Drunk drivers must be stopped. When a drunk driver causes a needless death or injury, the Law Offices of Steven D. Urban’s drunk driving attorney will fight for compensatory and punitive damages for the victims. Drivers who are under the influence of alcohol or drugs cause more than a thousand deaths on Texas roads each year. If you have been injured in an accident involving a drunk driver, our attorney will help you establish liability against the intoxicated driver and will attempt to recover maximum compensation on your behalf. You should not have to pay medical costs for injuries sustained in a DUI accident caused by another driver. Drivers who make the irresponsible decision to drive while intoxicated or with impaired ability due to alcohol or drugs should be held accountable for the harm they cause.
Drunk driving is a serious national problem that tragically affects many lives. Last year, according to the NHTSA, there were 10,874 alcohol-impaired driving fatalities in the United States. Drunk drivers cause 29% of all motor fatalities, one every 50 minutes. In fact, about one-third of all traffic fatalities involve drivers whose abilities have been significantly diminished by drinking or drug use. Two in every ten Americans will be involved in an alcohol related crash at some time in their lives. Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) calls alcohol-impaired driving the most frequently committed violent crime in America. While the criminal court system can punish a drunk driver who caused the accident, it often does very little to compensate the victims.
In order to help compensate victims, deter drunk driving, and punish impaired drivers who cause accidents, Texas law provides that, under certain circumstances, victims can recover punitive damages from drunk drivers in addition to compensatory damages. Damages for personal injury caused when driving while intoxicated often cannot be discharged in bankruptcy. In some circumstances, the persons or businesses who furnished the alcohol, or the drunk driver’s employer, may be held liable as well.
If you have been injured or a family member has died in an accident involving an intoxicated driver, you have the right to recover compensation for the compensation for the damages suffered, and possibly punitive damages. You have the right to hold those responsible for the harm they have caused, whether the injury or death occurred in a car accident, motorcycle accident, bicycle accident, truck accident, pedestrian accident, or any other type of mishap or conduct.
Talk to one of our experienced Texas injury attorney if you or a loved one has been injured in a crash with a drunk driver in Austin or elsewhere in Texas. For several decades, The Law Offices of Steven D. Urban has fought for injured Texans. I recognize that serious injuries can disrupt your life and leave you unable to work for months or longer. Let us help. My DUI injury attorney understand how to build a case for full compensation and how to negotiate effectively with insurance companies. When you hire one of our drunk driving accident attorney to handle your Texas drunk driving accident case, we can take some of the weight off your shoulders and leave you free to recover from your injuries and move on with your life. My drunk driving accident attorney will navigate the complexities of the Texas legal system on your behalf.
A drunk driver will face criminal fines or jail time if convicted of alcohol-related charges. Criminal cases are intended to punish the dangerous driver and protect the public. But a criminal conviction of the drunk driver often will not provide any compensation to you as the accident victim. You will need to file a separate civil lawsuit against the motorist who injured you to seek compensation. A civil lawsuit seeking monetary compensation is a separate action from any criminal prosecution of a drunk driver.
A civil action against the drunk driver and his or her insurance company also has a lower burden of proof compared with a criminal case: a preponderance of the evidence. Every case has unique facts and considerations. A knowledgeable Texas injury attorney at The Law Offices of Steven D. Urban will review the facts of your DUI accident and discuss whether you have a valid claim against the drunk driver. Texas law requires that motorists carry liability insurance to pay for damage they cause. You may file a claim against the drunk driver’s insurance. If the insurance company refuses to provide fair compensation, you may need to file a lawsuit. When the evidence shows that it was more likely than not that the drunk driver’s negligence caused the accident, he or she can be found liable for wrongful death.
The Law Offices of Steven D. Urban is an Austin accident law firm that pursues cases involving accident injury or death claims against individuals, insurance companies, corporations, and the government. Cases involving the serious injury or death of a loved one caused by the senseless and negligent acts of an intoxicated driver are among the most heart-rending situations we can face with my clients. I aggressively pursue drunk drivers to hold them accountable, while providing compassionate, personal and attentive hands-on service, and a sincere commitment to victims of drunk driving accidents and drunk driving wrongful death.