When a drunk driver injures you, it's not enough to know that the perpetrator has been held criminally liable for his reckless behavior--you have bills to pay. The drunk driving accident attorneys at Rasansky Law Firm will hold the drunk driver (and their insurance carrier) financially responsible for all of your losses, including medical bills, lost work, and pain and suffering.
Someone in the United States is injured in a drunk driving accident every two minutes. Texas, in particular, suffers from a dubious claim to fame--2016 saw over 3,700 traffic deaths, more than any other state, and drunk drivers claimed nearly 1,000 of these lives. Many of the victims were 100 percent sober when the accident occurred. Additionally, about one-third of all drunk driving accidents are committed by repeat offenders, which shows that existing criminal penalties are not strong enough to serve as an effective deterrent.
The unfortunate truth is that drivers who enter the roadway with a blood alcohol concentration above the legal limit continue to cause severe harm to other drivers sharing the road. This type of negligent behavior leads to thousands of injuries and countless deaths in Texas annually.
Every year, drunk drivers across Texas cause serious injuries to numerous innocent drivers on the road. Although no two drunk driving accidents are alike, many similar injuries are reported annually as a result of these life-altering accidents every year. Some common injuries that victims suffer from in drunk driving accident cases include:
Broken bones: Suffering a broken bone due to a drunk driving accident can be devastating. Due to these accidents, victims often experience broken arms, legs, or even collarbones. In severe cases, these injuries can require surgery and several months of therapy and rehabilitation.
Loss of limbs: Losing a limb can be incredibly challenging to overcome. Victims who experience these injuries are often forced out of work and have their lives severely altered. These injuries can result in overwhelming pain and suffering, both mentally and physically, and impact nearly every aspect of a victim's life.
Spinal cord injuries: Spinal cord injuries are debilitating and life-changing injuries for victims. SCIs can result in paralysis, which can mean the loss of the use of both legs (paraplegia) or the loss of the use of both arms and both legs (quadriplegia). These injuries can be permanent or temporary, depending on whether the injury was complete (a complete sever to the spinal cord) or incomplete (some signals still get through to the area of the body below the point of impact). Either way, these injuries require extensive care and assistance.
Severe cuts and lacerations: There are many injury cases where victims suffer severe cuts and lacerations. In some instances, these injuries can result in extreme nerve and muscle damage, as well as permanent scarring and disfigurements. Cuts and lacerations can cause both physical and emotional harm.
Traumatic brain injuries: A drunk driving accident victim who suffers a traumatic brain injury will most likely experience some cognitive impairment, making it difficult to return to work or school. In some cases, the injured party may require long-term care and assistance with daily activities. Physical and occupational therapy are often necessary to help the victim regain functioning and independence.
Road rash: Given the nature of this injury, road rash is typical for drunk-driving crashes that involve pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists. It can also occur in accidents where the victim is ejected from their vehicle. These injuries are generally caused by the body sliding across the ground surface. Road rash is excruciating and can result in severe scarring and permanent disfigurements. In some cases, road rash injuries can become infected.
Psychological trauma: Psychological trauma can be just as devastating as physical injuries. Victims of drunk driving accidents often suffer from anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other emotional issues. The psychological effects of a car accident can last for years and make it difficult for the victim to return to their normal life.
Drunk driving is a serious problem that can have life-altering consequences. It's estimated that nearly 30 people lose their lives every day due to drunk driving accidents in the United States. In Dallas, drunk driving accidents continue to be one of the leading causes of serious injuries or death.
There are several types of accidents that an intoxicated driver can cause. Some of the most common drunk driving crash types include:
Any drunk driving accident can have serious consequences for those involved. Many drunk driving accident victims are left with severe injuries that completely alter their lives.
If you have been harmed as a result of a Dallas drunk driving accident, you must seek legal representation right away. You may have legal options available to help you move forward. A Dallas drunk driving accident lawyer from Rasanksy Law Firm can help guide you through the drunk driving accident claim process and fight for fair compensation on your behalf. Contact our Texas law firm today to schedule a free case evaluation to determine the best course of action moving forward.
Six steps you need to take immediately after a drunk driving accident:
Do not speak to anyone asking you about the accident's details. Most of the time, this will be an insurance company trying to offer you an unfair settlement or trick you into saying something that hurts your case. Refer all inquiries to your lawyer.
A Dallas drunk driving accident lawyer can guide you through the Texas civil compensation maze so that you can recover compensation for property damage, medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and any other tangible or intangible losses you may have suffered. We will seek compensation from the drunk driver and, under certain circumstances, a third party, such as an alcohol vendor or social host, who provided the driver with alcohol.
You will likely face towering financial consequences if you have been injured in a drunk driving accident. For this reason, you can file a personal injury claim to recover financially.
A drunk driving accident victim may recover compensation for some of the financial damages they face. Our team at Rasansky Law Firm is committed to helping injured victims secure the maximum financial compensation for their drunk driving accident cases. We will pursue compensation on your behalf to ensure you have the money needed for:
Lost wages: If you've been injured in a drunk driving accident, you may miss time from work as you recover. We will help you recover lost wages so you can focus on your recovery.
Medical expenses: We will help you recover any medical expenses incurred due to the accident. This can include recovering compensation for your medical bills, future medical expenses, and even money to cover the medication or medical treatment you require. Whatever medical expenses you have, our drunk driving accident lawyers will fight to ensure you get the money you need.
Vehicle repair expenses: If your vehicle or other property was damaged in the accident, we will help you get compensated for those losses. You can recover the money to replace your vehicle or fix the damage that was done to it as a result of the crash. Either way, our team will fight to ensure you can secure the maximum compensation for this damage.
