A fierce advocate when a drunk driver is responsible for your injury

Drunk driving, also known as driving under the influence or DUI, is a serious offense leading to motor vehicle accidents and subsequent injuries every day. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, (NHTSA), Texas had the highest number of alcohol-impaired driving fatalities in 2016 (1,438 fatalities).  We’ve represented injury victims, including those whose accidents resulted from drunk driving, for nearly 30 years. We know how to fight aggressively to help our clients obtain rightful compensation after an act of gross negligence leaves them or their loved ones seriously injured, and we’re well-prepared to advocate for you.

Drunk driving as a criminal offense and how it affects your case

Even a first-time drunk driving conviction carries misdemeanor penalties, including fines, possible jail time, community service, probation, license suspension and a court-ordered drug or alcohol-abuse class. In second and third offenses or in cases of vehicular homicide due to drunk driving, the penalties become much more severe. But criminal court charges have little to do with the compensation you might receive from the injuries you sustain.

When accidents caused by drunk driving cause injuries, the victims have the right to file civil court claims for medical care, property damage, lost wages, and physical and emotional pain and suffering. With help from a trusted auto accident lawyer, you can seek compensation from the drunk driver and the insurance company. In fact, because a drunk driver can be found not guilty in a criminal court but still negligent due to speeding or other recklessness, the insurance company is often left bearing the brunt of the personal injury costs. Insurers are notorious for trying to get out of paying what they owe, even if it means using bad faith practices. Therefore, it is crucial that the lawyer you choose to represent you understands how to provide protection from insurance tactics that would otherwise leave you with less than you deserve after sustaining an injury in a drunk driving accident.

Common accidents that cause injuries

Every day, individuals suffer personal injuries in motor vehicle accidents that could have been prevented. Automobile accidents can result in a range of injuries, many of which are serious and could lead to death. If your accident was caused by negligence, a lawyer from our firm can help you seek compensation for any injuries you endured.

When you suffer a personal injury in an auto accident

If negligence was a factor in your motor vehicle accident, the negligent driver can be held accountable for head and back injuries and any other harm you suffered. A car accident lawyer can help you file a claim and determine how the driver was responsible. The driver of a car, truck or other vehicle might be found negligent for any of the following:

Becoming distracted

Becoming fatigued

Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs

Failing to obey the speed limit or other traffic regulation

Aggressive driving

When negligence is the cause, any crash can be a fatal car accident. The most common types of collisions resulting from negligence, as reported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), are as follows:

Rear-impact­ — The NHTSA reports rear-ending and other rear-impact accidents as the most common type of collision — 29.6 percent of all crashes are rear-impact. Often, these types of collisions have to do with misuse of brakes, malfunctioning brakes or following too closely.

Side-impact — Side-impact accidents account for 28.9 percent of all crashes, according to the NHTSA. These often occur when drivers change lanes without checking their mirrors or run a red light or stop sign.

Run-off — Run-offs are also common, accounting for 16.1 percent of all automobile accidents. They usually involve only one car. The driver becomes distracted, falls asleep at the wheel, or intentionally swerves to avoid hitting an animal or other vehicle on the road.

Rollovers — Rollovers are less common, only accounting for 2.3 percent of all accidents, according to the NHTSA. They often occur due to sharp turns and particularly with tall vehicles like trucks and SUVs that have higher centers of gravity. Rollovers can also happen as a result of high-impact rear, side or head-on collisions.

Head-on collisions — Even though head-on collisions only account for 2 percent of all crashes, they often cause the most serious injuries and property damage. They often occur when a driver goes down a one-way street in the wrong direction, boards the wrong entrance on a highway or crosses a double line while asleep at the wheel or intoxicated.

When a reckless driver is responsible for your car crash  

Speeding and reckless drivers cause serious accidents every day. In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), reckless driving contributes to a significant portion of the 6 million motor vehicle accidents that occur every year in the United States. Speeding plays a role in approximately 30 percent of all fatal auto accidents, while other types of reckless behaviors are a factor in about 33 percent of fatal accidents. If you or your loved one was injured in a reckless driving or speeding accident, a skilled lawyer from our firm can help you obtain fair compensation for the physical injuries, medical costs, property damage, lost wages, and emotional pain and suffering you endured as a result.

Types of reckless driving

For nearly 30 years, our firm has represented clients injured in a wide variety of speeding and reckless driving accidents. Our firm works with you to determine damages in a settlement and advocates for you in court if necessary.

Serious and fatal accidents involving reckless drivers often include the following factors:

Speeding — Traveling faster than 80 miles per hour or more than 20 mph above the posted speed limit

Racing — Using a public road or highway to race vehicles

Negligence when yielding — Failing to observe right-of-way rules and stop signs

Obstructed view — Driving a car, truck or other vehicle without the ability to properly use mirrors, windows and windshields to view the road, usually as a result of excess passengers or cargo

Lane violations — Weaving in and out of lanes unnecessarily or passing another automobile on a single-lane road