Carrollton Drunk Driver Accident Lawyer
When a Drunk Driver Shatters Your Life, You Deserve Relentless Advocacy
A split-second decision by a drunk driver can change your life forever—leaving you with severe injuries, emotional scars, and financial burdens that feel insurmountable. If you’ve been injured in a drunk driver accident in Carrollton or anywhere across Texas, you’re likely facing a long road to recovery, both physically and emotionally. At Carrollton Injury Law, we understand the profound impact these preventable crashes have on victims and their families, and we’re here to help you pursue justice and seek the compensation you need to rebuild.
Drunk driving accidents aren’t just accidents—they’re acts of reckless negligence that cause untold harm. You might be dealing with broken bones, a traumatic brain injury, or the loss of a loved one, all because someone chose to get behind the wheel impaired. At Carrollton Injury Law, we believe in putting the personal back into personal injury law. Our team is dedicated to standing by your side, fighting for your rights, and holding drunk drivers accountable with compassion and determination.
The Tragic Toll of Drunk Driver Accidents in Texas
Drunk driving remains a persistent and deadly problem on Texas roads. According to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), there were 1,163 fatalities from alcohol-related crashes in 2022, accounting for 25% of all traffic deaths in the state that year. These numbers reveal a grim reality: every 20 minutes, someone in Texas is injured or killed in a drunk driving crash. In areas like Carrollton, Dallas, and Fort Worth, where traffic is heavy and nightlife thrives, the risk is even greater.
These statistics aren’t just numbers—they represent lives torn apart. A family outing might end in tragedy when a drunk driver runs a red light, a late-night commute could turn deadly when an impaired motorist swerves into your lane, or a pedestrian stroll might lead to catastrophic injury when a driver loses control. When someone’s reckless choice to drive drunk causes your harm, you have the right to hold them accountable. At Carrollton Injury Law, we’ll fight to pursue compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more, ensuring you’re not left to bear the burden alone.
Common Causes and Consequences of Drunk Driver Accidents
Drunk driving accidents are entirely preventable, yet they continue to devastate lives due to negligence and poor decision-making. Here are some common factors contributing to these crashes and the consequences victims often face:
Impaired Judgment and Reaction Times
Alcohol slows reaction times, impairs coordination, and clouds judgment. A drunk driver might fail to brake in time, misjudge distances, or swerve erratically, leading to catastrophic collisions. Even a small amount of alcohol can significantly increase the risk of an accident—the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) notes that a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08%, the legal limit in Texas, doubles the likelihood of a crash.
Reckless Behaviors
Drunk drivers often engage in dangerous behaviors like speeding, running red lights, or driving the wrong way on highways. These actions make it nearly impossible for other motorists or pedestrians to avoid a collision, even with defensive driving.
Late-Night and Weekend Risks
Many drunk driving accidents occur late at night or on weekends, when people are more likely to drink at bars, parties, or social gatherings. This puts everyone on the road at risk, especially during peak hours like 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Failure to Enforce Accountability
Bars, restaurants, or hosts who overserve alcohol can contribute to drunk driving accidents. Under Texas’s dram shop laws, establishments or individuals who provide alcohol to an obviously intoxicated person can be held liable if that person later causes a crash.
The consequences of a drunk driver accident can be life-altering. Victims often suffer:
Severe injuries like broken bones, spinal cord injuries, or traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
Internal injuries, such as organ damage or internal bleeding
Emotional trauma, including PTSD, anxiety, or depression
Permanent disabilities or disfigurement
Loss of life, leaving families to grieve and face financial hardship
At Carrollton Injury Law, we’ll work with medical experts, accident reconstruction specialists, and law enforcement to document the full extent of your injuries and the drunk driver’s negligence, building a compelling case to pursue the compensation you deserve.
