According to the Texas Motor Vehicle Traffic Crash Facts for 2017, show there were 1,024 people killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes where a driver was under the influence of alcohol. This is 28% of the total number of people killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes. During 2017, more DUI – Alcohol crashes were reported in the hour between 2:00 am and 2:59 am than any other hour of the day. Also, more of these crashes occurred on Sunday than any other day of the week.
In fact, according the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2016, 10,497 people died in alcohol-impaired driving crashes, accounting for 28% of all traffic-related deaths in the United States, and in 2017, 29% of traffic fatalities had one or more drivers who were alcohol-impaired. That means that every day, approximately 29 people in the United States die in motor vehicle crashes that involve a drunk driver.This is one death every 50 minutes.
Figure 1: Alcohol-Impaired Driving Fatality Rate per 100 Million VMT, by State, 2017
These statistics are frightening for anyone who drives. The majority of these car crashes occur at high speeds and often involve head-on collisions with reckless negligence, leading to horrific injuries and catastrophic long-term consequences. Although the drunk driver may walk away unharmed, his or her victims may be killed or left with serious, life-changing injuries. When vehicles collide and people are injured, lives and families can be devastated to discover that the accident was caused by a drunk driver. This results in anger, confusion and tears, not to mention costly medical, doctor and /or hospital bills. If you or a loved one have been injured by a drunk driver, don’t go it alone. While you and/or your family focuses on medical treatment and getting better, our drunk driving accident attorneys will fight for your legal rights in court and work to secure you reasonable and just compensation.
At Chandler | Ross, PLLC we believe that drunk drivers should be held fully responsible for the harm they cause, and that drunk driving accident victims and their families should seek the compensation they are due. If you have been injured in a Texas drunk driving accident, or if you have lost a loved one in such a crash, contact us today to discuss your case. We can provide a free and confidential consultation.
Drunk Driving in Denton/Dallas/Fort Worth, TX
In Texas, anyone who operates a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) greater than or equal to 0.08% can be found guilty of drunk driving. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has established 0.04% as the BAC level at or above which a commercial motor vehicle operator who is required to have a commercial driver’s license, and is operating a commercial motor vehicle, is deemed to be driving under the influence of alcohol and subject to the disqualification sanctions in the Federal regulations. A typical drinker can achieve a legally intoxicated level of drunkenness from having two or three drinks in an hour. For women and adolescents, drinking just one or two drinks in an hour may lead to a BAC of 0.08 percent or greater.
Figure 2: Percentage of Motor Vehicle Traffic Fatalities, by Highest Driver BAC in the Crash, 2017
If a drunk driver injures you or someone you love, the drunk driving accident attorneys in Denton/Dallas/Fort Worth at Chandler | Ross, PLLC are here to help. We will fight aggressively to ensure that you receive the compensation you need to fully recover—so you and your family can continue to focus on healing.
Compensation for Accidents Caused by Drunk Drivers
While prosecutors may decide to punish a negligent drunk driver criminally, they do not compensate the victim of the drunk driver. That’s where our experienced Denton/Dallas/Fort Worth drunk driving accident attorneys step in and aggressively work on your behalf. We will collect police reports, photos, witness statements, conduct vehicle inspections, collect other evidence, and file claims with the appropriate insurance companies. Our drunk driving accident attorneys can also file lawsuits against the negligent parties to ensure that you and your family obtain the compensation you and/or your family are entitled to receive.
Although the first thing you might think of regarding potential compensation for accidents caused by drunk drivers is the cost of repairing or replacing your damaged vehicle, compensation for your personal injuries can be much larger. Potential financial compensation includes past and future medical bills, lost wages, loss of future earnings, pain and suffering, mental anguish, and potentially, disfigurement and even punitive damages. This compensation may also available for any family members or passengers injured in vehicle.
Injuries Caused by Drunk Driving Accidents
Drunk driving accidents cause notoriously horrific injuries that can lead to life-long disabilities. Some of the injuries caused by drunk drivers include:
Pursuing Justice after a Drunk Driving Accident – Texas Dram Shop Act
Drunk driving accident cases are not always cut and dry, and the driver’s insurance coverage may not be large enough to cover all of the damages that you may be entitled to receive. Your options for a legal remedy do not end with the intoxicated person’s negligence and available coverage. In fact, there may be many parties responsible for the accident, including the bar that served the drunk driver. Not only is an intoxicated driver held responsible for getting behind the wheel, but the business or person who allowed a visibly intoxicated patron to drive could also be held legally responsible for a crash. This is known as the “Texas Dram Shop Act.”
Texas’ dram shop act is contained in the Alcoholic Beverage Code and holds establishments liable for selling alcohol to obviously intoxicated persons. Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code contains the state’s laws regarding both dram shop and social host liability. People, businesses and organizations who sell alcohol may be held liable for an injury caused by a customer if:
As such, in Texas a bar, convenience store, restaurant or other establishment that served alcohol to a drunk driver can also be held liable for damages that occur as the result of an accident. The person suing the bar must prove that they were obviously intoxicated to the extent they were a danger to themselves or others when they were sold alcohol.
Our attorneys at Chandler | Ross, PLLC will investigate your case closely to determine who is ultimately responsible for your accident and the injuries you sustained. Our attorneys may need to interview bartenders, speak with other patrons at the bar, and meet with police officials to build your case.
With offices in Denton, Dallas, and Fort Worth, Texas, Chandler | Ross, PLLC is well positioned to provide the most effective and highly-skilled drunk driving accident attorneys possible. Don’t wait, and don’t compromise – contact us today for a Free Case Evaluation and see how we can help you. In most cases, you pay nothing unless we are able to settle your case or win a verdict. Contact Us now at (940)-800-2500 or support@chandlerrosslaw.com to schedule your free personal injury case evaluation and consultation.