Texas Accident & Injury News
How can passengers recover compensation after a DWI car accident?
Woman Charged With Intoxication Assault After Passengers Injured in Single-Vehicle Accident
According to a KSAT News report, a woman was arrested after injuring her passengers in a car accident on the Northwest Side.
Police reported the accident happened at around 3 a.m. on Saturday, January 18th, on the 4900 block of Northwest Loop 410 near Callaghan Road. A woman (24) driving a Chrysler 300 was trying to avoid a stalled vehicle in the main lanes of the highway when she crashed into a barrier, causing serious bodily injury to her two passengers (22 and 23). The passengers were hospitalized, and the driver was investigated and charged with two counts of intoxication assault and arrested. The report did not mention if anyone in the stalled vehicle was injured. The investigation is ongoing.
Did You Know?
DUI accidents in Texas in 2023 were most likely to occur on Sundays between 2 and 2:59 a.m.
Getting Compensation as a Passenger of a Drunk Driver: What You Need to Know
Drunk drivers often hurt other people when they get into accidents. especially their own passengers.
If you’re injured as a passenger in an auto accident, you are almost always entitled to compensation for your injuries — however, passengers of drunk drivers can face obstacles when filing a claim.
Obstacles Faced by Passengers of Drunk Drivers
While passengers are rarely accused of causing an accident, they can still encounter problems when seeking compensation as a passenger of a drunk driver. Some of the most common problems include:
- Partial-Fault Argument — Insurance may argue that you are partially at fault for your injury, as you should have known that the driver was drunk. They may attempt to reduce or deny your claim as a result.
- Settlement Offer Doesn’t Cover Your Injuries — When multiple passengers are seriously injured (which is more likely if a drunk driver is involved), insurance may not offer enough to fully cover the cost of your injuries. This may require you to seek compensation from multiple sources, complicating your claim.
- Lengthy Negotiations — When multiple drivers are involved, insurance will likely argue that fault lies with multiple parties, not just the drunk driver. This will be countered by the other insurance company, and so on. This back-and-forth will likely continue for some time, delaying your compensation as you wait for a settlement offer.
How Can a Passenger of a Drunk Driver Overcome These Obstacles?
The simple solution to all of these problems is hiring a car accident lawyer.
You need an advocate arguing your case — a team representing your rights and fighting for your full compensation. Clients who hire a lawyer to represent their case get 3.5x more on average than those who fight alone.
But I Can’t Afford to Hire a Lawyer!
You can afford Carabin Shaw.
Like most car accident firms, Carabin Shaw works on a contingency fee basis. That means that you pay nothing out-of-pocket. Instead, a percentage amount of your settlement will be taken out to pay for the services.
And that 3.5x more we talked about earlier was calculated after attorney fees, meaning you’re not saving money by representing your own case, as many erroneously believe.
Injured by a Drunk Driver in Texas? Call Shaw!
You’ll find out if you’re entitled to compensation for things like:
- Ambulance Costs,
- ER Bills,
- Surgeries,
- Pain and Suffering,
- Missed Work,
- Trauma/PTSD,
- Medical Bills,
- And More
For free.
Call Shaw today to schedule your free, no-obligation case evaluation at 800-862-1260. Don’t wait! Texas law limits the amount of time you have to file a claim. Carabin Shaw has been a trusted name across Texas for over 32 years because we put our clients first. We look forward to serving you.