Riding with a Drunk Driver--Comparative Fault and the Passenger Seat

Michael Myers

Attorney
(866) 735-1102 Ext 580

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Early Sunday morning a driver suspected to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol caused an accident on Interstate 5 in Seattle that injured three people.

The driver, behind the wheel of a 1992 Honda Prelude, hit the guardrail, spun out and then returned to the northbound lanes where another car hit the Prelude at a right angle.

The three injured persons were transported to Harboview Medical Center. All injuries were non life-threatening.

The 22-year-old driver, who has been arrested, is under armed guard at the hospital. Troopers are investigating him for vehicular assault, driving under the influence and violation of an ignition lock.

The State Patrol believes he also has a warrant from a previous case of driving under the influence.

While comparative fault can be assessed against you for riding with an intoxicated driver, it does not prevent you from filing a claim. Allocation of fault between an intoxicated driver, that driver's passenger and a third-party is complex. Claims of this nature should not be negotiated by injured persons without the assistance of an attorney. In fact, we do not believe that any bodily injury claims should be negotiated by the injured person or their families without legal counsel. There's just too much at stake.

For more information on this subject, please refer to the section on Car and Motorcycle Accidents.