Why You Deserve the Best Austin DWI Accident Victims Attorneys Near You
It’s a heartbreaking and all-too-familiar story. Someone chooses to get behind the wheel after having too much to drink-perhaps just one too many, or several. They know the risks. They know drunk driving is illegal and can endanger not only their own life but the lives of everyone else on the road.
Still, they convince themselves they’re fine to drive. That they can make it home without incident.
But in a single, irreversible moment, that assumption is tragically-and often fatally-proven wrong.
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Drunk Driving Accident Statistics in Texas
Drunk driving remains one of the most tragic and preventable causes of death on American roads. Every year, tens of thousands of lives are lost or permanently altered because someone chose to drive under the influence.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than 13,000 people were killed in drunk driving crashes in 2021. That’s one life lost every 39 minutes (sons and daughters, husbands and wives, friends and neighbors) all taken in senseless, avoidable accidents.
Texas, unfortunately, reflects this national crisis on an even more alarming scale. The Texas Department of Transportation reported that 1,162 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes across the state in 2022, marking a 2% increase from the previous year. Drunk driving accounted for 26% of all traffic fatalities in Texas, with an average of three lives lost every single day.
What makes these losses even more devastating is the knowledge that they were completely preventable. The victims and their families are forced to live with the consequences of another person’s recklessness; while the drunk driver made a selfish, illegal decision, it’s the innocent who suffer the most.
2025 Austin, Texas Alcohol-Involved Fatal Crash Statistics
Based on preliminary 2025 data from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), alcohol-involved crashes continue to have a severe impact on the Austin community. The following data highlights the gravity of these incidents in our city in 2025:
- Total Fatal Crashes: There were 70 fatal crashes reported in Austin involving alcohol.
- Total Number of Fatalities: These incidents resulted in 70 lives lost.
- Total Number of Injuries: Beyond the fatalities, there were 95 reported injuries resulting from these alcohol-involved crashes.
- Property Damage: The data shows 2 non-injury, non-fatal crashes that resulted in significant property damage.
- Total Crash Count: The overall count for these specific alcohol-involved fatal injury incidents reached
Fatalities by Day of the Week
The data indicates that the risk of fatal alcohol-involved accidents in Austin fluctuates throughout the week, with a notable surge during the weekend:
- Highest Risk Days: Saturday and Sunday recorded the highest frequency of fatal incidents, with 6 reported fatalities on each of those days.
- Mid-Week Trends: Fatalities decreased during the early week, hitting a low on Tuesday and Friday (1 each) before spiking again as the weekend approached.
Source: TxDOT Dashboards: 2025 Preliminary Fatal Injury Summary. Data represents reportable information collected from Texas Peace Officer’s Crash Reports (CR-3) received and processed as of January 30, 2026.
If you or a loved one has been affected by a drunk driving crash, justice is not just about punishment; it’s about accountability, closure, and financial recovery. When choosing to pursue legal action, be sure to seek the guidance of the best DWI accident attorney in Austin. The right legal advocate can help you navigate the aftermath, demand justice, and fight for the compensation you deserve.
I Got in an Accident With a Drunk Driver, What Should I Do?
Being involved in a car accident is often overwhelming-but when the at-fault driver was under the influence, the situation becomes even more serious. Drunk driving accidents occur every day in Austin and across Texas. In fact, a study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that Texas leads the nation in drunk driving fatalities and ranks among the top five most dangerous states for DUI-related crashes.
If you’ve been hit by a drunk driver, it’s essential to take the right steps immediately following the accident to protect both your health and your legal rights.
Get Medical Treatment
Your top priority after any crash-especially one involving a suspected drunk driver-should be your health. If there’s even a slight chance you were injured, call 911 and request emergency medical assistance. Many injuries may not be immediately obvious due to adrenaline and shock. In fact, it’s common for symptoms to appear hours, days, or even weeks later. Seeking prompt medical attention ensures that your injuries are properly diagnosed and documented, which is vital for your recovery and any future claim.
Report Your Suspicions to the Police
If you suspect the other driver was intoxicated, report it to the 911 dispatcher when calling for emergency help. Let them know why you believe the other driver may be under the influence. While Austin police can’t respond to every accident, they will prioritize those involving possible DWI. Prompt reporting may also help ensure the drunk driver is not allowed to leave the scene and put others in danger.
Collect Evidence at the Scene
Gathering evidence immediately after the crash can strengthen your case. If you are physically able, try to collect the following:
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Photos and video of the accident scene and vehicles before they are towed (various angles and distances help)
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Contact and insurance information of the at-fault driver (or obtain it from the responding officer if you’re uncomfortable engaging with the driver)
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Witness contact details and statements
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Photographs of your injuries
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The accident report or claim number from the police officer on scene
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Legal Help After a Drunk Driving Accident
At Sandoval & James, we fight for those harmed by reckless and negligent drivers. Our experienced drunk driving accident lawyers in Austin understand the trauma and disruption these crashes cause-and we’re here to help you rebuild.
From assisting with car towing in Austin to pursuing a hit-by-a-drunk-driver settlement, we offer compassionate guidance and aggressive legal representation. We’ve recovered millions of dollars for victims of intoxicated drivers through settlements and trial verdicts.
If you or a loved one was injured by a drunk driver, contact us today for a free consultation. Our team is ready to protect your rights and pursue the compensation you deserve.
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 or 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.
If you’ve been injured in a drunk driving accident, you need an experienced car accident lawyer in Austin who understands the intricacies of drunk driving cases. At Sandoval & James, we specialize in representing victims of drunk driver accidents, providing personalized legal support to help you receive the compensation you deserve.
Contact a Top-Rated Austin Drunk Driver Lawyer Near You
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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
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.
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$110,000
Gross Settlement | Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) | DWI
Expenses: $1,376
Net to Clients: $43,249
Due to a motor vehicle accident involving an intoxicated driver, our clients sustained injuries to their neck, head, and back. At the time of the crash, they were approaching a signal light, when the defendant, who was traveling behind them in the same direction, failed to control their speed and rear-ended their vehicle. Sandoval & James Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers Austin successfully resolved the case without filing a lawsuit.
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!”