Houston Drunk Driving Accidents

When someone gets behind the wheel while intoxicated, they not only risk their lives, but the lives of people in their car, the lives of people in other vehicles, and pedestrians. Drunk driving is a very dangerous and very serious offense and is one of the major causes of catastrophic car accidents. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that more than 15,300 people die each year due to alcohol-related car accidents. Texas is often one of the top states to report high numbers of related fatalities. Many of these drunk driving accidents occur in larger cities, such as Houston.

Injuries that are sustained in a normal car accident are often severe and can be fatal. Some of the more common injuries of a Houston car accident include:

• Broken bones
• Lacerations
• Neck injury
• Spine Injury
• Disfigurement

When a motorist is driving drunk, they cause the risk of accident and injury to increase tremendously. The amount of damage that is caused is often directly related to how fast the cars were traveling and the point of contact. A motorist driving drunk does not have the full reasoning capacity of a sober driver. Drunk drivers tend to speed more, swerve, and will run stop signs and stop lights. A drunk driver is more likely to cause a head-on collision at a high speed, which can be far more devastating than a rear-end collision.

Houston drunk driving is not taken lightly. Not only will the offender be charged with Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) / Driving Under the Influence (DUI) - which incurs heavy fines and jail time - they can also face civil charges. These civil charges will be based on personal damage and property damage they have caused. Victims of injuries caused by a Texas DUI may be entitled to seek damages for pain and suffering, medical bills, lost wages, mental anguish, physical impairment, lost earning capacity and disfigurement. If you are the victim of a Houston drunk driving accident it is very important that you speak to a Houston DWI lawyer to fully understand your rights. The sooner you speak to an attorney, the sooner you can begin the steps to receive compensation.

While the driver is the most obvious cause of a DUI accident, there may be other individuals / establishments that contributed to the driver’s condition. Thus, damages may be awarded against the party that provided the alcohol to the driver. A liquor store, bar, club, or restaurant can be held responsible for the illegal sale of alcohol that results in the injury of another person. Illegal sales include:

• Selling alcohol to someone under the legal drinking age
• Selling alcohol to an obviously intoxicated person
• Selling alcohol after a time or on a day prohibited by law

In some cases, if a host of a party has been known to allow a driver to leave their house while intoxicated, they may found liable. This is especially true if the driver is underage.

Wrongful death laws protect the rights of the family to seek compensation if they lose a loved one in a Houston drunk driving accident. It is important to remember that while the compensation will not bring back a loved one or ease the pain, it will help to provide your family with a necessary means to move forward. This compensation can be used to cover medical bills, funeral expenses and to supplement loss of income.

If you or someone you love has been injured or killed by a drunk driver, you want a drunk driving accident lawyer that will be an advocate for you. Brad T. Wyly is that type of lawyer, personally meeting with clients to discuss the details of their case and helping them to understand their rights under the law. To schedule a free consultation with a Houston DWI attorney dedicated in drunk driving accidents, contact us online or call our law office at (713) 574-7034. A response within 24 hours is guaranteed.

These Hubs are provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. Professional legal counsel should be sought for specific advice relevant to your circumstances.