Lakewood Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer

Drunk driving crashes kill more than 150 people each year in Washington State and leave thousands more with life-changing injuries. Despite decades of public safety campaigns, impaired driving remains one of the most reckless, preventable causes of serious harm on Lakewood’s roads.

If a drunk driver injured you or a loved one, you know how it feels to live with the consequences of someone else’s careless decisions. It’s difficult and it’s unfair. Lakewood drunk driving accident lawyer Chong H. Ye understands what you are going through. He became a lawyer after witnessing his own parents get swept aside in the legal system, and he wants to protect his clients from going through the same unnecessary hardship that his family endured.

At Ye Law Firm Injury Lawyers, our role is to help you pursue full and fair compensation while you focus on healing. We take these cases personally, because what happened to you was not just an accident. It was a choice, and it was preventable.

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Key Takeaways: What Every Drunk Driving Crash Victim Should Know

• Drunk driving crashes often result in catastrophic injuries that require long-term medical care and financial support.
• Washington State law allows injured victims to pursue compensation from impaired drivers and other liable parties.
• These cases may involve both criminal charges and civil injury claims, each with different standards and timelines.
• The legal process includes investigating liability, calculating damages, negotiating with insurers, and preparing for trial.
• Working with a Lakewood DUI accident lawyer helps protect your rights and strengthens your claim from day one

Why Clients Trust Ye Law Firm Injury Lawyers

You deserve more than legal representation. You deserve someone who sees the full picture—your injuries, your grief, your future—and fights for all of it. Here’s what sets our firm apart when you need a drunk driving accident attorney in Lakewood, WA.

Compassionate, client-centered legal guidance

Chong H. Ye built this law firm after his own family received poor legal help. That experience shaped everything about how we treat our clients today, with empathy, respect, and honest communication at every step.

A focus on traumatic injuries

We handle serious injury cases involving drunk drivers, including spinal cord damage, brain injuries, wrongful death, and multi-vehicle crashes across Lakewood and the greater Pierce County region.

Legal support for non-English speakers

We proudly serve Lakewood’s diverse communities, including clients who speak Korean, Spanish, or English. We explain the legal process clearly, so you don’t feel lost or left out.

No fees unless we win

You don’t pay us anything up front. We only get paid if we recover compensation for you through a settlement or verdict. That’s our contingency fee promise.

A personal connection to every case

After years of working with victims of serious injuries, we’ve seen how trauma ripples through every part of a person’s life. It creates a lasting impact, not only for the victim, but for their family too. When Ye Law Firm Injury Lawyers takes on your case, you become part of our family, and we fight for you with that mindset.

What Counts as a Drunk Driving Injury Case in Lakewood?

If another driver was legally impaired and caused a crash, you may have grounds for a personal injury claim—even if criminal charges are still pending or never filed. Under Washington’s DUI laws (RCW 46.61.502), a person is guilty of driving under the influence (DUI) in Washington if they operate a vehicle with:

• A blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or higher
• A THC concentration of 5.00 nanograms per milliliter of blood
• Any combination of alcohol, drugs, or prescription medications that impairs driving

However, a civil claim does not require proof beyond a reasonable doubt. You only need to show that the driver acted negligently and caused your injuries. A Lakewood DUI accident lawyer can review the police report, toxicology results, and witness statements to help build your case.

Common Injuries Caused by Drunk Drivers in Lakewood

Drunk driving crashes often result in some of the most violent impacts on the road. These collisions happen at high speeds, with little to no braking, and leave victims with devastating injuries that require long-term care. They may also reshape daily routines, family responsibilities, and a person’s sense of independence.

Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)

A blow to the head or sudden jolt can lead to TBIs that affect memory, speech, emotions, and cognition. These injuries often go undetected in scans but can impair a person’s ability to work, socialize, or function independently for years.

Spinal cord injuries

Damage to the spine may result in partial or total paralysis, chronic nerve pain, or permanent mobility loss. Victims often require mobility aids, home modifications, and full-time care.

Complex fractures and internal trauma 

High-speed DUI crashes frequently cause multiple bone fractures, organ damage, and internal bleeding. Recovery may involve several surgeries, rehabilitation, and months away from work.

Psychological injuries and PTSD

The emotional aftermath of a drunk driving crash can be as serious as the physical harm. Many victims experience panic attacks, flashbacks, sleep disorders, and long-term anxiety, especially if a death or serious injury occurred.

Wrongful death

In the worst cases, drunk drivers end lives. Survivors are left not only grieving but also burdened with funeral costs, medical debt, and the emotional weight of knowing the loss was preventable.

Serious injuries caused by drunk drivers affect far more than your health alone. They can interrupt every part of your life, from daily routines to long-term plans. We work to document that impact in detail and present it with clarity, so your claim reflects the full extent of what you’ve endured.

How Liability Works in DUI Injury Claims

In most car accident cases, proving fault involves demonstrating that someone made a mistake behind the wheel. But with drunk driving, the situation often involves criminal negligence, and that opens up broader avenues for civil accountability.

If the at-fault driver was intoxicated, they’re almost always considered negligent under Washington law. But they may not be the only liable party. That’s where an experienced Lakewood DUI accident lawyer can add tremendous value.

For example, if a local bar continued serving someone who was clearly intoxicated, Washington’s dram shop laws may apply. That establishment could be partially responsible for what happened.

If the driver was on the job—delivering goods, driving a rideshare, or operating a company vehicle—then their employer or contractor might also share liability. And in cases involving uninsured or underinsured drivers, you may still be able to recover damages through your own UM/UIM policy.

