Drunk Driving Accidents
Drunk Driving Accident Attorney in Spokane
Representing Spokane Injury Victims Since 1980. Personal Attention Every Step of the Way.
If a drunk driver injured you or someone in your family, you have a civil claim that exists entirely apart from whatever criminal case the state files against that driver. The criminal case is the state’s pursuit of punishment. Your civil claim is about your compensation: medical bills, lost wages, pain, and every other loss the crash imposed on you. Maxey Law Office has represented personal injury and wrongful death clients in Spokane since 1980, and we handle both sides of that distinction clearly.
The criminal case outcome doesn’t control your civil claim. A dismissal, acquittal, or plea reduction doesn’t eliminate your right to pursue compensation. The civil burden of proof is preponderance of the evidence, a meaningfully lower standard than the beyond-a-reasonable-doubt threshold required for a criminal conviction.
We serve clients throughout Spokane, North Idaho, and the surrounding communities. When injuries make travel impossible, we come to you, whether that’s at home or in the hospital. Our attorneys return calls and emails promptly so you know where your case stands.
If you’ve been hurt by an impaired driver in Spokane, contact our office today to discuss your civil claim. Call us at (509) 652-3330 to get started.Why Spokane Victims Choose Maxey Law Office
Drunk driving accident victims face pressure from multiple directions at once: the at-fault driver’s insurer, their own insurer, and the uncertainty of criminal proceedings, all while recovering from serious injuries. Attorney representation can remove those pressures so you can focus on getting better.
More than 40 years of continuous presence in Spokane means we know Eastern Washington courts, local insurance adjusters, and the litigation landscape that shapes every civil injury claim here. That history traces to our founding by Carl Maxey, whose commitment to integrity, equality, and justice still defines how we represent clients.
Large out-of-market firms handle these cases at volume. We don’t. Every client works directly with their attorney, not a case manager two steps removed from anyone with a law license. We’ve earned Avvo Client’s Choice recognition and 5-star client reviews, and we’re members of the Washington State Bar Association. What those credentials reflect is straightforward: clients who felt heard, informed, and well represented throughout a difficult process.
What You Can Recover & Who Can Be Held Liable
Drunk driving accident claims in Washington involve more potential liability sources and insurance coverage layers than a standard car accident claim. The at-fault driver’s policy alone often doesn’t cover everything, and understanding the full picture can make a substantial difference in your recovery.
Recoverable Damages in Washington
Washington imposes no caps on economic or non-economic damages in most personal injury cases. The state doesn’t permit punitive damages in civil claims; all compensation flows from documented losses and their measurable impact on your life.
Economic damages cover the financial losses you can document: emergency medical care, surgery, hospitalization, rehabilitation, future treatment, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, and vehicle repair or replacement.
Non-economic damages address what doesn’t appear on a bill: physical pain, emotional distress (including PTSD, anxiety, and depression), loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium for a spouse or state-registered domestic partner.
When a drunk driving crash is fatal, surviving family members may pursue a wrongful death claim covering lost future income, loss of companionship, and funeral expenses. A survival claim may also recover pre-death pain and suffering. Under RCW 4.16.080, the statute of limitations is three years from the date of the accident for personal injury claims and three years from the date of death for wrongful death claims. Evidence and witness memories fade; early action matters.
Liability Sources Beyond the Driver
Washington’s minimum auto liability coverage is $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident. Serious injuries from drunk driving crashes routinely exhaust those limits before all bills are paid. Several additional liability sources may apply:
Dram Shop Liability
Under RCW 66.44.200, licensed establishments are prohibited from serving alcohol to a person who is apparently under the influence. When a bar, restaurant, or retailer violates this and the patron then causes a crash, the establishment may face civil liability backed by its commercial general liability coverage. Compliance with Washington’s certified alcohol server training requirement under RCW 66.20.320 may also be relevant to the claim.
Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage
Uninsured motorist coverage responds when the at-fault driver carried no insurance. Underinsured motorist coverage fills the gap between the driver’s policy limits and your actual damages. Reviewing all household policies, including those held by a spouse or family member, may reveal stacked or overlapping coverage.
Employer Liability
When the impaired driver was working at the time of the crash, the employer may share liability under the doctrine of respondeat superior, which holds employers responsible for employee conduct within the scope of employment.
Social Host Liability
Under RCW 66.44.270, it is unlawful to furnish alcohol to a minor. A social host who supplies alcohol to a minor who then causes a crash may face civil liability. Washington’s social host statute doesn’t extend this liability to adults served at private gatherings, and Washington case law limits recovery in social host cases to the injured minor or surviving relatives in a wrongful death case, not third parties injured by that minor.
A BAC at or above 0.08 g/dL establishes a violation of RCW 46.61.502. In civil court, that statutory violation can support the breach-of-duty element of a negligence claim without requiring additional proof of careless driving. Under Washington’s pure comparative negligence rule (RCW 4.22.005), any fault percentage assigned to you reduces your recovery by that amount, but it doesn’t eliminate your claim.
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Steps to Take After a Drunk Driving Crash in Spokane
The decisions you make in the hours and days after a crash directly shape the strength of your civil claim. A few actions can make a significant difference.
Steps to protect your health and your claim:
- Call 911 immediately. Law enforcement documents the driver’s impairment in real time: field sobriety observations, BAC readings, dashcam footage, and the police report all become foundational evidence for your civil case.
- Seek medical attention the same day. Some injuries, including internal damage and traumatic brain injuries, don’t present symptoms until hours or days after impact. A gap in medical care gives insurers grounds to minimize your claim.
- Document the scene. Photograph vehicle damage, road conditions, and visible injuries. Collect contact information from witnesses before anyone leaves.
- Act quickly to preserve surveillance footage. Footage from nearby businesses and dashcams can be overwritten on short cycles. Prompt legal action can help preserve this evidence before it’s gone.
- Don’t give a recorded statement to any insurer without counsel. Statements made without legal guidance can be used to reduce your recovery. Let your attorney handle insurer communications from the start.
Washington’s pure comparative negligence system means the at-fault insurer may try to assign a fault percentage to you. Early attorney involvement can counter those arguments before they take hold in the file.
Contact Maxey Law Office About Your Drunk Driving Accident Claim
Maxey Law Office has represented personal injury and wrongful death clients in Spokane since 1980, serving clients throughout Spokane, North Idaho, and the surrounding communities. When your injuries prevent you from coming to us, we come to you.
Don’t navigate insurer pressure and civil proceedings without counsel. Call us at (509) 652-3330 or reach out through our online contact form to schedule a consultation about your claim.