Drunk Driving Accident Attorney in Spokane

A Former Prosecutor Who Built DUI Cases for the State Now Fights for You

James R. Sweetser spent 15 years as a Deputy Prosecutor at the Spokane County Prosecutor’s Office before founding Sweetser Law Office. He built cases against impaired and reckless drivers, argued 22 cases before the Washington State Supreme Court and Court of Appeals with no trial convictions reversed on appeal, and participated in 275 criminal trials. He later served as the elected Spokane County Prosecutor, overseeing every prosecutorial unit in the county. He knows exactly how law enforcement documents impairment because he used that evidence in criminal cases. Now, as a drunk driving accident attorney in Spokane, he applies that knowledge on the other side: building civil injury claims for victims. He is Gerry Spence Trial College certified, one of approximately 50 attorneys admitted nationwide each year, and he serves as lead counsel on every case we take.

Sweetser Law Office has served injured people and their families in Spokane since 1984. We offer free case evaluations and work on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.

If you or someone you love was hurt by a drunk driver, contact us today at (509) 444-4444 to schedule a free case evaluation with a Spokane drunk driving accident attorney.

Why Drunk Driving Crashes Produce Serious Injuries

Alcohol impairs reaction time, judgment, motor control, and vision simultaneously. A driver who can’t judge closing distance, can’t steer precisely, and can’t brake in time produces crashes that are more violent than most ordinary collisions. That combination is why drunk driving accidents so frequently result in traumatic brain injuries (TBI), spinal cord damage, internal organ trauma, severe fractures, and wrongful death.

How the DUI Arrest Record Supports Your Civil Claim

When law enforcement responds to a DUI crash, officers document impairment in real time: field sobriety observations, breathalyzer or blood test results establishing blood alcohol concentration (BAC), dashcam footage, and a police report that becomes a foundation for the civil claim. Under Washington law, a BAC at or above 0.08 g/dL satisfies the statutory definition of impairment under RCW 46.61.502, which can support the breach-of-duty element of negligence.

The criminal DUI case and the civil injury claim run simultaneously but serve different purposes. The criminal case seeks to punish the driver; the civil claim seeks to compensate you. A criminal dismissal, acquittal, or plea reduction doesn’t eliminate your civil claim. 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.

Third-Party Liability in Drunk Driving Cases

Washington’s dram shop statute (RCW 66.44.200) prohibits licensed establishments from serving alcohol to someone who is apparently under the influence. A bar or restaurant that violated that statute and whose patron then caused a crash can face civil liability, often backed by commercial general liability coverage that substantially exceeds the drunk driver’s personal auto policy. Vehicle owners may also bear liability under negligent entrustment when an at-fault driver used their vehicle with the owner’s knowledge of the driver’s condition.

How Our Prosecutorial Background Applies to Your Claim

We prepare every case for trial from the outset. That means we investigate the accident, retain experts where needed, analyze all available evidence, including the criminal case file, and assess every potential source of liability before we talk to any insurer. Insurance companies respond differently to attorneys who are genuinely prepared to litigate. We advance all litigation costs, including investigation and expert fees, at no cost to you.

Our roots in Spokane since 1984 mean we know how Spokane County personal injury litigation works, who the players are, and what it takes to move a case through the local court system. That local knowledge matters in a drunk driving accident claim, where the timeline of criminal proceedings can affect civil discovery strategy.

Common Injuries in Drunk Driving Accidents

The injuries our clients bring to us from drunk driving crashes tend to be severe. Many require surgery and extended hospitalization before rehabilitation even begins.

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) – Head trauma from high-impact collisions can produce memory loss, cognitive impairment, personality changes, and permanent disability.
• Spinal cord injuries – Damage to the spine may cause partial or complete paralysis and lifelong mobility limitations.
• Broken bones and fractures – Compound fractures frequently require surgical repair and months of physical therapy.
• Internal organ damage – Blunt force trauma to the chest and abdomen can cause internal bleeding and organ failure requiring emergency surgery.
• Severe burns and disfigurement – Fires or explosions in high-speed crashes leave permanent scarring.
• Wrongful death – In fatal crashes, surviving family members may pursue a wrongful death claim for lost future income, loss of companionship, and funeral expenses. The three-year statute of limitations under RCW 4.16.080 runs from the date of death.

