Most people are hopefully aware of the dangers of driving under the influence, but thousands of drunk driving accidents occur in the United States every year. In Texas alone, each year there are over 20,000 automobile accidents caused by intoxicated drivers. If you were injured by a drunk driver, you may be wondering about the steps to filing a liability claim. Read on to learn more about the seriousness of driving under the influence and how our Corpus Christi, Texas Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer can help you.
Why is drunk driving so dangerous?
The consumption of alcohol directly impacts the brain, especially the areas that control motor skills and vision. Here are some of the immediate effects an intoxicated person may experience:
- Coordination loss
- Lowered reaction time
- Poor judgment
- Blurred vision
- Decreased peripheral vision
- Inability to concentrate
All of these are vital skills required for operating a motor vehicle. Anyone experiencing reduced sensory perception and an impacted nervous system would not be able to drive safely. Intoxicated people often lack the ability to make safe decisions, leading to drunk driving accidents.
What should I do in a drunk driving accident?
The first thing you should do if involved in an automobile accident is to call the police. In drunk driving accidents, it’s even more important to file an official report because normally the police will perform a breathalyzer on the driver to determine their BAC. This is their Blood Alcohol Concentration, and it’s basically a way to see how much alcohol the driver has in their system. Having the driver’s BAC at the time of the accident is crucial in filing a personal injury claim. If the driver’s BAC is higher than 0.08, they are immediately given a DUI charge (driving under the influence). Other important evidence includes hospital records showcasing the extent of your injuries, witness statements, and more. Per Texas’s statute of limitations, you have two years from the date of your accident to file a claim.
What are Texas’s Dram Shop Laws?
In some states, a dram shop can be held liable in the event of a drunk driving accident. A dram shop is a legal term for any establishment that serves alcohol. This means that if a bar serves a visibly intoxicated person and that person causes a drunk driving accident, the bar could be held accountable in court along with the drunk driver. In Texas, individual party hosts cannot be held liable for drunk driving accidents, unless the drunk driver was a minor. Dram shops in general are much more likely to be found liable if they served alcohol to a minor. For legal assistance in the event of a drunk driving accident, contact Sahadi Legal Group in Corpus Christi for trusted service today!
