Plano Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer
There are all kinds of law firms that represent people charged with DUI. But our accident law firm represents people who have been injured by a drunk driver. Our Plano drunk driving accident lawyers have the experience you need to get full compensation for your injuries. The courts will hold the DUI driver responsible for their crime, but we will hold them responsible for your pain and suffering.
According to the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT), in Texas alone, someone is injured or killed in a drunk driving accident every 20 minutes. And according to a National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) report, drunk driving fatalities are on the rise, especially in Texas. In 2015 alone, Texas had 1,323 drunk driving deaths, a whopping 38% of all traffic fatalities in the state. While some of those injuries and fatalities involved the drunk driver, many of them involved innocent victims.
If you or a loved one were injured in a drunk driving accident, or someone died in a drunk driving accident, you likely have medical bills piling up, as well as other expenses. Our Plano drunk driving accident lawyers can help you get the compensation you need.
What to Do After a Drunk Driving Accident
As with any accident, the first thing to do is call 911 to report the accident. If you or someone with you is injured, make sure to report that so an ambulance will be dispatched. If someone is seriously injured, don’t try and move them before help arrives, as moving them could potentially make their injuries worse.
Document the Scene
If you or someone with you is able, use your cell phone to record the accident scene, with pictures, video or both. Try to get the names and contact information for any eyewitnesses. This information will be helpful for when you file a insurance claim, or file suit against the drunk driver.
Call a Lawyer
After your immediate health concerns and injuries are treated, it’s a good idea to contact a drunk driving accident lawyer. You can bet the drunk driver will have a lawyer, and their insurance company will have a team of lawyers. Working with a lawyer yourself evens the playing field.
Our Plano drunk driving accident lawyers have the experience and knowledge to take on your case while you recover from your injuries. We can:
- Review the police report and gather further evidence
- Interview witnesses
- Investigate the scene
- Act as your legal representative with the insurance companies
- Be at your side if you have to give a statement to police
Compensation After a Drunk Driving Accident
Our accident injury law firm is experienced in taking on the insurance companies to make sure you get the compensation you deserve. Most times, we are able to negotiate a settlement with the insurance companies — and that includes the drunk driver’s insurance company, and any third party’s insurance company. A third party might be the bar that continued to serve the drunk driver even after they were obviously inebriated, or the parents who hosted a party with alcohol for underage drivers.
Sometimes, though, an insurance company refuses to settle your claim, and will argue that you were partially at fault in the accident, or your injuries are not as serious as you claim. In these cases, we are prepared to take your case to court. Your drunk driving lawyer will represent you in front of the judge and the jury. We will establish that the drunk driver was at fault.
Texas is a modified comparative fault state, which means that fault can be shared, based on the police investigation and insurance company investigation. If you are partially at fault for the accident, the judge would reduce any damages you win in court by the percentage that you were at fault.
We will also introduce your medical records into evidence, to prove the severity of your injuries from the accident, and to establish that you did not have these medical problems before the accident.
Compensation in a Drunk Driving Accident
You are entitled to file an insurance claim for damages, or file a lawsuit for damages to compensate you for your losses in a drunk driving accident. Common damages can include:
- Compensation for medical bills, both present and future, that are related to the accident
- Compensation for repair or replacement of damaged property, such as your car
- Payment for lost wages due to the accident
- Pain and suffering due to the accident
Punitive Damages in a Drunk Driving Accident
In drunk driving accidents, Texas law allows you to receive punitive damages as well as compensatory damages. Punitive damages punish the drunk driver’s gross negligence. The jury will determine what punitive damages, if any, are applicable to your case, and they must be unanimous in their decision.
Contact one of our Plano Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers Today
If you’ve been injured because of a drunk driver, you need drunk driving accident lawyers with experience in these special personal injury cases. During your FREE consultation, we will ask you a detailed questions about your accident and the extent of your injuries. Our Plano drunk driving accident lawyers need to gather this information so that we can help you decide on the next steps in your case. Call us at 469-998-4069, or fill out the contact form on the right, and someone will get back with you shortly.
