This weekend is the best time of the year for football fans – and football fans in the Dallas/Fort Worth area have even more too look forward to as the best in the NFL head to their home town for the Super Bowl.
However, Dallas Police warn that the biggest day in football could also be a disastrous day for drunk driving accidents in Texas. The number of people on the road with illegal blood alcohol levels skyrockets to almost 50 percent after the game, and dozens of drunk driving accidents occur in the hours after the last play is made.
To prepare for the big day – which also comes with lots of tailgating and drinking – Texas authorities have put out TV ads, radio spots, and billboards to remind sports fans that getting home safely is far more important that who wins the game.
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is also trying a new drunk driving prevention campaign through interactive posters that will be hung in bars and restaurants throughout the state. If drinkers take a picture of the “quick code” on the posters with their smart phone, they will be taken to a helpful webpage that will allow them to find the numbers of local cab companies, find their way to the nearest form of public transportation, or even let them Tweet for a ride home from friends.
In addition, the Tri-City DUI taskforce will also be on hand at the Super Bowl itself in an effort to reduce the number of drunk driving incidents that take place on Sunday. The taskforce reminds Super Bowl partiers that there can be very serious consequences to driving while under the influence, including a suspended licenses, heavy fines, jail time, community service, and higher insurance rates. Of course, a drunk driving accident could also easily lead to serious injury or death – both for you and whomever you might hit.

The legal limit of blood alcohol concentration in Texas is 0.08, but could drivers be impaired even when they are legally allowed to drive after a drink or two? According to a new study, even a trace amount of alcohol can be tied to slower reactions and a greater risk of traffic accidents.
According to University of California in San Diego, even drinking a single serving of beer or a glass of wine with dinner can significantly increase a driver’s chances of being involved in a serious traffic accident. In fact, drivers who only had a blood alcohol level of 0.01 were still increasing their risk of a serious injury and accident.
The study analyzed national traffic accident data between the years 1998 and 2008. Specifically, they found that drivers with any detectable amount of alcohol in their systems were four times more likely to be seriously injured in a crash than those with zero alcohol in their system. In addition, accidents were over one-third more severe when any driver involved had consumed some amount of alcohol.
Why are drivers with legal amounts of alcohol in their systems more likely to crash even though they aren’t significantly impaired? The researchers that conducted the study believe that “buzzed” drivers could already have their decision-making abilities impaired and are more likely to decide not to buckle up, more likely to speed, and more likely to drive recklessly. They are also more likely to be distracted by passengers in the car. In addition, some believe that drivers who have only had one or two servings of alcohol may be on the road at more dangerous times – times when it is late or dark and times when more drunk drivers are on the road. Finally, fatigue may also contribute to the shocking findings.
Have you been injured in a Texas car accident that involved a driver who had alcohol in their system but was not legally drunk? Speak with a Dallas drunk driving accident attorney today about your case to learn more.

Texas takes drunk driving very seriously. Thanks to effective lobbying and public outcry, the law offers grave punishment to those who drink and drive. The criminal law, however, does not give victims the help they need to move forward. In cases where someone is harmed or killed due to a drunk driver being negligent, it's important that the victims take measures to protect themselves against the many types of financial fallout that can result. This means hiring an auto accident attorney. If you've been injured by a drunk driver, contact a Dallas drunk driving accident lawyer as soon as possible.

Why Isn't the Criminal Law Enough?

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The criminal laws that apply to drunk driving are harsh.They're designed as deterrents and, in that regard, they help the public at large. They're also designed as punishments and, accordingly, they address the drunk driver's failure. For the victim, they have no practical ramifications.
Civil law provides a way for people to get compensated for the pain and suffering that they've been put through. It also takes into account the financial damage that the victim has suffered, including things like lost wages, destroyed property and other expenses . If you've been injured in a wreck with a drunk, there's no reason that you shouldn't seek out an opportunity to sue for damages so that you can put your life back together.

