Katy Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers

Katy, Texas, is famous for its religious history and is even known as the “City of Churches.” Unfortunately, modern-day Katy struggles with a national problem that impacts every community: drunk driving. If you’ve suffered injury or lost a loved one due to a drunk driving accident in Katy, call Trust Guss Injury Lawyers, now. Our Katy Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers are here to help you through this traumatic time. Drunk driving accidents can cause serious injury and emotional trauma. Don’t try to handle it alone. If you partner with us, we will fight to see that justice is served in your case. We are a national law firm based in Houston with multiple offices around the country. We also work with affiliate law firms in most states that share our focus and dedication to excellence. No matter where you are located, we may be able to help you, so call or contact us now. We are open, for FREE, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at 800-898-4877, or you may contact us now to submit your case for review.

Receiving Compensation for Injuries After a Drunk Driving Accident

Financial responsibility is expressed as monetary compensation for injury and harm, whether the injuries and harm are physical, emotional, or mental. Injury victims have the right to seek compensation for the following:
  • Medical bills, both current and future - This category includes emergency treatment, transport, diagnostic tests, doctor’s office visits, hospitalization, surgery, assistive devices, prescription medication, physical therapy, retrofitting a home, and more.
  • Income lost from work - If your injuries require you to stay home from work, you can be reimbursed for your lost wages.
  • Value of lifetime earnings - If injuries caused disability and left a victim unable to work, the victim can seek compensation for lost earning potential.
  • Physical property damage - The liable party must replace physical private property, such as a totaled car or any other belongings damaged in the accident.
  • Pain and suffering - A drunk driving accident can leave mental and emotional scars. If you’re coping with PTSD symptoms or depression after your accident, you deserve compensation.
Drunk driving victims have options. They can seek damage compensation from the at-fault party’s insurance company, from the victim’s own insurance company (which will turn around and file a claim with the at-fault party’s insurer), or by filing a drunk driving accident claim in civil court. Note that Texas drunk driving penalties are criminal charges. The police charge these individuals, and prosecutors try their cases in criminal court, not civil court. While it might satisfy injured parties to think of the drunk driver receiving criminal punishment, the two cases are entirely separate. Even if the drunk driver somehow beats the criminal charges, you can still receive a financial settlement in civil court. That’s why it’s important to act fast and build your case, even if the drunk driver walked away in handcuffs.

Receiving Compensation for a Death After a Drunk Driving Accident

What if a loved one dies at the hands of a drunk driver? Is financial compensation still available for their families? Yes, there’s hope. Texas law recognizes that no financial compensation can erase the tragic loss of a loved one, but close family members can file a wrongful death lawsuit if the decedent could have brought a drunk driving accident suit had they lived. These suits recognize the contributions of the departed, and strive to protect surviving family members financially. Compensation may include the following damages:
  • Mental and emotional anguish, pain, and suffering on the part of the decedent
  • Lost earning capacity of the decedent
  • Lost care, maintenance, services, and support that the decedent would have provided surviving family members had they lived
  • Lost love, companionship, and comfort
  • Lost inheritance, including what the decedent would likely have passed on to surviving loved ones after a normal life span
Parties entitled to bring a wrongful death suit are:
  • Surviving spouses
  • Children, including adopted children and adult children
  • Parents, including adoptive parents

How to Determine if You Should Seek Compensation

After most vehicle accidents, victims in Texas can sue at-fault parties to receive compensation for any injuries sustained. The Lone Star State is a fault state, which means the at-fault party must pay those who were injured in the accident. What does “fault” mean? Courts determine fault by assessing negligence. Negligence constitutes any failure to provide an expected “duty of care” toward other motorists and the public, including pedestrians and other passersby. A driver’s duty of care, for example, is to obey all traffic laws and to drive safely, regardless of conditions. In other words, if we’re having a thunderstorm in Katy, and it’s not safe to drive at the posted speed limit, drivers should exercise extra caution and slow down to a safe speed. If they do not, their failure constitutes negligence. Negligent parties are financially responsible, or liable, for the injuries caused by the accident. Note that parties other than drivers can exhibit negligence and be held accountable as well. An auto manufacturer that produces unsafe products, for example, can bear responsibility, as can a repair shop or mechanic who performed shoddy work. Long story short: if your accident stemmed from the negligent actions of any other party, that party bears financial responsibility for your injuries.

