As reported by mynorthwest.com, on November, 3, 2022, three DUI crashes within 10 hours in the Puget Sound left three people dead. In one Washington State patrol district, almost twice as many drivers were arrested last month on suspicion of driving under the influence compared to October of last year. Sadly, this trend is happening across the Puget Sound region as well as nationwide with DUI crashes and arrests up significantly since 2020, alongside other reckless driving behaviors such as excessive speeding. Too many drivers are choosing to make poor choices when they get behind the wheel, due at least in part to a perception that there are fewer law enforcement officers on the roads to enforce traffic laws.
Consequences of driving while impaired
When ingested, alcohol is a substance that reduces the function of the brain, impairing three very important functions required to operate a motor vehicle and navigate roads safely: thinking, reasoning, and muscle coordination.
For the reasons stated above, driving a vehicle while impaired is a crime and a very expensive one at that. Criminal charges for impaired driving range from misdemeanors to felony offenses and penalties can include driver’s license revocation, fines, and jail time. Tough enforcement of drunk-driving laws since the 1980s has helped to curb drunk driving deaths, but we seem to be in a back sliding mode in the last couple years.
We fight for drunk driving accident victims
Tario & Associates, P.S. has over 40 years’ experience representing victims of drunk driving car accidents. When you have been seriously injured through no fault of your own you may need a legal advocate who will fight for the settlement you deserve. A car accident lawyer can discuss your legal rights and help you through the process. Free consultations and no up-front fees make hiring a car accident lawyer the right choice for many victims. Contact us today!
Three fatal DUI Crashes in the Puget Sound within 10 Hours
When there are three separate deadly DUI crashes in a region within a 10-hour window, it tends to get the public’s attention. Truthfully, each DUI accident should serve as a wakeup call about the poor choices that far too many drivers are making in getting behind the wheel while impaired.
Here are a few details about the three accidents:
- A suspected impaired driver went off the 130th street overpass, through a construction site, and onto Northbound I-5 where they hit two cars. One passenger died of her injuries in the hospital.
- A suspected impaired SUV driver went over a barrier on SR 16 and onto the eastbound State Route 18 off-ramp hitting a semi, where he died on scene.
- A single-vehicle accident on southbound Interstate 405 in Bellevue is still under investigation, but did involve one fatality.
DUI crash statistics 2022
According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), every day, about 32 people in the United States die in drunk-driving crashes and about 30 percent of all traffic crash fatalities involve drunk drivers (with BACs of 08 g/dL or higher).
U.S. Dept of Transportation “Fatality and Injury Reporting System Tool (FIRST)” data analyzed by MoneyGeek.com reveals that fatal DUIs have increased by eight percent or 800 annual incidents over the past five years. As a result of this analysis, MoneyGeek forecasts 10,360 DUI fatalities in 2022; a devastating prediction considering that every one of these accidents is preventable.
Seek the help of a car accident lawyer
If you or a loved one was injured in a collision because of the negligence of another, contact a personal injury lawyer to discuss your legal rights. Let an experienced car accident attorney fight for the full compensation that you deserve. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from the insurance company that is five to ten times larger with the help of a lawyer. Call the personal injury lawyers at Tario & Associates, P.S. in Bellingham, WA today for a FREE consultation! We have been representing residents of Whatcom County, Skagit County, Island County and Snohomish County since 1979. You will pay nothing up front and no attorney fees at all unless we recover damages for you!
