San Antonio ABC affiliate KSAT TV reports that a woman has been killed in a horrifying late night crash with a suspected drunk driver. The car accident occurred in the late hours of October 24th on interstate 37. The woman had run out of gas and was on the shoulder attempting to refuel the car when another vehicle ran into her. The driver of the other vehicle was arrested on the suspicion of drunk driving. DWIs are are serious problem in Texas. The non-profit Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility reports that 1300-1500 Texans are killed in accidents involving a drunk drivers each year. That represents a shocking 40 percent of all highway fatalities. Drunk driving is not acceptable under any circumstance, if you have been injured in a crash with an intoxicated driver you need to speak to an experienced San Antonio auto accident lawyer.
Texas has a Drunk Driving Problem
The 1300-1500 annual DWI related deaths is eye opening enough, but the data paints an even darker picture for Texas. The highly respected victim’s advocacy organization Mothers Against Drunk Driving reports that Texas leads the nation in average annual drunk driving deaths. The state legislature has recently started to pass some news laws to try to tackle this problem. One such law is the ignition-interlock law, which requires the installation of breathalyzers in the cars of convicted drunk drivers. A driver must exhale into the device before the car will start, if alcohol is detected the ignition will lock and the car will not be able to start. The law is a good step, with drunk driving costing Texas thousands of lives and billions of dollars annually, it is clear that we must continue to do more to address this problem.
Drunk Driving is Negligent
In Texas, personal injury law is based off of the legal concept of negligence. Essentially, you must prove that it was another party’s negligence that caused your injury to collect compensation. The goal of personal injury compensation is to make up for the damage that was caused to you. So the compensation you receive, is directly proportionate to your losses. For instance, in a typical car accident, you can collect compensatory damages for your medical expenses, your pain and suffering, your lost wages or any other loss you sustained. However, if you have been injured in an accident with a drunk driver, you may be entitled to additional compensation. Drunk driving goes beyond negligence and falls into a category known as gross negligence. Texas courts consistently award punitive damages to the victims of drunk driving accidents. An experienced car accident lawyer can help make sure that you receive all the compensation to which are entitled.
Contact An Experienced San Antonio Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer
The state of Texas, rightly, takes DWIs very seriously. Driving while under the influence puts many innocent people at risk. A car accident injury is physically and emotionally painful enough, but it hurts even more when your know your pain was caused by the grossly negligent and completely careless actions of an intoxicated driver. At the Law Offices of Ronald A. Ramos we are committed to fighting for the legal rights of injured DWI accident victims. If you, or your loved one, has been injured in an accident with a drunk driver, contact our office today to schedule a free consultation.
Recent Comments