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Common Causes of Drunk Driving Accidents How Many Accidents are Caused by Drunk Driving Every Year? Your Rights as a Drunk Driving Accident Victim Compensation in a Texas Drunk Driving Accident CaseTHE LAW GIANT drunk driving accident lawyers:
We Fight for Your Rights
Drinking and driving is against the law in Texas, but the possibility of being charged with a crime doesn’t deter all motorists. If you’re injured in a collision caused by an impaired driver, you could face a long road to recovery. You do have rights, however, and a skilled drunk driving accident attorney can help enforce them.
You’ll need a knowledgeable legal advocate on your side, and the Texas car accident lawyers at The Law Giant, Personal Injury & Accident Lawyers, are prepared to fight for you. To schedule a free case consultation with The Law Giant, contact us today at (956) 982-1800.
Common Causes of Drunk Driving Accidents
Drunk driving car accidents are typically caused by impairment. Therefore, it’s important to understand how alcohol affects the human body. According to Alcohol.org, a leading resource on alcohol addiction, the physical manifestations at different blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels are:
- From .02 to .05 percent – Your brain and body are affected, and you begin to feel more relaxed and uninhibited. Physical gestures are slightly more exaggerated, and you may have difficulty focusing on objects.
- At .08 percent (the legal limit in Texas) – Impairment starts to visibly affect coordination and balance. Speech is slurred, reaction time slows, and judgment suffers. You might experience blurred vision and a decreased ability to avoid obstacles.
- From .10 percent and above – With a lack of muscle control, you stumble and may be unable to move your arms and legs. Implications for physical, mental, and emotional functions affect your ability to walk, let alone drive.
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Considering these effects on the human body, it’s easy to see how drunk driving leads to auto collisions. Even at the lowest levels of impairment, you may not be able to operate a car safely.
It’s important to note that the drunk driver might not be completely at fault for the crash. If an establishment—or Dram Shop—overserves someone, it could be liable for any damages the drunk driver causes.
How Many Accidents are Caused by Drunk Driving Every Year?
Every year, the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) gathers data on drunk driving collisions in the state and publishes an annual summary on its findings. In 2023 alone, there were 3,867 fatal DUI crashes.
That same year, almost 14,000 people were hurt in DUI crashes, with injuries ranging from minor to severe. This number translates to just over 37 injured victims every day.
Your Rights as a Drunk Driving Accident Victim
Though the other driver’s impairment may be the root cause of a drunk driving crash, your claim as a victim is based upon the legal concept of negligence. You may be entitled to recover compensation if you can prove the four essential elements of a negligence-based case, which include:
- Establishing that the other motorist had a legal duty to exercise care when driving, which applies to all drivers sharing Texas roadways.
- Presenting evidence that the motorist breached this duty by driving drunk.
- Proving there’s a connection between the breach of duty and your accident.
- Showing that you suffered losses due to your injuries.
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With drunk driving claims, it would seem that a chemical test or other evidence of impairment would automatically entitle you to compensation. Unfortunately, these matters are not that clear-cut.
Your initial step would be filing a claim with the other driver’s insurance company. Despite overwhelming proof that the car accident was caused by drunk driving, you may get pushback. The insurance company may dispute the severity of your injuries or put some of the blame on you.
Drunk driving accident lawyers are very familiar with these tactics, so they know how to respond to denials or low-ball offers on claims.
Compensation in a Texas Drunk Driving Accident Case
Your monetary damages in a drunk driving claim are based upon your losses, measured by how your injuries affect your life. With the assistance of a Texas injury attorney, you may be able to recover such compensation as:
Economic Damages
These are your ascertainable losses, typically provable by invoices or receipts. Examples include medical bills and lost wages.
Non-Economic Damages
Losses in this category are more subjective, since they’re based upon your personal experiences as an injured victim. Non-economic damages may be pain, suffering, emotional distress, losses affecting your relationships with loved ones, and more.
Giant Wins for All Injuries
Our personal injury lawyers handle a wide range of accidents and serious injuries across Texas.
The Law Giant Stands With You
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