According to the Texas Department of Transportation, in 2019, intoxicated drivers caused 20,714 collisions.
Drunk driving collisions leave victims with ongoing pain and suffering, enormous medical bills, damaged vehicles and lost wages. You may wonder how your expenses get paid if the driver is also injured, killed, or incarcerated due to the crash.
Auto Insurance
One resource is car insurance. All drivers must have liability and Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance to drive a car in Texas. Your PIP insurance can cover some of your immediate medical expenses. If the drunk driver also has mandatory liability insurance, you may file a claim to recover additional money from their company.
However, not all drivers have enough, if any, coverage. If you have purchased uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage through your insurance company, you can file for additional funds from your policy.
The bar or restaurant
In addition to car insurance, other insurance policies may cover some expenses. Texas has Dram State laws that hold bars and restaurants liable if employees continue to serve alcohol to drunk customers. Many of these locations carry insurance to protect their business from lawsuits. This insurance may provide additional money to cover medical expenses if a patron causes a collision after consuming alcohol in that establishment.
The drunk driver’s employer
If the at-fault driver was working at the time of the accident and driving either their personal or company vehicle, you might hold the employer responsible. While the business does not have control over what its employees do, some situations might require the company to pay you money.
If you are in a collision with a drunk driver, explore different resources available to recover financial damages.