024, when a wrong-way driver seriously injured another person in an accident. 

A driver in a Hyundai Elantra was driving the wrong way on State Route 520 near Lake Washington in Hunts Point. The driver was a 60-year-old man who hailed from Kirkland, and he was going east in the westbound lanes. Shortly after midnight, he hit a 26-year-old driver in a BMW head-on. When the Hyundai struck the other vehicle, the BMW spun from the impact of the crash. Another driver on the road captured dash camera footage of the incident, which will be helpful to the investigation. 

The 26-year-old was critically injured in the collision and was taken to Harborview Medical Center for treatment. As of the morning of Tuesday the 3rd, he remains in the Intensive Care Unit. Hopefully, he will survive his injuries and make a full recovery. The 60-year-old at-fault driver was not injured in the accident. He is facing serious charges of vehicular assault and driving under the influence.

After the accident, all of the lanes of State Route 520 Evergreen Point Floating Bridge were closed across Lake Washington. Drivers ‘ access to the highway from 84th Avenue Northeast was also blocked off. The lanes were closed from around 1:30 in the morning to 4 in the morning, hopefully missing much of the morning rush. The lanes were closed so that the Washington State Patrol and other authorities could collect evidence from the scene, as well as clean up the area. No further information has been released at this time, but further reports are expected to come out as the investigation continues.

Reckless Driving Injury Lawyer Wa

Unfortunately, the accident on Sunday the 1st is just the latest in a string of accidents in Washington State caused by impaired driving. A mere hour after the accident discussed above, another horrific wrong-way accident happened in Seattle. The two cases have many similarities. The second accident happened on Interstate 90 at around 1:18 in the morning on Sunday, the 1st. A 27-year-old woman was driving a Nissan Rouge eastbound in the westbound lanes. Her vehicle struck a Mazda head-on that was being driven by a 58-year-old man. The force of the collision caused the two vehicles to crash into a barrier before they came to a stop. Both of the cars were totaled in the accident. 

Both drivers were injured in the accident. When first responders arrived at the scene, they transported both of them to Harborview Medical Center. A representative from the hospital stated that both of them are in stable condition and are expected to recover. The accident could have easily had a much worse outcome, given the circumstances. 

The 27-year-old woman is suspected of driving under the influence and is facing charges for that in addition to vehicular assault charges. The crash is still under investigation, and more details may come out soon. Washington State Patrol is handling the case. 

According to data compiled over the last decade by the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, the number of deadly crashes in Washington is on the rise. Additionally, sadly, over half of fatal accidents in our state involved people who were impaired from alcohol or drugs. The legal limit for blood alcohol content (BAC) in our state is 0.8 percent. Over 13,000 people in America are killed every year from being hit by a drunk driver. Even more staggering is the fact that 300,000 people are seriously injured by drunk drivers every year. 

Ever since the pandemic began in 2020, reckless driving has increased statewide. This includes risky behaviors such as speeding, impaired driving, not following the rules of the road, and more. Over a span of five days in November, six Washington State Patrol cars were struck. Out of these accidents, two-thirds of them involved suspected DUI. 

Seattle Injury Law has helped many victims of DUI accidents get compensation for their injuries. Not only is driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol illegal, but it is very dangerous for other drivers on the road. When someone is impaired, their reaction time is much slower, and so they are unable to properly respond to conditions on the road. On top of that, when people are under the influence, their mental faculties are inhibited. This means that they may make poor choices without considering the potential consequences of their actions. This includes decisions such as getting behind the wheel drunk. 

Victims of car accident injuries can recover damages if another party causes the accident. Often, car accidents could have been avoided if one of the drivers had not been reckless on the road. This is especially true when it comes to DUI accidents, where the driver made the choice to drive while impaired. Not only do victims of drunk drivers suffer physical injuries, but they are often left with significant psychological trauma. It can be difficult to trust other people or get into a car again after being injured in a DUI accident. 

At Seattle Injury Law, when we are calculating damages we take into account physical injuries and medical bills, as well as pain, suffering, and emotional distress. Other types of damages that car accident victims suffer from can include lost earning capacity, lost wages, disability, and more. You can trust our expert personal injury attorneys at Seattle Injury Law to recover compensation so that you can get back to your normal life as much as possible.

Our team is passionate about helping victims get back on their feet after being hurt in an accident that was not their fault. Looking at our firm’s track record, it’s clear that we are skilled at what we do. We have dealt with cases where our client was injured by a drunk driver, and we know how to handle any roadblocks that may pop up.

Reach out to Seattle Injury Law to set up a case consultation appointment.