The Physical, Emotional, and Financial Impact of Drunk Driver Accidents
A drunk driver accident doesn’t just cause physical harm—it affects every aspect of your life, often leaving you with challenges that last for years. Here’s how these crashes typically impact victims:
Physical Pain and Recovery
Injuries from drunk driver accidents can range from minor to catastrophic. Common injuries include:
Fractured bones requiring surgery or immobilization
Head injuries, such as concussions or TBIs, leading to cognitive or motor impairments
Spinal cord injuries causing partial or complete paralysis
Cuts, burns, or road rash leading to scarring
Internal injuries requiring emergency surgery
Recovery can be a long and painful process, often involving multiple surgeries, physical therapy, or ongoing medical care. For severe injuries, you might face permanent disability, chronic pain, or limited mobility, drastically altering your daily life.
Financial Strain
Medical expenses can skyrocket after a drunk driver accident—emergency room visits, diagnostic tests (like MRIs or CT scans), surgeries, and rehabilitation all come with a steep cost. If your injuries prevent you from working, you might lose wages or even your career, creating a ripple effect on your finances. The National Safety Council estimates that the average cost of a motor vehicle injury exceeds $80,000 when factoring in medical care, lost productivity, and other expenses.
Emotional Distress
The trauma of a drunk driver accident can linger long after the physical wounds heal. You might feel anxious about driving or riding in a car again, suffer from nightmares or flashbacks, or struggle with depression due to your injuries or financial stress. Emotional distress, including PTSD, is common after serious accidents, particularly if they result in visible scars, long-term disability, or the loss of a loved one.
Long-Term Consequences
Some injuries lead to permanent changes, such as reduced mobility, cognitive impairments from a TBI, or chronic pain. These consequences can affect your ability to enjoy hobbies, care for your family, or maintain your career, significantly impacting your quality of life.
At Carrollton Injury Law, we understand the full scope of these challenges. We’ll fight to pursue compensation that covers not only your immediate expenses but also your future needs, ensuring you’re not left struggling alone.
Why Choose Carrollton Injury Law for Your Drunk Driver Accident Case?
When you’re dealing with the aftermath of a drunk driver accident, you need more than just a lawyer—you need a compassionate advocate who will fight for you like family. Based in Carrollton, Texas, we serve clients across the state, including Addison, Dallas, Denton, Frisco, Fort Worth, Plano, and beyond. Our attorneys have decades of experience handling drunk driver accident cases, and we know the local courts, the laws, and the stakes involved.
What sets us apart? We put the personal back into personal injury law. When you work with us, you’re not just a case number—you’re a person with a story, a struggle, and a future we’re committed to protecting. Here’s why families across Texas trust us:
Personalized Attention
We take the time to understand how your accident has impacted your life—physically, emotionally, and financially. We’ll listen to your concerns, answer your questions, and tailor our approach to meet your unique needs.
Thorough Investigation
Building a strong drunk driver accident case requires meticulous evidence. We’ll investigate the crash, gathering police reports, breathalyzer or blood test results, witness statements, dashcam footage, and expert opinions from accident reconstruction specialists to prove the driver’s impairment and negligence.
Aggressive Advocacy
Insurance companies often try to minimize payouts, even in clear-cut cases of drunk driving. They might dispute the severity of your injuries or offer a lowball settlement that doesn’t reflect your losses. We won’t let them take advantage of you. Our attorneys are skilled negotiators and trial-ready litigators who will fight to pursue maximum compensation, including punitive damages when appropriate, to hold the drunk driver accountable.
Understanding Drunk Driver Accident Claims in Texas
Drunk driver accident cases often involve both civil and criminal proceedings. While the state may prosecute the driver for DUI, you have the right to file a civil claim to seek compensation for your damages. Here’s what you need to know about the process:
Texas Drunk Driving Laws
Texas has strict laws against drunk driving. It’s illegal to drive with a BAC of 0.08% or higher, and penalties include fines, jail time, and license suspension. If a drunk driver caused your accident, their criminal conviction can strengthen your civil case by proving negligence per se—meaning their violation of the law directly led to your harm.
