Authorities report that a 38-year-old man and a 36-year-old woman are in critical condition after being involved in a two-vehicle T-bone crash at the 7200 block of Wurzbach Road, near the medical center area. Police stated that in addition to the man and woman, another driver and passenger (each from separate vehicles) are also being hospitalized for non-life-threatening injuries sustained in the crash.
According to witness reports, a red Ford Focus was T-boned almost immediately by a white Nissan Rogue after pulling out of a McDonald’s parking lot. Police stated that the Nissan Rogue was traveling very fast and in a westerly direction on Wurzbach road–indicating that speeding may have been a factor—when the Ford Focus failed to yield the right of way and attempted to pull out ahead of it. The Nissan then T-boned the driver’s side of the Focus and both vehicles plowed into the south curve on Wurzbach road.
Authorities reported that the damage to the SUV was so severe that emergency crews had to use the jaws of life to cut off one of the vehicle’s doors and remove three of the passengers who were trapped inside.
According to police, the driver of the Nissan Rogue admitted to having consumed alcohol when questioned at the scene. After being given field sobriety tests and being evaluated for intoxication, the driver was charged with DWI.
Can You Sue Someone for Driving Drunk?
In short, if they hurt you, yes. Texas law provides a remedy for individuals who have been physically and financially damaged by the negligent or reckless actions of another. When someone makes the choice to drive under the influence of alcohol or other substances that impair their ability to operate a vehicle safely, they are deviating from the standard of reasonable care owed to other drivers, and they are legally liable for any harm that results from this deviation.
Benefits of a Lawsuit
While the criminal justice system focuses on penalizing and rehabilitating the criminal, it does little to help restore the victim; it is simply not designed to. The civil court system, on the other hand, through which you can bring personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits, is designed to restore the victim. The aim of a successful personal injury lawsuit is to put the person back in the position they would have been in financially had the accident never occurred. The idea is that while nothing can erase the accident from happening, the victim should not be stuck bearing the financial consequences of another person’s recklessness. This means that if your injury prevented you from performing your job, or made it impossible to perform your existing job, you can recover the lost wages or lost earning potential, in addition to all past and anticipated future medical expenses. Bringing a lawsuit also allows you to recover for intangible damages, such as pain and suffering. The damages are considered to be punitive, meaning that juries are allowed to award them to the victim as a form of punishment to the offender. For this reason, there is no cap on this type of damages, and it is not uncommon to see punitive damages in the millions. In fact, any time you hear about a huge personal injury settlement, it is usually the punitive damages that are responsible for the bulk of the award.
Schedule a Consultation
If you have been injured in a car accident that was not your fault, you do not have to navigate this process alone. The Law Office of Eric Ramos is here to help. Schedule a free consultation today to find out how. There’s no fee until we win.