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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.
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?
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.
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.
To arrange for your free initial consultation, call us today at 512-382-7707 or contact us online.