Lubbock Texas Drunk Driver Accident Lawyers
Drunk driving accidents devastate thousands of families in Lubbock, TX, every year. These collisions often occur at high rates of speed, taking the lives of innocent victims instantly. The reckless decision to get behind the wheel while intoxicated is infuriating, and Texas Car Crash Attorney Group genuinely understands this anger. Couple this outrage with the financial and physical damages you and your loved ones have suffered.
Finding your world turned upside because of the selfish acts of another person is overwhelming. After surviving a severe accident involving alcohol, you must speak to lawyers that fight against drunk drivers throughout West Texas. We make it our mission to hold these individuals accountable to the fullest extent of the law. This means filing a personal injury suit through our state’s civil justice system to obtain compensatory damages on your behalf. With our extensive trial experience, we can make sure that any award or settlement you receive fairly compensates you for your loss.
What’s Unique about an Accident Involving a Drunk Driver in Lubbock, TX?
Texas law considers drivers with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) higher than 0.08 percent to be driving drunk. Despite driving under the influence (DUI) being a crime, the driver that struck you doesn’t have to be arrested for you to file a personal injury suit. In civil cases like this, you only need to prove their negligence based on the accident itself. Since the amount of alcohol necessary to impair someone’s abilities can vary widely, you don’t need a DUI conviction to prove your case.
In addition to state DUI laws, The Texas Dram Shop Law may also help you hold any bars or restaurants responsible for overserving the drunk driver that hit you. This type of third-party lawsuit would require us to prove they were already dangerously drunk when served alcohol. The premise is that a bartender should have reasonably known their customer was intoxicated and stopped serving them more drinks. Failing to show this reasonable care, they are liable for contributing to the accident that caused you harm.
The damages you could potentially receive compensation for include:
- Pain and suffering
- Lost wages
- Diminished work capacity
- Permanent disability
- Disfigurement
- Loss of a limb
- Broken and fractured bones
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Property damage
- Mental anguish
- Transportation costs to and from related doctor’s appointments
- Wrongful death
- Loss of consortium
Unfortunately, even though you are given the right to pursue monetary damages, this isn’t an automatic process. Often, responsible parties will do everything possible to deflect blame on to you and minimize your injuries. This makes scheduling a consultation with one of the skilled drunk driving accident attorneys of Texas Car Crash Attorney Group essential. Not only will we determine the extent of your damages, but we can also assess any future care you might need.
From this point, we often provide you with advice on the next steps you should take and the types of evidence needed to win. If you decide to take your case to trial, we will then begin immediately advocating on your behalf. This allows you room to process your accident experience and focus on healing and recovery.
Are Accidents with Drunk Drivers Common in Lubbock, TX?
Despite it being illegal nationwide to drive drunk, communities like Lubbock, TX, have reached a crisis point. In 2018, it was reported that a whopping 49% of traffic fatalities in this region were alcohol-related. This landmark investigation conducted by the insurance referral service AutoInsuranceEZ.com analyzed drunk driving crash data reported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Their findings determined which states, counties, and cities in the U.S. were at the top for these accident types.
The reality that every 52 minutes, someone in this great nation dies because of drunk driving is hard to accept. But the statistics don’t lie. In Lubbock alone, nearly 300 DUI-related accidents were reported, of which 22 people died of their injuries. These preventable occurrences aren’t just costly for victims but also Texas taxpayers. The cost of criminal prosecution, recovery programs, counseling, and other administrative expenses also impact how courts treat these cases.
The data clearly shows a significant issue with drunk driving statewide, which has prompted legislators to take action. Steps include reporting bars that violate the law to the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC). Other local commissions have increased sales tax on alcohol sales, which has also helped drive down incidents of these tragic accidents.
Despite these efforts, individuals still insist on getting behind the wheel while intoxicated. The accidents they cause are entirely preventable, and if you’re a victim of this recklessness, Texas Car Crash Attorney Group is here to help.
What Should You Do If You’re in a Drunk Driving Car Accident in Lubbock, TX?
Designating someone to be the sober driver for the night or calling a taxi is common sense while partying. Yet, thousands of individuals fail to follow through on such a simple safety precaution. At Texas Car Crash Attorney Group, we recognize that drunk driving is a dangerous decision–not an accident.
With current estimates of $44 billion annually, the cost of drunk driving damages in the U.S. continues to grow. Even though we often think of DUI to involve alcohol, if an intoxicated driver strikes your vehicle, it could be more than too many drinks at work. Driving while under the influence of illegal drugs like marijuana or heroin are also a growing issue for many states, including Texas.
The potential for sustaining serious injuries, lost income, medical expenses, long-lasting pain, or losing a loved one are high. Having your lives devastated because of negligent decision-making by a drunk driver is infuriating. If you find yourself in this type of accident, you can take steps to hold them accountable.
