With an estimated population of over 29.5 million, according to the Census Bureau’s 2021 data, a lot can happen.
Unfortunately, the Texas Department of Transportation reports that 1,077 people died and 14,075 people were injured in alcohol-related crashes in 2021.
Injury victims may be entitled to compensation for being hit by a drunk driver.
Damage awards may include compensation for your economic and non-economic losses. In rare cases, the court may award exemplary damages to punish the at-fault party for their conduct.
Surviving family members may be entitled to compensation if their loved one is killed in a drunk driving accident.
The Zimmerman Law Firm, P.C. supports and defends the rights of Texas drunk driving accident survivors.
When drunk drivers senselessly cause car accidents, we believe that it is only fair that they pay the price, not the victims.
Our drunk driving accident lawyers advocate for victims to help ensure they receive the maximum compensation they deserve under the law. To get started, please contact us today.
Who Can Recover in a Drunk Driving Accident in Texas?
Anyone injured in a drunk driving accident can potentially file a claim to receive compensation for their injuries. This includes:
- Drivers,
- Passengers,
- Pedestrians,
- Bicyclists,
- Motorcyclists, and
- People whose property was damaged by the crash.
Likewise, if your loved one was seriously injured or killed in the accident, you may receive compensation for your loss.
What Types of Compensation Can I Receive for Being Hit by a Drunk Driver?
If you have been in a DUI-related crash, you may be wondering, what compensation can I receive for being hit by a drunk driver?
Texas law provides three broad categories of compensation available to injury victims: economic, non-economic, and exemplary damages. Each encompasses a different aspect of the crash.
Economic Damages
Collisions can be financially and emotionally costly, sometimes threatening to bankrupt even the most prudent spenders.
Economic damages compensate you for the direct and indirect financial losses caused by the accident.
These include the following:
- Medical bills,
- Lost wages,
- Prescription costs,
- Medical devices,
- Property repairs,
- Lost earning potential, and
- Transportation for accident-related appointments.
In most cases, the settlement or verdict you receive will account for the past and future expenses in this category.
After an accident, it is essential for you to keep all receipts to help ensure you have the necessary evidence to support your claim for economic damages.
Non-economic Damages
Financial harm is just one aspect of life after a drunk driving accident. Non-economic damages address this by compensating the victim, to the extent possible, for the human cost of the collision. Non-economic damages include things like:
- Pain and suffering,
- Loss of enjoyment in life,
- Loss of consortium, and
- Permanent disfigurement.
Calculating non-economic damages is more complex than determining the victim’s financial harm.
To help accurately portray your pain and the impact of the injury on your life, make sure to be transparent with your doctor.
Consider keeping a pain diary to monitor the progress of the condition over time.
Exemplary Damages
Exemplary damages punish the at-fault party for causing the accident and deter future parties from committing the same or similar harm.
The courts impose exemplary damages only where there is evidence of fraud, malice, or gross negligence.
The Zimmerman Law Firm, P.C.—Compassionate Car Accident Attorneys Serving Texas
If you or your loved one experienced a drunk driving accident in Texas, call us today at 254-752-9688 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.
Our firm has served Texas for over 85 years, helping countless injury victims recover millions of dollars in compensation.
We are one of central Texas’s largest personal injury firms, but we always keep humanity front and center in our law practice.
Michael Zimmerman
Michael was born in Houston, Texas. His education at Baylor and Texas State Universities earned him a Bachelor of Science degree in 1987. His major was in Biology with a Minor in Chemistry. He finished his legal education at Texas Southern University in 1990, earning a Juris Doctorate from Thurgood Marshall School of Law. He was admitted to the State Bar of Texas in 1990.
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