Drunk Driving Accident Attorney in Friendswood, TX
Picture this: You are driving along one of the many business streets in Friendswood, perhaps on your way to Stevenson Park or to a friend’s house in Forest Bend, when all of a sudden, a car slams into your vehicle out of nowhere. If that driver is drunk, you are entitled to recover compensation. Being hit by a drunk driver can leave you with unbelievable injuries and property damage, and a Friendswood drunk driving accident lawyer is here to protect your rights.
The Law Offices of Tad Nelson & Associates: Here to Protect You
If you or someone you love has recently been injured or even killed by a drunk driver in Friendswood, a Friendswood car accident lawyer from The Law Offices of Tad Nelson & Associates is here to advocate for and protect your rights to compensation and justice alike. For over 35 years, we have been serving southern Houston and Galveston County, and we have extensive experience helping injured individuals obtain the compensation they need to recover from personal injury.
We pride ourselves on treating each and every client with the dignity, respect, and honesty they deserve. We are also responsive, returning all inquiries as promptly as possible and keeping our clients informed throughout their legal process. We want you to feel supported during this difficult time and understand how being hit by a drunk driver can leave you with more questions than answers. We are here to provide you with those answers and excellent legal representation.
Our lead attorney, Tad Nelson, is not afraid of bringing your personal injury all the way to court and is a wrecking ball when it comes to litigation.
Honored with a Super Lawyer distinction for the last 10 consecutive years, we are proud to be a law firm built for our clients, not for profit. However, awards and recognition are not guarantees of future results. Selection criteria vary by organization. When you choose to work with The Law Offices of Tad Nelson & Associates, your protection comes first, above anything else.
Understanding the Impact of Drunk Driving Accidents in Texas
In the state of Texas, it is illegal to operate a motorized vehicle with a BAC, or blood alcohol content level, of 0.08% or higher. Despite this, intoxicated individuals get behind the wheels of their vehicles every day and, as a result, nearly 37 people are killed daily in the United States because of drunk driving.
If you have someone you love who has been injured or killed because of a drunk driver in Friendswood, we know that no amount of money can undo the damage done or bring your loved one back to you. However, it can help ease some of the physical, emotional, and financial burden you are now dealing with.
Drunk drivers have a higher chance of falling asleep behind the wheel or are more apt to speed because their judgment is impaired. They may also be unable to slow down or react to certain circumstances on the roadway because their reaction speed is impaired. However your drunk driving accident takes place, it is important to hire an attorney who can help you prove liability and recover compensation.
Injuries Sustained in Friendswood Drunk Driving Accidents
Friendswood drunk driving accidents can lead to horrific consequences and life-threatening injuries. Because of the driver’s impairment, they may collide with other vehicles at excessive speeds, which can leave victims with severe injuries and the possibility of permanent disability or scarring. At The Law Offices of Tad Nelson & Associates, we have helped drunk driving accident victims recover compensation for the following kinds of common injuries:
- Spinal cord injuries. When a person suffers damage to their spinal cord, it can lead to chronic pain issues that they will deal with for the rest of their life. However, in the most tragic spinal cord injury case, the damage can actually lead to partial or complete paralysis, forever changing the course of the victim’s future.
- Traumatic brain injuries. In a single year, 10 million Americans can report a brain injury. While not every brain injury is because of a drunk driving accident, it is one of the most common injuries that takes place when someone drives intoxicated. These injuries can include skull fractures, concussions, and open or closed head wounds. Many of these injuries can be life-threatening or lead to lifelong disability.
- Bone fractures. Another common injury resulting from most drunk driving accidents is broken bones and fractures. These injuries are often extremely painful and could require extensive surgeries and recovery periods, keeping you out of work for a long time.
- Wrongful death. Unfortunately, death can often occur in drunk driving accidents. In a single year, the United States experienced 12,429 deaths from drunk driving alone. If you have lost someone you love in a drunk driving accident, you may be able to recover certain forms of compensation, such as all related funeral or burial costs, and any medical expenses that might have built up related to your loved one’s injury before death.
Compensation You May Find You Are Entitled to Recover
When your injuries are caused by a drunk driver in Friendswood, you deserve compensation. The amount of recompense you could get varies widely depending on the severity of your injuries and the exact circumstances. However, most drunk driving accident victims and their families can seek to secure the following forms of compensation:
- Any past and future medical expenses related to the injury, including all ambulance ride costs, hospital charges, doctor’s visits, medications, necessary medical devices, and rehabilitation
- Any home renovations needed to accommodate the victim’s accessibility needs
- Past and future lost income, including all salaries, bonuses, employment benefits, and paid vacation time
- Any decrease in the victim’s income-earning capability due to permanent disability
- Past and future pain and suffering
- Emotional pain
- Mental distress, including anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, and depression
- Loss of consortium or companionship
- Loss of the enjoyment or quality of life
- In certain cases, punitive damages, which are rarely awarded, could add a significant amount of value to your case.
- Wrongful death damages include any lost income if the victim was the main provider for a family unit.
At The Law Offices of Tad Nelson & Associates, we are here to review your case, uncover the necessary evidence to prove liability, and calculate the value of your claim. Trust us to have your interests in mind as we work to recover the full and fair amount of recompense you deserve.
FAQs
Q: What Is the Dram Shop Act in Texas?
A: In Texas, the Dram Shop Law, titledthe Alcohol Beverage Code, can make a business responsible for a drunk driver’s actions under certain circumstances. Businesses that are often held liable include bars, taverns, pubs, restaurants, clubs, and other establishments that serve alcohol. These businesses should not provide alcohol to any patron who is visibly intoxicated. If they do, they could be held liable for injuries sustained by a victim in a drunk driving accident.
Q: How Can an Attorney Help Me After a Drunk Driving Accident?
A: After a drunk driving accident, there are several ways an attorney can assist you. First, your attorney can listen to your side of the story and launch an independent investigation into the crash. They can review police reports, medical records, and other evidence, and work closely alongside law enforcement officers and other professionals to better understand the accident and how the drunk driver was at fault.
Q: How Long Do I Have to File a Drunk Driving Accident Claim in TX?
A: In Texas, you have exactlytwo years following the date of your injury to file your drunk driving accident claim in order to recover compensation. This time limit is known as a statute of limitations, and if you miss this deadline before filing a claim, your case will likely be dismissed, and you will be unable to recover compensation.
Q: What Can Complicate a Drunk Driving Accident?
A: There are several factors that can complicate a drunk driving accident claim. Most individuals who have been hit and injured by a drunk driver will think that their injury claim is relatively straightforward. Clearly, drunk driving caused the accident. However, these cases can actually be complex should the drunk driver try to blame you for the collision, in cases where the driver does not remember the accident, or when the driver denies they were intoxicated.
Hire a Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer Today
If you or someone you love has been injured due to the negligent and reckless actions of a drunk driver, you need to hire a drunk driving accident lawyer as soon as possible. The stakes are high in these cases, and you need a legal advocate who will champion your right to both compensation and justice. At The Law Offices of Tad Nelson & Associates, we understand that this is a difficult and challenging time for you and your loved ones, and we are here to support you no matter what.
Contact our offices today to learn how we can seek damage recovery on your behalf and schedule your initial consultation with our team. Your future is bright with us on your side.