According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving, every two minutes, a person is injured in a drunk driving accident. Over half of drivers killed behind the wheel tested positive for drunk driving. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that 29 people die each day in drunk driving accidents. Drunk driving crashes that result in fatalities and injuries cost Americans an estimated $44 billion dollars each year. Thousands of accidents could be prevented if people drank responsibly. When drunk drivers get into accidents, they seldom hurt only themselves. They collide with other drivers who can get seriously injured. They hit bicyclists. They strike pedestrians.
The Lenahan Law Firm are drunk driving lawyers in Dallas, Texas who work with victims and families to help them seek damages for their medical expenses, rehabilitation expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. If you or a loved one was hurt in a drunk driving accident in Dallas, Texas, reach out to our firm today. We can review police reports, speak to witnesses and experts, work with insurance adjusters, and help you seek damages to the fullest extent permissible under the law. Contact the Lenahan Law Firm today.
Steps to Take If You Believe You’ve Been Hurt by a Drunk Driver in Dallas, Texas
The aftermath of a car accident can feel like a blur. If you were injured in the crash, you might be in pain and may be waiting for an ambulance to arrive. Or, you may be facing weeks to months of rehabilitation and recovery and may be wondering what your next steps should be. However, there are some important steps to take if you believe you’ve been hurt by a drunk driver in Dallas, Texas. Here are some things to consider:
- Always call the police. The police are trained to investigate accidents where drunk driving is believed to be a factor. Don’t assume that you’ll be able to tell whether a driver is drunk or not. People can sometimes be much more drunk than they look. The sooner the police arrive at the scene of the crash, the sooner they can test the other driver for drinking. Over time, a person’s blood alcohol concentration will decrease, so it’s wise to get the police involved as soon as possible. By calling the police, you also are helping to gather evidence to support a personal injury claim should you need to make one later.
- Get medical attention. Even if you think you might be okay, it is always wise to follow up with your doctor after any accident. Some injuries can take days or even weeks before their symptoms appear. Traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder may not always be diagnosed by emergency personnel at the scene of a crash. Furthermore, if police ask you if you are injured, ask to see a doctor. Sometimes adrenaline following an accident can hide the pain of your internal injuries, broken bones, strains, or whiplash.
- Get as much information from the scene of the accident as you can. Take photos. If you cannot move, ask a witness to take photos for you. Gather insurance information from the other driver and get the names and contact information of all witnesses.
- Contact the Lenahan Law Firm, drunk driving lawyers in Dallas, Texas. Our firm can help you navigate the claims process, speak to insurance adjusters, present evidence to insurers, and fight to help you get the compensation you may deserve for your injuries.
The hours, days, and weeks following a drunk driving crash are crucial if you or your loved one is to seek compensation for your injuries and losses. In the hours and days following your crash you’ll need to report the accident to your insurer and begin the claims process. In the days following the crash, you’ll need to gather evidence and decide whether you want to make a personal injury claim from the negligent drunk driver. Victims of drunk driving may also be entitled to receive money from local crime victims’ funds. The Lenahan Law Firm are drunk driving lawyers in Dallas, Texas who work closely with drunk driving victims in the hours, days, and weeks following their crashes to help them seek the maximum possible recovery under the law.
How Does Alcohol Use Affect Driving?
One of the factors that can determine the value of a car accident claim is the role of negligence each driver had in the crash. Alcohol use can seriously impair a driver’s reaction time, judgement, and other important faculties. Because of this, when a driver has been using alcohol and then gets involved in a crash, it is far more likely that insurers and judges will put the blame on the crash on the drunk driver. This usually means a larger possible recovery for victims and families of drunk driving.
Alcohol can lead to impaired reasoning, thinking, judgement, and muscle coordination—all of which are important skills to have while driving. While the police will arrest a person for drunk driving if his or her blood alcohol concentration is above 0.08%, any alcohol in a person’s system can impact judgement, coordination, and ability to drive. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, even one drink can result in impaired visual acuity. At 0.05% blood alcohol concentration, coordination is seriously reduced, a driver’s ability to track an object in motion is impaired, and drivers may have difficulty steering. A driver may also not be able to respond as quickly to emergency situations. While a blood alcohol concentration at this level might not result in an arrest, if an officer records this BAC after a crash, a victim may have a strong case when making a personal injury claim against a driver who is this intoxicated.
A driver doesn’t have to be arrested to face the consequences of his or her drinking. If even small amounts of alcohol are detected by police, your drunk driving lawyers at the Lenahan Law Firm in Dallas, Texas may be able to make a strong case to support a claim under the law. Drunk driving can leave victims suffering serious injuries, that may require weeks to months of rehabilitation. Victims might have to miss days or weeks from work and they may not be able to enjoy prior life activities. If you have been hurt due to the actions of a drunk driver, reach out to the Lenahan Law Firm in Dallas, Texas today.
Seek Justice in Dallas
By holding drunk drivers accountable for their actions, families send a strong message to the community: impaired driving will not be tolerated in Texas. The Lenahan Law Firm are drunk driving lawyers who offer compassionate and caring counsel to families whose lives have been impacted by drunk driving. Call us at (888) 473-2820 today to learn more about how we might be able to help you and your family seek justice after a drunk driving accident.