Pain and suffering: You may be entitled to compensation for the pain and suffering caused by your injuries. These non-economic damages can include both physical and emotional anguish.
Loss of consortium: Loss of consortium damages are intended to compensate an injured spouse for the loss of companionship and affection they have suffered due to the injuries that the drunk driver caused their spouse or significant other.
Lost earning capacity: This type of damage is meant to cover the loss of future earnings that you would have otherwise earned if not for the accident. To prove lost earning capacity, our drunk driving accident lawyers will work with financial experts who can determine the amount of lost earnings you face based on your chances of being promoted, your level of education, and various other factors.
In some cases, you may be able to recover punitive damages as well. These non-economic damages are designed to punish the drunk driver for engaging in such reckless actions to prevent them and other drivers from engaging in these senseless and reckless actions in the future.
If you have been harmed in a car accident due to a drunk driver, contact our team today to get started on your drunk driving accident claim right away. Our personal injury lawyers at Rasansky Law Firm can meet with you for a free consultation at your earliest convenience to determine what economic, non-economic, and punitive damages you may be entitled to.
In addition to the damages listed above, our team is committed to helping drunk driving accident victims recover the maximum amount of compensation possible for the loss of quality of life.
Loss of quality of life is a type of damage that can be difficult to quantify. It includes things like pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life. While there is no set formula for calculating these damages, juries will often consider the following factors:
Reach out to our Dallas drunk driving accident lawyer immediately to schedule a free consultation. Our team at Rasansky Law Firm will build the strongest case possible on your behalf and fight for fair compensation against the drunk driver who caused your pain and suffering.
There are many instances where victims end up passing away due to the injuries they suffer from in auto accidents with intoxicated drivers. If your loved one has died, you must seek the assistance of our dedicated legal team at Rasansky Law Firm. Our team can help you file a wrongful death claim against the drunk driver to ensure they are held liable for their actions.
A wrongful death claim can help your family recover compensation for various damage you face. In addition to the aforementioned damages, after the loss of a family member, surviving relatives can demand compensation for:
Reaching out to our Texas law firm as soon as possible can help to ensure you have the strongest case possible for seeking compensation for the damages you face.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is an organization that seeks stiffer penalties for drunk drivers and supports victims of drunken driving accidents. Rasansky Law Firm's founder Jeff Rasansky is a MADD-approved attorney for Texas DWI accident victims. Rasansky Law Firm is proud to support MADD in its mission to stop drunk driving and support the victims of this criminal behavior by encouraging legislative changes that will make Texas roads safer for everyone. Legislation can go a long way in ensuring that all loopholes are closed and that repeat offenders are taken off the road.
Were you a passenger in a car where the driver was negligently served too much alcohol? Was your child killed after being over-served at a bar? Drunk driving accidents don't happen in a vacuum--the social environment plays a significant role. In Texas, bars, clubs, restaurants, and other establishments that serve alcohol can be held liable for a drunk driving accident if they continue serving an obviously intoxicated individual who later causes an accident. This type of liability is commonly referred to as "dram shop liability."
Serving alcohol is a privilege and a responsibility, not a right, which is why a license is required in the first place. To serve alcohol in Texas, establishments agree to follow the rules set by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, which explicitly states when vendors are obligated by law to stop serving alcohol to a patron. Breaking these rules leads to dram shop liability in favor of the victim of any accident caused by the drunken patron.
If a drunk driver has hit you and you sustained serious injuries, you are likely to have a viable personal injury claim. If you or a loved one were injured in a single-vehicle accident with a drunk driver after being negligently served alcohol to excess, you may have a first-party liquor liability claim against the bar that sold alcohol negligently. In the unfortunate event that the accident was fatal, you may also have a wrongful death claim.
In Texas, it is illegal to operate a vehicle while drunk. The state considers the act of driving while intoxicated as the act of operating a vehicle on any public road or highway with a blood alcohol concentration that 0.08% or above. The BAC of a driver is generally determined through testing, such as:
These tests are typically performed on a driver immediately after arrest, or a crash occurs.
There are also instances where drivers with a BAC level under the legal limit can still be convicted of a crime. Drivers who are impaired in any way as a result of alcohol can still face charges of driving while intoxicated or DWI. These convictions are generally based on drivers consuming alcohol, drugs, or a combination of the two. So long as it resulted in some impairment, mentally or physically.
Some general signs of impairment include:
A driver who is impaired may engage in careless driving patterns. These include:
Additionally, if a driver under 21 years old consumes any alcohol before operating their vehicle, they can be charged with driving while under the influence.
Knowing our state's drunk driving laws can greatly help your case. However, it is still in your best interest to seek legal representation from a Dallas drunk driving accident lawyer as soon as possible to ensure you have the best chance of getting justice.
If a drunk driver has hit you in Texas, you need stellar legal representation to secure enough compensation for you to heal and rebuild your life. Call Rasansky Law Firm today at (214) 617-1886 for a free case evaluation with one of our highly qualified and experienced Texas drunk driving accident attorneys. We look forward to helping you get the justice you deserve.
The attorneys at Rasansky Law Firm are happy to speak to you about your potential case free of charge. Our team handles each drunk driving accident case on a contingency fee basis, so you can never have to worry about paying legal fees upfront. If we can help with your claim against the at-fault driver, we'll do so for no out-of-pocket cost to you. Contact a Dallas drunk driving accident attorney at (214) 617-1886.
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