Farmers Branch Drunk Driving Accident Attorney

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A drunk driving crash can change your life in seconds. If you or someone you love was hit by an impaired driver near Farmers Branch, you have legal rights, and you deserve a team that will fight to protect them. At Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys, we represent injured people throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area, including Farmers Branch and surrounding communities in Denton County. Our attorneys are licensed in Texas and handle drunk driving accident cases from our Denton office. If you need to talk to experienced personal injury lawyers about what happened to you, call us at (940) 800-2500 for a free consultation.

Table of Contents

Why Drunk Driving Accidents in Farmers Branch Are So Dangerous

Drunk driving is one of the most preventable causes of serious injury in Texas, yet it keeps happening. Driving under the influence of alcohol remained a major factor in traffic fatalities in Texas, with 1,053 people killed in crashes involving alcohol-impaired drivers in 2024, accounting for over 25% of all traffic deaths. That number represents real families, real losses, and real pain.

Farmers Branch sits in the heart of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, bordered by major corridors like Interstate 35E, the LBJ Freeway (Interstate 635), and Marsh Lane. These roads carry heavy traffic every day, and they also see a high volume of late-night drivers coming from bars, restaurants, and entertainment venues throughout the area. That combination creates serious risk for everyone on the road.

Texas ranks among the worst states in the nation for drunk driving fatality rates, with alcohol-involved fatal crashes representing a disproportionately high share of all traffic deaths. When you add in the volume of traffic around Farmers Branch, Valley Ranch, and the surrounding North Dallas communities, the danger becomes very real for local drivers.

Drunk driving crashes tend to cause more severe injuries than typical collisions. An impaired driver often does not brake before impact. That means victims absorb the full force of the crash. Injuries from these accidents can include traumatic brain injuries, broken bones, spinal cord damage, and internal bleeding. In the worst cases, families face the unthinkable loss of a loved one. If that happened to your family, a wrongful death claim may be an option worth discussing with our team.

The bottom line is this: drunk driving crashes are not accidents in the truest sense. They are the result of a choice. And when someone else’s bad choice puts you in the hospital, you should not be the one left paying the bills.

Texas DWI Laws and What They Mean for Your Injury Claim

Understanding the criminal side of drunk driving helps you understand why these cases are strong on the civil side too. Under Texas Penal Code Section 49.04, a person commits the offense of Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) when they operate a motor vehicle in a public place while intoxicated. Texas law defines “intoxicated” in two ways: not having the normal use of mental or physical faculties due to alcohol or another substance, or having a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or higher.

The criminal penalties escalate based on the facts of the case. A standard first DWI is a Class B misdemeanor with a minimum of 72 hours in jail. If the driver’s BAC tested at 0.15 or higher, the charge rises to a Class A misdemeanor. Under Texas Penal Code Section 49.045, if the driver had a passenger younger than 15 in the vehicle, the offense becomes a state jail felony. And under Section 49.08, if the driver causes someone’s death while intoxicated, that is intoxication manslaughter, also a felony.

Here is why this matters for your civil claim: a criminal conviction or even a guilty plea by the drunk driver is powerful evidence in your personal injury case. It establishes that the driver was impaired and broke the law. Texas courts allow this evidence, and it can make proving negligence much more straightforward.

Your civil case is separate from the criminal case. Even if the driver is never charged, or even if charges are dropped, you can still pursue compensation through a civil lawsuit. The burden of proof in a civil case is lower than in a criminal case. You do not need proof beyond a reasonable doubt. You need to show that the driver’s intoxication was more likely than not the cause of your injuries. That is a standard our attorneys know how to meet.

Texas Dram Shop Law: When a Bar or Restaurant Is Also Responsible

The drunk driver is not always the only party who can be held responsible. Texas law gives victims another avenue for recovery through what is known as the Dram Shop Act. Since 1987, Texas has provided for a statutory cause of action under Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code Section 2.02, known as the Dram Shop Act. This law allows injured victims to bring a claim directly against the bar, restaurant, or other establishment that served alcohol to the driver before the crash.

Under Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code Section 2.02(b), a provider of alcohol can be held liable when two things are proven. First, it must have been apparent at the time of service that the person being served was obviously intoxicated to the point of presenting a clear danger to themselves and others. Second, that intoxication must have been a proximate cause, meaning a direct contributing cause, of the damages the victim suffered.

Think about what this means in practice. If a driver spent hours at a bar near the Brookhaven area or along the LBJ Freeway corridor, and the bartender kept serving them drinks even after visible signs of intoxication were clear, that establishment may share legal liability for the crash. Holding a dram shop liable for a drunk driving accident can result in financial compensation for a victim’s past and future medical costs, lost wages, disability, property damage, pain and suffering, and more.

Bars sometimes try to use what is called the “Safe Harbor” defense under Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code Section 106.14. This defense allows an establishment to avoid liability if it required employees to attend a Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) approved training program, the employee actually completed that training, and the employer did not encourage the employee to break the law. However, many establishments fail to meet all three conditions, leaving them open to liability. Our attorneys know how to investigate these claims and challenge the Safe Harbor defense when the facts support it.

What Damages Can You Recover After a Farmers Branch Drunk Driving Crash?

Texas law allows injured victims of drunk driving accidents to pursue two broad categories of damages: economic and non-economic. Economic damages cover the financial losses you can document. Non-economic damages cover the human cost of the crash, the things that do not come with a receipt but are just as real.

