An experienced Arlington drunk driving accident attorney can help when a collision caused by an impaired driver changes your life. According to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), an average of 89 Texans were killed every month in alcohol-related crashes in 2023, showing just how often these tragedies happen on roads in Arlington and across the DFW Metroplex.
When a drunk driver’s careless decisions result in a crash that leaves you seriously injured, you may be facing not only physical pain but also emotional hardship and mounting financial pressures. If you or a loved one has been harmed in a drunk driving accident, experienced legal guidance can make a significant difference in pursuing compensation.
The experienced Arlington, TX drunk driving accident lawyers at Branch & Dhillon, P.C. are here to explain your rights and review the legal options available to you. Contact us today at (817) 533‑3430 for a free consultation.
Arlington, TX Drunk Driving Accident Guide
- How Our Arlington Drunk Driving Accident Attorneys Can Help You Recover
- Drunk Driving Accident Risks in Arlington and Tarrant County
- How Texas Law Defines Intoxication in DWI Cases
- Your Right to Financial Recovery After a DWI Accident in Arlington
- Holding Bars and Restaurants Accountable Under Texas Dram Shop Law
- Texas Statute of Limitations for Drunk Driving Injury Claims
- Contact an Arlington Drunk Driving Accident Attorney Today to Protect Your Rights
How Our Arlington Drunk Driving Accident Attorneys Can Help You Recover
A drunk driving crash is not just another traffic accident. It happens when a driver chooses to get behind the wheel while impaired, putting everyone on the roads in Arlington and throughout Tarrant County at risk, including you and your loved ones.
While the Arlington Police Department or the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office handles the criminal side of the DWI case, your path to financial recovery is separate. At Branch & Dhillon, P.C., our Arlington drunk driving accident attorneys focus on your civil claim. Our goal is to secure the compensation you need to cover medical bills, lost income, and other damages.
Evidence from the criminal case, such as police reports and blood alcohol concentration results, often plays an important role in strengthening your civil claim. Our team handles the legal work so you can focus on recovering and moving forward.
How We Conduct a Detailed Private Investigation for Your Case
As soon as you hire our firm, we immediately start investigating your accident in Arlington or elsewhere in the DFW Metroplex. We gather and preserve every piece of evidence we can find, including official crash reports, witness statements, photos and videos from the scene, and footage from nearby traffic cameras or local businesses.
Our attorneys carefully review reports and look for inconsistencies in the other driver’s statements. This careful work helps us build a strong case that clearly shows fault and the impact the collision has had on your health and finances.
How We Handle Insurance Companies After a Drunk Driving Crash
Soon after the crash, you may get a call from the drunk driver’s insurance company. Adjusters may seem helpful, but their job is to save the company money, often by offering quick, low settlements or trying to get statements that weaken your claim.
Once you work with our team, we handle every conversation and negotiation with the insurance companies. This allows you to recover without the added pressure of dealing with aggressive adjusters.
How We Pursue Compensation for Medical Bills and Other Losses
We carefully document all losses connected to the crash, starting with medical bills for emergency care, hospital stays, surgeries, therapy, and prescriptions. We also calculate lost wages and, when needed, consult with experts to evaluate any future impact on your ability to work.
In addition, we gather evidence to show the physical pain, emotional distress, and lasting effects the crash has caused. With thorough preparation and a clear understanding of your damages, we pursue the full compensation available under Texas law so you have the resources you need to move forward.
Drunk Driving Accident Risks in Arlington and Tarrant County
Arlington is a vibrant hub in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, but its busy roads, including major thoroughfares like Interstate 30, I-20, and Cooper Street, see a high volume of traffic. This heavy traffic, combined with the city’s active nightlife and entertainment areas, increases the risk of impaired driving accidents.
According to the Texas Open Data Portal, in the ten-year period from 2014 to 2023, more than 37 percent of traffic fatalities in Texas involved drivers impaired by alcohol or drugs. That figure highlights the very real danger posed by impaired drivers and the devastating impact their choices can have on families and communities.
These crashes can happen anywhere, whether on familiar streets near local landmarks, after an evening at a Rangers game, or during an ordinary drive to the grocery store. When a drunk driver is on the road, even routine trips can become dangerous.
An attorney experienced in Arlington DWI accident claims understands the local roads and how these cases are handled in our courts.
How Texas Law Defines Intoxication in DWI Cases
In a drunk driving accident case, the way Texas law defines intoxication is an important part of proving liability. Many people think intoxication refers only to a specific blood alcohol concentration (BAC), but Texas uses a broader definition that applies in both criminal and civil cases.
Under Texas Penal Code § 49.01, a person is considered intoxicated if they have lost the normal use of their mental or physical abilities because of alcohol, drugs, or a combination of substances, or if their BAC is 0.08 or higher. This broader definition matters because a driver may refuse a breath or blood test, or they may test below 0.08 but still show clear signs of impairment from alcohol, prescription medications, or illegal drugs.
An experienced Arlington drunk driving accident attorney understands how to use other forms of evidence such as witness accounts of unsafe driving, police observations of slurred speech or unsteady movements, and field sobriety test results to show that a driver was impaired even without a BAC reading.
Your Right to Financial Recovery After a DWI Accident in Arlington
A personal injury claim is designed to help you recover financially from the losses caused by a crash. Although compensation cannot take away the pain or upheaval after a serious accident, it can hold the impaired driver accountable and help you cover treatment costs as you move forward. An experienced Arlington drunk driving accident attorney will work closely with you to identify all forms of compensation that may apply to your situation.
