It’s summertime and people are letting loose, going on vacation, and just generally ready to have some fun. With the 4th of July just around the corner, plenty of Valley-ites are going to be hitting the beach, cooking out, and likely celebrating with a few drinks.
Unfortunately, for some, a few drinks can turn into a reckless night. When these irresponsible individuals decide to hit the road after a night of heavy drinking, they put the lives of others at risk. A drunk driving accident can change the lives of victims in a single instant and take them down a painful path of recovery.
At the Ryan Solis Law Group, we work hard to hold drunk drivers accountable. Depend on us if you have been involved in a car accident involving a drunk driver.
Drunk Driving Laws in Texas
The Texas Department of Transportation states that someone is hurt or killed every 20 minutes in an accident involving alcohol. EVERY 20 MINUTES someone loses a loved one. Someone’s life changes forever.
In Texas:
- A person who is legally intoxicated can be arrested and charged with Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) if their blood or breath alcohol concentration is at .08 or higher.
- It is illegal for anyone under 21 to have any trace of alcohol in his/her system.
- Commercial drivers may not have more than a .04 BAC.
Although you may assume that the drunk driver is the sole responsible party for your accident, that’s not always the case. Texas law recognizes the role of liquor-serving establishments like bars, clubs, liquor stores, convenience stores, and restaurants in drunk driving accidents.
Dram Shop Liability
Dram shop liability holds establishments where alcoholic drinks are sold and consumed liable for injuries resulting from over-consumption. In Texas, dram shop laws make it illegal for these types of establishments (i.e bars) to sell alcohol to individuals who are obviously drunk.
Establishments can be sued if:
- It can be proven that the drunk driver was obviously intoxicated but was still sold alcohol.
- The selling of said alcohol to the patron contributed to an accident.
- A minor suffered injuries as a result of being sold alcohol.
- If it is determined that the establishment was MORE than 50 percent responsible for an individual’s injuries.
Proving that a bar or establishment was negligent and contributed to your car accident can be complicated, this is why it is important to contact the dependable McAllen drunk driving accident attorney at the Ryan Solis Law Group.
The Sad Truth About Drunk Driving in Texas
Auto accidents with drunk drivers are, unfortunately, way too common in Texas. As per the Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility:
- In 2017, there were 1,468 alcohol-impaired driving fatalities.
- 173 under 21 alcohol-impaired driving fatalities in 2017.
- 64,784 arrests for individuals driving under the influence.
- 22.5 percent of all fatal DWI accidents occur between 1 a.m. to 3 a.m.
Suffice to say that one death is one too many when it comes to accidents caused by drunk drivers.