Economic damages in a drunk driving accident claim typically include current and future medical bills, emergency room costs, surgeries, physical therapy, prescription medications, lost wages from time missed at work, and lost earning capacity if your injuries prevent you from returning to your former job. If your vehicle was totaled on I-35E or Marsh Lane, property damage is also recoverable.

Non-economic damages include physical pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of companionship. If your injuries are catastrophic, such as a traumatic brain injury or a severe burn injury, the non-economic losses can be enormous. These are the types of damages that require an attorney who knows how to present your full story to an insurance company or a jury.

In some drunk driving cases, Texas law also allows for exemplary damages, which are sometimes called punitive damages. Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 41.003, a court may award exemplary damages when the defendant acted with malice or gross negligence. Choosing to drive drunk, especially with a very high BAC, can meet that standard. However, these damages require specific proof and are not guaranteed in every case. Each case is different, and past results in other matters do not predict the outcome of your case.

The statute of limitations for personal injury claims in Texas is generally two years from the date of the crash, under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003. Waiting too long can cost you your right to recover anything at all. Call Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys at (940) 800-2500 as soon as possible after your crash.

How Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys Builds Your Drunk Driving Case

Building a strong drunk driving injury case takes more than just pointing to a police report. It takes thorough investigation, fast action to preserve evidence, and a clear legal strategy. Our attorneys handle this process for you so you can focus on your recovery.

The first step is gathering evidence before it disappears. Police reports and BAC test results from the night of the crash are critical. Surveillance footage from businesses along Josey Lane, Valley View Lane, or near Brookhaven College can show the driver’s condition before they got behind the wheel. Witness statements from people at the scene matter. So do cell phone records, bar receipts, and any prior DWI history the driver has.

If a dram shop claim is possible, we act quickly to preserve bar records, server schedules, and TABC training documentation. To prove a dram shop liability claim, strong evidence is essential, including receipts or transaction records showing when alcohol was served, eyewitness testimony from patrons or staff, surveillance video showing visible intoxication, and police reports and breathalyzer results confirming intoxication. This evidence does not stay available forever, and that is why calling us quickly matters.

We also work with medical experts to document your injuries fully and connect them directly to the crash. Insurance companies often try to minimize what they owe by arguing your injuries were pre-existing or not as serious as claimed. We push back on those tactics with real medical evidence.

Our attorneys handle negotiations with the at-fault driver’s insurance company and, where applicable, the establishment’s insurer. If a fair settlement is not offered, we are prepared to take your case to the Dallas County or Denton County courthouse. We represent clients on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you.

If you were hurt in a drunk driving crash near Farmers Branch, Addison, Carrollton, or anywhere in the North Dallas area, reach out to Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys today. Call (940) 800-2500 or contact us online to schedule your free consultation. You owe it to yourself to find out what your case is worth.

FAQs About Farmers Branch Drunk Driving Accident Claims

What should I do immediately after being hit by a drunk driver in Farmers Branch?

Call 911 right away. Make sure law enforcement responds so that a police report is created and the driver can be tested for alcohol. Get medical attention even if you feel okay, because some injuries are not immediately obvious. Take photos of the scene, your vehicle, and any visible injuries if you are able to do so safely. Get contact information from witnesses. Then call Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys at (940) 800-2500 before speaking to any insurance company. What you say in those early conversations can affect your claim, and having an attorney early protects you.

Can I sue a bar or restaurant in Farmers Branch if they served the drunk driver who hit me?

Yes, in many cases you can. Under the Texas Dram Shop Act, found in Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code Section 2.02, a bar, restaurant, or other alcohol-serving establishment can be held liable if it served someone who was obviously intoxicated and that intoxication caused your injuries. You would need to show that the driver’s intoxication was apparent to the server and that the over-service was a direct cause of your crash. Our attorneys investigate these claims and can help you determine whether a dram shop claim applies in your situation.

How long do I have to file a drunk driving injury claim in Texas?

The general deadline for filing a personal injury lawsuit in Texas is two years from the date of the crash, under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003. If you miss this deadline, you typically lose your right to sue and recover any compensation. Dram shop claims under the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code also carry a two-year limitations period. Do not wait to get legal advice. Evidence fades, witnesses move on, and surveillance footage gets deleted. Contacting Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys promptly gives your case the best possible foundation.

What if the drunk driver had no insurance or very little coverage?

This is a real problem in Texas, and you are not without options. If the drunk driver is uninsured or underinsured, your own uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage may apply, depending on your policy. A dram shop claim against the bar or restaurant that served the driver can also provide an additional source of recovery. Our attorneys review all available insurance coverage and potential defendants to maximize what you can recover. The fact that the at-fault driver has limited coverage does not mean you are out of options.

Does a criminal DWI conviction against the drunk driver help my civil case?

Yes, it can help significantly. A criminal conviction or guilty plea by the drunk driver establishes that they were intoxicated and broke the law. Texas courts allow this evidence in civil proceedings, and it can make proving negligence much more straightforward. Even if the criminal case is pending, the evidence gathered by law enforcement, including BAC test results, field sobriety test records, and the police report, is available for use in your civil claim. Our attorneys know how to use the criminal record of the at-fault driver to build the strongest possible case for you.

Attorney responsible for this content: Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys, principal office located in Denton, Texas. Results in any particular case depend on the specific facts and law applicable to that case. Past results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome in any future matter.

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