Dram Shop Liability
Under Texas’s dram shop laws, bars, restaurants, or social hosts who overserve alcohol to an obviously intoxicated person can be held liable if that person later causes a crash. For example, if a bartender continued serving a visibly drunk patron who then crashed into you, the establishment could share responsibility.
Types of Compensation Available
In a drunk driver accident case, you may be eligible to pursue compensation for:
Medical expenses (past and future)
Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
Pain and suffering
Emotional distress
Loss of enjoyment of life
Costs of rehabilitation or long-term care
Punitive damages, in cases of extreme recklessness, to punish the driver and deter future misconduct
Proving Negligence
To succeed in your claim, we’ll need to prove that:
The drunk driver owed you a duty of care (e.g., to drive safely and obey traffic laws).
They breached that duty by driving under the influence.
Their breach directly caused your injury.
You suffered damages as a result, such as medical costs or emotional harm.
Statute of Limitations
Texas imposes a two-year statute of limitations on most personal injury claims, including drunk driver accidents, meaning you have two years from the date of the crash to file a lawsuit. Waiting too long could bar you from seeking compensation entirely. Additionally, evidence like toxicology reports or witness testimonies can fade over time, so acting quickly is crucial.
What to Expect When You Work with Carrollton Injury Law
We know that pursuing a legal claim can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re already dealing with the physical and emotional toll of a drunk driver accident. That’s why we strive to make the process as seamless and stress-free as possible. Here’s what you can expect:
Step 1: Free Injury Claim Evaluation
We’ll start with a no-cost, no-obligation injury claim evaluation—either in person at our Carrollton office or virtually if_you’re elsewhere in Texas. You’ll have the chance to share your story, and we’ll explain your options in clear, straightforward terms.
Step 2: Case Investigation
If you choose to move forward, we’ll dive into the details of your case. This includes collecting evidence like police reports, BAC test results, medical records, and expert opinions from accident reconstruction specialists to document the crash and the driver’s impairment.
Step 3: Building Your Claim
Using the evidence we gather, we’ll construct a comprehensive claim that accounts for all your damages—past, present, and future. We’ll calculate the full cost of your medical care, lost income, and emotional suffering to ensure nothing is overlooked.
Step 4: Negotiation or Litigation
Most drunk driver accident cases settle out of court, but insurance companies often play hardball. We’ll negotiate aggressively to pursue a fair settlement, including exploring dram shop liability if applicable. If they refuse to offer what you deserve, we’re prepared to take your case to trial and fight for justice in front of a judge and jury.
Throughout this process, you’ll have a dedicated team by your side, keeping you informed and supported every step of the way.
Call to Action: Let Us Fight for Your Recovery and Justice
A drunk driver accident can leave you feeling broken and betrayed, but you don’t have to face this alone. At Carrollton Injury Law, we’re committed to helping you seek the justice and compensation you deserve. Don’t let a reckless driver’s actions define your future—reach out today for a free injury claim evaluation. Let us fight for your healing while you focus on moving forward.
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Find expert help with a Carrollton drunk driver accident lawyer at Carrollton Injury Law. Serving Dallas, Denton, and all of Texas, we pursue compensation for injuries from DUI crashes. Free injury claim evaluation—contact us today!
FAQs
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At Carrollton Injury Law, we work on a contingency fee basis. That means you pay nothing upfront—we only get paid if we recover compensation for you. This allows you to focus on recovery without worrying about legal fees.
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The timeline for a drunk driver accident case varies depending on its complexity. Some cases settle in a few months, while others may take a year or more, especially if they go to trial or involve dram shop claims. We’ll work as efficiently as possible while ensuring your case is as strong as it can be.
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Even if the drunk driver lacks insurance, you may still have options. We can explore your uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage, pursue dram shop liability, or seek other sources of compensation. We’ll leave no stone unturned to secure the recovery you deserve.
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