If you have been injured in a crash caused by a drunk driver, you may be entitled to significant compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and the other impacts the wreck has had on your life. That said, it’s critical to your financial recovery that you seek assistance from an experienced lawyer.
A seasoned attorney from Zinda Law Group will have the knowledge and resources necessary to help you seek full damages for all of your economic and non-economic losses. And as one of our clients, you will pay nothing unless we win your case.
How do I File a Drunk Driving Personal Injury Claim?
Drunk driving is a very serious crime that should not be taken lightly. The State of Texas will often punish drunk drivers by filing a criminal case against them. However, you should be aware that you have the right to hire an Austin car accident lawyer and file a civil lawsuit against the driver that caused the crash.
Even if the state files a criminal case while you are filing a civil lawsuit, they can still result in different verdicts and consequences for the defendant. This is where our attorneys can help. They’ll take the actions necessary to hold the offending driver liable for your accident-related losses. Here’s what they can do to ensure your case goes as smoothly as possible:
Offer a Free Consultation
If you attempt to make a claim without an Austin drunk driving car accident attorney, you may miss vital steps or unintentionally accept a lower offer from the insurance company. Fortunately, our lawyers make getting the help you need incredibly easy. To get started on your case, you only need to meet with a lawyer from our team for a free consultation.
During your consultation, your attorney will ask you about the facts of your case and inform you of the best route forward.
Investigate the Accident
To prove that the offending driver was at fault, your attorney must conduct an investigation of the collision and collect important evidence. They’ll analyze the evidence they find and use it to build a strong claim on your behalf. The following pieces of evidence will be of use to them and may make the difference between a failed claim and a winning suit:
- The driver’s Blood Alcohol Level (BAC) from a blood test or breathalyzer
- Photos and footage of the collision and its aftermath
- Testimony from accident reconstructionists
- The official crash report
- Witness testimony
- Your medical records
- Other documents and records
Pursue a Settlement
Once all evidence has been compiled and a drunk driving car accident attorney from our team in Austin has established an approximate value of your case, they will proceed to negotiate with the other side’s insurance company.
If your attorney settles your case at the negotiating table, they’ll talk you through receiving your settlement check. If an agreement is not reached here, then your case will proceed to trial. That said, the majority of personal injury claims are settled before reaching a trial. If your case does go this far, your attorney will be with you each step of the way.
Whether we’re able to reach a fair settlement or if we have to fight for your compensation in court, we’ll do everything we can to get a payment that covers the full value of your medical bills, income losses, pain, and the other challenges you’ve faced due to the incident.
John (Jack) Zinda
Founder / CEO
Over 100 years of combined experience representing injured victims across the country.
Available 24 / 7|Free ConsultationBenefits of Taking Legal Action After a Drunk Driving Accident in Austin
There are many benefits to filing a civil lawsuit against a drunk driver. The first and foremost is being able to collect damages. If your lawsuit is successful, the settlement may result in financial compensation for you and your family. This compensation can cover several different losses and provide the financial support you need to make it through this challenging time.
Justice
Filing a civil lawsuit also ensures that justice is served to the individual who chose to drive under the influence of alcohol. If they were served alcohol at a bar or restaurant, that establishment could also be held responsible, depending on certain circumstances.
Compensation
One of the most important benefits you’ll enjoy from a successful claim is your compensation. When you work with our Austin drunk driving car accident lawyers, they’ll ask you about all the financial losses, struggles, and inconveniences you’ve had to deal with due to the collision.
Based on the information, medical bills, and other records you provide, our team will calculate the value of your case. Then, they’ll make sure the settlement or court verdict you receive matches the figure they initially calculated. Depending on how the accident has impacted your life and livelihood, a successful case could yield any of the following damages:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Cost of emergency ambulance transportation and hospitalization
- Cost of rehabilitative therapy
- Vehicle repair expenses
- Lost wages
- Decreased earning ability
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
CASE RESULTS
Neil Solomon
Partner
Real results matter. We do not get paid unless we win your case.
Available 24 / 7|Free ConsultationFiling a Claim After a Fatal Drunk Driving Collision
If your spouse or family member has been taken from you in a sudden and tragic drunk driving crash, our hearts go out to you and your family. Losing a loved one can be one of the hardest challenges you’ll ever experience, but the team at Zinda Law Group is here to help you deal with the emotional fallout and financial aftermath of such an incident.
