by Tim O’Hare
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Oftentimes, drunk drivers get off with only a slap on the wrist, but under Texas law, drunk drivers can be criminally prosecuted. Anyone caught driving while intoxicated could face jail time, fines and could even have their driver’s license revoked. Texas will also prosecute drunk drivers who cause an accident. In this case, 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 on Texas drunk driving laws and penalties here.)
Despite the hard drunk driving laws in Texas, while the drunk driver may be punished, the laws do little for drunk driving victims or their families. Texas laws are designed to keep drunk drivers off the road and prevent future accidents, but they give little care to ensuring that victims of drunk driving are compensated for their losses.
Victims of drunk driving do have the right to be compensated for their losses. If you have been injured or your property has been 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 also have the right to sue the drunk 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.
We understand 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 O’Hare and Koch Law Firm. We will help you receive all due compensation for your injury and loss.
Call O’Hare and Koch Law Firm for your FREE Case Evaluation
972-960-0000 or Toll-Free 888-960-0020
