Being hurt in a car accident may be a life-changing and terrible experience. In certain situations, the catastrophe was unavoidable, like those involving inclement weather or an act of nature. However, in many situations, one or more people are to blame for an accident. When a person is charged with driving while intoxicated (DWI), the inebriated person can often be held responsible for the accident and the victim’s resulting damages.
But what if there’s a business involved — one that supplied the at-fault motorist too much alcohol? Is it appropriate to hold the establishment responsible for the accident? If so, how much responsibility does the establishment have?
Accidents involving drunk drivers can be incredibly complicated. The personal injury lawyers in Houston at West Loop Law and the Law Office of Nhan Nguyen, MD, JD can help protect your right to compensation after a serious DUI collision.
How Dram Shop Laws Work in Texas
Texas, like many other states, has dram shop laws that regulate claims involving injuries caused by individuals who drank at a bar, restaurant, pub, or any other business with an alcohol license. Ultimately, these rules make businesses responsible if they sell alcohol to people who appear to be inebriated at the moment of purchase. It also covers the sale of alcoholic beverages to minors.
It’s crucial to remember that dram shop rules aren’t designed to take the intoxicated driver off the hook. Instead, they are largely intended to encourage alcohol-selling businesses to follow good business operations. Such regulations provide wounded plaintiffs with another option for obtaining compensation following an alcohol-related accident.
Applying the Dram Shop Law in Texas
The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code (TX AL BEV 2.02) contains the legislation pertaining to dram shop. This law states clearly that any company or person who sells or delivers alcohol can be held responsible if both of the following conditions are met:
- The seller or provider knew at the time of the sale that the individual being sold, given, or served alcohol was clearly inebriated to the point of posing a manifest risk to themselves and others.
- The drunkenness of the person who was given or provided alcohol by the restaurant was a contributing factor in the resulting injuries.
This implies that if you were harmed in an accident caused by a drunk driver who was served in any sort of alcohol-selling business prior to driving, you may have a cause of action against the establishment to bring a lawsuit. This is best done with the help of a Houston car crash lawyer.
DUI Accident Lawyers in West Loop
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an estimated 28 people are killed daily by intoxicated motorists in the United States. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a DUI accident in Texas, you need to know that you are not alone. A Texas personal injury attorney can help you obtain full compensation for your injuries. The experienced legal team at West Loop Law and the Law Office of Nhan Nguyen, MD, JD is here to pursue the compensation you need to pay for your damages. We treat every case with equal importance and focus on getting the effective results our clients deserve.
Nhan Nguyen, MD, JD, and Nader Rabie, JD have years of combined experience working for the rights of Houston injury victims, and we are here to fight for you.
Contact West Loop Law and the Law Office of Nhan Nguyen, MD, JD today at (713) 840-7200 for a free, no-obligation consultation if you have unfairly lost a family member due to the actions of another person.
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