Kirkland Lawyer for Accident Claims Involving a “Stoned” Driver
Handling Marijuana Impairment Car Accident Cases
Lindquist & Kornfeld of Kirkland can help you with all sorts of car accident claims, including those that involve a driver who was high, “stoned,” or otherwise impaired by recreational marijuana while driving. The possession and use of recreational marijuana in minimal quantities are legal in Washington, so pursuing a claim can get tricky.
There are still legal gray areas and contests surrounding the laws regarding its use before driving and how much THC can be present in someone’s system to consider them legally impaired. We can help you carefully navigate your claim while avoiding legal pitfalls due to the state’s evolving recreational marijuana laws.
Call us at (425) 657-5255 if you need help after a driver in Kirkland hit you while high. We offer initial consultations to get you started.
What is Initiative 502 in Washington?
Years ago, Washington passed Initiative 502. The measure contained many provisions about liquor and cannabis use in the state, including what should be considered enough THC detectable in someone’s bloodstream to consider them legally impaired by marijuana.
The measure set the THC limit – similar to a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level for drunk drivers – to just five nanograms. Driving with at least five nanograms of THC in your system can warrant a DUI ticket or arrest.
Opposition to Initiative 502 has argued that five nanograms is too small of an amount. THC is known to linger in peoples’ systems for hours or days without necessarily impairing them. However, the law was passed to send a clear message: driving after using marijuana is dangerous.
Our Proven Results
Our top priority is to devise customized legal strategies that are tailored to the unique legal needs of our clients, no matter how simple or complicated their situations, might be.
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$1,100,000 Car Accident
Knee injury of football player: $1,100,000 mediated settlement short of trial of knee injury of 30 year old football player following head on car collision.
Car Accident -
$111,543 Motor Vehicle Accident
Our client was a passenger in a car that was also in a rear-end accident on the I-5 near Seattle. The client incurred more than $26,000.00 in medical expenses for treating the myriad of injuries they suffered do the at-fault driver’s negligent driving, including a herniated intervertebral disc and vocational disability. Allstate agreed to settle the claim for $111,543.00.
Car Accident -
$600,000 Bus Accident
John Doe v. State of Washington, (King County Superior Court): Plaintiff hit by a Department of Transportation (DOT) vehicle while standing on the sidewalk. He underwent a shoulder arthroscopy and is living with the prospect of two hip replacements, in addition to the loss of his construction career.
Pedestrian & Bus Accident -
$350,000 Burn Injury
Burn Injury to Two Boys Playing With Gasoline: Homeowners insurance pays $350,000 to an 11 year old boy and owners’ policy limits- 2010
Burn Electrocution & Chemical Exposure -
$2,255,000 Wrongful Death
Rob Kornfeld of Kornfeld, Trudell, Bowen and Lingenbrink, PLCC successfully represented the estate of an deceased cable installer and his surviving wife and two children as a Seattle wrongful death settlement lawyer, as well as a surviving coworker in a contentious multiparty litigated matter which settled on the first day of trial, October 11, 2010.
Burn Electrocution & Chemical Exposure -
$620,000 Pedestrian Accident
Barry v. Shane, et. al. (King Co. Superior Court ): A construction flagger struck by a motorist was compensated for her disability, many hip surgeries, pain and suffering and the risk of a future hip replacement.
Pedestrian & Bus Accident -
$1,050,000 Motor Vehicle Accident
Ankle Fracture Injury: $1,050,000 litigated settlement short of trial of an ankle fracture and surgery of female driver with permanent injuries after a roll over collision.
Car Accident -
$50,000 Motor Vehicle Accident
A hit and run car accident that totaled Plaintiff’s car. Plaintiff suffered neck, back, left shoulder and arm injuries as well as PTSD.
Car Accident -
$2,300,000 Brain Injury
Dalgado v. Cosmos Shipping Lines: (Federal Court of Canada Court No. T-1601-98) (Vancouver, Canada) An unsecured gangway nearly drowned a merchant marine. The client suffered a traumatic brain injury and won a claim for lost wages, medical bills, and compensation for his head injuries.
Brain Injury
How Can Marijuana Impair a Driver?
Marijuana impairment can affect a driver similarly to alcohol intoxication. This is why safety groups like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIAD) are so adamant about discouraging people from using recreational marijuana before driving. Even a small amount could affect the driver’s skills and increase the likelihood of a crash.
Marijuana impairment in a driver can cause:
- Worsened motor coordination
- Poor judgment
- Difficulty understanding distances
- Increased reaction time
- Inability to focus on the road
- Exhaustion
Signs of Marijuana Impairment
After you are in a car accident that you suspect was caused by a high driver, you can look for signs of impairment.
Drivers who have recently used marijuana will usually have:
- Red, shifty, and dilated eyes
- Slowed speech with unusual delays between responses
- Difficulty standing still due to worsened muscle control
- Smell of marijuana in their car or on their person
What Makes Our Firm Unique
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40+ Years of
Proven Legal ExperienceWith decades of hands-on litigation and negotiation, we bring a deep understanding of how to build strong, successful cases. -
Aggressive & Personalized
RepresentationWe tailor our legal strategies to your unique situation, relentlessly pursuing the maximum compensation you're entitled to. -
Committed to Securing
Justice for Each ClientWe treat every case with the urgency and dedication it deserves, ensuring your voice is heard and your rights are protected. -
No Fees Unless
We Win Your CaseOur clients can focus on healing while we fight for results—because we only get paid when you do.
Get Your Case Rolling – Call Our Firm Now
There is no time to lose after you have been hit by a high driver. The sooner our Kirkland marijuana impairment accident attorneys can start your case, the sooner we can investigate the available evidence, seek more where needed, and take other steps to progress it. From start to finish, our goal will be to secure maximum compensation on your behalf.
For more information, please call (425) 657-5255 at any time.