Are Any Other Parties Ever Liable?

Do you know about Texas dram shop laws? Third parties like bars and bartenders may bear liability for drunk driving accidents if they overserved a patron who later caused a drunk driving accident. That’s right: in the eyes of lawmakers, providing alcohol contributes to drunk driving accidents just as surely—if less directly—than getting behind the wheel does. Parties potentially bearing liability include:
  • Bars, restaurants, and other alcohol sellers that provide alcohol to minors younger than 18
  • Bars, restaurants, and other alcohol sellers that provide alcohol to obviously drunk people whose behavior indicates potential risks of harm to themselves and others
  • Adult hosts who provide alcohol to minors younger than 18
In these cases, the court must deem these injuries a foreseeable result of the drunk driver’s intoxication.

Potential Injuries Caused by Drunk Drivers in Katy

Accidents caused by drunk drivers in Katy can result in injuries ranging from minor to major. Drunk driving accidents often cause some of the most serious injuries the human body can sustain, such as spinal cord damage. A catastrophic injury, like spinal cord injury or traumatic brain injury (TBI), can leave victims unable to work, unable to care for themselves, and in need of permanent live-in help. Potential injuries from a Katy drunk driving accident include:
  • Cuts, sprains, and bruises
  • Soft tissue injuries
  • Bone fractures, to arms, legs, ribcage, sternum, skull, back, and more
  • TBI (traumatic brain injury)
  • Spinal cord injury and nerve injury
  • Internal injuries
  • Amputations (loss of limb)
  • Burns
  • Coma
  • Death

What to Do if You Are in an Accident With a Drunk Driver in Katy

Katy Driving Accident LawyersWhat should motorists and pedestrians do if they’re in an accident with a drunk driver? It can be hard to think straight in the immediate aftermath of a car accident. You’re likely in shock. However, if you try your best to follow a few steps, you can improve your chances of recovery both physically and financially. First and foremost, ensure your safety and the safety of others involved in the accident. If possible, move yourself and your vehicle out of the way of further harm. Get out of the path of traffic and, if the drunk driver seems aggressive or dangerous, stay away from the driver. Second, call 911. This is not only a good idea, it’s the law in Texas. For any accidents in which people suffer injuries, death, or property loss of more than $1,000, you must call 911. If you suspect drunk driving, tell the operator immediately. Third, when law enforcement arrives, answer all questions fully and honestly. The officers will compile a police report outlining the details of the accident. They will talk to all drivers and eyewitnesses. They will also survey the surroundings for signs of how the accident happened, including the condition of the cars, where they received impact, and any other signs, such as tire marks on the road and damage to barriers, trees, or other nearby objects. Mention your suspicions about drunk driving to the officer while out of earshot of the other driver. You may have noticed unsafe driving, such as swerving between lanes, excessive speeding, or ignoring stop and caution signals. You may smell alcohol on the driver’s breath, see alcohol in the vehicle, or see other signs of a DWI, such as difficulty walking or talking coherently. Law enforcement officials may notice some of these signs as well, and they can conduct field sobriety tests (which consist of asking the driver to perform certain tasks that test coordination and physical ability) and perform tests of breath, urine, or blood, if warranted. When you’re able to, obtain a copy of the police report. It’s your first official piece of valuable evidence, and it may even contain a declaration of who is responsible for the accident. If eyewitnesses are present, talk to them about what they saw. They’re potentially valuable sources of information. Get their contact information, including email addresses and names. If it’s safe, obtain contact information from the driver as well. You’ll need their insurance information, including the policy number, plus their name and email address. If you have a smartphone or other camera available, take as many pictures of the accident scene as you can. Take pictures of the cars from every angle, and get shots of the scene, including any signs of how the accident may have taken place (skid marks, broken barriers, etc).

