Helping Texas Parents Get Justice After Losing a Child to Drunk Driving

Helping Texas Parents Get Justice After Losing a Child to Drunk Driving

In Texas, a person dies every seven hours and 43 minutes in a car wreck involving alcohol and driving under the influence, according to a March 2023 report issued by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). These tragic accidents profoundly impact families, especially when a child is killed. Sadly, 206 children were killed on Texas roads in 2021 alone, according to the latest TxDOT report.

If you have lost a child in a car accident caused by a drunk driver, call our compassionate and knowledgeable Texas child injury attorneys at The Button Law Firm at 214-699-4409 or fill out a contact form. We have years of experience fighting for surviving family members and a myriad of successful case results. You can let your mind rest knowing that we will handle your case with all the sympathy and understanding it deserves so that your child did not die in vain.

Types of Wrecks Caused by Drunk Drivers in Texas

Common types of fatal accidents involving child victims and drunk drivers in Texas include:

• Head-on collisions: Drunk drivers can become drowsy or fall asleep at the wheel, cross the centerline of a highway, and veer into oncoming traffic to cause a head-on collision. Because of the momentum and kinetic energy of two vehicles, this type of wreck often means catastrophic injury and even death.
• Rear-end collisions: Alcohol impairs a person’s ability to judge distances, so reaction times might be delayed, leading to a drunk driver rear-ending another driver.
• Pedestrian crashes: Drunk drivers often experience impaired vision, so they may not see a pedestrian—especially at night.
• Wrong-way wrecks: It’s difficult to read traffic signs when driving under the influence, so drunk drivers might not even realize they are driving in the wrong direction or entering the highway on an exit ramp.
• Sideswipe accidents: A sideswipe accident is a collision between the sides of two vehicles that are traveling in the same or opposite directions. A sideswipe can easily turn deadly if a drunk driver overcorrects and loses control of the car.
• T-bone crashes: Also known as a broadside collision, T-bone crashes often occur when one driver runs a red light or fails to give another driver the right-of-way.

How Many Fatal Accidents are Caused by Drunk Drivers in Texas?

According to recent reports from TxDOT, here are some important statistics about alcohol-impaired driving in Texas:

• 1,077 people in Texas were killed by drunk drivers in 2021
• 206 children, ages 18 years to infants, were killed on Texas roadways
• 24% of car wreck fatalities in Texas are caused by drunk drivers
• Sundays are the most common day for car accidents involving a drunk driver
• Most drunk driving accidents in Texas occurred between 2 a.m. and 2:59 a.m.

While these statistics are jarring, Mothers Against Drunk Driving estimates that 2 out of 3 people will be impacted by drunk driving in their lifetime. Public safety campaigns from the organization, along with those from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and TxDOT’s Drive Sober. No Regrets. campaign, aims to raise awareness about the irreversible and horrific consequences of drunk driving to change driver behaviors and make Texas roads safer.

What Damages Can You Recover If Your Child Was Killed By a Drunk Driver in Texas?

The aftermath a fatal drunk driving accident involving a child can be overwhelming for parents and other surviving family members. While processing emotions, the family must handle funeral arrangements and try to figure out how to move forward without a little one. In Texas, you and your family can hold a reckless driver accountable for taking the life of your child in a few ways:

• Child personal injury lawsuit: You can seek economic damages, including all costs associated with any medical treatment that your child received prior to passing, earnings you lost because you could not work, and non-economic damages such as compensation for mental anguish. 
• Texas dram shop lawsuit: Under the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code, when your child is killed by a drunk driver who was served alcohol in a bar, you may be able to sue the bar owner and bartender for contributing to the accident. This law only applies if the bar served alcohol to someone under the age of 18 or the customer was “obviously” intoxicated.
• Wrongful death of a child lawsuit: When a child is killed by a drunk driver, parents or immediate family members may be able to bring a wrongful death of a child lawsuit against the drunk driver to recover compensation for the child’s medical bills and hospitalization costs, funeral expenses, lost future wages, and for the survivors’ loss of companionship.

In a free consultation with our Texas children car accident attorneys, we will listen and help you determine the best course of action in pursuing justice for your child, including compensation.

Schedule a Free Consultation with Our Texas Wrongful Death Lawyers

Our team of experienced and compassionate Texas drunk driving attorneys at The Button Law Firm is dedicated to advocating for you and your family if your child was killed in a fatal accident caused by a drunk driver. With attorneys in Dallas, Houston, and Midland, we are ready to listen, fight for your family, and help your family move forward. Our attorneys at The Button Law Firm are recognized on the prestigious Texas Super Lawyers list, and we can help guide you after a traumatizing incident involving your child. We work on contingency, meaning we don’t charge you or collect any upfront fees to get started on your case. Call us at 214-699-4409 or fill out a contact form for a free consultation.