Drunk driving accidents are a big problem in San Antonio and Texas. We’ve all heard countless stories of tragedies that occur as a result of someone choosing to drive after having too much to drink. According to the latest statistics from the Texas Department of Transportation, in 2010, 1,075 deaths occurred as a result of a drunk driving accident. Drunk driving accidents in the same year were the direct cause of injuries to nearly 16,000 people. These are deaths and injuries that should not happen.
Tell our personal injury attorneys in San Antonio about your car accident in a free consultation!
If you or a loved one has been the victim of a drunk driver, call The Aguirre Law Firm in San Antonio, Texas. We will assist you in making sure the drunk driver, or in some instances, the establishment that served the driver too many drinks, is accountable. Unfortunately, insurance companies attempt to treat drunk driving accidents as ordinary accidents when it comes to determining how much compensation a victim should receive. This is grossly unfair. Juries do not like drunk drivers and hold them accountable. They do so in the form of large jury verdicts against drunk drivers. Don’t settle for just medical bills and property damage if you’ve been the victim of a drunk driver. You are entitled to much more. Call the San Antonio car accident lawyers at The Aguirre Law Firm and we will strive to maximize your recovery.
Our attorney Alex Aguirre has over 20 years of experience working with intricate personal injury claims, including drunk driving accidents in San Antonio. As a small law firm, we offer personalized legal representation that is tailored to the needs of each client. Our attorneys have received much recognition for their achievements including a Super Lawyer rating from Thomson Reuters, membership in the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, and a 10/10 rating on Avoo. Lastly, we proudly represent the Hispanic community and are committed to supporting the local San Antonio area.
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“My experience with Aguirre Law firm was extremely positive. Everyone was respectful, courteous, considerate, professional, empathetic and resourceful. Never once did I doubt their expertise. They continued to give my case appropriate attention, with continued communication to me and where my case was at. I appreciate all that they have done for me with my case. I will always refer people to Aguirre Law Firm!”
Kateri L.
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“Mr. Aguirre and his staff did a great job for me in my personal injury case. They obtained a very favorable settlement on my behalf. What I appreciated the most was that my case was given the care and attention it deserved. I never felt like it was just being handled by a case manager without any involvement with the attorney. In fact my attorney was involved every step of the way and routinely took my calls. It was personalized service rather than assembly line type service.”
Theresa M.
Alcohol significantly impacts a person’s ability to operate a motor vehicle. The National Highway Traffic andSafety Administration cites four critical driving skills critically affected by alcohol consumption.
These are as follows:
Alcohol affects driving after one drink. The only ways to avoid alcohol affecting one’s driving are to:
Contrary to popular belief, coffee, and cold showers do not affect sobriety.
Texas operates under a comparative fault system. In a comparative fault system, each party to an accident is assigned a percentage of responsibility for that accident.
A party’s percentage of responsibility may be anywhere from 0-100%. Any party whose percentage of responsibility is higher than 50% may not recover monetary damages in a personal injury case
A victim found partially liable for an accident will have any monetary damages reduced by their percentage of responsibility
For example:
A drunk driver may be partially or totally at fault for a drunk driving accident, depending upon the accident circumstances. A victim seeking compensation must prove the drunk driver was impaired and responsible for the victim’s accident-related losses to recover damages.
Proving fault in a personal injury case requires a victim or their attorney to build a strong case that the drunk driver was negligent. There are four components to a drunk driving negligence case.
These four components are:
The victim must prove it was the drunk driver that caused their accident-related damages. Otherwise, there is no personal injury case against the drunk driver. A San Antonio drunk driving accident lawyer can help you establish causation.
There are situations where parties other than the drunk driver can be held liable for a drunk driving accident. An accident victim may even have a claim against more than one party for their injuries.
The state of Texas allows victims of drunk drivers to file dram shop claims. A dram shop claim is a personal injury claim against an establishment that sells alcohol to a person who is intoxicated
A social host may be liable for a drunk driving accident. If a person throws a party and serves alcohol to a non-related minor and that minor causes a drunk driving accident, the person throwing the party may be responsible.
If a vehicle or vehicle system malfunction was partly responsible for the accident, the parts manufacturer or vehicle manufacturer may also be liable for a victim’s injuries.
An experienced car accident attorney will identify any sources of accident liability when conducting their case investigation. If a drunk driver’s case is dismissed or found not guilty in a criminal case, that does not excuse them from liability in a civil claim.
Texas has a Zero Tolerance law regarding minors and alcohol consumption. No one under 21 may legally consume alcohol in Texas
Anyone under 21 who consumes any amount of alcohol and operates a motor vehicle, boat, plane, or midway ride is subject to criminal charges. The .08% blood alcohol content legal limit of intoxication does not apply to minors.
The criminal penalties a minor faces depend upon whether there are any aggravating circumstances and if they have prior drinking and driving offenses. Penalties range from fines, community service, and alcohol awareness classes to jail time and imprisonment.
Drunk driving accidents can leave victims frustrated, confused, and unsure of where to turn for help. An accident victim has to deal not only with physical recovery but also with the financial, emotional, and mental stress associated with accident-related losses.
An experienced San Antonio drunk driving attorney can be an invaluable asset in the fight for fair accident compensation. They can also act as an advocate and guide throughout the entire drunk driving claims process.
At The Aguirre Law Firm, PLLC, we want drunk driving accident victims to have the best legal representation possible at the most affordable rates. That is why our attorneys review drunk driving accident claims in a complimentary consultation.
During the initial, free consultation, The Aguirre Law Firm, PLLC, will answer any pressing legal questions about a drunk driving accident claim. We will also review our contingency fee agreement with a future client, explaining our fee structure.
The Aguirre Law Firm, PLLC, accepts drunk driving accident claims without collecting a retainer or any upfront fees for our services. Instead, we operate on a contingency fee basis. This means The Aguirre Law Firm, PLLC, only charges for legal services when we win money for our client.
A drunk driving accident consultation and representation by The Aguirre Law Firm, PLLC, is risk-free. Do not wait to speak with one of our compassionate, knowledgeable drunk driving accident attorneys in San Antonio. Call The Aguirre Law Firm, PLLC, today!
Call the drunk driving accident attorneys at The Aguirre Law Firm at (210) 405-4637 today so that we can explore all available options if you or a loved one has been injured or wrongfully killed as a result of a drunk driving accident in San Antonio.