Civil Attorney VS Criminal Attorney

Your car wreck attorney represents your financial interests. They don't represent the state or the criminal justice system; they're just there for you and you alone. This means that they argue your case from your perspective and put a human face on the damage that drunk drivers cause. They allow you to get a chance at not having to pay for all of the damage an irresponsible driver has caused you.
Speak with one of these attorneys, even if the driver who hit you is facing tough criminal charges. Those criminal charges regard that driver's punishment for their crimes. They do not address that driver's responsibility to you in terms of helping you repair the damage that they did to you and your family.

Drunk driving accidents are some of the worst that happen on our roadways. If you're in a situation where you believe that a driver on the road nearby you is drunk, here are some things to consider.

1: Give them room.

You can be certain that the drunk driver is not able to complete sophisticated maneuvers with their vehicle in their condition. You need to give them room so that they can stay out of your way. The best way to do this is to either turn off, stay well behind them or get by them, if you can do so safely. Don't stay close to them, however.

2: If you call in, don't pursue.

Drinking and Driving
Sometimes, drivers will take it upon themselves to report a drunk driver and, doing so might save someone's life. Never pursue the drunk driver, however. You don’t have the authority to arrest them and you certainly don't want to get into an altercation with them. Call it in, tell the authorities where they are, and the police will handle the situation from there.

3: Watch their speed and braking.

Drunks—particularly those who are very drunk—tend to stop and go unexpectedly when they're driving. Their speed may also be very erratic. Be sure you anticipate this if you can't get away from them. Assume that, at some point, they're going to do something to obstruct your path of travel and be ready for it. Stay well behind them so that you have options if they hit their brakes for some reason.

4: Know when they're out.

If you go out for a night on the town, try to avoid leaving the clubs or bars right at closing time. This is when the roads are flooded with drunk drivers. Doing so helps you avoid accidents. It can also help you avoid getting pulled over. You should never drive drunk but, even if you're not, the police might pull you over for some reason just to see if you are drunk. It can be a hassle and, if you just wait a while or leave a bit earlier, you can usually avoid dealing with the chaos.

Drunk driving is one of the most common causes of catastrophic traffic crashes, including fatalities.

People who drive drunk are usually on their way home from a bar or nightclub, but there is another type of drunk driver out there who may be even more dangerous: the underage drunken driver.

Drinking and Driving

Teens & Drunk Driving


Most of the time, underage drunk drivers will be coming from a party, as they cannot go out drinking at nightlife establishments. Because of this, they're harder to spot. Rather than dealing with something obvious—such as someone coming out of a club parking lot with their headlights off—you'll be dealing with drivers in residential areas and around colleges and universities.
Watch out near sporting events and, in particular, be wary during times when college is on break. It's not uncommon for underage drunk drivers to have a car full of rowdy people with them, so watch out for vehicles that are full of young people who are acting wild and cranking their music. Of course, these aren't uncommon behaviors for young people, so you'll have to watch out for the common signs of drunk driving, as well.
Even though drunken driving does compromise anyone's driving skills, underage drunk drivers sometime constitute even bigger threats because of their inexperience with driving to begin with.

If you see them.

Stay away from any vehicle that appears to be driven by a drunk driver. You have no idea what they're going to do other than knowing for sure that their actions won't be predictable in any regard. The best thing to do is to take a note of their plate and to call it in. This sometimes seems harsh. Drunken driving laws are very strict and people get in real trouble when they get pulled over for it. The problem with this activity, however, is that it kills people every single day and people who drive drunk need to be off the road, sometimes for good, even if they are very young when they start out.
If a drunk driver hits you, make sure you contact a Dallas drunk driving accident lawyer. The law may take care of them as far as suspending their license, but you'll need a car accident lawyer to represent you, unless you want to pay for all of the damages you suffered on your own.

If you've been hit by a drunk driver, you probably want to know how the law is going to deal with them. You can sue them in civil court with the assistance of a Dallas drunk driving accident attorney. This is up to you and, sometimes, it's the only way that you're going to end up getting anything in compensation for the damage that they caused. The criminal penalties will be separate.

