by Tim O’Hare
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Under Texas law, drunk drivers can be criminally prosecuted. Drivers caught driving while intoxicated can face jail time, fines and have their license revoked. The state will also prosecute drunk drivers who cause an accident, and the severity of their sentence may be dependent on whether or not injury or death resulted from the crash.
Drunk drivers who cause injury to another individual can face intoxication assault charges, and could spend up to 10 years in prison. Drunk drivers who cause an accident in which a victim dies face intoxication manslaughter charges and could spend up to 20 years in prison. (Read more about Texas drunk driving laws and penalties here.)
Unfortunately, charges pressed on a drunk driver by the state will do little for the victim, other than ensuring another drunk driver was taken off the road, hopefully preventing another accident. If you have been injured or your property was damaged as the result of an accident caused by a drunk driver, you have the right to be compensated for your losses.
These losses may include:
- Hospital bills
- Expense of ongoing medical care
- Repair or replacement of damaged property
- Physical and mental therapy
- Lost wages
- Loss of life
As the victim of a drunk driving accident, or the family of a person killed in a car crash caused by a drunk driver, you have the right to sue the trunk driver to recover your losses. In Texas, under the Dram Shop Act, victims of drunk driving accidents can even sue the bar or restaurant who served the drunk driver for partial compensation.
Ultimately, we know that there is no monetary compensation that can ever replace the loss of a loved one, but it is important that the victim’s family does not bear the financial burden of medical and funeral costs alone.
If you have been injured in an accident caused by a drunk driver, or you have lost a family member due to drunk driving, contact the experienced legal team at The Law Offices of Tim O’Hare. We will help you receive all due compensation for your injury and loss.
Call The Law Offices of Tim O’Hare for your FREE Case Evaluation
972-960-0000 or Toll-Free 888-960-0020
