Drunk drivers can cause severe harm to others on the road. Crashes involving intoxicated motorists often leave other people with catastrophic injuries, such as head trauma, whiplash, lost limbs, and paralysis.
If a drunk driver hit you, emergency medical technicians might have rushed you to the hospital in an ambulance. You might have undergone surgery to treat your injuries. You may have spent time in the intensive care unit, and upon your release, you might undergo rehabilitation, physical or occupational therapy, or chiropractic treatment.
Doctors may have told you that your injuries will affect you for the rest of your life. Even if you receive excellent care, you may have a limited range of motion, leaving you unable to return to the life you used to enjoy. You might no longer perform the type of work you used to do, and you may have to search for a job in a different field. You might have such severe injuries that you cannot work at all. You may find it challenging to perform even basic household tasks that you used to do easily.
The loss of income and an ever-growing stack of medical bills might have caused financial devastation for your family. You may have used up the money in your emergency fund, leaving you trying to figure out how to pay your rent or mortgage and put food on the table. All this stress might have affected your relationships with your loved ones.
A San Antonio drunk driving accident lawyer can help you seek justice. Ben Crump Law, PLLC, could help you file a personal injury lawsuit against the drunk driver who caused the crash that injured you. We could help you seek a financial award that will cover medical treatment costs you have already received, plus anticipated costs for future care, lost income, reduced earning capacity, and pain and suffering. Call our office today at (844) 730-0233 to speak with a staff member about your case.
Texas Laws on Drunk Driving
According to the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT), a person with a blood or breath alcohol concentration of .08 is legally intoxicated. A person with a lower BAC could also face driving while intoxicated (DWI) charges because gender and body type can affect how different individuals respond to alcohol or drugs.
Under Texas’ Alcoholic Beverage Code §2.02, someone who provided, sold, or served alcohol to an obviously intoxicated individual could have liability if the intoxicated individual later injures someone else. The statute applies to businesses that provide alcohol under a liquor license or permit. The law does not apply to social hosts unless an adult over the age of 21 knowingly provides alcohol to a minor who is not a family member.
For a free legal consultation with a drunk driving accidents lawyer serving San Antonio, call (844) 730-0233
How a San Antonio Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer Can Help You Seek Justice
A San Antonio drunk driving accident lawyer can investigate the circumstances surrounding the accident to determine liability. If the driver who hit you received a DWI citation, you could use that as evidence in a personal injury lawsuit.
They can also find out where the driver became intoxicated and learn whether the person or business that served alcohol to that individual violated any laws. If we discover that the person who hit you got drunk at a bar, restaurant, night club, or other business, we can speak with the bartender and others present. If we find out that an employee continued to provide the individual with alcohol after they were clearly intoxicated, we can help you take legal action against the establishment and the driver who hit you.
If the drunk driver was a minor, a car accident lawyer could help you sue the adult who provided the individual with alcohol. Call Ben Crump Law, PLLC, today to discuss your case with a team member.
San Antonio Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer Near Me (844) 730-0233
Types of Compensation You May Seek
You could receive a financial award to cover your medical bills related to injuries you suffered in the accident. You may recover compensation for the care you have already received and will likely need in the future.
If you cannot work because of your injuries, you might qualify for compensation to cover your lost income. That may include money you would have earned if you had worked, including bonuses and retirement contributions, and the loss of future income if you become permanently disabled.
You could also receive a financial award for pain and suffering that covers the physical pain associated with your injuries and the mental and emotional suffering resulting from being unable to live the life you used to enjoy.
Comparative Negligence and Your Claim
The driver who hit you may argue that your actions contributed to the crash. For instance, the drunk driver may have run a red light, but you may have driven over the speed limit. Even if you have partial responsibility for the accident, you could still recover a financial award. Texas follows modified comparative negligence as outlined by Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code §33.003. It could allow you to receive compensation if you were not more than 50 percent liable for the accident. If you share some of the fault for the crash, the court will reduce any financial award you receive in proportion to your percentage of liability.
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Contact a San Antonio Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer
If you suffered injuries in a collision involving a drunk driver, you might struggle to cope with your injuries, bills, and mental anguish. A San Antonio drunk driving accident lawyer could help you obtain compensation by filing a personal injury lawsuit, but the window of opportunity to sue is narrow. According to the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code §16.003, the statute of limitations to pursue a personal injury lawsuit is only two years.
It could take an attorney several months to investigate your case thoroughly and determine liability. Their inquiry could become complicated by factors such as if the driver became intoxicated at a business or people give conflicting information.
The sooner you contact the team at Ben Crump Law, PLLC, the sooner we can get started on your case. After finishing our investigation, we will need time to compile evidence and file a lawsuit, and the legal process might take months or years to play out. Call Ben Crump Law, PLLC, today at (844) 730-0233 for a free case review.
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