Accidents involving a driver who is either driving while intoxicated (DWI) or driving under the influence (DUI) are an especially traumatic class of motor vehicle accidents that can result in very serious bodily injuries and possibly death. Although DWI and DUI are both against the law and drivers risk significant penalties for violations of the law, it still occurs with alarming frequency at all hours of the day and night.
Resulting in significant injuries, the taking of innocent lives, shattering families, hurting friends and destroying the livelihoods of the driver and victims. In Texas, almost 1,000 people lose their lives annually due to DWI and DUI accidents, with almost 20,000 injuries caused.
An accident with a drunk driver is a devastating financial and emotional experience. The SCV Law Firm, PLLC, will work with you to minimize the impact the crash has on your life. Whether you need help getting the medical treatment you need, obtaining a rental car or communicating with the insurance company, we will be there at your side.
Getting hit by a drunk or drug-impaired driver is an infuriating and painful experience. Alcohol slows physical reflexes, severely impairs hazard perception, and removes common-sense caution from behind the wheel. The crashes that result from intoxicated driving are frequently catastrophic, leading to head-on collisions, high-speed wrong-way highway crashes, and violent red-light broadside impacts. Innocent motorists and their passengers are left to deal with serious bodily harm, steep hospital debt, intensive physical rehabilitation, and sudden loss of household income.
SCV Law Firm, PLLC stands firmly beside individuals and families injured by intoxicated drivers. While local district attorneys prosecute impaired motorists in criminal court, criminal penalties do not pay your medical bills, replace your lost wages, or account for long-term emotional distress. Our personal injury trial attorneys handle the civil side of the claim, demanding full financial restitution from the impaired driver, their insurance company, and any commercial establishment that unlawfully served them alcohol. We act immediately to secure dashcam video, toxicology reports, and 911 audio recordings to build an unshakeable claim for compensation.
Many victims assume the criminal court will resolve their financial losses. In reality, criminal restitution is limited, uncertain, and often delayed by court proceedings. A civil injury lawsuit operates on an entirely separate legal track with a different standard of proof. Criminal prosecutors must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, while civil court requires proving liability by a preponderance of the evidence. Driving while intoxicated constitutes negligence per se, meaning the law treats the safety violation as direct proof of fault.
Civil courts also permit injured victims to seek punitive or exemplary damages when a driver displays gross negligence or willful disregard for human life. Furthermore, under Dram Shop laws in Texas and North Carolina, commercial establishments such as bars, clubs, restaurants, and convenience stores can be held civilly liable if they continued to serve an obviously intoxicated patron who subsequently caused a wreck. Our legal team aggressively explores all potential insurance policies to maximize your financial recovery.
Yes. Your civil injury claim can proceed while criminal charges move through the justice system. In fact, evidence gathered by law enforcement during the criminal investigation—such as blood alcohol test results, field sobriety recordings, and officer bodycam footage—serves as compelling proof to strengthen your civil case.
If the impaired driver was uninsured or underinsured, you are not out of options. We can file a claim under your own Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) policy to cover your surgical costs, therapy bills, and vehicle damage without raising your rates unfairly.
Under state Dram Shop laws, if a commercial vendor sold alcohol to a visibly intoxicated customer who posed a clear danger to the public, that business may share civil liability for your resulting damages, hospital bills, and pain.
Call 911 immediately so law enforcement can conduct field sobriety tests and arrest the impaired motorist. Seek emergency medical care right away to document your injuries, and take photos of vehicle damage, beer cans, or road debris if safe. Never provide a recorded statement to the other driver's insurance adjuster before speaking to an attorney.
If you or a loved one suffered injuries caused by an impaired driver, SCV Law Firm, PLLC is ready to protect your rights. We handle cases on a contingency fee basis - no upfront fees, and no fee unless we win.
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