Hit by a Drunk Driver in Texas? What To Do Next!
If a drunk driver hits you in Texas, you may have the right to file a personal injury lawsuit against the driver. The other driver’s violation of Texas’s drunk driving laws shows negligence, which is a requirement for winning a personal injury award. Here are some steps you should follow after this type of crash.
Alert Law Enforcement
Report the Texas DUI accident to first responders as quickly as possible. If you have suspicions about the other driver’s intoxication level, report the drunk driver when you speak to officers after they arrive at the scene. Officers will probably test the other driver’s intoxication level anyway, but your report can help them be on the lookout for signs of intoxication.
Seek Medical Treatment
Always seek medical treatment, whether you ride to the hospital in an ambulance after the crash or visit a doctor on your own later. An official medical examination from a doctor gives you steps to follow to recover your health after the car crash. Having a record of your injuries is also important in any personal injury lawsuit you file. The severity of your injuries plays a role in your potential financial award amount.
Some injuries in drunk driving car accidents don’t become obvious until several hours after the fact. Seeing a doctor as soon as possible afterward may alert you to the early signs of these injuries, helping you recover faster.
Call a Drunk Driving Accident Personal Injury Attorney
Hiring an intoxicated injury accident lawyer to represent you can provide several benefits.
Seeking a Financial Award
You should not have to suffer financial hardships related to your injuries from the accident. Your personal injury attorney in Texas can try to help you win an award that includes payments for the following:
- Current and future medical bills
- Current and future lost wages
- Pain and suffering
Investigating the Accident
Injury attorneys will investigate the circumstances that led to the accident. To have a chance to win an injury lawsuit for you, your lawyers must be able to show that the other driver’s actions were negligent. This means that if the other driver had chosen to behave differently — such as by choosing not to drink and drive — your injuries wouldn’t have occurred.
Although your attorneys will rely on the police report from Texas law enforcement officials, further evidence collection may be necessary.
A personal injury claim is a civil case separate from any criminal proceedings. Even if the driver doesn’t have the .08% blood alcohol content level that’s required for a drunk driving conviction in Texas, your attorney’s investigation may still show that the driver’s alcohol consumption caused the crash.
Starting Negotiations
When you hire a drunk driving accident injury law firm, your lawyers speak with the insurance company for you and begin negotiations for a financial settlement. They will also represent you before a judge at trial if they cannot reach a settlement.
Call Our Injury Lawyers If You Were Hit by a Drunk Driver
After suffering injuries in a drunk driving accident that was not your fault, you can attempt to seek a financial reward for your hardships. Trust the experience of the team at The Dow Law Firm to fight tirelessly for your personal injury award.
We will keep your drunk driving claim moving forward in pursuit of a fair settlement award for you as quickly as possible. For a free consultation after a drunk driver hits you, call our DUI injury lawyer today at (512) 240-9951 or contact us online.