Suffering injuries or losing a loved one in a car accident is never easy, but discovering that a drunk driver was responsible can be outright infuriating. Considering that these crashes are completely senseless and 100 percent preventable, it seems almost insulting to call them “accidents” — and after decades of safety campaigns spreading awareness of the dangers and consequences of drunk driving, no one can say they didn’t understand what was at stake when they consumed alcohol and got behind the wheel.
Sadly, thousands drive under the influence in Texas each year. Drunk drivers cause more than 20,000 crashes annually. If you’re in Houston, you probably aren’t surprised to learn that Harris County consistently has more DUI-involved collisions than anywhere else in the Lone Star State.
When a drunk driver injures you or kills someone you love, they must be held accountable—but parallel criminal cases and powerful insurance companies working to keep their expenses low can make seeking justice challenging. Fortunately, you’ve come to the right place for skilled and stalwart personal injury representation.
Tireless Representation for Texas Drunk Driving Accident Victims
Terry & Thweatt, P.C. provides unwavering support and legal guidance for clients seeking recoveries in Texas drunk driving personal injury and wrongful death litigation. Our accomplished Houston-based trial lawyers fight tirelessly for the compensation you and your family deserve when a drunk driver turns your life upside down—leaving you facing devastating injuries, mounting financial losses, or grieving and planning a funeral for a loved one. We help clients go head-to-head with big insurers—and win.
Drunk Driving Crashes Can Lead to Particularly Complex Litigation
Though they often involve two or more passenger vehicles, drunk driving accidents are anything but typical fender benders. Here’s what sets these cases apart, how the difference might affect your injury or wrongful death recovery, and how we can help you navigate the legal complexities to obtain justice and an optimal outcome.
Drunk Driving Is a Serious Crime
Drunk driving crashes can spur parallel criminal investigations and prosecutions that can impact the timing of your civil case and recovery. Keep in mind that:
- Criminal and civil cases are separate, so you could still be entitled to compensation even if the district attorney declines to bring DUI charges against the driver or the individual accepts a plea or is found not guilty in the criminal matter.
- While prosecutors must prove the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt in criminal cases, the burden of proof in civil cases only requires plaintiffs to show that their claims are more likely than not.
- The information and evidence gathered in a criminal DUI case could help support your civil drunk driving injury or wrongful death claim.
Alcohol-Related Crashes Can Have Catastrophic Consequences
Drivers who are under the influence of alcohol have decreased judgment, attention, and reaction times. They may also be more likely to speed, become distracted, or fall asleep behind the wheel. As a result, drunk drivers often don’t even try to slow down or avoid a collision, leading to fatalities or potentially life-altering injuries that pave the way for policy-limit settlements or sizable financial awards.
Protecting Your Right to Recovery
Our Texas catastrophic injury attorneys relentlessly pursue justice for drunk driving crash victims and their families. This includes:
- Conducting a thorough investigation
- Assessing and organizing medical bills and other damages
- Handling civil litigation and keeping you apprised of the parallel criminal case, if applicable
- Coordinating with law enforcement, insurers, defense lawyers, accident reconstructionists, medical professionals, and other experts
- Analyzing and negotiating settlement offers
- Preparing your case for trial and presenting it in court
Depending on the evidence in your case, your recovery could include compensation for:
- Medical expenses, including the estimated cost of future care
- Lost wages and reduced or lost earning potential
- Property damages
- Out-of-pocket costs
- Physical pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Reduced quality of life
Families of wrongful death victims could be entitled to compensation for damages incurred due to their loved one’s death.
Our Houston Drunk Driving Personal Injury Trial Lawyers Will Fight for You
At Terry & Thweatt, P.C., our legal team fights to deliver the justice and financial recovery clients deserve following a Texas drunk driving injury or wrongful death crash. We’re determined to outwork the opposition in every case! Contact us online or call 713-600-4710 to request a free initial consultation.