Being hit by a drunk driver is one of the most devastating things that can happen to you on the road. You did nothing wrong. You were just driving home on I-35 or heading through the Loop 288 interchange when someone else’s reckless choice changed everything. At Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys, we represent people in Denton, Texas who have been seriously hurt by drunk drivers, and we fight to get them every dollar they deserve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Texas has one of the worst drunk driving records in the entire country. According to data from the Texas Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Texas consistently ranks among the top states for alcohol-involved crash fatalities. In 2024, personal injury lawyers<\/a> across the state were handling cases tied to over 1,000 deaths from alcohol-impaired crashes, accounting for more than 25% of all traffic fatalities that year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Denton County sits at the crossroads of two major interstate systems, I-35E and I-35W, both of which carry heavy traffic through our community every single day. The stretch of I-35 running past Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Denton at 3000 North I-35 sees some of the heaviest traffic in the region. Add in the nightlife near the University of North Texas and Texas Woman’s University campuses, the bars and restaurants along Carroll Boulevard, and the entertainment venues near the Denton Square, and you have a real risk of encountering an impaired driver on any given night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to NHTSA data, approximately 34 people die every day in the United States in drunk driving crashes. Texas accounts for a disproportionately large share of that number. The most dangerous hours on Texas roads are between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. on weekend mornings, right after bars close. But drunk driving crashes happen at all hours, including during afternoon commutes and school pickup times. If you were hurt by an impaired driver anywhere in Denton, including on University Drive (US-380), Teasley Lane, or near the Rayzor Ranch area, you have legal rights worth protecting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Under Texas Penal Code Section 49.04, a person commits the offense of Driving While Intoxicated when they operate a motor vehicle in a public place while intoxicated. Texas law defines “intoxicated” two ways: either the person does not have normal use of their mental or physical faculties due to alcohol or another substance, or they have a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or higher. A standard first DWI offense is a Class B misdemeanor, but the criminal charges get worse depending on the facts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the driver’s BAC was 0.15 or higher, the offense becomes a Class A misdemeanor under Section 49.04(d). If the driver had a child passenger under 15 years old in the vehicle, Texas Penal Code Section 49.045 elevates the offense to a state jail felony. If the drunk driver caused your death or the death of a loved one, Texas Penal Code Section 49.08 covers intoxication manslaughter, which is a second-degree felony carrying two to twenty years in prison. These criminal charges matter to your civil case because a DWI conviction creates strong evidence of negligence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Your civil claim is separate from the criminal case. Even if the drunk driver avoids a conviction or pleads to a lesser charge, you can still sue them for your injuries. Texas follows a modified comparative fault system, which means you can recover compensation as long as you are not more than 50% responsible for the crash. In a drunk driving case, fault almost always rests squarely with the impaired driver. Working with an experienced car accident lawyer<\/a> gives you the best chance of building a strong, evidence-backed case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many people do not realize that the drunk driver might not be the only party responsible for their injuries. Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code Chapter 2 is the state’s Dram Shop Act, and it allows victims to sue bars, restaurants, and other licensed alcohol providers when those businesses served alcohol to someone who was obviously intoxicated. The law has been in place since 1987, and it gives injured victims an important additional source of compensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To succeed on a dram shop claim, you generally need to show that the establishment served alcohol to a person who was visibly intoxicated to the point of being a clear danger to themselves and others, and that the intoxication was a proximate cause of your injuries. “Obviously intoxicated” under Texas law means the person’s impairment was noticeable to a reasonable observer, think slurred speech, stumbling, bloodshot eyes, or aggressive behavior. Simply having a BAC over the legal limit is not enough on its own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code Section 106.14 also provides a “safe harbor” defense for establishments that required employees to attend TABC-approved alcohol server training and did not encourage employees to over-serve. However, many bars and restaurants fail to meet all three conditions for that defense, leaving them exposed to liability. If the drunk driver who hit you was drinking at a bar near the Denton Square or a restaurant along Loop 288 before the crash, a dram shop claim may be worth pursuing alongside your claim against the driver. A skilled car accident attorney<\/a> can investigate the driver’s movements before the crash and identify every liable party.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Drunk driving crashes tend to produce serious, life-altering injuries. At highway speeds on I-35 or US-380, an impaired driver who runs a red light or crosses the center line can cause catastrophic head-on collisions, T-bone impacts, and rollovers. Victims often suffer traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, broken bones, internal injuries, and severe soft tissue damage. The physical, emotional, and financial toll can last for years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Texas law allows you to recover both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages include your medical bills (both current and future), lost wages, loss of future earning capacity, and property damage to your vehicle. Non-economic damages cover pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and disfigurement. In drunk driving cases specifically, Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 41.003 allows courts to award exemplary damages, commonly called punitive damages, when the defendant acted with malice or gross negligence. Choosing to drive drunk is the kind of conscious, reckless disregard for others that Texas courts have found supports exemplary damage awards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the drunk driver was uninsured or underinsured, your own uninsured motorist (UM\/UIM) coverage may step in to fill the gap. Texas law requires insurers to offer UM\/UIM coverage, though drivers can reject it in writing. A Denton car accident lawyer<\/a> can review your policy, identify all available coverage, and make sure no source of compensation is left on the table. Past results in other cases do not guarantee the same outcome in your matter, because every case turns on its own unique facts and applicable law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Time matters more than most people realize after a drunk driving crash. Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003 gives most personal injury victims two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. Miss that deadline, and you lose your right to recover compensation entirely. But the clock on preserving evidence starts running the moment the crash happens. Surveillance footage from nearby businesses along Carroll Boulevard or the Rayzor Ranch shopping area gets overwritten. Witnesses’ memories fade. Toxicology reports need to be obtained from law enforcement. The sooner you act, the stronger your case will be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Insurance adjusters for the drunk driver’s insurer will often contact you quickly after the crash. Their goal is to settle your claim for as little as possible, often before you fully understand the extent of your injuries. You are not required to speak with the other driver’s insurance company, and doing so without legal guidance can hurt your case. Statements you make early on can be used against you later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys handles drunk driving accident cases throughout Denton County on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. Our team works to gather the police report, obtain the driver’s BAC records, review surveillance footage, consult with accident reconstruction professionals when needed, and build a complete picture of what happened. Whether your crash happened at a dangerous intersection near the Denton County Courthouse on Elm Street or on a rural stretch of road outside town, we are ready to help. Call us today at (940) 800-2500<\/strong> for a free consultation. You can also reach a car accident attorney<\/a> on our team who will listen to your story and give you honest answers about your options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Call 911 right away. Make sure law enforcement responds to the scene so a police report is created and the driver is tested for alcohol. Get medical attention even if you feel fine, because many serious injuries show up hours or days later. Take photos of the vehicles, the road, and any visible injuries. Collect witness contact information if you can. Do not discuss fault at the scene, and do not give a recorded statement to any insurance company before speaking with an attorney. Contact Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys at (940) 800-2500 as soon as possible so we can start preserving evidence on your behalf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yes. Your civil personal injury claim is completely separate from the criminal DWI case. A criminal conviction requires proof beyond a reasonable doubt, which is a very high standard. Your civil case only requires proof by a preponderance of the evidence, meaning it is more likely than not that the driver was negligent. Evidence like BAC test results, police observations, field sobriety test failures, and witness accounts can support your civil claim even without a criminal conviction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The timeline varies based on the severity of your injuries, the number of parties involved, and whether the case settles or goes to trial. Cases involving serious injuries, multiple defendants (such as both the driver and a bar under a dram shop claim), or disputed liability often take longer. Simple cases with clear liability and limited injuries may resolve in several months. Your attorney should not push you to settle before you have reached maximum medical improvement, because settling too early can leave you without compensation for ongoing treatment costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Texas law requires insurers to offer uninsured and underinsured motorist (UM\/UIM) coverage. If you purchased that coverage, it can pay for your damages when the at-fault driver has no insurance or insufficient limits. A dram shop claim against the bar or restaurant that over-served the driver may also provide an additional source of recovery with higher insurance limits. Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys will review every possible source of compensation available in your case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No upfront costs. Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys handles drunk driving accident cases on a contingency fee basis. That means you pay no attorney’s fees unless we recover compensation for you. You can call us at (940) 800-2500 for a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your case. We will review the facts, explain your legal options, and let you decide how you want to move forward, with no pressure and no cost to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Content on this page is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Results in prior cases do not guarantee similar outcomes in future matters, as each case depends on its own facts and applicable law. Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys is responsible for this content. Principal office: Denton, Texas.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat Texas Law Says About Drunk Driving and Your Right to Compensation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Texas Dram Shop Law: Can You Sue the Bar That Served the Driver?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What Compensation Can You Recover After a Drunk Driving Crash in Denton?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Why You Need a Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer in Denton Right Away<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
FAQs About Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers in Denton<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What should I do immediately after being hit by a drunk driver in Denton?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Can I still recover compensation if the drunk driver was not convicted of DWI?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How long does a drunk driving accident case take to resolve in Texas?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What if the drunk driver had no insurance or very low policy limits?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Does it cost anything to hire Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys for a drunk driving accident case?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n