Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers in Fort Worth, Texas

The Dangers of Drunk Driving

Alcohol can impair your ability to drive safely.  Driving safely requires you to be focused, be alert, and make smart decisions.  Under the influence of alcohol, it may be harder to coordinate your movements while driving or to see the road clearly.  Alcohol affects your ability to perform these skills quickly and safely, which puts yourself and others at risk of a car accident.

Decreased Focus

Alcohol can affect concentration and make it difficult to focus on driving safely.  Driving requires following traffic rules such as the speed limit, changing lanes safely, merging properly, and observing traffic signs and signals.  Alcohol can make you tired, which decreases your ability to focus, and your attention span may be shorter.

Decreased Alertness

Alcohol may affect your reaction time, which is an important skill when driving.  Drivers have to remain alert to any changes in the road conditions and react to other drivers.  Drivers who have been drinking may be easily distracted.  Decreased alertness can cause the drunk driver to get into an accident.

Poor Judgment

Drunk drivers often cannot make sound decisions because this ability has been affected by alcohol.  Drivers who have been drinking have already made a poor choice to drive.  Additionally, making quick judgments when driving is important because vehicles are large and heavy objects that are moving quickly, and they require careful control.  For example, a driver has to be able to respond appropriately when another driver cuts off their car.

Poor Coordination

Any amount of alcohol can affect your coordination and make it more difficult to move.  Driving requires coordination of the eyes, hands, and feet to operate the vehicle safely.  Not being able to control your movements due to the alcohol makes driving especially dangerous.

Poor Vision

Alcohol can affect your vision, and those who have been drinking excessively may have bloodshot and red, watery eyes.  Alcohol may make your vision blurry or impair your eye movement.  Driving with poor vision is extremely dangerous.

What to Do When You are Hit by a Drunk Driver

Drunk driving is a serious and dangerous crime that can lead to severe injuries or death for innocent drivers.  The following steps should help guide you as to what you should do when you are involved in a drunk driving accident.

1. Contact the Police

Call 911 immediately after you get your car and yourself to a safe place.  Police will be dispatched to your location along with any necessary medical assistance.  Let the dispatcher know what happened and if anyone is injured so that they can send the appropriate supplies.  When the police arrive, allow them to document the accident and take your statement to generate a report.

2. Document the Scene

Make sure to collect any evidence that you can while you are still at the scene.  This includes taking photographs of your car, any injuries you may have, and of other cars involved in the accident.  You may also want to collect contact information from the other driver and any available witnesses at the scene.  Take note of the weather and traffic conditions to have an accurate record of what happened.

3. Report the Accident to Your Insurance

Call your insurance company and let them make a record of the accident.  It is important to document as much information as possible because this will be essential later should you decide to file a claim.  Gather the insurance information of all other drivers involved in the accident.  Some or all of your damages and expenses may be covered by the other driver’s insurance.

4. Seek Medical Treatment

After you have completed the steps above and it is safe to leave the scene, seek medical treatment immediately for yourself and any passengers.  Even if you do not think that you are hurt, it is important to see a doctor to determine if you have any hidden injuries, such as internal bleeding.  You may also not feel injured at the time due to adrenaline.

5. Contact a Drunk Driving Lawyer

An experienced drunk driving lawyer may help you determine the best course of action.  The experienced lawyers at Zinda Law Group have the knowledge and resources to help our clients seek the maximum compensation possible.

Learn More: Why Hiring a Lawyer Will Help Your Case

Filing a Claim

Drunk driving is a selfish and reckless act, and the driver should be held accountable.  It is a criminal violation to drive drunk, but you can bring a civil lawsuit to assert your own rights.  Should you decide to file a claim, you may seek certain types of damages, depending on your situation.  These may include:

• Property damage to your car
• Medical bills and treatment, including any future physical therapy
• Lost wages from missing work
• Compensation for any mental or emotional pain
  

Statistics and the Consequences of Drunk Driving

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, almost 30 people every day die as a result of drunk driving accidents.  Drunk driving claims 10,000 lives per year.  Drunk driving is a preventable crime, yet people choose to drive drunk every day.  Men are more likely than women to drive drunk, and men are more likely to cause a fatal crash.

Drunk driving caused $44 billion in damages in 2010.  In 2014, more than 1.1 million drivers were arrested for drunk driving.  Drunk driving accounts for almost one-third of all traffic-related deaths.

In Texas, first-time offenders may face a $2,000 fine, 180 days in jail, and loss of their driver’s license for up to a year.  Second-time offenders face a $4,000 fine, a month to a year in jail, and loss of their driver’s license for up to two years.  Third-time offenders face a $10,000 fine, two to ten years in prison, and loss of their driver’s license for up to two years.  There may be additional fines and penalties depending on the circumstances.

How to Prevent Drunk Driving Accidents

Preventing drunk driving accidents requires planning ahead and being responsible when you or others drink.  The United States Department of Transportation recommends the following steps:

• If you are planning to drink, plan a safe ride home ahead of time. Choose a designated driver who will not drink or let someone else know to pick you up when you are done drinking.
• If you were not planning to drink, but find yourself drinking and unable to drive, make arrangements to get home and do not drive under any circumstance.
• If you know that someone has been drinking, do not let that person drive. Take away their keys if necessary and help find them a safe ride home.
• If you are hosting a gathering where alcohol will be served, it is your responsibility to make sure guests do not drink and drive. Offer your guests a place to stay or a safe ride home.
• Wear a seatbelt when driving. Wearing a seatbelt is one way to keep yourself safe against drunk drivers.
• If you suspect a drunk driver is on the road or you see someone getting into their car that has been drinking, call 911 and note their license plate number if possible.

Get Help from Our Fort Worth DRUNK DRIVING Accident Lawyers

At Zinda Law Group, our experienced Fort Worth lawyers have helped many drunk driving victims seek compensation after an accident.  Drunk driving happens every day, but Zinda Law Group may help you.  We have the knowledge and resources necessary to gather evidence, present a strong case, and challenge the big insurance companies.

Call us today at (800) 863-5312 for a free and confidential consultation with one of our Fort Worth drunk driving accident lawyers.  You will pay nothing unless we win your case.  That’s our No Win, No Fee Guarantee.

Meetings with attorneys are available by appointment only.