Houston is famous for its nightlife. From the busy bars in Midtown to the cool spots in Washington Avenue, there is always a place to have a good time. Most people act responsibly, but some do not. When someone decides to drink and then get behind the wheel, they turn a fun night into a nightmare for everyone else on the road. For travelers visiting Houston, a run-in with a drunk driver can cause serious injuries that change your life in a split second. If you are a tourist and you are hit by a drunk driver, you are dealing with more than just a car wreck. You are dealing with a crime. Here is a five-point list of what you need to know about drunk driving injuries and how to handle them while you are visiting Houston.
1. Spot the Signs of Impairment at the Scene
If you are in a crash, pay close attention to the other driver. Drunk drivers often show clear signs. They might stumble when they get out of the car. Their speech might be slurred. You might smell alcohol on their breath or see empty cans in their backseat. In Houston, many drunk driving accidents happen late at night or early in the morning near entertainment districts.
Tell the 911 operator if you suspect the other driver is drunk. This ensures that the police officers who arrive will perform field sobriety tests or a breathalyzer. In Texas, if a driver is arrested for DWI (Driving While Intoxicated), it changes your civil case. A criminal conviction can be used as strong evidence that the other person was 100% at fault for your injuries.
2. Understand Common Drunk Driving Injuries
Accidents involving alcohol are often more violent than regular crashes. This is because drunk drivers usually do not brake before they hit you. They might be speeding or driving the wrong way on a one-way street like those found in Downtown Houston. This leads to high-impact collisions.
Common injuries include “internal” damage that you cannot see. Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) happen when your head hits the window or the steering wheel. Spinal cord injuries can lead to permanent numbness or trouble walking. Because these injuries are so serious, you must get checked out at a hospital like Memorial Hermann or Ben Taub. Even if you think you just have a headache, a doctor needs to make sure your brain isn’t bleeding. Drunk driving victims often face much higher medical bills than victims of minor fender benders.
3. The Importance of the Police Report and Toxicology
When the Houston Police Department arrives, they will start a criminal investigation. They will likely take a blood or breath sample from the other driver. You need to get the “incident number” from the officer before you leave the scene. This report will eventually contain the results of those alcohol tests.
As a visitor, you might not be in town when the lab results come back. This is why having a local contact is helpful. If the driver’s blood alcohol content (BAC) was over the legal limit of 0.08%, they have broken the law. This fact is the “smoking gun” for your insurance claim. It makes it very hard for the insurance company to deny that their client caused your injuries.
4. Seeking Compensation for “Gross Negligence”
In a normal accident, you ask for money to pay for your car and your doctor bills. In a drunk driving case in Texas, you can sometimes ask for more. This is called “exemplary damages” or punitive damages. These are meant to punish the drunk driver for being extremely reckless.
Insurance companies for drunk drivers know they are in trouble. They may try to offer you a small check right away to make you go away. Do not take it. Once you sign their paper, you can never ask for more money, even if your back starts hurting six months later. Because these cases involve criminal law and civil law, many victims choose to hire a Houston drunk driving accident lawyer. A lawyer can help you track the criminal case while fighting the insurance company for the full amount of money you deserve for your pain and suffering.
5. Navigating the Houston Court System from Afar
If your case goes to court, it will happen in Harris County. If you live in another state, this feels impossible. However, most of the work happens behind the scenes. Your medical records, the police photos, and the toxicology reports are the most important pieces of evidence. You may not even have to come back to Houston for a trial.
Keep a detailed record of how your injuries have changed your life. If you came to Houston to visit the Houston Museum of Natural Science but spent the whole time in a hospital bed, that matters. Keep track of every flight you had to change and every day of work you missed because you were recovering. In Texas, the law allows you to be paid back for the “loss of enjoyment of life.” For a tourist, a drunk driver didn’t just hurt your body; they stole your vacation and your memories.
Houston is a great city with so much to see, but drunk drivers are a real threat on its fast-moving highways. If you find yourself a victim, stay calm and follow the legal steps. By holding the drunk driver accountable, you aren’t just helping yourself; you are helping keep the streets of Houston safer for the next family that comes to visit.
References
- Texas Department of Transportation – Harris County Crash Statistics
- City of Houston Police Department – DWI Enforcement Records
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