Our Austin wrongful death lawyers can investigate the collision your loved one was involved in, calculate the value of your case, and demand that you receive the following damages:
- Funeral costs
- Burial expenses
- The decedent’s end-of-life medical care expenses
- Loss of inheritance
- Loss of financial support
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Punitive damages, if applicable
We understand that you’ll need time to process your emotions, submit to the grieving process, and gather with loved ones to celebrate the life of the deceased. That’s why our team will gladly take on the entirety of your case, giving you the time and space you need to deal with your loss.
Jason Aldridge
Attorney
Standing by 24 hours a day, 7 days a week ready to answer in your time of need.
Available 24 / 7|Free ConsultationHow Long does It Take to Settle a Drunk Driving Injury Claim?
The time it takes to settle a drunk driving injury claim will heavily depend on the details of your case. Since the insurance company knows that you probably have a lot of bills to pay and deadlines to meet, it will likely offer a low amount early on in the settlement process in an attempt to avoid paying you what you’re truly owed.
It is ultimately your decision as to whether you accept a settlement offer from them at the early stages of your case, but our drunk driving car accident lawyers from Austin advise against it. They’ll likely be able to negotiate with the insurer to get your settlement raised substantially.
Texas’ Statute of Limitations
When discussing how long your claim will take to conclude, it’s also important to talk about how long you have to file a car accident lawsuit in Texas. That’s because all personal injury claims are subject to legal time limits, meaning that there is a set time in which a person can file a claim after an accident.
The statute of limitations for personal injury claims in Texas is two years after the date of the accident. This may seem like a lengthy amount of time, but it is important to file your claim as soon as possible, as claims may be less successful as time goes on.
To ensure you meet the two-year filing deadline, you’ll want to reach out to our Austin drunk driving car accident lawyers ASAP. They’ll be able to take over your case and work hard to get all the necessary paperwork submitted on time.
Cole Gumm
Attorney
We are here to ensure you won’t have to face this difficult time alone.
Available 24 / 7|Free ConsultationTexas Impaired Driving Laws
If you’re pursuing a civil suit for injuries and losses suffered in a drunk driving crash, it may be helpful for you to learn more about Texas’ impaired driving laws. While our drunk driving car accident attorneys from Austin can provide all the legal information and representation you need at this time, you might want to consider the following state laws:
- A blood alcohol content (BAC) level of 0.08% or more is considered over the legal limit for driving.
- The legal limit for drivers with commercial licenses is 0.04% or higher.
- Texas has a zero-tolerance policy for underage drinking and driving. Drivers who are under 21 years old will face impaired driving penalties if they are found to have any percentage of alcohol in their system while driving.
- Even if a driver’s BAC is below the legal limit, law enforcement can still charge them with a DWI if the alcohol in their system is affecting their ability to drive safely.
- Having an open container in your vehicle is illegal in Texas.
Get Help from Our Skilled Austin Drunk Driving Car Accident Attorneys
At Zinda Law Group, we understand how painful and stressful it is to suffer through an accident, and our firm wants to be there to assist you during this difficult time. We make it our business to educate our clients on what their rights are so that they can make informed decisions about their cases.
We are dedicated to protecting our clients’ rights and fighting aggressively for what they deserve. Our mission is to obtain maximum compensation on your behalf and make your life as stress-free as possible after an accident. Contact our firm and schedule a free consultation with an experienced Austin drunk driving car accident lawyer to get started on your case.
Our Awards
AWARDED TO JOHN C. (JACK) ZINDA BY THE NATIONAL TRIAL LAWYERS ASSOCIATION (2016-2020)
AWARDED TO JOHN C. (JACK) ZINDA (2009, 2011-2012, 2014-2021), & NEIL SOLOMON (2020-2021)
AWARDED TO JACK ZINDA (2016-2020)
LIFETIME MEMBERS JOHN C. (JACK) ZINDA
Jason Aldridge
Attorney
We have successfully represented clients in a wide variety of cases across the country.
Available 24 / 7|Free Consultation
