With Labor Day Weekend approaching, it is important to discuss the necessity of safe driving. Holiday weekends such as these are exciting and often involve various celebrations. Most of the time, these celebrations include drinking. Safe driving requires all individuals to not operate a vehicle while they are under the influence of alcohol. The failure to do so can result in severe accidents and injuries. Injured parties can pursue legal action due to the negligence of the drunk driver. Continue reading below to learn more and contact an experienced Texas personal injury attorney if you were injured in a drunk driving accident.
What Should I do After a Drunk Driving Accident?
The first thing that should be done after a drunk driving accident is to contact the necessary emergency services. This includes medical assistance as well as the police. When the police arrive on the scene, they can draft an official police report. However, it is still important for the individual to collect as much evidence as possible for their case. This can include taking pictures or video of the scene, talking to witnesses and gathering their contact information, etc. Medical services can conduct examinations on the scene, although it is important to see a doctor for an official diagnosis, as this can also be used as evidence for a claim.
What Do I Need to Know About Dram Shop Laws?
In Texas, the law holds people and establishments liable for serving intoxicated individuals under dram shop laws. This prohibits bars, restaurants, vendors, etc., from serving or selling alcohol to a person who is either already intoxicated or under the age of 21 years old. If a person is visibly intoxicated, establishments are required to refuse service. If they fail to do so and the intoxicated person goes on to cause an accident, they can be held liable in a third-party lawsuit.
How Long Do I Have to Sue?
It is important to note that anyone involved in a drunk driving accident can pursue legal action. This does not only mean a person in another car, but the passenger of a drunk driver as well. When pursuing legal action, it is important to keep the statute of limitations in mind. This is a deadline that the injured party is required to file a personal injury claim by, otherwise they may lose their chance to receive compensation. In the state of Texas, the statute of limitations is two years from the date of the injury.
Contact our Firm
If you or someone you know has been wrongly injured, you must not wait. Our firm is ready to help you through each step of the legal process to help you recover the financial compensation you need to move on with your life. We are ready to help–all you have to do is contact Brock & Goetzmann, PLLC today.
