Houston Drunk Driving Injuries

Drunk driving is a major cause of serious and deadly accidents across the United States. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than 15,300 people die each year in alcohol-related motor vehicle accidents in the United States. Thousands more are injured.

The costs of these thousands of car accidents are estimated to be over $100 billion in both monetary and quality of life losses. Unfortunately, Texas often tops the list as the state with the most alcohol-related automobile fatalities. There were 1,463 alcohol related automobile fatalities in Texas in 2008, the highest of any state that year. Approximately, 38 percent of those fatalities were caused by a driver with a blood alcohol content (BAC) over .08. Drivers with a BAC over .08 are considered to be impaired.

Drunk driving statistics for the United States include:

• Alcohol-related car crashes kill someone every 30 minutes and injure someone every two minutes.
• Drunk driving is the leading criminal cause of death.
• More than 17,000 people are the victims of drunk driving accidents every year.
• Approximately 40% of all motor-vehicle fatalities are alcohol related. (37% in 2008).
• Frequent drunk drivers are responsible for almost 60% of all alcohol-related fatalities.
• In 2007, drivers between the ages of 16 and 20 years old were involved in 1,719 drunk driving accidents.
• 32% of all motor-vehicle fatalities are caused by a driver over with a BAC over .08.
• Drivers ages 20 to 24 have the highest number of DUI arrests in Texas in 2009.
• Eight percent of all drivers have driven drunk at least once in the past year.
• One in three people are likely to be involved in an alcohol-related crash at some point in their lifetime.

All 50 states have set the legal limit of alcohol at .08 BAC. If you are arrested and have a BAC of .08 or higher you will be convicted of driving while intoxicated (DWI). However, if you are a minor (under the age of 21, the legal age to buy alcohol in the United States) you can be arrested for Driving Under the Influence (DUI) for having any detectable amount of alcohol in your system. A DUI is classified as a class C misdemeanor. This is the difference between a DWI and DUI in Texas, but may vary in other states.

Because alcohol is a depressant, its effects can cause erratic driving. A drunk driver is a danger to himself and everyone else on the road.

Here are some signs to watch for on the road to identify someone who may be intoxicated. These are some of the same signs that police would look for when trying to identify drunk drivers:

• The driver is swerving or weaving
• The driver is following another car too closely
• The driver is braking erratically
• The driver signals inconsistently with his or her actions (signaling left and turning right, etc.)
• The driver stops at green lights or at crosswalks when not needed
• The driver takes wide turns and/or is driving in the wrong lane
• The car does not have headlights on if they are needed
• The cars speed is at least 10 miles below the speed limit

It is important that you never follow too closely or try to pass a car who displays these behaviors. You should stay far behind the car, stop when possible, and call the police to report the suspected drunk driver. Protect yourself and your passengers and make an effort to alert the police so the drunk driver can be taken off of the road. Do not try to stop the suspected drunk driver yourself.

In Texas, drunk drivers are prosecuted criminally for their actions. Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) and Driving Under the Influence (DUI) penalties can include large monetary fines, fees, and even time spent in jail. In addition to the criminal charges, drunk drivers may have to face civil lawsuits for property damage or personal injury that they may have caused as a result of driving while drunk.

Victims of drunk driving and DUI accidents may be able to seek damages for past and future medical bills, pain and suffering, mental anguish, physical impairment, lost wages, lost earning capacity, and disfigurement.

Victims of the drunk drivers may seek civil damages from the drunk driver, a party host, or a tavern that serves alcohol to those who are obviously intoxicated or to those that are minors (under the age of 21). Those establishments who serve to the visibly intoxicated or minors are subject to the Dram Shop Act laws.

It is all too often that alcohol-related accidents result in death. Any time that a person is killed due to negligence or misconduct, this is considered a wrongful death. Although it is of course a very difficult time for the loved ones of a wrongful death victim, it is important that they file a wrongful death claim. Though it by no means makes up for the lose, monetary damages can provide the necessities and comforts of life to help the families and loved ones face an uncertain future.

If you or a loved-one has suffered a serious injury as a result of a drunk driving accident, contact the Houston DUI attorneys of the Wyly Law Firm. The Wyly Law Firm represents clients in the greater Houston and surrounding areas. Our attorneys pride themselves on the personal services they provide to clients.

Call us at (713) 574-7034 or fill out our online contact form for a free consultation!

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.