Car Accidents and Drunk Driving
According to figures from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) 10,874 people were killed in drunk driving collisions in 2017. Of that total, 220 were children age 14 and younger. That’s 30 people per day, and one person every 48 minutes. Drunk driving crashes accounted for 29 percent of all auto accident fatalities that year.
Drunk driving numbers like these are why Longview, TX attorneys Randy Akin and Greg Burton take car accidents caused by drug or alcohol use so seriously. We have seen how collisions with drunk drivers change lives forever, which is why we are here to offer help and offer hope.
Drunk Driving Laws in Texas
While other states designate drunk driving charges as DUIs (driving under the influence), the state of Texas uses the term DWI (driving while intoxicated) instead. Texas follows the national legal limit for blood alcohol concentration (BAC), which is 0.08 for normal commuters and 0.04 for commercial drivers. If you are caught driving over the legal limit, you will be charge with a DWI.
Additionally, you can still be charged with drunk driving even if your BAC is within the legal limit. DWI covers any sort of reckless or dangerous behavior by intoxicated drivers behind the wheel.
Dangers Caused by Drunk Drivers
Our attorneys have gone over many accounts from survivors and victims of drunk driving crashes in the greater Longview area. The most common dangers found in these accounts of crashes with drunk drivers include:
- Speeding
- Weaving
- Reckless driving
- Aggressive driving
- Running red lights
- Taking unnecessary risks
People who drive drunk typically have impaired reflexes and senses, which makes them serious dangers to motorists who are driving safely and observing traffic laws.
Hazards to Bicyclists and Pedestrians
Drunk drivers don’t just pose a danger to people in cars or on motorcycles. Bicyclists and pedestrians must also look out for drunk drivers. A breakdown of the NHTSA’s 2017 drunk during numbers reveals that 1,181 pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities were the result of intoxicated drivers. Drunk drivers may run bicyclists off the road or hit pedestrians who are in the crosswalk safely. These tragedies should not be tolerated.
Holding Drunk Drivers Accountable
Drunk drivers need to be held accountable for their negligent actions, particularly when a DWI crash leads to the death of a loved one or long-term medial issues and mobility issues. While criminal charges may be filed, civil litigation is one way that victims of accidents or their loved ones can seek damages to cover funerary costs, medical expenses, and other material losses related to the collision.
How Our Lawyers Can Help
The attorneys at our Longview injury law firm will go over the details of your drunk driving collision and let you know if your case is worth pursuing. We will help negotiate a fair settlement or, if need be, take your case all the way to trial. Our legal team will stand with you every step of the way.
Speak with Skilled Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers
To learn more about your legal options following a drunk driving crash, be sure to contact our injury accident lawyers. The law offices of G R Randy Akin, PC can be reached by phone at (903) 297-8929.
