Houston Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer

If you have the misfortune of suffering injuries in a car crash a drunk driver was responsible for you are eligible for reimbursement. You should not be responsible for covering the cost of your damages because of someone else’s poor decision. It is important to understand, however,  that this type of compensation claim will be treated a bit differently by that driver’s insurer than if intoxication was not to blame. In fact, you will have more bargaining power with the insurer to receive the settlement you deserve.

Get in touch with a seasoned injury law firm to make sure you receive every dollar to which you are entitled after a drunk driving accident in Houston. Call (281) 623-1906 today to schedule a free consultation

What Should I Do After An Accident With A Drunk Driver?

Following any DUI crash in Houston, Texas, it stands to reason that your immediate focus will be on physical recovery and reclaiming your former quality of life. Your well-being is our priority as well, and we understand that the injuries that result from these kinds of accidents are often far more serious simply due to the reckless and unpredictable nature of drunk drivers. As such, if you or someone you love is harmed by an intoxicated motorist, we urge you to take the following steps:

Call Law Enforcement

Remember that it is vital for the Harris County Sheriff or the Houston Police Department to come to the scene of the crash as soon as possible. They will be able to assess whether the other driver is indeed intoxicated and take them into custody if that is the case. This step is critical because not only should such individuals face consequences for colliding with you, they also need to be prevented from leaving the scene and posing an additional danger to others on the road.

Call an Ambulance

If you suspect that injuries have occurred, it is important that you be examined immediately by emergency personnel and transported to the hospital, if need be.

Take A Video Of The Other Motorist

If possible, try to secure footage of the motorist with your phone. You can do this while you are obtaining that driver’s insurance information, or even if he or she is stumbling around. Ask whether you can take video as the person provides identification and insurance information.

Take Photographs

Always be sure to take pictures of all vehicle damage, the other motorist’s insurance information, driver’s license, and even the other car’s license plate.

Avoid Negotiating With Insurance Companies Without An Attorney

Personal injury claims in which a drunk driver is involved are rather more involved than in typical crashes. Get in touch with a skilled vehicle accident attorney right away who can help with your injury claim.

Do I Need To Talk To Insurance Carriers Right After A Drunk Driving Crash?

Insurance companies are well aware that victims of drunk drivers are permitted to seek enhanced damages, including punitive damages. As such, insurers will attempt to reach a settlement with you as soon as possible, perhaps before you enlist the help of a DUI accident lawyer. They take this type of action to avoid paying you the full value of your injury claim.

Our team has an impressive track record of assisting those harmed in drunk driving accidents across the Houston area. We are committed to pursuing justice and compensation on behalf of individuals hurt by others due to no fault of their own. If a loved one has been killed in an accident involving a drunk driver, we are ready and willing to help in wrongful death cases as well. This is undoubtedly a trying time, and our aggressive legal representation is designed to increase your chances of recovering compensation, and to hold responsible parties accountable for your loss.

Kinds Of Drunk Driving Matters We Handle In Houston

There are many scenarios that can give rise to a drunk driving case. It could be that you are unaware that this area of the law is relevant to your situation, but there are often scenarios in which a drunk driving case does not follow the typical pattern. It may be that your crash was caused by someone who was under the influence of crack, cocaine, marijuana, prescription or other kinds of drugs. While such a driver may not be drunk as the term is generally understood, you can still pursue compensation on the basis of DWI or DUI statutes. A drugged motorist is functionally the same thing as a drunk one.

Perhaps your injuries were sustained while you rode a bicycle, motorcycle, scooter, or perhaps you were even a pedestrian at the time. In these situations, you also have the opportunity to secure a personal injury attorney to seek compensation on your behalf.

Research has revealed that operating a vehicle with even a small amount of drugs or alcohol in the bloodstream can boost the risk of a crash.

The Growing Problem Of Drunk Driving Crashes In And Around Houston

Skilled, seasoned Houston DUI crash lawyers will diligently pursue compensation so that you receive the maximum benefits available in your case. Our team has achieved impressive results for a large number of vehicle accidents, with drunk driving crashes being an area of specific focus.

It is often possible to obtain compensation meant to pay for things such as medical costs, rehabilitation expenses, lost wages, reduced earning capacity and more. We understand just how devastating these kinds of crashes can be to every aspect of your life, and we are committed to providing the help you need.

