Drunk driving can endanger the lives of people on the road. Individuals who drive while intoxicated can have blurred vision and slowed reaction times. They also might struggle to focus on traffic and react quickly if a dangerous situation arises. They may drive too fast, weave in and out of traffic lanes, cut off other vehicles, and create hazardous conditions.
If you were hurt in an accident caused by a drunk driver, you might have experienced head trauma, back and neck injuries, broken bones, and other injuries. You may have been treated in a hospital and now must see a chiropractor or a physical therapist several times a week for the foreseeable future.
You might be unable to work because of the injuries you suffered in the collision. Even after undergoing treatment, you may still experience pain and limited mobility. You may be able to return to your job in a limited capacity, or you may not be able to perform your old duties and seek out work in a new field.
Being in chronic pain, not being able to work and support your family, seeing an ever-growing stack of medical bills, and worrying about the future may be causing you tremendous emotional stress. You might be suffering from anxiety and depression and have trouble sleeping as you deal with these sudden and dramatic changes.
A Houston drunk driving accident lawyer might be able to help you pursue justice. Ben Crump Law, PLLC, can investigate to find out who was liable for the collision and file a personal injury lawsuit on your behalf. Contact us at (844) 730-0233 today to speak with a member of our staff.
Drunk Driving Laws in Texas
According to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), a person with a blood- or breath alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher is legally intoxicated. A motorist who is pulled over under those circumstances may be arrested on charges of driving while intoxicated. A person with a lower BAC may still be impaired by alcohol since it can affect individuals differently depending on their sex, weight, and other factors.
For a free legal consultation with a drunk driving accidents lawyer serving Houston, call (844) 730-0233
Determining Liability in a Drunk Driving Accident
In some cases, multiple parties share liability in a drunk driving accident. A person who gets behind the wheel of a car while intoxicated chooses to do so, and they could be found liable for a resulting accident. The person or business that served alcohol to the driver might also be held liable.
Under Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code § 2.02, otherwise known as the Texas Dram Shop Act, a person who is injured by a drunk driver may sue the business that served alcohol to a patron who was intoxicated and presented a danger to oneself and/or to others.
A plaintiff must demonstrate that the customer was clearly intoxicated, that the business continued to serve alcohol to the individual alcohol, and that the patron’s intoxication caused an accident that injured someone else.
The Dram Shop Act applies to a provider that has a license or permit to sell or serve alcohol or to a party that otherwise sells alcohol to a patron, according to Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code § 2.01.
The law does not apply if someone hosts a private party for friends and family members, and a guest gets drunk and causes a car accident. If someone under age 18 becomes intoxicated and causes an accident, a person age 21 and over who provided alcohol to the minor or allowed alcohol to be provided to the minor, could be held liable if the adult is not the minor’s parent, guardian, spouse, or legal custodian.
If you or a loved one has been in a crash involving an intoxicated driver, call Ben Crump Law, PLLC, today for a consultation that can help you decide your next steps in holding the parties responsible for your accident.
Houston Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer Near Me (844) 730-0233
A Houston Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer May Be Able to Help You
Some people involved in a collision that occurred after a person engaged in drunk driving may decide to hire a personal injury attorney to help them win financial awards to cover their medical bills and other losses.
We can review the police report to find out how the collision occurred to help determine who was responsible for it. If a police officer tested the driver’s BAC at the scene of the crash, the report should indicate the results of that test. If the driver was legally intoxicated, we might file a personal injury lawsuit against that individual.
We can also investigate to find out where and how the driver became intoxicated. If a bar, restaurant, or club served alcohol to the individual, the establishment could be held liable as well.
Our team can investigate to find out whether an employee served alcohol to the individual after it was clear the person was intoxicated. We can interview witnesses to try to gather information that will help us answer that question. If we uncover video of the social gathering, that could provide valuable evidence.
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Get in Touch with a Houston Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer
Ben Crump Law, PLLC, might be able to file a personal injury lawsuit against the drunk driver who injured you and possibly the establishment that served the person alcohol. We may seek a financial award to cover expenses for medical treatment you have already received, costs for the care you will need in the future, lost income, lost or reduced earning potential, and pain and suffering.
Our law firm works on a contingency model, which means we do not charge clients any money up front. If we represent you in a personal injury case, we will collect a fee only if we obtain a financial award for you either by negotiating an out-of-court settlement or by winning at trial.
According to Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003, the statute of limitations to file a personal injury lawsuit in the state is two years. Ben Crump Law, PLLC, can conduct a thorough investigation to identify all parties who may share liability for the collision that injured you. The sooner you contact us, the sooner we will be able to get to work. Call our office today at (844) 730-0233.
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