A calm night turned deadly along a stretch of I-5 near Mount Vernon, Washington.
Around 5:30 p.m. a Ford pickup truck had just pulled over after breaking down. Before the driver was able to exit the vehicle, another car slammed into the rear of the truck ejecting the driver through the windshield.
It was later determined that the driver who collided with the pickup truck was intoxicated. He was later arrested on suspicion of DUI and is facing an additional charge of vehicular homicide.
A far too common tragedy
Despite the efforts of politicians and non-profit activists drunk driving remains a significant problem in Washington and the country at large.
In Washington, nearly 50 percent of all traffic fatalities are a result of impaired driving. The rest of the country wasn’t any better, 30 people die in drunk driving accidents every single day in the United States.
A drunk driving accident can change a person’s life forever. Even if they survive, they may suffer severe, debilitating injuries, not to mention medical debt, job loss, and psychological trauma.
The road back to normal may be arduous. However, victims of impaired driving should know that they have options. The law creates a cause of action for those injured because of another party’s wrongdoing. A successful personal injury lawsuit may result in a significant financial award.
An experienced car accident lawyer can evaluate the facts of the case, provide options, and chart a path forward for the client and their relatives.