If you were involved in a car accident caused by a drunk driver, you may be entitled to compensation. Our team of Lardeo accident attorneys at Gonzalez Druker Law Firm, PLLC understands the pain and suffering you are going through and are here to help you get the compensation you need.
Contact our skilled Laredo drunk driving accident lawyers at (956) 728-9191 today, or via our online form. We can help you understand what your claim is worth.
What to Do After a Drunk Driving Accident
In the wake of a drunk driving accident, it is important to follow the right steps to ensure that you are protected. The first thing you should do is seek medical attention. Following that, you should make sure the police are notified of the accident.
Then, if you are able to, you should also get the names and contact information of all the drivers and passengers involved in the crash, plus any witnesses. Along with their names, getting the insurance information of anyone involved in the accident is important.
Not long after the accident, it’s important you contact a Laredo truck accident attorney. They’ll be able to help assess your claim and get you the compensation you deserve.
What Is Considered a “Drunk Driving” Accident?
In Texas, a drunk driving accident is legally defined as any car accident that occurs while a driver is under the influence of alcohol or drugs. It doesn’t matter if the driver was only slightly intoxicated or completely drunk.
In any instance, the driver’s insurance company may try to deny the claim, claiming that the driver was not intoxicated. In this case, you will need evidence that the driver was intoxicated, such as:
- Police reports
- Eyewitness testimony
- Video evidence if any is available
You should be prepared to provide this evidence to your insurance company when you file your claim.
Drunk Driving Accident Claims in Laredo
If you were injured in a car accident caused by a drunk driver, you should not have to pay for your medical bills or other damages. At Gonzalez Druker Law Firm, PLLC, we can help you file a motorcycle accident claim in Laredo with the insurance company of the driver who caused the accident. We can also help you seek compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages.
We can help you if you were injured in a:
- Car accident
- Motorcycle accident
- Truck accident
- Bicycle accident
- Pedestrian accident
Can I File a Claim on Behalf of a Loved One After a Fatal Drunk Driving Wreck?
Accidents involving alcohol can be deadly due to factors such as high speeds, racing, multiple vehicles, wrong-way driving and reckless driver behaviors. Texas’s wrongful death laws allow certain family members of a deceased individual to file a Laredo wrongful death claim in the aftermath of a fatal drunk driving car accident in Laredo.
If you lost a loved one to a drunk driver, a wrongful death lawsuit could result in financial compensation for the losses you suffered because of the death, such as funeral and burial costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering. In Texas, a decedent’s surviving spouse, child and parents have the right to file a wrongful death claim after a preventable and fatal accident.
What Can I Recover After Being Hit By a Drunk Driver?
If you or your attorney can prove that a drunk driver is responsible for causing your car accident, you could qualify for financial compensation for a variety of losses you suffered because of the crash. Our lawyers at Gonzalez Druker Law Firm, PLLC can help you seek fair and appropriate compensation based on the extent of your losses.
Available types of compensation may include:
- Medical bills: all present and future health care costs associated with the collision
- Disability: any short-term or long-term physical or emotional damage
- Lost wages: income and employment opportunities lost due to temporary or permanent injuries
- Property damage: the cost to repair your damaged vehicle or replace a totaled car
- Pain and suffering: your physical pain, emotional distress, mental anguish or post-traumatic stress disorder
It is important to determine the value of your drunk driving accident claim before accepting a fast settlement offer from a car insurance company. Otherwise, you may be at risk of settling for less than you deserve. This is especially common in car accident cases involving catastrophic injuries and fatalities.
Is There a Deadline to File a Drunk Driving Accident Claim?
Yes. There is an important deadline listed in a state law known as the “statute of limitations” – Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003. If you miss this deadline, you will likely lose the right to seek compensation. In general, you only have two years from the date of your drunk driving crash to file a related personal injury claim. The law states:
- Sec. 16.003. TWO-YEAR LIMITATIONS PERIOD. (a) Except as provided by Sections 16.010, 16.0031, and 16.0045, a person must bring suit for trespass for injury to the estate or to the property of another, conversion of personal property, taking or detaining the personal property of another, personal injury, forcible entry and detainer, and forcible detainer not later than two years after the day the cause of action accrues.
- (b) A person must bring suit not later than two years after the day the cause of action accrues in an action for injury resulting in death. The cause of action accrues on the death of the injured person.
Note that you may have less than two years if the drunk driver was a government worker, meaning your claim will be against the government in Texas. In this situation, you may have as little as 45 days to bring a claim. You could also have more than two years to file a claim, depending on the circumstances. This is why you should contact a lawyer as soon as possible to discuss your specific filing deadline.
Get Help From Our Laredo Drunk Driving Accident Attorneys
If you were injured in a drunk driving accident, the insurance company of the driver who caused the accident may try to deny your claim. You should not have to pay for your medical bills and other damages. At Gonzalez Druker Law Firm, PLLC, we can help you get the compensation you deserve.
Call us today at (956) 728-9191or contact us onlineto schedule a consultationwith one of our Laredo drunk driving accident attorneys.