Dallas Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer
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Date Last Updated: April 11, 2025
Drunk driving is a reckless crime that endangers the lives of all others on the road, and it continues to cause many injuries and deaths. If a drunk driver caused harm to you or a loved one, an experienced personal injury attorney can help you seek full and fair compensation for your injuries.
Accident cases involving drunk drivers are often more complex than you’d expect. The insurance company may deny liability or try to shift blame onto you. Our Dallas drunk driving accident lawyers know how to hold these reckless individuals accountable for their actions. When you turn to Shamieh Law, we’ll build a compelling case and negotiate with the insurers on your behalf. Contact us today to learn more in a free, no-obligation consultation.
You Can Trust Our Drunk Driving Accident Attorneys to Skillfully Handle Your Case
Our Drunk Driving Accident Case Results
Our founder, attorney Ramez Shamieh, is one of the few attorneys selected as a member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. He leads our all-star team of injury attorneys. Below are some of the case results we have obtained for our clients under his leadership:
- $1 million settlement – Our client suffered a broken femur, disc herniations, and a traumatic brain injury in a drunk driving accident.
- $450,000 settlement – A family of three, including an infant, were victims of a three-car crash caused by a drunk driver.
- $325,000 settlement – Our client suffered major injuries from riding in a vehicle with a drunk driver who pulled out in front of a semi-truck.
What Compensation Can I Recover in an Accident Caused by Drunk Drivers?
The value of your personal injury claim after being hit by a drunk driver can vary widely based on the extent and severity of your injuries and losses. That said, there are three main types of compensation you can receive through a personal injury lawsuit:
- Economic damages – This form of damages compensates for financial losses you incurred from the accident, including medical treatment, lost wages, lowered earning potential, and property damage.
- Non-economic damages – This compensates for the intangible or non-quantifiable impact the accident had on your life, including physical pain, mental suffering, emotional distress, and lowered quality of life.
- Punitive damages – Also known as exemplary damages, punitive damages are awarded to deter future reckless behavior and to punish drunk drivers for malice, fraud, or gross negligence.
How Long Do You Have to Sue a Drunk Driver in Dallas?
In Texas, the deadline to file a drunk driving accident lawsuit is two years from the date of injury or death .
While there are a few exceptions to this strictly enforced rule, failure to file before the deadline normally results in the court dismissing your case. Therefore, getting in touch with a drunk driving injury attorney as early as possible is the best way to get your case started on a strong footing.
Who Can You Sue in a Drunk Driving Accident Lawsuit in Dallas?
Drunk drivers are the most obvious liable parties in DWI injury claims, but they are not always the only ones. Sometimes, negligent third parties can also be held responsible for a drunk driving accident, including:
- The driver’s employer – If a drunk driver hits you while working in the course and scope of their job, such as a delivery driver, their employer may be on the hook for compensating you.
- The establishment that sold alcohol to the driver – In some cases, the Texas Dram Shop Act allows injury victims to sue alcohol vendors for injuries if they sold the alcohol to someone visibly intoxicated who later caused an accident.
- Social hosts – An event host or party planner who served alcohol to an unrelated minor can also be held liable for drunk driving accident injuries caused by the minor.
- Car manufacturer or seller – A manufacturer or distributor can also be held liable for injuries sustained in an accident if there were defects in their products, such as faulty safety belts and airbags.
How Do You Prove Liability in a Drunk Driving Accident Lawsuit?
You must present evidence establishing the at-fault party’s responsibility to secure compensation through a lawsuit. Obtaining evidence can sometimes be difficult, such as if the police didn’t immediately respond to the scene. It can also be relatively straightforward, such as if a traffic or security camera recorded the accident.
Importantly, you must prove your claim by a preponderance of the evidence, meaning that you must show that it’s more likely than not that the defendant was responsible for the accident.
In most personal injury cases, you must also prove that the at-fault party was negligent, meaning they failed to take reasonable care to avoid harm to others. Drunk driving is a clear violation of this duty of care, so evidence of impaired driving can help us prove negligence. Under Texas law, a person is driving while intoxicated as soon as alcohol affects their driving ability. A blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent or higher is also evidence of drunk driving.
Common Injuries Caused by Accidents with Drunk Drivers
Drunk driving is a serious problem in Texas and throughout the country. In 2023 alone, Dallas reported 93 suspected serious injuries and 72 fatalities resulting from DUI accidents. Meanwhile, Arlington reported 38 serious injuries, Fort Worth reported 26 serious injuries, and Irving reported 20 serious injuries that same year.
Injuries commonly reported in incidents like these include the following:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Broken bones
- Neck and back injuries
- Burns
- Soft-tissue injuries, such as sprains, strains, tears, and bruises
- Whiplash
- Internal bleeding and organ damage
- Spinal cord injuries
- Amputations and permanent disability
- Wrongful death
Texas Drunk Driving Laws
Drunk driving laws in Texas define intoxication as having a blood alcohol concentration above 0.08. However, being physically and mentally impaired by alcohol or other mind-altering substances behind the wheel, even if you do not reach the 0.08 threshold, can still count as driving while intoxicated.
Driving under the influence is a criminal offense initially categorized as a misdemeanor. However, depending on the circumstances, the offense can be elevated to a felony. For example, multiple DWI convictions or driving drunk with a child passenger can result in felony charges.
As part of the state’s criminal case against the drunk driver, Texas law allows the courts to order the defendant to pay restitution. In drunk driving cases where the defendant causes the death of a parent, Texas law also allows the courts to require the defendant to pay child support to the victim’s children.
Of course, criminal prosecution does not address the pain suffered by accident victims. However, Texas law allows you to pursue civil actions against negligent or reckless drivers. After filing a claim and successfully proving the defendant’s liability for a DUI crash, a court can order that they pay you compensation.
Texas Drunk Driving Statistics
Drunk driving in Texas caused approximately 65 crashes every day in 2023. The state’s rate of drunk driving deaths decreased by 15 percent from the previous year, but it still causes far too many accidents.
Statewide in 2023, drunk driving caused the following :
- 549 deaths
- 1,290 suspected serious injuries
- 4,331 suspected minor injuries
- 4,074 other possible injuries
- 17,202 crashes
What Our Dallas DUI Accident Lawyers Can Do for You
Personal injury lawsuits are complex and require the attention of a skilled attorney. When you partner with Shamieh Law, you can expect us to:
- Ensure you don’t pay out of pocket for injuries you didn’t cause.
- Inform you on what to expect throughout the legal process.
- Evaluate your drunk driving case to calculate how much you are owed.
- Investigate the accident and gather all available evidence to prove your claim.
- File your drunk driving accident claim and other required documents before all-important deadlines.
- Handle all communication and negotiations with insurance companies to ensure you receive full and fair compensation.
- Reject insufficient settlement offers from the insurance company ,
- Take your case to trial if the insurance company fails to offer a settlement that fully compensates for your losses.
Contact the Dallas Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers at Shamieh Law for a Free Case Evaluation
Our Dallas drunk driving accident attorneys are ready to evaluate your case, gather evidence, investigate the governing law, negotiate with insurers, and take your case to court when necessary. We are here to help.
If you were involved in an accident with a drunk driver, speak with an attorney as soon as possible. The sooner you do, the more time they will have to build a strong personal injury claim on your behalf. Remember that time is of the essence.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with the award-winning team at Shamieh Law.
