When we celebrate our nation’s independence on July 4th this week, it’s unfortunate, but inevitable, that some will take their celebration on the road. Drinking and driving is extremely dangerous. Just last week, the Texas Department of Transportation gave a moving visual representation of its danger in Houston by planting 1,170 Texas flags at the Gerald D. Hines Waterwall near the Galleria — one for each Texan killed last year in a drunk driving accident.
If you include alcohol in your Independence Day celebration, do not drive afterward. Arrange a designated driver, call a taxi, sleep on a friend’s couch, or make another arrangement that does not involve you taking the wheel.
Sadly, not everyone will make wise choices this week. As a result, serious injuries will occur and innocent lives will be lost, and those who drive safely are in danger as a result of those who make the decision to drink and drive. If you or a loved one are injured, or a loved one is killed, by a drunk driver, it’s important that you not leave justice to the criminal courts. You deserve to be compensated for your loss.
If you were the victim, you may have hospital bills and lost wages from being out of work for weeks. You could have a recovery process that could last months as you rack up bills for physical therapy and treatment. You could even have a permanent disability that could hinder your ability to work for the rest of your life.
You don’t even have to be in the accident to suffer the greatest loss from a DUI accident – the death of a loved one. In addition to other compensatory damages, if your spouse, parent, child or other close family member died in an accident caused by a drunk driver, the law allows you to pursue monetary damages, including what’s called “loss of consortium”.
Everyone should know better than to drive drunk. If you’ve been injured or have lost a loved one in an impaired driving accident, pursuing civil action against the driver at fault is one way to obtain justice. An experienced and knowledgeable Houston DUI accident lawyer can help you protect your rights, including your right to be compensated for your losses.
Have a great Fourth of July, and remember to be cautious if you plan to be on the road.