Emotional harm is also a recognized category of damages in Washington civil claims. PTSD, anxiety, and depression following a violent crash are documented injuries that factor into the scope of a claim.

Compensation Available to Drunk Driving Accident Victims in Spokane

Washington imposes no caps on economic or non-economic damages in most personal injury claims, and the state doesn’t permit punitive damages in civil personal injury cases. All compensation comes through documented economic losses and their measurable non-economic impact.

Economic damages cover the financial losses you can document: emergency care, surgery, hospitalization, rehabilitation, future medical treatment, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, vehicle replacement, and other out-of-pocket costs tied to your injuries.

Non-economic damages address the harms that don’t come with a bill: physical pain, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium for a spouse or state-registered domestic partner.

A recurring challenge in drunk driving cases is coverage. Many drunk drivers carry only Washington’s minimum liability limits: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident. A single surgery can exhaust those limits. When that happens, two additional coverage sources become critical. Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage responds when the at-fault driver carried no insurance at all. Underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage fills the gap between the driver’s policy limits and your actual damages, and reviewing all household policies may reveal stacked or overlapping coverage you didn’t know you had. A dram shop claim against an overserving establishment may carry a commercial general liability policy with substantially more available coverage than the driver’s personal auto policy. Identifying all coverage sources is one of the first things we do.

What to Do After a Drunk Driving Accident

The decisions you make in the hours and days after a crash shape the strength of your civil claim. These steps protect both your health and your legal rights.

• Call 911 immediately – The responding officers’ observations of the driver’s impairment, field sobriety results, and BAC readings become civil claim evidence. That record only exists if law enforcement responds.
• Seek medical attention promptly – Some injuries, including internal damage and traumatic brain injuries, present symptoms 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 any visible injuries. Gather contact information from witnesses before they leave.
• Request the police report – The report contains the officer’s impairment observations and is a foundational document for your civil case.
• Contact a drunk driving accident attorney before speaking to any insurer – Recorded statements given without legal guidance can be used to reduce your recovery. Let us handle that communication.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Long Do I Have to File a Drunk Driving Accident Claim in Washington?

Washington’s personal injury statute of limitations gives you three years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit under RCW 4.16.080. Acting early matters. Evidence degrades, witnesses’ memories fade, and dashcam or surveillance footage can be overwritten. Contact us as soon as possible after the crash.

What If the Drunk Driver Has No Insurance?

Recovery may still be available through your own uninsured motorist (UM) coverage, which is designed for exactly this situation. If the driver had some insurance but not enough to cover your damages, underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage can bridge that gap. We review all household policies to identify every available source of coverage.

Can I Sue the Bar or Restaurant That Served the Driver?

Washington’s dram shop law (RCW 66.44.200) allows a civil claim against a licensed establishment that served alcohol to a patron who was apparently under the influence at the time of service and who then caused a crash. These claims are often backed by commercial liability coverage that exceeds the driver’s personal policy.

Does a DUI Conviction Affect My Civil Case?

A conviction can strengthen your civil claim, but the outcome of the criminal case doesn’t determine your right to compensation. The civil burden of proof is lower than the criminal standard, and we pursue your civil claim independently of the criminal proceedings.

Talk to a Spokane Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer Today

A drunk driving case is more complex than a standard car accident claim. It involves simultaneous criminal proceedings, multiple potential liability sources, insurance coverage analysis, and an evidentiary record that needs to be preserved quickly. Sweetser Law Office has handled this work in Spokane since 1984, led by an attorney who spent 15 years building these cases for the state before representing victims.

Your consultation is free. We advance all costs. You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.

Contact us today at (509) 444-4444 to schedule a free drunk driving accident consultation. There are no fees unless we win.