BAC

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Blood Alcohol Content—sometimes Count—is the measurement by which a driver is determined to be drunk. Roadside sobriety tests may have been given to the driver after your wreck but those are given to establish whether or not the driver is likely to be drunk. The BAC number is what the police will use when they charge the driver.
The highest acceptable BAC in Texas is .08. Anything above that and you're looking at a DWI. There is an enhanced set of penalties that kick in at .15. A BAC of .15 is very high and someone with that level is very drunk.
For those who are under the drinking age, there is another penalty. They are governed by a "zero tolerance" policy. Any level of alcohol in their blood can result in their being charged with a DUI.

Penalties

The penalties in Texas can be very severe. Some drivers will end up being required to pay $1,000 per year to keep their license active. The first offence requires a license suspension of 90 days. The second and third offenses have 180-day suspensions attached to them. There is a mandatory jail sentence after the second offense.
In some cases, the state can actually take someone's vehicle. This only happens after the 3rd offence and only under certain circumstances.
There are very harsh penalties for drunk drivers who hurt someone or who somehow endanger a child. There is also a chance that they will have to use an ignition interlock to start their vehicle for a time after they are convicted.
There are plenty of car accident articles that detail what happens to convicted drunk drivers. There are far fewer about what happens to their victims. If you've been injured, had your property destroyed or lost a loved one to a drunk driver, contact an attorney. Even though the penalties for drunk driving are harsh, they do nothing for the victims in terms of helping them to rebuild their lives. Civil courts can help.

Generally speaking, most commercial drivers are very good at what they do and take their jobs and responsibilities seriously. There are those, however that do neither. Some commercial drivers operate under the influence and, in some cases, that winds up causing deadly disasters. Most of the car accident articles that you've probably read have to do with drunk drivers who are regular, licensed drivers. There are cases, however, when you'll need a truck wreck lawyer to take on a commercial firm.

Why Would a Commercial Driver Be Drunk?

Remember that driving under the influence means the influence of any drug, not just alcohol. Commercial drivers, in the case of the worst ones, will sometimes take amphetamines and other drugs to stay awake on the road. There are laws in place that govern how long drivers can be on the road but some companies do not follow them and they push their drivers too hard.
Other drivers may just have a drinking problem and end up driving drunk on some occasions. There are very serious risks in these cases; much more serious ones than cases where people are driving a car while intoxicated. Someone who is intoxicated behind the wheel of a semi or a large commercial vehicle is a much more lethal threat to everyone on the road than your average drunk driver.

Getting Compensation

A car accident attorney will be able to help you determine who you need to sue. In some cases, you may need to sue the trucking company. In others, you may need to sue the driver directly. If the driver was intoxicated, negligent and caused a wreck that caused you physical or financial harm, talking to an attorney is the first thing you should do.

A Note on Settlements

Trucking companies are famous for offering people they injure a check. This is just to get you to not go to court. They're trying to avoid court fees and, probably, they think your case is too strong to risk having a jury hear it. Don't take a check without talking to a lawyer. If a lawyer thinks it's the best you're going to get from them, they'll tell you. If they think you could actually do better in court, however, they'll also tell you that. They don’t get paid unless you win, so they have no motivation to have you go to court if they think you'll lose.

Some areas are more dangerous than others for drunk drivers. These areas include obvious ones, such as streets nearby nightclubs, bars, and frat houses. Other places are more subtle. For example, if there are festivals or other gatherings going on at a public park, pavilion or other destination, there may be some people on the road nearby them who have had too many to drinks. Here are some good ways to avoid places where you may find drunk drivers.

1: Use secondary routes at night.

If you have to drive through an area where there are a lot of nightclubs or other nightlife destinations, consider finding a secondary route that you can use instead of the main roads. It may be worth it to drive through some neighborhoods rather than going through an area that's full of clubs or bars. This should lessen your chances of running into a drunk on the road.

2: Know when last call is.

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Be aware of what time the bars close in your area. If there are other destinations that don't serve alcohol that may attract a lot of people who have been drinking, be aware of when these close, as well. This ensures that you're not on the road when drunks are most likely to be in the area. Those places can include diners and gas stations.

3: Read the news.

Even though we live in an increasingly global world, local news really does have value. Local news stories tend to include a lot of car wreck stories. Pay attention to where these accidents tend to happen. If they tend to happen in an area near you and it's a nightlife spot, make accommodations to avoid driving through it at times when people are likely to be out partying.

