Drunk Driving Accidents
Auto accidents from drunk driving in Dallas and Ft. Worth continue to cause an untold amount of hurt and suffering. Grieving family members or victims of drunk driving accidents must first see to their own health and recovery, and then let a Dallas accident attorney at Godsey-Martin, P.C. handle the rest. Sadly, thousands of drunk driving wrecks occur every year for one reason only: the driver had been drinking alcohol and slid behind the wheel of a vehicle. Despite tough Texas drunk driving laws, too many careless and negligent individuals continue to drink and drive, causing catastrophic injuries and deaths to hundreds every year. Our Texas personal injury lawyers can help the victims or families receive the compensation that is justly due to them.
The legal issues involved in drunk driving cases are extremely complex, and it’s best for Justin Martin and David Godsey, Dallas automobile accident attorneys, to work through your medical bills while enforcing your rights with the defendant’s insurance company and counsel. We’ll aggressively work for what you need so that you can get your life back and become active and productive again.
In reality, drunk driving is no accident. When an intoxicated person gets behind the wheel of any vehicle (which includes cars, trucks, motorcycles, RVs, boats and 18-wheelers, to name a few), the crime of driving under the influence, or DUI, is called intoxication assault and is classified as a 3rd degree felony. The Texas Penal Code defines intoxication assault as an offense committed by a person who, while operating a motor vehicle, causes bodily harm to someone as a result of that intoxication.
When our Texas personal injury lawyers get involved in in a drunk driving accident, criminal penalties will often apply to the driver in addition to civil damages. In some cases, along with the actual drunk driver, the party or parties who supplied the alcohol can also be held liable. This is known as “dram shop liability.” Under the Texas Dram Shop Act, a person who provides, sells or serves an alcoholic beverage to an individual will also be held liable for the drunk driving car accident caused by that individual if it was made apparent to the provider of the alcohol that the person was intoxicated “to the extent that he presented a clear danger to himself and others.”
Because drunk driving is a crime, people who are injured in drunk driving auto accidents are often able to recover at least some of their compensation from the Texas Crime Victims’ Compensation Fund. The TCVCF is most often used when the drunk driver does not have liability insurance. The Fund requires recipients to repay any funds if and when a settlement is reached.
If you are in need of a Dallas accident attorney, contact Godsey-Martin, P.C. today. You have rights and you need the protection of experienced drunk driving attorneys on your side.
