According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving, there are 290,000 drunk driving injuries each year. Another 10,876 people die each year due to drunk driving. Drinking and driving is a crime in Texas. A driver can be charged with a DUI if he or she is found to have more than 0.08 blood alcohol concentration in his or her system. Drivers under 21 years of age can be charged with a DUI for having any alcohol in their systems, and commercial vehicle drivers or truck drivers found to be driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.04 percent or higher can be charged with a DUI. If a driver involved in a crash that resulted in your injuries was found to be guilty of drunk driving, you may be entitled to seek damages for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. In some car accidents, one of the big challenges is proving negligence on the part of the other driver. However, with drunk driving accidents, the drunk driver is almost always negligent. The Robson Law Firm is a drunk driving injury lawyer in Austin, Texas who may be able to assist you with your claim. Our attorney may be able to help you seek the maximum possible compensation from insurance companies and fight to help you seek damages from negligent parties. If you’ve been hurt in a drunk driving crash, there may be a range of options you and your family might have in order to seek compensation. With DUI crashes, families might be entitled to seek damages under Texas’s dram shop laws, seek punitive damages, and make maximum claims against insurers and negligent parties.
Seeking Damages Under Texas’s Dram Shop Law
Bars, restaurants, and any other venue that sells alcohol could face liability if a person gets drunk at the establishment and then causes injuries or damages to another party. Families and victims injured in a drunk driving accident may be able to make a claim for injuries and deaths or damages caused by a person who became intoxicated at the establishment. Bar tenders and restaurant owners have a responsibility to not serve alcohol to visibly intoxicated customers. Under dram shop laws, bars and alcohol vendors can be held as liable as the drunk driver for any injuries they cause.
However, in order to seek compensation under Texas’s dram shop laws, families and victims may have to show that the bartender or bar was at fault. How? A family may be able to show that the vendor was liable by showing how much alcohol was served to the person who then went on to drive and cause the DUI crash. If the bar is known to serve alcohol to those who are visibly intoxicated, then victims and families may also have a stronger case. The Robson Law Firm is a drunk driving injury lawyer who can evaluate your case, determine whether the bar where a drunk driver was served alcohol is responsible for your injuries, and pursue your claim to the fullest extent of the law.
Punitive Damages in Austin, Texas Following a Drunk Driving Crash
There are two types of damages that victims can pursue after they have been hurt in a crash: compensatory damages and punitive damages. Compensatory damages are designed to compensate victims for their losses, and can cover the cost of medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering damages. Punitive damages are designed to punish an individual for their actions. While most car accident claims won’t include punitive damages, drunk driving claims are one type of claim where punitive damages may be able to be sought. If you have been hurt in a drunk driving crash in Austin, Texas, the Robson Law Firm is a drunk driving lawyer in Austin, Texas who can review your case and help you understand the claim you might be entitled to receive.
For example, when it comes to seeking punitive damages, you may be able to seek the maximum possible compensation from the negligent driver’s insurance policy. Insurance companies may not be required to pay punitive damages, but in some instances, they may pay out larger settlements to victims to avoid having to defend the negligent driver in court. The Robson Law Firm can review your drunk driving injury claim and help you understand the options that may be available to you.
Seek Justice for Your Injuries and Losses
If you have been hurt in a drunk driving accident, you may only have a limited amount of time to make a claim under the law. Texas’s statute of limitations may set strict time limits on how long you have to seek damages for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and punitive damages. The Robson Law Firm is an Austin, Texas drunk driving attorney who may be able to help you with your claim.
