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(512) 537-3369

Drunk Driving

In 2017, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) drafted a report which highlighted alarming statistics regarding alcohol-impaired driving in 2016. The organization found that 10,497 people died that year as a result of a motor vehicle accident involving drivers who had blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels at 0.08 g/dL or higher. Alcohol-related accidents accounted for 28 percent of all fatal car accidents in the United States that year.

Drunk driving continues to be a national concern that results in life-changing injuries and deaths every day.

The Austin drunk driving accident attorney, Laura Ramos James, has made it her mission to defend the rights of innocent victims whose lives have been tragically damaged as a result of a drunk driver. Do not hesitate to contact the law office of Ramos James Law, PLLC., today at (512) 537-3369 if you have been involved in an alcohol-related accident.

Drunk Driving in Texas

According to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), a person is driving while intoxicated (DWI), a.k.a. drunk driving, if their blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is at 0.08 g/dL or higher. This usually occurs when a person has had two or more alcoholic beverages an hour.

Even if you’ve had one drink, you could still be breaking the law. If any amount of alcohol is detected in individuals under the age of 21, they could be charged with driving under the influence (DUI), even if their BAC is under 0.08.

This offense isn’t limited to the consumption of alcohol. Driving under the impairment of drugs is also considered a form of intoxication.

Texas Penal Code Section 49.01 defines intoxication as “not having the normal use of mental or physical faculties by reason of the introduction of alcohol, a controlled substance, a drug, a dangerous drug, a combination of two or more of those substances, or any other substance into the body.”

Common Injuries Victims Suffer in Drunk Driving Accidents

The top five injuries that individuals are most likely to suffer in a drunk driving accident include:

  • Injury to the Limbs – Usually consists of broken arms and/or legs, shattered knees, or complications that make walking or standing difficult. These types of injuries can prevent someone from living an active lifestyle.
  • Neck Injury – Whiplash is one of the most common neck injuries that victims can suffer in a drunk driving accident but can also experience damage to the larynx or trachea, making eating, breathing, and moving the neck difficult.
  • Chest Injuries – These types of injuries can include broken ribs or cracked sternums, both of which can be mitigated by using a seatbelt.
  • Spinal Cord Injuries – These types of injuries usually involve partial or complete paralysis in some victims.
  • Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) – Drunk driving accidents can cause two types of traumatic brain injury:


Closed – Injury to the head that does not pierce the skull.
Penetrating – Injury to the head that is inflicted when projectiles break through the cranium and pierce brain tissue.

Victims that suffer from a TBI are prone to suffer seizures, long-term or permanent damage of physical or cognitive capabilities, behavioral or emotional problems, paralysis, or fall into a coma.

It isn’t uncommon for people who have been involved in a drunk driving accident to develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as well.

What Kind of Compensation Can I Be Eligible For?

The unfortunate reality is that when it comes to a drunk driving accident, victims can include occupants of another vehicle, pedestrians, bicyclists, or even passengers in the drunk driver’s vehicle itself.

Thankfully, under Texas law, you have the right to seek damages from the at-fault party. As a victim of a drunk driving accident, you have the right to seek compensation for:

Physical Pain
Mental Anguish
Physical Impairment
Disfigurement
Medical Expenses
Loss of Services
Loss of Consortium
Loss of Earning Capacity
Property Damages
Wrongful Death

Choose an experienced drunk driving accident attorney who truly cares about you. Choose Ramos James Law.

Every day, attorney Laura Ramos James fights for the fair compensation of victims whose lives have been turned around because of someone else’s mistakes. If you or someone you love have fallen victim to a drunk driving accident, there’s still hope.

Contact us today at (512) 537-3369 to set up your free legal consultation and begin the journey to take your life back.

Contact Ramos James Law for a FREE Consultation.

Call: (512) 537-3369