Medical Attention After a Drunk Driving Accident

If you are a victim who has been seriously hurt at the scene and emergency medical technicians determine you should get in an ambulance, go! Your safety is always paramount. All other important activities, such as exchanging info with the driver and gathering other evidence, become secondary if you need emergency treatment. Many people hesitate to ride in an ambulance or even seek medical treatment at all. The sad truth is they downplay their injuries because they are afraid of being unable to pay medical bills. Serious injuries may go undetected until it’s too late. We don’t want it to be like this. That’s why we work hard to connect injured victims with the medical care they need, at no upfront cost. With a determined lawyer on your side, you don’t need to fear being saddled with the burden of medical expenses. If you did not ride in an ambulance but you still feel hurt, visit a doctor’s office as soon as possible after your accident. Why do you need to see a doctor? Because people can suffer injuries, even very serious ones, without knowing it. You need a medical professional to diagnose you and conduct all of the appropriate tests. Cracked or broken ribs, for example, may feel to you like a tender bruise on your side. But broken ribs can puncture your lungs, which can make it impossible to breathe. Never assume that you don’t need a doctor’s checkup. After your check-up, follow all of your doctor’s instructions closely. If you fail to do so, the insurance company will present that as a sign that you weren’t seriously injured. It’s also important to save all of your medical records, including records of treatment, prescriptions for medication, referrals to surgeons, physical therapists, and more—anything about your treatment. It’s all valuable evidence indicating how much your injuries cost, and your diagnoses may even provide evidence about how your accident happened.

Drunk Driving Is a Serious Problem in Katy

Drunk driving is a serious problem across the nation, but it may pose an even more serious danger to motorists in Katy and surrounding areas. Why? Because Texas experiences a higher percentage of drunk driving accidents than the national average. A whopping 40% of fatal accidents in Texas involve a drunk driver, but just 29% of fatal accidents nationwide do, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. In addition, Texas’s rate of deaths from drunk driving is far above the national average. In the 21-year-old to 34-year-old age group, for example, Texas’s death rate is 10 per 100,000, while the national rate is just 6.7, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Drunk Drivers Pose Dangers to Everyone in Katy

“Drunk” isn’t just a word or an assumption you make about a reckless driver. There are laws and sciences to back it up. The legal limit for driving while intoxicated (DWI) in Texas is a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08 or higher upon testing. People who surpass this BAC level no longer have the “normal use of mental or physical faculties.” It’s a proven fact that drunk drivers operate their vehicles more dangerously than sober drivers. Even a small amount of alcohol can affect a driver’s judgment, reaction time, and reflexes. Drunk drivers may feel fine, but in a situation where they have to make split-second decisions for the safety of themselves and others, they will likely falter. As a result, drunk drivers cause accidents for many different reasons. Alcohol and other substances may impair judgment, lucidity, or consciousness to the point where drivers disobey normal traffic rules, such as breaking the speed limit, zooming through stop signs, and ignoring right-of-way laws. Drunk drivers may also:
  • Swerve, weave, and not stay within their lanes
  • Stop suddenly and unnecessarily
  • Fail to use their lights or turn signals or fail to notice yours
  • Fail to notice slowing traffic or obstacles
  • Drive the wrong way on one-way roads or highways

Frequently Asked Questions

A common cause of car accidents is drunk driving. In Texas, anyone who drives with a blood alcohol concentration above 0.08 is driving drunk—although lower levels of inebriation can also contribute to accidents. After a drunk driving accident, you’re left hurt, confused, and overwhelmed. You’ll probably have a lot of questions. First and foremost, we encourage you to focus on your health and wellbeing, receiving the care you need for the best chance of a complete recovery. In the meantime, you’ll be wondering how your accident happened, if someone else’s negligence was the cause, and whether or not you can do anything about it to bring them to justice. We’re here to provide you with the answers. Read on to find out more. If you or a loved one has been injured by a drunk driver, get help from a Katy drunk driving accident lawyer who can ensure you collect every dollar you deserve. For specific questions about your situation and legal options moving forward, contact Trust Guss Injury Lawyers today for a free case review.

Have your injuries left you out of work?

