Every driver on the road has a responsibility to follow the traffic laws, focus on driving, and operate the vehicle safely. Driving under the influence of alcohol limits one’s ability to do all of these things and is an extremely dangerous choice. According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), drunk drivers injure someone every two minutes.

When a driver operates a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, judgment is impaired, reaction time slowed, and the driver runs a higher risk of causing collisions. If a drunk driver hurts another Texas motorist, the victim is entitled to hire an Austin drunk driving accident attorney and seek compensation for immediate injuries and the lasting results.

Many state and local law enforcement organizations take extra precautions during certain times, such as weekend nights, holidays, and during festivals and concerts, to limit drunk driving accidents. While DUI checkpoints may deter some from driving under the influence, they are not a foolproof method of prevention and many people still choose to drive while intoxicated.

Results of Driving Under the Influence

Drunk driving is responsible for many serious and deadly collisions. Drunk drivers are not able to make quick decisions or react appropriately to split-second changes on the road. Alcohol also impairs motor coordination, so drunk drivers may not realize how fast they’re going or how far they are from other vehicles and obstructions. Drunken driving accidents often occur at high speeds and have a higher rate of injury than accidents involving sober drivers. At high speeds, traffic collisions can result in:

Winning a Claim Against a Drunk Driver in Texas

If a drunk driver injures you, having a reliable Austin car accident attorney experienced in DUI accident cases may be crucial to obtaining a fair settlement. Some of the most important pieces of evidence will be the initial police accident report and the hospital’s medical report detailing the injuries you sustained.

Most states require the police be called for any traffic collision, and the responding officers will document the scene. If they suspect the other driver was driving under the influence, they will administer a sobriety test. If the test shows the other driver is intoxicated, the police will record this information in their report. When it comes time to make a claim, your attorney will gather the necessary evidence.

Your attorney should explore every possible channel for compensation. Depending on the severity of your injuries, you may be eligible to collect damages for:

  • Medical expenses
  • Costs of future surgeries, ongoing treatments, or necessary physical therapy
  • Pain and suffering
  • Lost income from time away from work due to your injuries
  • Compensation for reduced quality of life in case of permanent disability
  • Wrongful death, in which case your loved ones will collect damages for your fatal accident

At Ross • Scalise Employment Lawyers, our Austin drunk driving accident lawyers believe there is never a good excuse for driving under the influence of alcohol. There is usually an alternative to endangering one’s life and the lives of others on the road, which is why we believe that people who make irresponsible and selfish choices such as driving drunk need to be held accountable for the damage they cause.

Consult an Aggressive Austin Drunk Driving Accident Attorney

If you’ve been injured by a drunk driver, contact Ross • Scalise Employment Lawyers to schedule an initial legal consultation with one of our accomplished attorneys. We’ll go over the details of your situation and talk about how we can aggressively pursue justice on your behalf while you focus on what matters most – healing.