4: Know vacation times.

Keep aware of when school is in and out of session and when college students may be taking spring break or engaging in other festivities. This can help you to be aware of when you should avoid certain sporting arenas, areas were college students like to party or hot spots of high schoolers.
Dallas drunk driving accident attorney can help you if a drunk driver has caused you injury or financial loss. Contact a car accident lawyer soon; there are limitations on how long you can wait before filing a lawsuit.

One of the most difficult situations you could possibly find yourself in is one where you have a friend who wants to get behind the wheel when they've had too many.

People who are intoxicated can be truculent, obstinate and, in some cases, they can become spontaneously violent and lash out when people won't accept their compromised judgment as competent.
A popular viral video on the Internet showed one friend physically striking another, knocking him unconscious, to prevent him from getting behind the wheel. This, legally, is not acceptable. Whether or not the person was drunk, what went on in the video was most certainly assault. There are better ways to stop friends from driving drunk.
 

Take their keys.

 
If you're having a party at your house, and you know people are going to be drinking, take their keys in advance. Let them know that they need to make accommodations to either stay over or have a designated driver to get them home. This way, you don't have to worry about having an argument with them after they're drunk and trying to get them to agree with something sensible after they are out of their senses.
 

Drinking and Driving

Preventing Drinking & Driving


 

Call a taxi.

 
Sometimes, if you just call them a taxi and tell them that you've already paid for it and that it's going to take them home, you can guilt a drunk into taking the taxi instead of driving. After all, if you've already put up your money for the deal, you have that to use against them. People who are intoxicated are famous for telling you how much they love you, give them a chance to prove it by accepting your gift of a ride home.
 

Go out in groups.

 
Most of the time, it's not too difficult to get at least one of your friends to agree not to drink for a night and to serve as the driver. Not only does this prevent people from having to drive themselves home – possibly after having had too many – it also just makes it easier to get out and about. Plan activities as a group and there is less chance that anybody will be motivated to get behind the wheel drunk.
 
Sometimes, no amount of persuasion will prevent a drunk from getting behind the wheel. If and when they injure somebody in a DWI accident, they may find themselves facing down a car accident attorney like us in court. If such an individual has injured you, contact a Dallas car wreck lawyer about your legal options.

Unfortunately, the same holiday during which the United States celebrates its independence is one of the deadliest for traffic crashes.

In Dallas, you may have seen a lot more police cruisers prowling the streets during the Fourth of July holiday. The Texas Department of Transportation provided grant money that allowed Dallas police officers to increase their patrols and to try to keep the roads safer over the holiday.

More than a thousand arrests.

According to a press release, the July 4 holiday brought over 1,400 arrests for Dallas police, only counting DWIs. The Police Department credits nearly 600 of those arrests as being the collective result of being able to patrol the streets in greater numbers. Drunk driving fatalities tend to occur more during holidays and, in some areas, they tend to occur more in specific geographic locations than they do in others. Overall, the Texas Department of Transportation notes in the press release that in excess of 1,000 Texans lose their lives to drunk drivers every year.

The police aren't always there.

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4th of July No Refusal Weekend


Despite the increased patrols, one can never count on the police being there when a drunk driver is on the street. It's important to remember basic rules of safety when dealing with such drivers to prevent yourself from being involved in an accident. The main thing to remember about drunk drivers is that they are erratic in how they drive and that predicting their behavior at any given moment is nearly impossible.
The best advice is to simply steer clear of the drunk driver if you can. Use a side road, get by them if you have to or stay well behind them; whatever works to keep you out of the path of their vehicle. Be wary of drunk drivers stopping suddenly in the middle of the street for no reason or stopping at green lights and going through red lights. The only realistic way to describe the behavior of a drunken driver is to say that it is random in the extreme.
If you're injured in an accident involving a drunken driver, people you know may recommend a Dallas attorney as a resource for dealing with the fallout of the accident. In some cases, the Dallas drunk driving accident attorney may be able to file a lawsuit against the drunk driver and get compensation for what you suffered due to their negligence. This isn't always the case, but, for some drivers, it's the best possible option and the only way they can realistically handle the damage the driver did to them.

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