by cooneylaw | Jun 14, 2022 | Criminal Defense, DUI
Determining DUI Offense Level: Step Two Folks who get a first offense DUI often face another DUI later in life. An old misdemeanor DUI will most likely count as a prior offense sentence enhancer if it’s within seven years of the new Washington State DUI. Sometimes...
by cooneylaw | Jun 7, 2022 | Criminal Defense, DUI
Washington State DUI law sets mandatory minimum penalties for convictions. The law also sets sentencing enhancements, or higher penalties, when folks have other DUI’s within 7 years. To determine whether a misdemeanor DUI is a first, second or third offense you must...
by cooneylaw | May 31, 2022 | Bodily Injury, Motorcycle Accident
Motorcycle riders who are in collisions often suffer more serious injuries than those in passenger vehicles. Folks riding in cars and trucks are protected by a metal shell that helps absorb the forces of a collision. This lack of protection makes motorcyclists...
by cooneylaw | May 17, 2022 | DUI
You can’t get a DUI in Spokane on a Lime Scooter, according to law enforcement. This doesn’t mean you should hop on an electric scooter after drinking heavily since this could lead to serious injuries for yourself or others. Setting aside the obvious safety...
by cooneylaw | May 3, 2022 | Bodily Injury, Motorcycle Accident
Motorcycle safety is particularly important as winter turns to spring and riding season fires up. The National Highway Traffic Safety Association reports motorcyclists are 29 times more likely to die in a collision than those in passenger vehicles. Let’s commit to...
by cooneylaw | Apr 26, 2022 | Auto Accidents, Car Accidents, Uninsured/underinsured Motorist Accidents
Car accidents involving uninsured and underinsured motorists are a serious problem in Spokane and throughout Washington State. Drivers are required to purchase automobile liability insurance by law, with only a handful of exceptions. Despite this requirement the...
by cooneylaw | Apr 12, 2022 | Auto Accidents, Car Accidents
Have you ever heard someone say that most car accidents happen close to home? You may find this a bit surprising. It’s easy to assume that more accidents would occur farther from home while traveling on unfamiliar roads than while driving on the neighborhood streets...
by cooneylaw | Apr 5, 2022 | Auto Accidents, Car Accidents
April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month and the good news is that in 2021 Washington State’s distracted driving rate dropped to 6.9 percent. That’s a significant drop from 2020. The bad news is that drop only puts us back to 2019 levels so increasing awareness is...
by cooneylaw | Mar 29, 2022 | Bodily Injury, Car Accidents, Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrian and bicycle accidents increase every spring as the weather in Spokane warms up. Drivers just aren’t used to sharing the roads, yet. Both children and adults are getting outside for a stroll and riding their bikes around neighborhoods and parks leading to...
by cooneylaw | Mar 8, 2022 | Criminal Defense, DUI
A DUI charge In Spokane, Washington will normally lead to a First Appearance court hearing within a few weeks of the arrest. During this hearing the judge will recite your constitutional rights and the potential consequences of a DUI conviction, which may include jail...