These cases often involve layers of responsibility. We dig into all of them—not only to secure every dollar of compensation possible, but also to send a message that driving drunk has consequences, for everyone involved.

What to Do After a Drunk Driving Accident

Once you’ve received emergency care and you're safe, the next steps matter. The hours and days following a DUI crash can shape the success of your case—and your recovery. But most people don’t know where to begin, especially when trauma and confusion cloud everything.

That’s where we come in. Until then, here’s what you can do:

• Hire a lawyer as soon as possible: The sooner you contact a Lakewood drunk driving accident lawyer, the sooner we can start protecting evidence, speaking with witnesses, and managing insurance communication.
• Keep your appointments: Follow all medical instructions, go to every follow-up, and don’t downplay your symptoms. Your medical records tell the story of your injuries. Gaps in your treatment weaken your case and help insurers challenge your claim.
• Document your experience: Write down what you remember about the crash. Take photos. Keep a journal of your pain, emotional changes, and daily challenges. This adds powerful context to your claim and support for pain and suffering damages.
• Avoid direct contact with insurers: Never give a recorded statement to the at-fault driver’s insurance company without legal counsel. Their goal is to protect their profits, not your recovery.
• Preserve evidence: Save damaged personal items, take photos of your vehicle, and keep a file of every bill, letter, and form you receive.

You shouldn’t have to manage all this alone. Let us take it from here, so you can focus on healing while we handle the fight ahead.

What Compensation Can Cover in a DUI Injury Claim

When a drunk driver causes harm, they create damage that goes far beyond emergency room bills. The legal system gives victims a way to seek compensation, but to recover the full amount you’re entitled to, your claim must account for both the visible and invisible losses.

Every DUI injury case is different, but compensation may include:

• Medical expenses, including surgery, physical therapy, prescriptions, and long-term care
• Lost income from missed work, reduced hours, or permanent disability
• Property damage to your vehicle or personal items
• Pain and suffering, both physical and emotional
• Loss of enjoyment of life, including relationships, hobbies, or independence
• Wrongful death damages, if you lost a loved one, including funeral costs, lost companionship, and loss of future support

Some cases may also qualify for punitive damages, which are designed to punish the drunk driver for especially reckless behavior. While not awarded in every case, they can significantly increase your recovery when appropriate.

An experienced Lakewood drunk driving accident attorney will work with medical experts, vocational analysts, and economic specialists to calculate a number that truly reflects what you’ve lost and what you need to move forward.

How Drunk Driving Cases Differ from Typical Car Accidents

At first glance, a DUI crash may seem like any other car accident. But from a legal perspective, these cases are more complex—and often more serious. Here’s how they differ:

They involve criminal behavior

Unlike a typical fender-bender, a drunk driving crash often triggers criminal charges. This can affect the timing, evidence, and emotional weight of your case. While a criminal conviction isn’t required to win a civil case, it can strengthen your claim.

They may qualify for punitive damages

Punitive damages aren’t available in most personal injury cases. But when a driver shows willful disregard for human life as drunk drivers do courts may allow additional financial penalties.

They demand a thorough investigation

Drunk driving cases often involve more parties and more evidence than standard collisions. Your attorney may need to obtain breathalyzer results, bar receipts, surveillance footage, and employer records to prove liability and negligence.

These cases are about accountability as much as they are injury, and they deserve to be handled with skill and care.

The Emotional and Psychological Weight of a DUI Crash

The trauma caused by a drunk driver doesn't stop at physical injury. For many victims, the emotional fallout lasts far longer than broken bones or bruises.

Survivors often experience:

• Anxiety behind the wheel, especially at night
• Panic attacks or flashbacks
• Sleep disturbances or nightmares
• Mood swings, depression, or PTSD
• Grief and survivor's guilt, especially in fatal crashes

These emotional injuries affect your ability to work, care for your family, and enjoy daily life. Sadly, insurance companies often dismiss them as “soft” damages or ignore them entirely. We don’t.

At Ye Law Firm Injury Lawyers, we take emotional harm seriously. We work with counselors, psychologists, and trauma-informed professionals to document and include these losses in your claim.

Why Do You Need a Lawyer After a Lakewood DUI Crash?

You’re not just up against a reckless driver. You’re up against their insurance company, their defense team, and sometimes even their employer. Without legal support, it’s easy to accept far less than your case is worth or miss critical deadlines that prevent you from filing altogether.

Here’s what a Lakewood drunk driving accident lawyer can do for you:

• Launch a full investigation, including toxicology reports, witness interviews, and security footage
• Coordinate with law enforcement and monitor any criminal proceedings
• Calculate your damages in detail, including medical, emotional, and future costs
• Handle all insurance communication to prevent you from being pressured or misled
• Negotiate for a fair settlement and take the case to trial if the insurance company refuses to offer you a fair deal.

Most importantly, we handle every part of the process so you can focus on healing. You deserve to move forward without the stress of a legal dispute hanging over your head.

Questions Clients Often Ask About Drunk Driving Injury Cases in Lakewood

Call a Lakewood Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer Who Puts People First

You didn’t ask for this. You didn’t deserve it. And you shouldn't have to deal with the aftermath alone.

At Ye Law Firm Injury Lawyers, we understand that this is about more than a legal case—it’s about your recovery, your dignity, and your future. We’ll handle everything from the investigation to the courtroom, and we won’t stop until we’ve done everything possible to get justice for you.

Our office proudly serves Lakewood and the surrounding Pierce County communities. We’re located minutes from Lakewood Towne Center and easily accessible from I-5.

Call (253) 946-0577 or request a free consultation online today. You focus on healing and we’ll take care of the rest.

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