Austin DWI Accident Victims Attorneys
It is a tragic and infuriating tale told way too often. Someone gets behind the wheel after having one drink too many; maybe several drinks too many. He knows driving drunk is illegal. He knows it puts his life and the lives of others at serious risk. Despite all of this, he convinces himself that he is okay and can make it home safely.
And then, in an instant, he is proven horribly wrong.
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Drunk Driving Statistics in Texas
Drunk drivers injure and kill tens of thousands of Americans every year. Over 13,000 lives – sons and daughters, husbands and wives, friends and neighbors – were needlessly ended by drunk drivers on American roads and highways in 2021 according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That amounts to one person killed by a drunk driver every 39 minutes.
How many are caused by drunk drivers in Texas?
According to the Texas Department of Transportation, 1,162 people were killed in drunk driving crashes in Texas in 2022, a 2% increase from 2021. Last year, 26% of all Texas traffic death involved a drunk driver. This is equal to three people dying every day of the year.
What makes these tragic losses even harder for victims and families is the knowledge that their lives have been forever changed because another driver was so irresponsible, reckless, and negligent. Drunk drivers may make the choice to drive under the influence, but innocent victims are the ones who must live with the consequences. When you want to see justice served in a DWI case, be sure to look for the best DWI attorney in Austin.
A Drunk Driver Hit Me, What Should I Do?
Car accidents are often difficult and sometimes even overwhelming experiences. If the person who hits you was drinking, it can be much worse. Unfortunately, drunk drivers cause accidents throughout Austin and the rest of Texas, every day. In a study conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Texas was home to the highest number of drunk-driving fatalities in the country and ranked among the top five most dangerous states for driving under the influence. With DWI accidents frequently occurring in Texas, it’s important to know what steps to take if an intoxicated driver hits you.
Get Medical Treatment
The first priority after any accident, including those involving a drunk driver, should always be the health and safety of everyone involved. If there is even a chance you were injured, you should seek immediate medical attention following the accident. Often the quickest way to get medical help is to call emergency services and request an ambulance. Even if you don’t immediately feel pain after a drunk driver hits you, the adrenaline and confusion that immediately follow most car crashes can make it difficult to truly know how injured you are. In fact, some injuries can, and often do, take several hours, days, or even weeks to fully surface. Seeing a medical professional immediately after a crash is the best way to better understand the full extent of your injuries.
Report Your Suspicions to the Police
If you believe the person who caused the crash was drunk or otherwise intoxicated, you should report your suspicions to the police. In fact, when you contact emergency services to request an ambulance, you should inform the dispatcher of your suspicions. Sometimes, the Austin police department cannot respond to every accident, for obvious reasons. However, they will understandably prioritize incidents where the at-fault driver may be DWI. If the other driver is intoxicated, contacting the police may also help ensure they do not drive away from the scene, putting even more people at risk.
Collect Evidence
If you can, collecting and documenting as much information as possible from the scene of the accident can also be useful. This is another reason why requesting that a police officer respond can be so important. They are best suited to document the scene and gather the needed evidence. Even if your injuries at the time don’t seem severe, police involvement can still be critical to your claim later.
Some of the information you should try to gather includes:
- Photographs of the vehicles and the scene – before it is towed. It is best to take pictures from different distances and different angles. Video is also very helpful.
- The at-fault driver’s contact and insurance information (if you do not feel comfortable interacting with the driver, obtain their information from the police officer)
- Witness contact information and reports
- Photographs of any injuries sustained
- Accident report/claim number (you’ll need to ask the police officer for this information)
- Here’s how to get an Austin police report.
- Here’s how to get a Travis County police report online.
- Here’s how to get a Williamson County police report.
- Here’s how to get a Georgetown, TX police report.
- Here’s how to get a Texas Department of Transportation accident report online
At Sandoval & James, we passionately believe in justice for those who suffer so much because others are negligent. Our hit by a drunk driver lawyers have dedicated their careers to care for injury victims and their families, including those who suffer incomprehensible losses at the hands of drunk drivers.
From towing your car through to settlement, our Austin DWI accident victims attorneys provide the guidance and support that helps families through difficult times along with the forceful and fearless representation that can get them the maximum amount of compensation available for their injuries and losses. We have represented clients in thousands of vehicle accident cases in Austin and throughout Texas, many of which involved intoxicated drivers, obtaining millions of dollars for our clients through settlement or trial.
Drunk Driving Criminal Cases and Civil Lawsuits in Austin, TX
Driving while intoxicated (DWI) is an extreme form of negligence. Operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or distracted texting and driving, is the same charge.