Call the Police
Have someone call 911 right away if you are unable to do so. Protecting your health and that of others involved in the crash is critical. Also, reporting your accident right away can get the police on the scene to determine if the other driver is intoxicated. This will go into their report, which you can obtain a copy of later for your personal injury claim.
Take Notes and Photos
Accident injuries permitting, do your best to get any information you can about the other driver, their vehicle, and insurance details. Whether you scribble it down on some old receipts or take pictures with your phone, it can help your case later. Taking a few quick shots of the following are also helpful:
- Position of cars
- Road signs
- Damage to the car
- Visible injuries
- Debris
- Lights
- Skid marks
- Wide shots of the scene to capture the road layout
If you are unable to do this, don’t worry. Skilled drunk driver attorneys like Texas Car Crash Attorney Group can use accident reconstructionists if necessary.
Get Witness Information
Eyewitness accounts are precious when pursuing a civil suit against a drunk driver that struck you. If you can, speak to anyone on the scene who witnessed the accident or talked to the other driver. Ask for their contact information and what they saw.
Get Checked Out
Receiving medical treatment for any potential injuries is extremely important in the moments following an accident. Even if you can walk away from the crash, understand this could be your adrenaline kicking in. This is a natural chemical our bodies release when we experience traumatic events and can mask pain. Some injuries also take time to develop symptoms, like concussions. Getting checked out right away can begin the process of documenting any injuries you suffered because of the crash.
Contact an Experienced Lubbock Drunk Driver Accident Lawyer
Being in an accident caused by a drunk driver can be complex in the state of Texas. Even if they weren’t technically over the legal limit, the burden of proof for personal injury suits is lower. Having seasoned attorneys who have extensive experience representing drunk driving cases is critical to your claim’s success.
When drivers make blatantly negligent decisions behind the wheel, their Insurance companies try to avoid paying out. Many times they succeed by pressuring victims for a quick settlement that is grossly undervalued. Other times, they may try to purposely delay responses to your claim in hopes you give up and cut your losses. Texas Car Crash Attorney Group trial lawyers can help stop these tactics by filing a personal injury lawsuit right away. We make it clear from the beginning of your case that we mean business about holding drunk drivers accountable.
I Want to Sue a Drunk Driver. What Should I Do Next?
Sometimes, going to trial is the best option for obtaining compensation after a drunk driver accident in Lubbock, TX. Maybe you are getting nowhere trying to negotiate a settlement on your own, or offers you receive are too low. If you already have a personal injury attorney, maybe they avoid trial or don’t have the needed litigation skills. Whatever the reason, wanting to sue a drunk driver for their negligence causing your injury is not uncommon.
To bring a lawsuit against the intoxicated driver that caused your car accident, you should take these two steps first:
Prepare Yourself for Trial
Even if you haven’t ultimately decided to file a civil lawsuit against the negligent party, prepare your case as if you are. This means working with your personal injury attorney to organize your current accident and injury documentation, contacting witnesses, and being careful how you speak on the case. You should also be following up with your treating physicians and getting your injuries thoroughly evaluated. A solid evidence-based suit that can establish the other party’s fault is vital, and medical records play a key role.
Work with a Drunk Driver Accident Trial Lawyer
Trying to negotiate with insurers isn’t an easy task when also balancing the financial stress of medical bills. Ensuring that you hire a qualified litigator with an established track record of success is important. Not only will they protect your rights throughout the process, but they make it possible for you to focus on recovery. From gathering evidence to presenting your case to a jury, a seasoned Lubbock car accident attorney is invaluable.
Even when a driver is obviously intoxicated and found guilty of DUI in Texas, proving negligence isn’t easy. To secure the maximum personal injury compensation possible, extensive preparation is critical to success. The unique nature of drunk driving accident claims in this state requires extensive knowledge of negligence law.
Choose the Top Drunk Driver Accident Attorneys in Lubbock
At Texas Car Crash Attorney Group, we have over 600 jury trials under our belt. Many of these cases involved DUI criminal defense. This experience makes us formidable in personal injury suits involving alcohol-related accidents because we know defense strategy. We also know all too well how liable insurance companies will try to force you into a lowball settlement. They know the stress you are under because of their customer’s negligent driving choices.
Instead of taking a “wait and see” approach as plea mill practices do, we aggressively force these corporations to handle your claim seriously. Our legal team will prepare your case for trial from the moment you choose us to represent you. Waiting on an offer is unproductive and makes you struggle emotionally, physically, and financially longer than you deserve. As your advocate, our attorneys aren’t intimidated at the idea of going to court. If a jury trial provides you with the best possible compensation for your injuries, we don’t hesitate to file a lawsuit. Schedule a free consultation today to learn more about our firm and receive a complimentary case assessment.
