Drunk driving accidents are rising in the Houston area. Drunk drivers pose a great threat to themselves and others on the road with their negligent behavior. Have you or someone you know been injured in a drunk driving accident in Houston? If yes, seeking the assistance of an experienced Houston drunk driving accident lawyer is crucial to understanding your legal rights. Steering through the legal system is complicated, more so when dealing with the aftermath of a traumatic event like a drunk driving accident. As such, a Houston drunk driving accident attorney will offer their experienced support and guidance to help your course.
In this article, we shall analyze the predominant rights of injury victims in drunk driving accidents in Houston to help you protect your interests or those of your loved one(s) by seeking rightful compensation for your losses.
Injury victims in a drunk driving accident have: –
- The right to file a personal injury lawsuit
For injury victims in Houston, the right to file a personal injury lawsuit is a powerful tool. As such, victims of drunk driving accidents can hold the at-fault parties liable for their negligent actions that led to their injuries.
However, to be successful in a personal injury lawsuit, the victim(s) must prove that the driver’s recklessness somehow led to the accident. Therefore, thoroughly investigating the accident is essential to determining the damage’s extent.
Suppose you or your loved ones can establish that the driver was directly responsible for the accident, you will receive compensation for damages such as lost wages, medical bills, pain, suffering, and post-traumatic depression.
Texas has a statute of limitations, particularly on personal accident lawsuits. Therefore, the victims must quickly seek the guidance of an experienced Houston drunk driving accident attorney if they are to recover some compensation following their injuries or those of their loved ones.
- The right to pursue compensation
You can only seek compensation for your damages when you are not at fault for the accident. As a victim of a drunk driving accident, you can seek compensation from the insurance company of the at-fault driver or them.
The at-fault drivers often have liability insurance policies covering their accident damages. You should hire a skillful drunk-driving attorney to represent your legal interests and maximize your chances of winning your claim.
- The right to pursue punitive damages
As a victim of a drunk driving accident, you can seek punitive damages in certain situations. Punitive damages are not meant to compensate the victim but to punish the at-fault party for their negligence and, more so, to discourage other irresponsible individuals from behaving similarly.
For instance, a drunk driving accident victim in Texas can seek punitive and compensatory damages to cover their losses arising from an accident.
However, you must prove that the at-fault party acted recklessly or maliciously to seek punitive damages. When you successfully prove these elements, the court will award you punitive and compensatory damages for your troubles.
Generally, the right to seek punitive damages allows you to hold the negligent party accountable for their actions.
- The right to a fair and just judgment
As a victim of a drunk driving accident, you have the right to a fair and just settlement that ensures rightful compensation for all your losses. With the help of a knowledgeable drunk driving accident attorney, you can negotiate with the responsible parties to recover the settlement that best fits your losses.
Therefore, besides protecting your legal interest, the rights of drunk driving accident victims also ensure you are well compensated with a settlement you need to recover from your injuries and the aftermath traumas of the accident.
In conclusion, understanding your rights as a drunk driving accident victim allows you to move quickly and effortlessly when claiming your settlement benefits. The most dominant rights of injury victims in drunk driving accidents include the right to file a personal injury lawsuit, pursue compensation, seek punitive damages, and receive fair and just judgment on their claims.
OTS News on Social Media