When a negligent drunk driver causes serious injuries or worse, you are entitled to seek accountability, justice and financial recovery. While there is no dollar amount that can restore your sense of security, it is vital that you receive the monetary resources to facilitate the best possible recuperation process. The aftermath of a serious injury accident can leave you feeling vulnerable and uncertain about what to do, but the insights of a knowledgeable car accident attorney can go a long way toward helping you get back to normal.

We pledge to bring all of our experience to bear in fighting for your right to compensation, but also for your right to see justice done. Given that Texas is home to a significant number of dangerous drivers, including those who often drive while intoxicated, it is critically important that you have aggressive legal advocates on your side. This is particularly true given the fact that Texas is nationally ranked as one of the most dangerous states in terms of the frequency of drunk driving occurring on its roadways..

How Can A Drunk Driving Crash Lawyer Help?

McDonald Worley employs a team of attorneys ready and willing to pursue every category of damages against drunk drivers who cause injury to others. Our investigatory processes are second to none.

We take the time necessary to learn exactly what occurred at the time of the accident and precisely how drunk the other driver was. We probe the other driver’s existing criminal and driving records to determine whether this was a repeat offense. We secure police accident reports and keep a close watch on any criminal prosecution of the driver that may result. We will interview witnesses, glean evidence from criminal proceedings, review documentary evidence and more. We will determine whether there are other parties besides the driver who may share in the liability for the harm you sustained, including those who may have provided excessive amounts of alcohol or negligently employed the driver responsible for the crash.

We Work With You

Our lawyers want to understand your perspective on what occurred at the time of the crash as well as the innumerable ways the injuries suffered have impacted your life. If a loved one died in a drunk driving crash, we want to understand how the death has affected your life.

We Fight For You

Insurance carriers are notorious for attempting to lowball injury victims and offer them far less than their claims are actually worth. There are too many times where an insurance carrier continued to sell policies to drivers who should never have been on the road due to their habitual drunk driving. Our lawyers are prepared to take insurance companies on directly in your name so that maximum financial recovery can be obtained. If the facts of your case give rise to a claim for punitive or exemplary damages, we will not hesitate to vigorously pursue that kind of recovery as well.

Does Buzzed Driving Count As Drunk Driving?

In the state of Texas, there is a .08 percent blood alcohol content limit. Thus, anyone over that threshold is considered to drunk to drive. Individuals at this level pose a much greater risk of causing an injury accident than other drivers. By 2004, the .08 standard was adopted in every state in the country due to the fact that the federal government decided that states that were less strict in this regard would lose highway funding as a result. The federal government is now urging states to adopt an even lower threshold – .05 percent blood alcohol content.

The recommended lower threshold is the subject of great debate, given that many individuals reach that level after just a drink or two. However, research indicates that there is a greater risk of car crashes among drivers who have consumed even a limited amount of alcohol.

A British Medical Journal-published study recently showed that motorists who measured just .01 percent blood alcohol content had a greater chance of being deemed to blame in auto accidents. The conclusion was, in essence, that buzzed or even slightly buzzed drivers pose more of a risk to others on the roadways than those who have had no alcohol at all.

What Is The Deadline For Making Claims Against Drunk Drivers?

Texas has a two-year statute of limitations for bringing compensation claims of this type. Though litigation may be the last thing on your mind in the days and weeks following a serious car crash, you must bear in mind that your claim does have an expiration date. Almost as soon as you begin the healing process, you can bet that the other driver’s insurance company is already plotting ways you evade paying you the full amount of your claim.

Contact Our Injury Attorneys Today!

If you are among those who have suffered life-changing injuries due to a drunk driver, the lawyers at McDonald Worley want you to understand that you are not alone. Never accept an insurance settlement before talking to us first, because chances are that you will not receive the full amount you are due by simply going it alone.

The McDonald Worley team is prepared to leave no stone unturned when it comes to seeking monetary recovery on your behalf. For your no-cost, no-obligation case review, call us at (281) 623-1906 or submit your information through our convenient online portal. Always keep in mind that we work on a contingency fee basis, and therefore you will owe no legal fees whatsoever unless we recover damages in your case.