Have you been injured by a drunk driver in Katy? If so, you need to discuss things with a DUI accident lawyer in Katy. Drunk drivers are a major safety hazard, and losses from an accident can leave you in severe pain and great financial distress. You deserve a chance to recover your losses and hold negligent drivers accountable.
AK Law Firm Accident & Injury Lawyers has over two decades of legal experience and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for injured clients. We believe in smart and strategic solutions and have a track record of winning high-value cases. Let us help you get your life back on track.
Call our offices or contact us online to discuss your case with a Katy car accident lawyer.
Most importantly, we can provide invaluable negotiation leverage. We know how insurance companies operate and can push back on them if they try to dispute or deny your injuries. We won’t let insurers lowball our clients and can keep you updated and in the loop through it all.
For a free legal consultation with a dui accident lawyer serving Katy, call (866) 693-7098
DUI Laws and Penalties in Katy, TX
Texas defines driving while intoxicated (DWI) as operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content (BAC) level greater than 0.08%. For underage drivers under the age of 21, it’s illegal to drive with any amount of detectable alcohol in your system.
First- and second-offense DWIs are generally treated as misdemeanors and third offenses as felonies. However, a first or second offense can be a felony if aggravating circumstances are present.
A DWI conviction is an important piece of evidence in a DUI accident case. A conviction shows that the driver was, in fact, drunk when the accident happened and is therefore negligent and liable for injuries.
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Businesses Can Be Liable for Overserving Alcohol
Drunk drivers aren’t the only party who can bear liability for a DUI accident. Texas has dram shop laws that can hold businesses like bars and clubs liable if they overserve patrons. If a business overserves a visibly drunk patron and they go on to drive, the business could be liable for any injuries the driver causes.
For example, if a patron had been heavily drinking all night, the bar has a legal duty to cut them off and not overserve them. Bars need to watch for intoxicated customers who may pose a clear danger to themselves or others.
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Compensation You Can Recover After a DUI Accident Lawsuit
Depending on the circumstances of your accident, a DUI accident lawyer in Katy from our firm can pursue financial compensation for all of your injury-related losses. Compensable losses may include the following:
- Emergency medical bills and future medical expenses
- Loss of work income and employment benefits/accruals
- Diminished lifetime earning capacity due to permanent impairment
- Cost of replacement services and miscellaneous injury expenses
- Pain and suffering, emotional distress, and mental anguish
- Loss of life quality from scarring and disfigurement
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Exemplary Damages in Drunk Driving Accidents
Texas sometimes allows exemplary damages, also called punitive damages, in personal injury cases. Exemplary damages may be awarded when it’s demonstrated that the offender acted with fraud, gross negligence, or malice. Drunk driving likely meets the bar for gross negligence, meaning your lawyer may be able to pursue exemplary damages.
Punitive damages in Texas are generally capped at $200,000 or three times your economic damages, whichever is greater. However, these caps may not apply in specific drunk driving cases that involve a felony crime, such as manslaughter.
Deadline for Suing a Drunk Driver for Injuries
Texas’s time limit on general personal injury lawsuits is two years from the accident date. If your injuries weren’t immediately obvious, the timer instead starts from the date you discovered your condition. The main exception to this rule is for injuries involving minors, in which case the clock starts on their 18th birthday.
Even though you have two years, you shouldn’t wait until the last minute to get started. Delays in medical care and evidence collection can greatly harm your chances of recovering full compensation. A lawyer can start your claim quickly and expedite timelines.
Contact a Katy DUI Accident Lawyer Today
A single drunk driver can change your life in an instant, leaving you in severe financial and emotional distress. We believe that drunk drivers should be held accountable for the harms they’ve caused. AK Law Firm can be your legal advocate and fight for your interests and well-being.
Contact our offices online or call us today to discuss your case with a Katy DUI accident lawyer. Consultations are free, so there is no risk to getting in touch.
Call or text (866) 693-7098 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
