Kemah Drunk Driving Accident Victim Lawyer

Car accidents lead to thousands of deaths and injuries in Texas. DUI statistics show that DUI accidents are most common between the hours of 2:00 am and 3:00 am, and Saturdays are the leading days when it comes to such crashes.

If you have been hurt in a drunk driving accident, contact our lawyers to protect your rights, file a claim, and pursue a case for compensation and damages.

Why Is Drunk Driving Severely Punishable?

Drunk drivers are more likely than almost every other driver category to cause a fatal accident. Alcohol affects a driver’s judgment and reflexes. As a result, a drunk driver is usually an impaired driver who cannot prevent or lessen the seriousness of an accident if one is to occur. Most drunk driving crashes result from motorists who lose depth perception or those who fail to correctly estimate the distance and speed they are traveling at due to drug or alcohol use. Additionally, drunk drivers display erratic speeding patterns by driving unreasonably slow or too fast. Such drivers fail to adjust to traffic patterns and may even forget to signal their turns or to turn on their lights. A drunk driver may be overconfident in their driving ability, and this endangers the lives of other road users.

What’s the Difference Between a DUI and a DWI Accident?

DWI refers to drivers operating a vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration level (BAC) of over 0.08%. A DUI applies when the driver is under 21 years. A minor can be charged with a Driving Under the Influence charge if driving with any amount of alcohol in their system.

Ultimately, a DUI or DWI charge means little when the driver is charged in a car accident. Either could lead to a civil case, a criminal case, or both.

Drunk Driving Accident Injuries that You Can Seek Compensation

After a car crash, your number one priority should be seeking medical care. Undergoing an evaluation is also important even if you don’t feel any signs of pain, as some conditions tend to go unnoticed in their initial stages, only to bring along debilitating consequences in the longer run. On top of helping to identify injuries, a medical evaluation will give you the basis for seeking compensation. Below are injuries that are common in Kemah car accident cases:

Amputations
Semi and full paralysis
Traumatic brain injuries such as concussions and contusions
Whiplash
Damage to the back spine, including chronic pain and paralysis
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Burns that include severe third-degree burns
Broken or fractured bones
Organ damage
Internal bleeding
Wrongful death

Who Can Be Held Responsible After a Car Drunk Driving Accident?

There are a number of groups and individuals that can be held responsible for any injuries you sustain in a drunk driving accident. Such parties include:

The drunk driver who caused your accident
If the driver was working at the time of the accident, their employer may be charged
The restaurant or retailer that served the drunk driver with alcohol may be charged after an accident

What Can I Recover with My Personal Insurance After a Drunk Driving Accident?

Your uninsured or underinsured insurance motorist coverage may apply after you suffer a hit and run accident by a drunk driver, or in cases where the responsible driver is underinsured. Your insurance provider will likely cover property and injury damages, as well as any other losses you may have sustained.

Why Do Dunk Driver Employers Become Liable for Drunk Driving Accidents?

An employer could be held responsible for accidents caused by their employees under what is known as a respondent superior rules. These rules hold that an employer is responsible for the harm inflicted by their employees when working within their scope of work. The rationale behind this is that such a driver or employee is working for the employer’s benefit and is subject to the employer’s control. Thus, it is only fair that the employer is held liable for injuries caused by the employee.

Why Bars and Restaurants Can Be Held Liable for Drunk Driving Accidents

Texas, like many other states, has enacted dram shop laws. These laws can hold establishments such as bars and restaurants liable for injuries if the customer they served caused an auto accident. Such laws are meant to put responsibility and pressure on restaurants, bars, and other retailers of alcoholic beverages since they are in a good position to help prevent DUI or DWI accidents from happening. Social hosts such as families holding a party could also be liable if intoxicated guests they serve cause an accident.

Talk to a Drunk Driving Legal Expert

Driving is a privilege, and nobody has the right to drive under the influence and put other road users at risk. Our expert lawyers offer free personal injury and property damage consultations to injured victims of drunk driving accidents. Call us today at 713-677-2179 for a free, no-obligation consultation regarding your case.