After you’ve suffered injuries in a drunk driving accident, your doctor may instruct you to rest. While that might be the last thing you want to do, your injuries could worsen if you push yourself too hard. In fact, your injuries might be so severe that they alter your life permanently. One of the most consequential ways a drunk driving accident victim suffers is by missing work. Depending on the severity of your injuries, you may lose wages and miss work for a long time. You may never return to work at all, or at least not in the same capacity as you were previously. This could not only affect your mental state, but also your ability to provide for your family. When you can’t pay your bills, anxiety skyrockets and your physical recovery can be affected. A settlement from a personal injury claim can help cover your medical bills and regular living expenses during this stressful time. This is why it can be vital to your physical health to speak with a skilled Katy drunk driving accident attorney as soon as possible after your accident. You need a legal advisor at your side who can take the legal woes and worry off your shoulders, helping you collect every dollar you deserve from the accident.

What should you do after your accident?

Immediately after your drunk driving accident, you may be in shock. If you haven’t suffered any major or “obvious” injuries, you may just want to go home and sleep. However, this is a dangerous mistake. You may have suffered soft tissue injury, a concussion, or another seemingly-minor injury that can quickly snowball into a major problem if left untreated. Seek medical attention ASAP after a car accident. Worried about costs? The best way to get connected to appropriate medical care is to work with a seasoned drunk driving accident lawyer in Katy today. Contact Trust Guss Injury Lawyers, and get the compensation you deserve. If you make the right choices, you can avoid paying out of pocket for medical expenses related to an accident caused by a drunk driver. After a car accident, follow these steps:
  • Call 911. Even if you think your injuries are minor, you should still be evaluated by emergency medical personnel. If they suggest a hospital visit, do not decline. When you call 911, the police will also rush to the accident scene. They will speak with witnesses, with you, and with the other driver. If they realize the other driver is drunk or give them a breathalyzer test, they may arrest them right then and there. The police will also create an accident report. While this report may not clearly cite the other driver for being at fault, the report will state if the other driver was legally drunk. This can help your case, as it will show negligence on their part.
  • Take pictures and speak with witnesses. If you are physically able to, make sure you get pictures of the entire accident scene, both vehicles, your injuries, and any other items involved in the accident. You also want to speak with witnesses and get their contact information. Many witnesses will leave before the police arrive, but your attorney will want to speak with them. Witnesses often provide unique perspectives on the seconds leading up to an accident. Their testimony can help show that the other driver is to blame.
  • See a doctor. The emergency medical personnel will evaluate you and recommend a quick course of treatment that may include going to the hospital. Even if that happens, no one knows your medical information better than your regular doctor. When you can, go see your doctor so they can determine how your body has changed after the accident. This information is important, not only to help you recover from your injuries but also for your Katy drunk driving accident claim.
  • Keep a journal. As time passes, you won’t remember all of the hurdles and struggles you faced on your road to recovery. By keeping a daily journal of your feelings, pain levels, medications, progress, and setbacks, you can help paint a clearer picture of everything you had to endure and how your life changed after the drunk driver caused your accident.
  • Contact the team of legal professionals at Trust Guss Injury Lawyers. The lawyer you choose can make all the difference. If you want to recover maximum compensation for your injuries, choose a lawyer with proven drunk driving accident claims experience. Choose a lawyer who can aggressively protect your rights by standing up to the big insurance companies and their teams of lawyers. Choose a lawyer who will fight to recover every dollar you deserve. Contact Trust Guss Injury Lawyers, today to get started.

Why do you need to file a Katy drunk driving accident claim?

You need to file a Katy drunk driving accident claim against the drunk driver in order to hold them accountable for your injuries. Because the other driver was drunk, they also may face criminal charges. But be aware: A criminal conviction will not pay your medical bills. Many drunk driving accident victims think once the other driver is charged with a crime, they can collect compensation in the criminal case to help them cover their medical expenses. Unfortunately, that is not the case. The only way to collect maximum compensation for your injuries and suffering is to file a Katy drunk driving accident claim. You may think this will be a straightforward, easy process—you know the driver caused the accident, they were drunk, and should therefore pay your bills. But the law is more complex than that. To succeed, you need the services of a respected drunk driving accident attorney in Katy. Not all lawyers are created equal, and not all lawyers have the resources required to take on a complex Katy drunk driving accident claim.With over two decades of successful recoveries for our clients, we know how to protect your rights and help you recover every dollar you deserve. While no outcome can be guaranteed, we know how to use our resources to help build the best possible case for our clients.

