Drunk Driving Accidents

Drunk driving is a major problem in Texas.

Each year in Texas, wrecks involving a drunk driver kill more than 1,500 people, representing over 45% of all motor vehicle fatalities.¹ If you are injured or have lost a loved one in a wreck caused by a drunk driver, you have the right to be compensated.

Drunk Driving is illegal in Texas and every other state. Drivers are legally drunk if they have a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or above. An average adult will be legally intoxicated after as few as two or three beers or alcoholic drinks. Unfortunately, many people decide to ignore the law and get behind the wheel of a car after consuming this amount or even much higher amounts of alcohol. The decision to risk your own life and the lives of others and drive drunk endangers is reckless and dangerous. Drunken driving wrecks can easily be devastating and usually involve high rates of speed causing serious injuries from broken bones, brain injuries or even death.

DO NOT SETTLE WITHOUT FIRST TALKING TO A LAWYER

There is NEVER an excuse for drunk driving. Drunken driving wrecks are not “accidents.” They are the result of many terrible decisions on the part of the drunk driver. Jurors know that the same drunk driver could have hit them, so they identify with the victim. They know that the drunk driver knowingly broke the law and put innocent people in danger. As a result, juries are not usually sympathetic to drunk drivers in court. Insurance companies know this, and they will do all they can to sweep these cases under the rug, and they know that with an aggressive lawyer on your side, they will be forced to pay you a lot of money.

Insurance companies often contact victims quickly after the wreck and offer them an insultingly low amount of money, usually less than 5 percent of the value they estimate the case to be worth. They may even come to your house and hand you a check on the spot in exchange for your signature on a form that releases their driver and their company from ever paying you anything else.

Do not sign anything and don’t let yourself be talked into taking an unfair settlement offer from an insurance company. Chances are if they are trying to settle your case quickly, it’s because they want to settle it before you talk to a lawyer and get an idea of what your case is actually worth. Before signing anything, call Chalaki Law, P.C.  to set up a free, no-obligation consultation. My staff and I will meet with you and explain your options. Recovering from your injuries is difficult enough. Let us handle the insurance company to get you the maximum possible recovery.

¹ Source: Drunk Driving Statistics: MADD – Texas