Calculating Medical Costs, Lost Wages, and Other Economic Damages
Economic damages account for direct, documented financial losses. These include:
- Medical Costs, Both Current and Future: Expenses for ambulance transport, emergency care, surgeries, hospital stays, therapy, rehabilitation, prescriptions, and medical equipment.
- Lost Wages and Reduced Earning Capacity: Income you have lost while recovering and, if your injuries limit your future work, projected losses based on expert evaluations.
- Property Damage: The cost to repair your vehicle or its fair market value if it is beyond repair, as well as reimbursement for damaged personal belongings such as electronics or child safety items.
Careful recordkeeping of all related costs is important in building a strong claim.
Pursuing Non‑Economic Damages for Pain and Suffering
Non‑economic damages cover the personal impact of a crash, which is not reflected in receipts or invoices but is still very real. These may include:
- Pain and Suffering: The physical pain and emotional strain caused by your injuries.
- Mental Anguish: Anxiety, depression, difficulty sleeping, fear of driving, or post‑traumatic stress that develops after the crash.
- Physical Impairment: The loss of the ability to enjoy activities, hobbies, or family moments that were once part of your life.
- Disfigurement: The emotional and social effects of scars, burns, or other lasting changes to your appearance.
To prove these losses, you need clear documentation and a detailed account of how your life has changed, supported by medical records, personal statements, and testimony from people who know you well. An experienced Arlington drunk driving accident attorney can bring these details together to present a strong case for the compensation you need.
When Punitive Damages Apply in Texas Drunk Driving Cases
Most personal injury claims focus on compensation for the victim’s losses, which is known as damages. In some cases, though, Texas law allows for another category of damages called exemplary damages, more commonly referred to as punitive damages. These are available when the at‑fault party’s behavior went beyond ordinary negligence and rose to the level of gross negligence or malice.
Punitive damages are not intended to compensate you for medical expenses, lost wages, or property damage. Instead, their purpose is to punish the driver for conduct that demonstrates a reckless disregard for the safety of others and to deter similar conduct in the future. In this way, punitive damages serve as a tool for the civil justice system to address and discourage particularly egregious behavior.
Driving while intoxicated is often viewed as a clear example of gross negligence. A person who chooses to drive after becoming impaired takes a deliberate risk that puts every other driver and pedestrian in Arlington and across Tarrant County in danger.
A claim for punitive damages sends a strong message that our community will not tolerate conduct that puts others in serious danger. To succeed in a claim for punitive damages, you must meet a higher standard of proof under the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, Chapter 41. This requires clear and convincing evidence that the harm was caused by malice or gross negligence.
An experienced Arlington drunk driving accident attorney knows how to gather the evidence needed, such as proof of a very high blood alcohol level or a record of prior DWI convictions, to build a case for punitive damages.
Holding Bars and Restaurants Accountable Under Texas Dram Shop Law
In some situations, the drunk driver is not the only party who may be legally responsible for the crash. Texas law allows victims to bring claims against bars, restaurants, nightclubs, or liquor stores that over‑served the driver before the collision. This is known as dram shop liability, a legal concept with roots going back centuries.
Under the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code § 2.02, an establishment may be held liable if it served alcohol to someone who was clearly intoxicated to the point that they posed a danger to themselves and others, and if that intoxication directly caused the crash.
Proving a dram shop claim demands a swift, thorough investigation, as crucial evidence can disappear in a short amount of time. Security footage may be overwritten, and witnesses’ memories can quickly fade, making it essential for an attorney to act without delay.
A skilled attorney will work to gather surveillance recordings, locate and interview witnesses, and secure receipts or transaction records that document how much alcohol was served. An Arlington drunk driving accident attorney with experience in dram shop cases understands the urgency of these steps and knows how to move quickly to preserve key evidence.
When handled effectively, a dram shop claim can not only provide an additional source of compensation for your injuries but also promote more responsible alcohol service throughout the Arlington community.
Texas Statute of Limitations for Drunk Driving Injury Claims
If you have been injured in a drunk driving accident, it is important to act without delay. Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003, you generally have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. This time limit is known as the statute of limitations.
If you do not file your lawsuit within this two‑year window, the court will almost certainly dismiss your case, and you will lose the right to seek compensation for your injuries. Two years may seem like a long time, but preparing a strong claim takes considerable effort. Investigating the crash, gathering records and evidence, completing medical treatment, and negotiating with insurance companies can take many months.
Speaking with an Arlington drunk driving accident attorney soon after the accident gives you the best chance to preserve evidence and protect your claim before the statute of limitations expires.
Contact an Arlington Drunk Driving Accident Attorney Today to Protect Your Rights
Being injured by a drunk driver can leave you feeling unsettled, filled with questions, and unsure of what steps to take next. Recovery involves more than physical healing; it also means seeking justice and holding the driver accountable for reckless actions.
While the criminal courts address penalties for the driver’s illegal conduct, the civil justice system gives you the right to pursue compensation for medical expenses, lost income, pain, and other damages. Taking action can help you regain a sense of control and secure the financial resources you need to move forward with your life.
If you were harmed by a drunk driver in Arlington or anywhere in the DFW Metroplex, do not wait to seek help. The choices you make in the days and weeks following the crash can have a lasting impact on your case.
The team at Branch & Dhillon, P.C., led by an experienced personal injury attorney in Arlington, TX, is ready to guide you through the legal process so you can focus on your health and your family. Call us today at (817) 533-3430 for a free, no-obligation consultation to talk about your situation.
Branch & Dhillon, P.C. – Arlington, TX Law Firm
Address: 625 W Main St Arlington, TX 76010
Contact No: (817) 533-3430