How do you collect the money you are entitled to?

Nearly 30 people die every day in drunk driving accidents. While not every drunk driving accident results in death, this statistic shows the severity of injuries caused by drunk drivers. Every drunk driving accident and every victim is unique, but the process of collecting compensation remains the same. Your lawyer will consider the following damages in your claim:
  • Pain and suffering
  • Emotional distress
  • Lost wages
  • Lost earning potential
  • Loss of companionship
  • Loss of life enjoyment
  • Present and future medical bills
  • Rehabilitation costs
  • Property damage including vehicle damage
If you were badly injured, the worst is yet to come. Your finances will take a serious blow when you face multiple long hospital visits, extended time out of work, and intense rehabilitation. It’s incredibly stressful to have no money coming in while you’re accruing these mountains of medical bills. Do not accept this burden alone. Have a Katy drunk driving accident lawyer fight to collect the money you need so you don’t pay out of your own pocket. You deserve to hold the drunk driver accountable and collect maximum compensation for your injuries.

Is the insurance company trying to take advantage of you?

Soon after your drunk driving accident, the insurance company will contact you with a settlement offer. They may tell you this offer is the best they can do and you should take it right away so you can pay your bills. Do not believe them. This is just the beginning, far from their best offer—they may be trying to make you go away for as little money as possible. When you sign a settlement offer, you waive your right to bring any future claims against the insurance company for this drunk driving accident. Months or years later, when you realize the settlement funds have run dry but you still have financial needs related to the accident, it will be too late. Don’t fall for it. Fortify your case by working with a drunk driving accident lawyer in Katy who can stand up to the insurance industry.

Do you have to file your claim soon?

Yes, you do. According to the statute of limitations in Texas, you only have two years from the date of your accident to file a Katy drunk driving accident claim against the drunk driver. While two years may seem like a long time, it is not. Think about everything you may deal with during that time:
  • Multiple surgeries
  • Long hospital stays
  • Multiple doctor visits
  • Long periods out of work
  • In-facility rehabilitation
  • In-home care
Each of these items will require an intense focus on your part to recover. Each of these items will also add to the stacks of bills. These astronomical costs should be the responsibility of the drunk driver, but if you do not file your Katy drunk driving accident claim soon enough, your case will be thrown out and you can’t collect compensation from the negligent driver.

Legal Help is One Call Away

Your ability to recover compensation from the drunk driver could depend on the lawyer you choose. Your lawyer should investigate your accident, speak with medical experts, and review witness statements, medical records, and police records. You also need a lawyer with proven experience in standing up to the big insurance companies and refusing to let their teams of lawyers push you around. You shouldn’t endure financial hardship because of someone else’s carelessness. You deserve a lawyer who will stand up for your rights and aggressively fight to collect every dollar you deserve. Let us help you today. If a drunk driver injured you or a loved one, speak with our aggressive Katy drunk driving accident lawyers. We can help you collect every dollar you deserve. Contact Trust Guss Injury Lawyers, to learn more about your legal options today. Case evaluations are fast, free, and confidential.

If You Need a Katy Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer

Personal injury Attorney If you or a loved one needs to talk to a drunk driving lawyer in Katy or the surrounding area, contact Trust Guss Injury Lawyers and his team today. As personal injury lawyers with over 20 years of experience right here in the Greater Houston area, it’s our honor to help drunk driving accident victims get their lives back on track. The legal team of Trust Guss Injury Lawyers, is nationally recognized for protecting the rights of injured victims for more than 20 years. If you were injured in a drunk driving accident in Katy, call our office right now for a free consultation! That’s right, the initial meeting occurs at no cost to you. Because we take all of our personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis, you will not owe us a dime unless we win your case. We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so call us today at 800-898-4877 or contact us now by clicking here.

If you're searching for a car accident lawyer in Katy, Texas, look no further. Stewart J. Guss and his team have over 20 years of experience handling insurance accidents claims of all kinds. Whether you were in a car accident or a commercial slip and fall premises liability case, we're here to help.

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