If you’re driving drugged, buzzed, high, or stoned in the state of Texas, you are committing a crime.
In Texas and every other state, it is also a serious crime that can result in severe criminal penalties for those convicted, including significant time behind bars. But these penalties do not include awarding compensation to the victims of the crime. Obtaining compensation requires filing a civil personal injury lawsuit. While these are two separate proceedings with different rules and standards of proof, a drunk driver’s criminal case proceedings can have a big impact on a plaintiff’s personal injury or wrongful death claims.
The evidence that Texas prosecutors use to obtain DWI convictions – including police reports, field sobriety tests, blood, breath, or chemical tests, and witness testimony – can also be critical in proving negligence in a drunk driving accident injury lawsuit.
If the driver is ultimately convicted of DWI in a criminal case, that conviction can be used as evidence of negligence in a civil lawsuit as well.
Even if the drunk driver obtains an acquittal or is not prosecuted for DWI, a good Austin DWI lawyer can still show that alcohol was in the driver’s system and impaired his or her driving at the time of the crash. Just because a driver’s blood alcohol content was lower than Texas’ legal limit does not necessarily mean he or she was not impaired and negligent.
And with Texas dram shop laws, the liability in an alcohol-related case can lead all the way back to where the driver bought or was served alcohol.
Contact a Top-Rated Austin Drunk Driver Lawyer Near You
Are you searching for “drunk driver accident attorneys near me?”
We’re here to help. Learn more about what you can sue for after a car accident.
If you or a loved one have been injured or killed as a result of a drunk driver accident, contact the Austin drunk driving accident at Sandoval & James at 512-382-7707. Our drunk driving accident lawyers bring an unmatched work ethic, deep compassion, and personal commitment to the representation of those whose lives have been shattered because of intoxicated drivers. We are relentless in our efforts to get full compensation for our clients and welcome the opportunity to help you. We are no win no fee car accident lawyers.
To arrange for your free initial consultation, call us today at 512-382-7707 or contact us online.
CASE STUDIES
Austin Drunk Driving Accident Settlement Amounts in Texas
$2,300,001
Gross Settlement | Motor Vehicle Accident (DWI)
Expenses: $7,078.51
Net to Clients: $1,217,504.37
Our client was injured in a motor vehicle accident where they sustained multiple bone fractures and required hip surgery. On the date of the crash our client was in the process of making a right turn, when the Defendant, coming from our client’s left, ran a stop sign and collided with another vehicle before violently crashing into the driver’s side of our client’s vehicle. The investigation revealed the Defendant was driving at an excessive rate of speed and was intoxicated at the time of the crash. Sandoval and James successfully resolved the case after a lawsuit was filed, but before litigation.
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$500,000
Gross Settlement | Motor Vehicle Accident (Substantial Policy)
Expenses: $ 22,498.11
Net to Clients: 181,294.17
Clients sustained head, neck, and back injuries in a motor vehicle accident. Defendant was driving a non-commercial vehicle. The defendant collided with clients head-on and was arrested for driving while intoxicated. Sandoval & James successfully resolved the case for a substantial amount.
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$267,774
Gross Settlement | Motor Vehicle Accident (DWI)
Expenses: $1,068.60
Net to Clients: $107,014.93
Due to a motor vehicle accident, our client sustained injuries to their head, back, and neck. On the day of the crash, our client was traveling on Highway 1604 when the defendant, who was intoxicated and driving recklessly, sped past them, crashed into the median, and attempted to reverse onto the main highway without yielding to oncoming traffic. Our client was unable to slow down in time and collided with the defendant’s vehicle. Sandoval & James Law Firm was able to settle the case before a lawsuit was filed.
View MoreReviews of DUI Accident Lawyers Near You in Austin, TX
“My friend and I were involved in a pretty bad accident by a drunk driver that left us with injuries. We didn’t really know what to do but through a friend we were connected with the Sandoval and James firm. I was helped by Christina, Leticia, and Andre and through their combined efforts I was able to get the treatment and procedures needed in time and smoothly. Their communication was consistent and reassuring and they were able to make an otherwise difficult process very manageable. Love how they interact with clients.”
Seyi A
“I was in a devastating car accident where I was hit by a drunk driver. In addition to permanent physical injuries, this accident had devastating ramifications for my family, including my adult disabled child whom I am the primary caregiver. To complicate matters, I was not able to find an attorney locally who I felt could handle this case. Thankfully I knew someone who highly recommended Sandoval and James. Their entire team from first interaction to receiving my settlement check was nothing short of trustworthy, professional, compassionate, communicative, and absolutely capable of taking on a case of this magnitude. Thank you to the entire Sandoval and James team!”