In 2017, 10,874 people were killed and more than 300,000 people were hit by drunk driver or injured in drinking and driving car accidents across the U.S.; representing about 25 percent of all traffic fatalities that year. (madd.org) Drivers owe a duty of care to other drivers to operate their vehicles in a safe and reasonable way when they get behind the wheel. A driver who chooses to drive drunk and crashes into another vehicle is negligent; they have failed to meet their duty of care.
What is drunk driving?
According to addictioncenter.com, impaired driving, drunk driving or driving under the influence of alcohol is when a person drinks alcohol and then operates a motor vehicle before the effects of the alcohol have worn off. A motor vehicle can be a car, truck, bicycle, motorcycle, boat or even a golf cart.
When a drunk driving crash causes debilitating injury, you may be entitled to a bigger settlement than your car insurance company is offering. 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. We provide FREE case evaluations, home and hospital visits, and no attorney fees unless you recover damages. Do not delay, contact the most experienced practicing car accident attorney Bellingham has today!
Experience Matters
Since 1979, the Bellingham accident lawyers at Tario & Associates, P.S. have helped thousands of injured people in Bellingham and throughout Whatcom County to receive fair compensation and just treatment for their injuries. We have the resources, experience, and knowledge necessary to represent our car crash clients. Our network of well-regarded specialists in accident reconstruction, psychology, and engineering serves as an invaluable resource when determining liability and calculating the severity and the costs related to your personal injury. With the Tario & Associates, P.S. Bellingham injury lawyers on your side, you will have the experience and knowledge you need to win and receive fair compensation for your accident.
If you need help with a traffic accident claim, you can count on our Bellingham car accident lawyers. Reviews from some of Tario & Associates, P.S. satisfied car accident clients:
Mr. Tario represented me in a personal injury case against Allstate Ins. Co. After the accident I tried to resolve the injury claim with Allstate ins. co. . Their response was totally unacceptable. At that time I contacted Mr. Tario and asked him to represent me. What a perfect choice! Mr. Tario and his associates worked hard in my behalf and I was awarded an amount well over the policy limit. If I ever need legal assistance again, there is only one choice…..Tario & Associates. – Michael
I highly recommend Tario & Associates to help you if you are in a car accident. I was rear ended & Michael Tario made sure the responsible parties insurance company paid.
Mr. Tario did an excellent job handling my recent auto accident claim. He was quite easy to talk and work with. He explained the process and then kept us up to date on what was happening as it went along. He negotiated a satisfactory settlement with a minimum of stress for us. We would highly recommend him. – Lyle
How do I know if I should pursue a personal injury claim if I was hit by a drunk driver?
The only way to know if you have a case is to meet with one of our experienced personal injury associates for a FREE consultation. A dedicated car accident lawyer at Tario & Associates, P.S. will walk you through your claim and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Should I work with my insurance company to settle my auto accident claim?
An insurance adjuster works for the insurance company, not you. If your insurance company has already presented you with a proposed settlement, you need to know whether it is fair, if your claim is worth more, or if you should hire an attorney to force the insurance company to pay you the full and fair compensation you deserve. During your initial free consultation, we can help you determine the best way to proceed. It is not unusual for our attorneys to be able to achieve monetary recoveries five to twenty times what an insurance company has offered.
How much do I have to pay to pursue a drunk driver accident claim?
There are no upfront costs or fees paid by our clients to pursue an injury claim; we provide representation on a contingency fee basis for personal injury cases. While you will not incur any attorney fees if you do not win your case, Washington State law requires clients to reimburse the law firm for out-of-pocket expenses. Our firm advances out-of-pocket costs for our injury clients and does not require our clients to pay any of these costs up front. When cases are concluded with a monetary recovery, our firm is repaid for the out-of-pocket costs we have advanced with a percentage of the settlement.
If you or a loved one was injured by a drunk driver in a drunk driving accident, contact a car accident attorney as soon as you are able. The injury lawyer can discuss your legal rights, and may be able to help you recover damages.