$13M Settlement Achieved in Fatal Car Wreck Lawsuit

The family members of a Washington couple who were killed after being struck by a drunk driver in Seattle recently settled their car wreck lawsuit for $13 million.

The couple was crossing the street with their grandson and their daughter-in-law when they were struck by a car driven by a drunk driver.

A car wreck lawsuit is often the only opportunity for surviving family members to recover compensation associated with the unnecessary loss of their loved one.

If you’ve been injured in a car accident, contact the attorneys at McDonald Worley today for a free case review. 

Car Wreck Lawsuit Options

A car wreck lawsuit can be filed by a surviving injured party as a personal injury claim, but when the victim is killed in the accident, family members might file in the form of a wrongful death lawsuit.

The Washington couple struck by the drunk driver were pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. The grandson and the daughter-in-law were also struck but survived with life altering injuries.

The blood alcohol content of the driver who caused the accident, according to the car wreck lawsuit and police reports, was 0.22, up to three times higher than the legal limit.

The driver’s license was suspended and he had been on probation at the time of the incident. The driver was supposed to have an ignition interlock device designed to stop habitual drunk drivers from being able to turn on the car if they were under the influence of alcohol, installed in his truck.

The family members who filed the car wreck lawsuit lodged a $45 million claim against the City of Seattle by saying that city officials were responsible for failing to keep track of the responsible driver or require him to install his ignition interlock device.

The driver had five previous drunk driving arrests on his record at the time that he caused the accident. The city therefore settled the lawsuit for $13 million. Insurance carriers were covering a portion of this award and $6.5 million was coming directly from the city.

The driver named as responsible in that car wreck lawsuit pleaded guilty to charges of vehicular assault and vehicular homicide and received an 18-year prison sentence.

Legislative action also occurred as a result of this unfortunate incident and the filing of a car wreck lawsuit.

The son of the couple who was killed pushed for a closer evaluation of Washington state’s DUI laws, leading the governor to sign a bill that classifies a fourth DUI offense as a felony with the resulting consequences.

If you or someone you know has recently been hurt in an accident caused by someone under the influence of alcohol or drugs, consult with an experienced lawyer sooner rather than later.

A fatal DUI crash can have significant consequences for your entire family. Discuss your opportunity to file a car wreck lawsuit directly with the experienced attorneys at McDonald Worley who rely on their track record of years of experience and focused representation for families who have had to suffer an unnecessary wrongful death.

If you’ve been injured in a car accident, contact the attorneys at McDonald Worley today for a free case review.